Patent ID: 9658159
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. A sample analyzer, comprising: a support for an assay sample vessel containing an assay sample within a sample reservoir; a detector having an optical axis aligned with the sample reservoir, so as to detect a luminescence of the assay sample; and a shutter assembly, the shutter assembly intersecting the optical axis and positioned between the detector and the support, the shutter assembly comprising a first shutter blade, a second shutter blade, a motor, and an illuminator, the first shutter blade and the second shutter blade having a first light transmitting aperture and a second light transmitting aperture, respectively; the motor causing the first shutter blade and the second shutter blade to move between an overlapping relationship with respect to one another along the optical axis, and a closed position in which the first and second light transmitting apertures are in a non-overlapping relationship with respect to one another along the optical axis; the illuminator being disposed on the first shutter blade adjacent to the first light transmitting aperture; the motor causing the first shutter blade and the second shutter blade to move between an illumination position and a measuring position, while in the illumination position: (1) the illuminator is proximate to and aligned with the sample reservoir along the optical axis and (2) the first shutter blade and the second shutter blade are in the closed position, while in the measuring position: (1) the illuminator is offset from the optical axis and (2) the first shutter blade and the second shutter blade are in the open position; the illuminator illuminating the assay sample while the first shutter blade and the second shutter blade are in the illumination position; the detector detecting luminescence of the assay sample while the first shutter blade and the second shutter blade are in the measuring position.