Patent ID: 8355132
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. A sample adequacy measurement system comprising: a sample tube unit comprising a frame extending horizontally along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of sample tubes connected to the frame and arranged in a line along the longitudinal axis, each sample tube extending downward in a vertical direction from the frame; a housing having a receptacle formed therein, the receptacle extending in the vertical direction and being dimensioned to selectively receive the plurality of sample tubes therein; a plurality of light sources, each of the plurality of light sources adapted to generate an illumination beam that passes upwards in the vertical direction through a first portion of a respective sample tube; and detection means for determining adequacy of samples located in the plurality of sample tubes, the detection means being adapted to detect a scattered beam emanating from a second portion of each sample tube, wherein the second portion of each sample tube comprises a portion that is protected from contact with environmental surfaces, the detection means further being adapted to detect a reference beam generated by each of the plurality of light sources, wherein the reference beam does not pass through any of the plurality of sample tubes, and wherein the reference beam is oriented at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame.