Patent ID: 6126901
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: G01T,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting low levels of an analyte in a fluid sample with a substrate that includes a sorbent material, comprising:a collecting apparatus, including a collecting chamber adapted to expose the substrate to a measured amount of the fluid sample such that an analyte in the fluid sample can be collected by the sorbent material;a measuring system, including a measuring chamber and a detector responsive to a characteristic of the analyte when the substrate is inside the measuring chamber;a transport mechanism cooperatively structured with the collecting chamber and the measuring chamber to transport the substrate into and out from the collecting chamber and subsequently into and out from the measuring chamber, anda developing apparatus adapted to prepare the substrate for measuring the characteristic of the analyte after being exposed to the fluid sample in the collecting chamber and prior to being transported to the measuring chamber, wherein the developing apparatus includes a drying chamber, and wherein the transport mechanism is also cooperatively structured with the drying chamber to transport the substrate into and out from the drying chamber after being transported out from the collecting chamber and before being transported into the measuring chamber, andwherein the transport mechanism comprises a movable substrate holder that forms a bottom portion of each of the collecting chamber, the drying chamber and the measuring chamber.