Patent ID: 7544961
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An instrument for detecting light emission from a sample, the instrument comprising: a photon detector; a chamber for receiving a sample to be analyzed using the photon detector, the chamber being adjacent the photon detector and having a shutter member selectively positionable to be open or closed, wherein when the shutter member is open, the photon detector can be exposed to light from a sample in the chamber, and when the shutter member is closed, the photon detector is blocked from light in the chamber or external light entering the chamber; a holding member for positioning the sample, the holding member providing a holding chamber for receiving such sample, the holding member being configured so that manual movement thereof can rotate the shutter member, a cover for the holding chamber, the cover being selectively positionable between an open position or closed position, when the shutter member is closed, the holding member further comprising a slidable member that can be displaced between an up position and a down position to position the instrument between a sample loading position and a sample measurement position, the slidable member being coupled to the shutter member such that, when the cover is closed, displacement of the slidable member from the up position to the down position opens the shutter, characterized in that said slidable member is a slidable shaft and the instrument includes a rotatable shaft having a helical guiding member to translate longitudinal motion of the slidable shaft into rotational motion, the rotatable shaft being coupled to the shutter member so that longitudinal displacement of the slidable shaft from the up position to the down position rotates the shutter member to the open position and longitudinal displacement of the slidable shaft from the down position to the up position rotates the shutter member to the closed position, the instrument being configured so that the cover must be closed before the slidable shaft can be displaced downwardly sufficiently to open the shutter member.