MEASURING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH LIQUID DISPENSER

Abstract: A vertically measuring photometer, to the movable measuring head of which has been attached a liquid dis­ penser.

Description: Measuring apparatus provided with liquid dispenser. The present invention concerns a separate apparatus measuring the radiation characteristics of liquid samples, such as a photometer, a spectrophotometer, a fluorometer, a luminometer, a turbidometer, a nephelometer, a cell counter, or an isotope counter. In prior art are known types of analysis apparatus, e.g. photometers, having a set of cuvettes for the samples and a movable measuring head for receiving radiation or for conveying radiation into the sample. Such apparatus also exists which furthermore has a liquid dispenser by which a sample of a reagent can be conveyed into the cuvettes. A means like this is required e.g. when the measurement has to be performed immediately upon adding reagent. An analysis apparatus has now been invented which comprises a set of cuvettes, a liquid dispenser and a movable measuring head and in which the liquid dispenser has been affixed to the measuring head. As taught by one embodiment, the set of cuvettes may moreover be movable in the horizontal plane. The apparatus of the invention has the advantage, to start with, that no separate movable member is required for managing the dispensing of liquids. Furthermore, it is possible with the apparatus to measure the sample with shorter delay than before immediately before and after adding reagent, whereby the range of applications of the apparatus is significantly expanded. The use of a movable set of cuvettes furthermore increases the flexibility in use of the apparatus. One embodiment of the invention is more closely illustrated with the aid of the attached drawing. The light is introduced in the measuring head from a light source through a fibre bundle 1. With the aid of a collecting lens 2, the light beam emerging from the end 3 of the fibre bundle is adapted to pass through the sample 5 in the set of cuvettes 4, whereafter the light beam impinges on a photodetector 6. The light path has been indicated with interrupted lines in Fig. 2. The signal from the light detector is processed in an electric circuit and the calculations, if such are needed, are carried out e.g. with a computer. The liquid is introduced in the measuring head by a flexible tube 7 and it is dispensed into the cuvettes, or drawn from the cuvettes, through the tip 8. In the figure, the light detector and the tip of the liquid dispenser are not located at the same point, and the measuring head must therefore be slightly displaced between the dispensing and measuring steps having reference to one given cuvette. This need of displacement may be avoided e.g. by bending the tip of the liquid dispenser in under the light detector. The ligh source, the light detector and the tip of the liquid dispenser have been installed in the measuring fork in such a way that when the measuring fork moves they will be held in fixed positions relative to each other. The movement of the measuring fork is at right angles against the path of movement of the set of cuvettes so that any one of the cuvettes can be subjected to measurement by moving both through a given distance. If the apparatus is used to measure absorption, the most advantageous method of measurement is the so-called vertical measuring mode. In this case, the light source is most advantageously located below the set of cuvettes.

Claims: Claims 1. Apparatus for use in measuring radiation characterisitics of liquid samples, comprising a set of cuvettes, a liquid dispenser and a movable measuring head, characterised in that the tip of the liquid dispenser has been affixed to the measuring head. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the set of cuvettes is movable in the horizontal plane.

Inventors: EKHOLM, PERTTI, KAUKANEN, ESKO, SUOVANIEMI, OSMO
Applicants: LABSYSTEMS OY
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G01N21
IPC codes: G01N21