GB1423987A - Centrifugal analysers - Google Patents

Abstract

1423987 Analytical centrifuge MSE PRECISION MFRS Ltd 15 June 1973 [16 March 1972] 12449/72 Heading B2P [Also in Division G1] A centrifugal analyzer comprises two or more rotors 9, 10 having a pulrality of sample anaylsis chambers 6 each associated with material receiving spaces 4, 5 from which materials can be centrifuged into the respective chamber, and a material loading mechanism 11-14 which is adapted to accept quantities of materials from locations 18, 23 of the analyser at which materials can be stored, and which is movable selectively to loading locations associated with respective rotors for discharging the quantities of materials into the receiving spaces 4, 5 of a selected one of the rotors, whereby a loaded rotor can be rotated to centrifuge its contents while another rotor is being loaded. Each rotor comprises a rotor member 1 and a top plate 2 both made of transparent material and contains a plurality of radially extending series 3 of cavities, each series comprising spaces 4, 5 and a chamber 6. The radially outer end of each chamber is connected to the periphery of the rotor member by a capillary channel 7. The rotors 9, 10 are contained in a temperature-controlled enclosure 8. The loading mechanism comprises an arm 11 pivotable by drive means 15 and carrying syringe-type dispensers 13, 14 which in the loading position of the arm respectively overlies a space 4 and a corresponding space 5 in the rotor. The rotors have respective drive means 16, 17 by which, in one mode, the rotors may be driven at a constant speed and, in another mode, the rotors may be indexed to place the sets of spaces 4, 5 successively beneath the dispensers 13, 14. The modes of operation of the drive means may be manually or automatically controlled. Samples to be analysed are contained in cups 22 carried by a conveyor 21 which may be operated to index the cups one by one to location 23. The drive means 15 is manually or automatically controlled so that the arm 11 may be pivoted first to location 23 where the dispenser 13 is placed above a cup 22 and is remotely actuated to withdraw a predetermined amount of sample from the cup, then to location 18 where the dispensers 13 and 14 withdraw measured amounts of diluent and reagent respectively from reservoirs 19 and 20, and finally to the leading location associated with a rotor, e.g. rotor 9, where the dispensers discharge their contents to a pair of receiving spaces 4, 5. The rotor is then indexed to bring a desired number of pairs of receiving spaces to the loading location, so that the loading steps of the arm can be repeated. The same loading procedure may be repeated with the rotor 10 whilst the rotor 9 is run up to a constant speed to cause the materials to be centrifuged in the chambers 6 so as to have their light transmission properties analysed by means of an optical device, Fig. 4 (not shown).