초록 ▼

An automated chemistry-testing system for analyzing serum samples in which a controlled intensity, monochromatic light beam of substantially any desired wavelength can be selectively directed through any one of a plurality of test solutions in a spectrophotometer. The system operates at very high sp

An automated chemistry-testing system for analyzing serum samples in which a controlled intensity, monochromatic light beam of substantially any desired wavelength can be selectively directed through any one of a plurality of test solutions in a spectrophotometer. The system operates at very high speed, permitting serum test solutions to be scanned with a multiplicity of wavelengths of light to provide extensive data on the characteristics of the serum. The invention also provides substantial flexibility and permits a wide variety of test to be more reliably performed.

대표청구항 ▼

In an apparatus for determining the concentration of a substance of interest in each of a plurality of test solutions, comprising: means for supporting a plurality of test solutions to be examined: means for passing light through said plurality of test solutions; means for detecting said light after

In an apparatus for determining the concentration of a substance of interest in each of a plurality of test solutions, comprising: means for supporting a plurality of test solutions to be examined: means for passing light through said plurality of test solutions; means for detecting said light after being passed through said plurality of test solutions and for generating signals representative of the light-transmittance value of each of said plurality of test solutions; and means for analyzing said signals for providing a measure of the concentration of the substance of interest in each of said plurality of test solutions, the improvement comprising wherein said means for passing light through said plurality of test solutions includes means for generating a plurality of beams of substantially monochromatic light of different wavelengths from a substantially continuous range of available wavelengths, and means for directing said plurality of plurality of substantially monochromatic light beams of different wavelengths to different ones of said plurality of test solutions, said beam-directing means comprising a plurality of optical pathways for directing said plurality of substantially monochromatic light beams to said plurality of test solutions, and optical multiplexer means for directing each of said plurality of substantially monochromatic light beams of different wavelength to a selected one of said plurality of optical pathways for directing each of the substantially monochromatic light beams of different wavelengths to a selected one of said plurality of test solutions.