Chemiluminescence analyzer

A chemiluminescence analyzer for determining the level of chemiluminescence of a specimen comprising:

• a light detection chamber for containing a specimen to be analyzed, said light detection chamber including a chamber access device for allowing the positioning of the specimen within said light detection chamber, said light detection chamber further including a shutter device, wherein said shutter device and said chamber access device are configured to each have an open position and a closed position;
• a light detector, positioned behind said shutter device, for detecting light within said light detection chamber when said shutter device is in said open position, said light detector being configured to generate a current-based chemiluminescence intensity signal indicative of the level of chemiluminescence of the specimen positioned within said light detection chamber;
• a current-to-pulse frequency transformer circuit for processing said current-based chemiluminescence intensity signal to generate a digital output data signal indicative of the level of chemiluminescence of the specimen positioned within said light detection chamber;
• and
• a personal computer for storing the output data encoded within said digital output data signal, said personal computer including a data presentation process for analyzing said output data and presenting said output data to the user of said chemiluminescence analyzer in a graphical or tabular format.

A chemiluminescence analyzer for determining the level of chemiluminescence of a specimen comprising:

• a light detection chamber for containing a specimen to be analyzed, said light detection chamber including a chamber access device for allowing the positioning of the specimen within said light detection chamber, said light detection chamber further including a shutter device, wherein said shutter device and said chamber access device are configured to each have an open position and a closed position;
• a light detector, positioned behind said shutter device, for detecting light within said light detection chamber when said shutter device is in said open position;
• and
• a temperature control system for maintaining the ambient temperature within said light detection chamber at a predefined level.

A method for determining the level of chemiluminescence of a specimen comprising:

• positioning the specimen within a light detection chamber;
• positioning a light detector behind a shutter incorporated into the light detection chamber;
• opening the shutter to allow the light detector to detect light within the light detection chamber;
• generating a chemiluminescence intensity signal indicative of the level of chemiluminescence of the specimen positioned within the light detection chamber;
• and
• interfacing the shutter device and the chamber access device to prevent the shutter device and the chamber access device from being simultaneously opened.