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US 4,040,788 AGranted
Apparatus, instrumentation, and method for comparing samples
AssigneeSanford L. Simons
InventorsSanford L. Simons, Frederick M. McNeill
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSanford L. Simons
InventorsSanford L. Simons, Frederick M. McNeill
Estimating the term…
Instrument apparatus and method for the cyclically concurrent display of the time related transitional characteristics of a plurality of samples, at least one of which may be a laboratory standard of known value, or all of which samples may be unknown. Separate electrical signals derived as the samples are simultaneously activated, exposed, treated, analyzed or observed are gated by multiplexing circuits on a split time basis that may allot equal or varied time periods for the separate samples. The strength of the signal from the samples may be separately or cooperatively adjusted to enhance comparison or differential features as the signals are delivered to display components for study or recording. Where strip chart or other index marking recorders having a time related movement pattern are utilized, the sequential signals derived for each sample progressively provide traces, the length or arc of which is a derivative of the then occurring rate of reaction for the sample and the process to which it is being subjected, and this trace length then provides a graphical representation of the instantaneous slope or rate of change for that sample. As an example, the apparatus is used in aggregation or other studies of blood samples wherein components of the instrument provide a controlled temperature environment, rate controlled and identical stirring, even lighting with ambient light influence correction, and selective release and recording of single or multiple signals.
Instrument apparatus for the study of time and process related changes in a plurality of separate samples that are to be subjected to influences that will change characteristics of said samples comprising a base component providing a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive a plurality of samples, sensor means providing a plurality of separate sequential status and condition related signals for each of said samples as testing continues over a period of time, a single display component providing a readout for the sequential signals derived and related to a plurality of samples, and a time related switching component for alternately releasing the signals related to each sample for cyclical and non-simultaneous display.
Instrument apparatus for the study of time and process related changes in samples that are to be subjected to controlled influences, inclusive of internal agitation, comprising a sample support base component providing a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive a plurality of samples, a plurality of stirring motors with each motor disposed under one of said receptacles, rotary magnets for each of said motors disposed to rotate beneath said receptacles, stirring bars of magnetisable capability for disposition in said samples for rotation under the influence of said rotary magnets, a power circuit for said instrument and interconnected to said stirring motors for powering rotation thereof, a Hall sensor disposed adjacent one of said rotary magnets whereby pulsed signals are emitted by said Hall sensor, a control transistor for said instrument apparatus with the collector and emitter thereof being disposed in the power circuit for said stirring motors, and signal summing components connected intermediate said Hall sensor and the base of said control transistor whereby the output of said signal summing component operates to control the output voltage of said power circuit passing said control transistor for the regulation of the speed of said stirring motors.
Instrument apparatus for the study of time and process related changes in samples that are to be subjected to controlled influences, inclusive of temperature, comprising a sample support base component providing a receptacle for holding said sample, a power circuit providing voltage outputs of increased and decreased value, a transistor for use as a heat source mounted on said support base, a thermistor element having a changing resistance characteristic with changes in temperature for sensing the temperature of said support base, a variable resistance element for the selection of desired instrument temperatures, means for interconnecting said thermistor and variable resistance to varied voltage outputs of said power circuit, and means interconnecting the base of said transistor at a circuit point intermediate said thermistor and variable resistance for biasing said transistor base with said transistor being biased for conductance at a voltage intermediate said power circuit varied voltage outputs whereby said transistor heat source acts additionally as its own switch to turn on and off as the temperature of the support base decreases and increases.
A method for displaying representations of rates of change for a plurality of samples subjected to process and time influences comprising providing a plurality of samples for testing, obtaining substantially continuous output status signals from each of said samples, switching each of said sample related signals on and off in a sequential manner whereby only one output signal is released at a time, applying the resulting released signal to a single marking element of a chart recorder wherein the chart is moved at a regular real time rate with said marking element accordingly moving from one separate sample related signal position to another as the signal outputs are switched, and the total trace obtained is made up of separate segmental traces interconnected by time based lines whereby the length of segmental traces is indicative of rates of change for the related samples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.