Apparatus to evaluate objectively the concentration and motility of particles suspended in a sample of liquid with data processor and display of the results

An apparatus to evaluate objectively the concentration and motility of particles suspended in a liquid sample/samples examined sequentially by exploiting the Doppler effect, such apparatus comprising:

• a box-container (1) wherein all the mechanical, electromechanical, optical component members as well as the component members of a data processor (100) are enclosed to examine sequentially one or more test-pieces and process the respective results;
• a polarized LASER (87) energized through conductors (c) to emit a coherent monochromatic light beam (L) which is reflected, divided and/or refracted by means of a suitable optical system;
• in order that the favourable conditions for exploiting the Doppler effect may be realized;
• an optical system comprising reflecting members (77a,77b, 77c), a divider (78) and a prism (79), so that the firstly reflected light beam (L1) is divided in two sub-beams (L2, L4), the former being a reference sub-beam (L2) the frequency of which is like the frequency (f.sub.o) of the original beam (L) emitted by the LASER, while the latter is the sub-beam incident on the examining test-piece and influenced by the characteristics of same, so that a scattered light sub-beam (L5) is provided having a very near frequency (f) which is rejoined with reference sub-beam (L2) to finally provide a single rejoined beam (L7) the output signal of which is detected and amplifier by a photodetector (101) and processed by the data processor of the apparatus;
• an electromechanical system to support and move a sample-holder (16) which is provided with a set of grooves to seat a respective set of test-pieces, the support (17) of sample-holder (16) being driven by a synchronous gear motor (94) in order that the test-pieces may be sequentially and automatically positioned for the examination in accordance with a previously programmed motion of support (17) and term of each examination through programming cards housed in a suitable card-holder (74,75,76) of box-container (1);
• a data processor (100) to process and display the final results as alpha-numerical evaluations and/or graphic diagrams;
• a monitor (90) to visually display the results;
• a printing device (92) to display in a print form the results, either as singly referred to each test-piece and/or on the whole;
• a keyboard (91) the keys of which are acted by the operator to carry out the operative phases of a sample examination.