Chemical analyzer
AssigneeData Chem., Inc.
InventorsRamesh M. Shah, Thomas H. Ridgway
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic chemical analyzer for the analysis of physiological samples. A scanning monochromatic spectrophotometer may be used to determine the absorbance of the sample under control of a central processing unit. Outputs from one of several ion selective electrodes may also be selected by the system. The information obtained from the measurements is stored in memory or ouputted to output devices. Information about the test parameters may be read from an optical bar code associated with the test kit for the particular chemical analysis.
Claims8
A computer-aided chemical analyzer for analysis of physiological samples, comprising:
- (a) means for holding a test sample at a sample station;
- (b) means for performing a plurality of analytical tests of said test sample, said analytical testing means further comprising a plurality of input/output devices for providing output signals representative of physical characteristics of the test sample, and said input/output devices including a monochromatic scanning spectrophotometer for selectively directing substantially monochromatic light of a selected wavelength at a test sample and means for measuring the monochromatic light absorbed by the test sample;
- (c) processing means including a host digital computer having a control program for controlling the analytical testing means and calculating data from output signals of the input/output devices;
- and
- (d) computer compatible data entry means for communicating specific test instructions to said processing means, wherein said data entry means may provide test instructions to operate and control at least one of the input/output devices, and wherein said control program includes primitive instructions designed to utilize test instructions received by said computer compatible data entry means to automatically create new control and test procedures and parameters for performing and controlling analysis of a test sample with one or more of said input/output devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.