Immunological agglutination detecting apparatus with separately controlled supplementary light sources

In an immunological agglutination detecting apparatus including an examination plate provided with a plurality of reaction vessels each having a slanted bottom surface for facilitating the formation of agglutination patterns therein, said reaction vessels being arranged in a grid pattern, a light emitting means and a light receiving means respectively positioned on opposite sides of said examination plate so that light from said light emitting means is directed onto the agglutination patterns contained in a first selected group of said reaction vessels to form images of the agglutination patterns which are received by said light receiving means, said light receiving means including a light receiving element and a plurality of lenses for focusing the images onto the light receiving element, and said light receiving element including means for producing an output electrical signal in response to the images input thereto, the improvement wherein:

• said light emitting means includes a plurality of primary point light sources arranged in a first row and equal in number to the number of reaction vessels in said first selected group, said apparatus further including means for positioning said primary point light sources in respective alignment with the reaction vessels of said first selected group to permit each said primary point light source to directly illuminate the reaction vessel in association therewith, and said light emitting means further including at least first and second supplemental point light sources positioned respectively adjacent opposite ends of said first row of primary point light sources, and first light intensity adjusting means for (1) adjusting the intensities of said primary point light sources without altering the intensities of said supplemental point light sources and (2) adjusting the intensities of said supplemental point light sources without altering the intensities of said primary point light sources.

In an immunological agglutination detecting apparatus including a row of reaction vessels adapted to house agglutination reactions therein, a light emitting means for emitting light onto and through said reaction vessels, a light sensitive means for receiving light emitted from said light emitting means, and means for supporting said row of reaction vessels between said light emitting means and said light sensitive means so that light passes from said light emitting means through said reaction vessels and onto said light sensitive means, the improvement wherein:

• said light emitting means includes a plurality of primary point light sources arranged in a row and equal in number to the number of reaction vessels, a plurality of supplemental point light sources arranged so that first and second said supplemental point light sources are disposed respectively adjacent opposite ends of said row of primary point light sources, and first light intensity adjusting means for (1) adjusting the intensities of said primary point light sources without altering the intensities of said supplemental point light sources and (2) adjusting the intensities of said supplemental point light sources without altering the intensities of said primary point light sources;
• and
• said apparatus includes means for positioning said primary point light sources in respective alignment with said reaction vessels to permit each said primary point light source to directly illuminate the reaction vessel in respective alignment therewith.