Colorimetric detecting device having a reagent supply vessel

A colorimetric detecting device for a gaseous test quantity, the detecting device comprising:

• a housing having a first recess having a first longitudinal axis formed therein and an unobstructed clear opening communicating with said first recess to permit the gaseous test quantity to migrate to said first recess;
• a carrier having first and second end faces and at least one side wall perpendicular to said first and second end faces, said carrier being seated in said first recess, and said first end face being disposed at said opening so as to be directly viewable by an observer through said opening;
• said first end face defining an unobstructed detecting surface exposed directly to the gaseous test quantity to be detected and having a detecting region below said detecting surface;
• a detecting substance disposed in said carrier;
• said housing having a second recess having a second longitudinal axis different from said first axis formed therein;
• a reagent supply vessel seated in said second recess and containing a reagent solution having a reaction constituent dissolved therein;
• said reaction constituent containing a color indicator;
• said second end face being disposed opposite said first end face;
• releasing means mounted on said housing for acting on said vessel to permit said reagent solution to pour out of said vessel;
• said housing defining a reagent chamber formed therein between said second recess and said second end face for receiving said reagent solution released from said vessel and allowing said reagent solution to come into contact with said second end face of said carrier for uniformly wetting said second end face thereby preventing said reagent solution from pouring over said carrier in an uncontrolled manner;
• and,
• said carrier being a porous body to facilitate a capillary movement up to said detecting region by said reagent solution to combine with said detecting substance and said gaseous test quantity to form a reaction product which enters into a reaction with said color indicator to provide a color change on said detecting surface directly viewable by an observer through said opening.

A colorimetric detecting kit for a gaseous test quantity, the detecting kit comprising:

• a housing having a first recess having a first longitudinal axis formed therein and an unobstructed clear opening communicating with said first recess to permit the gaseous test quantity to migrate to said first recess;
• a carrier having first and second end faces and at least one side wall perpendicular to said first and second end faces, said carrier being seated in said first recess and having a first end face being disposed at said opening so as to be directly viewable by an observer through said opening;
• said first end face defining an unobstructed detecting surface exposed directly to the gaseous test quantity to be detected and having a detecting region below said detecting surface;
• said housing having a second recess having a second longitudinal axis different from said first axis formed therein;
• said second end face being disposed opposite said first end face;
• said carrier having a substance region in said carrier in the vicinity of said second end face containing a reaction constituent having a color indicator;
• said detecting region being in spaced relationship to said substance region within said carrier;
• said housing having a wall in the form of a self-sealing septum delimiting said second recess;
• said housing defining a channel formed therein between said second recess and said second end face for conducting a reagent solution to said second end face of said carrier for uniformly wetting said second end face and for dissolving said reaction constituent thereby preventing said reagent solution from pouring over said carrier in an uncontrolled manner;
• said carrier being a porous body to facilitate a capillary movement up to said detecting region by said reagent solution with said dissolved reaction constituent therein to combine with said detecting substance and said gaseous test quantity to form a reaction product which enters into a color-changing reaction with said color indicator to provide a color change on said detecting surface directly viewable by an observer through said opening;
• and,
• a manually actuable reagent supply vessel containing said reagent solution, said vessel being separate from said housing;
• said reagent supply vessel being a syringe having a cannula for penetrating said septum to permit said reagent solution to be injected into said second recess.