Ribbed mechanism for mixing sample by vibration
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsRaymond F. Jakubowicz, Johannes J. Porte
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Abstract
Apparatus for mixing are disclosed for use in an analyzer providing wet assays in a cuvette. Preferably, they comprise protrusions that project into the path of the cuvette as it passes through preferably the incubator. The protrusions can be fixed or driven, and can project upwardly or sideways into the path of the moving curvette. The mixing is useful to cause thorough mixing of, e.g., a diluent with a liquid sample.
Claims10
In an analyzer for conducting a wet assay in a liquid in a cuvette, the analyzer comprising first station means for adding a liquid reagent to liquid in a cuvette, second station means for mixing the reagent with the liquid already in the cuvette, and station-to-station means for moving cuvettes from station-to-station along a path,
- said means for mixing comprising at least one set of spaced-apart protrusions projecting out into said path traced by the cuvette,
- said means for moving cuvettes from station-to-station along a path providing relative motion between said protrusions and at least one of said cuvettes, so that at least one said cuvette is repeatedly disturbed by being placed in direct contact with said projecting protrusions and the liquid content to be mixed;
- the improvement wherein the total volume of liquid to be mixed is no greater than about 200 .mu.l, and said protrusions create a bump frequency of about 20 to about 165 bumps per second and a bump amplitude, measured as the amount of vertical displacement of the bottom of said cuvettes of between about 0.6 and 3.0 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.