Abstract: Portable vacuum systems are provided. In one embodiment, a portable vacuum system includes a tank, an engine, and a transportation system. The engine is configured to generate a vacuum within the tank. The transportation system illustratively has one or more wheels and is configured to tilt the tank about an axis that is between a front and a back of the tank. In other embodiments, a portable vacuum system may also include a swivel elbow that connects the tank to a vacuum wand, a ledge that supports the engine, a back door that forms a seal with the tank along a curved lip, and a filter that is accessible through a threaded cover on the tank. Additionally, one or more of the components of a system may be made utilizing rotational molding.

Abstract: Portable vacuum systems are provided. In one embodiment, a portable vacuum system includes a tank, an engine, and a transportation system. The engine is configured to generate a vacuum within the tank. The transportation system illustratively has one or more wheels and is configured to tilt the tank about an axis that is between a front and a back of the tank. In other embodiments, a portable vacuum system may also include a swivel elbow that connects the tank to a vacuum wand, a ledge that supports the engine, a back door that forms a seal with the tank along a curved lip, and a filter that is accessible through a threaded cover on the tank. Additionally, one or more of the components of a system may be made utilizing rotational molding.

Abstract: Medical testing apparatus including a microprocessor controlled centrifuge having a group of cuvettes therein. The apparatus also includes a microdiluter apparatus with a pair of pumps therein of differing diluting capability. The cuvettes have hollow main bodies produced from transparent material to allow analysis of the specimen within the cuvettes by a series of spectrophotometers adapted to read the cuvettes while they are rotating within the centrifuge. Bags of reagent are received within the cuvettes and are designed to burst upon reaching a given level of centrifugal force allowing the reagent to flow from the bags into a test chamber within the cuvette main body. Projections are provided on the cuvettes to control the orientation of the cuvettes when inserted into the microdiluter apparatus. A tab is provided on each cuvette in proper orientation to actuate the appropriate microdiluter pump for the test the cuvette is intended for.

Abstract: An automatically-adjusting photometer for measuring the absorbance of a sample in which the amount of light passing through a sample test location is sensed by a photodetector and converted to an electrical output signal. The output signal is amplified and converted to a logarithmic value. Prior to measuring the absorbance of a sample, the photometer is calibrated by a computer. With the sample test location empty, the computer records and places in memory a logarithmic value proportional to the electrical output signal which corresponds to zero absorbance. Next, this value is reduced by a predetermined factor by switching a resistor into the calibration circuitry. The resulting value is also recorded and placed in memory by the computer. When a sample is placed in the test location, the computer records a value proportional to the electrical output signal which corresponds to the absorbance of the sample. Using the three recorded values the computer calculates the correctly-adjusted absorbance of the sample.