Abstract: An analysis system for measuring a plurality of parameters of a fluid sample comprises a housing, and a flow-through cell in the housing that has opposed surfaces with at least two ports in each surface. One of the ports is an inlet port, a second of the ports is an outlet port, and at least two of the ports are sensing ports. A sample flow path including a serpentine portion in the cell serially connects the ports and extends from a port in one surface to a port in the other surface and back to a port in the one surface, and a sensor is disposed in sealing engagement with each sensing port and forms a portion of the serpentine flow path so that sample fluid to be analyzed contacts a surface of each sensor.

Abstract: A device for dispensing liquid from an ampul or the like has a body that defines a cavity with an open entrance end for receiving an ampul. An annular seal in the cavity is in sealing engagement with an ampul as the ampul is telescopically inserted into the cavity, and an inlet tube secured in the cavity has an inlet end adjacent the open end of the cavity and an outlet end in fluid communication with a dispensing passage, so that when an ampul is in sealing engagement with the annular seal and the inlet end of the tube is submerged in liquid in the ampul, further axial movement of the ampul into the cavity creates a piston action which compresses air trapped in the cavity and forces liquid from the ampul through the inlet tube and the dispensing passage in a dispensing action.

Abstract: A liquid sample analyzer has an analysis chamber adapted to receive sample material to be analyzed, sensor means coupled to the analysis chamber for providing an output signal related to a constituent of the sample material, and sampler apparatus that includes structure defining a sample intake flow path that has an inlet port and is connected to the analysis chamber, and rinse apparatus in communication with a waste system. A wiper member slides along the intake tube for wiping sample residue from the outer surface of the intake tube. A drive moves the sample inlet port between a sample intake position in which the inlet port is exposed to the operator and a reset position in which the inlet port is aligned with and the wiper is seated on the rinse apparatus.

Abstract: An input control includes first and second keyboard assemblies mounted on a common structural unit, an encoder on the unit, and a plurality of output conductors connected to the encoder for transmitting a binary coded signal when a key is actuated. The first keyboard assembly includes a set of keys that generate the same input control function signals as do the keys in the second keyboard assembly. The structural unit is mounted for rotation between an upright position in which only the first keyboard assembly is operator accessible and an inverted position in which only the second keyboard assembly is operator accessible. A latch is provided for locking the structural unit in either position.

Abstract: A highly accurate, rapid scanning monochromator type of spectroanalysis system employs a source of the plasma emission type, a filtering monochromator, and a resolving monochromator. Each monochromator has a dispersing element and the two dispersing elements are arranged to be moved simultaneously but at different rates such that the spectral order of radiation from the source as dispersed by the first dispersing element is different from the spectral order of radiation dispersed by the second dispersing element, together with selectively operable control means for moving the two dispersing elements simultaneously and at the same rate.

Abstract: A liquid handling system that is particularly useful in a clinical analysis system and includes first and second storage chambers, each with a port through which liquid may be flowed into and from the storage chamber. The storage chambers and their ports are arranged to permit concurrent flowing of liquids from both storage chambers into a processing chamber. The system also includes two liquid metering means and a diluent reservoir. A valve arrangement enables connection of one of the metering means to the diluent reservoir and to either of the storage chambers; and each metering means, when connected to a storage chamber, controls flow of liquid into and out of the storage chamber through its port. The two metering means and the valve arrangement provide flexibility in selecting dilution ratios and delivering raw and diluted sample as required to an array of chambers for analysis or other processing.

Abstract: A multicuvette rotor assembly for use in a clinical chemistry analyzer of the centrifugal type includes a body member that defines a circumferential array of spaced radially extending recesses, with a divider member in each recess to define a first chamber and a second chamber radial outward from said first chamber; and a ring member that has a mating reference surface seated on an annular reference surface of the body member, with the inner peripheral surface of the ring member located outwardly of the middle of the second chambers.

Abstract: An induction plasma system includes a plasma chamber, a high frequency electrical coil that surrounds the chamber, and an oscillator for energizing the coil to establish a plasma maintaining condition in the chamber. The oscillator tank circuit includes the coil, and is tuned so that it is essentially at resonance when a plasma condition is established in the chamber. Ignition means is arranged for initiating a plasma condition, and is constructed such that insertion of the ignition means into the chamber in the absence of a plasma condition shifts the impedance condition in the chamber to essentially the same tuned condition that exists when a plasma condition is established in the plasma chamber, but without need to adjust any component of the tank circuit.

Abstract: A valve that is particularly useful in biological fluid handling systems includes a body member that has a firm and stable support surface and a flexible sheet member that has a surface for conforming and mating engagement with the surface of the valve body member. A land portion in the surface of one of the valve members separates two fluid flow channels in that member. An actuator is arranged to flex the sheet member between a first position in which the surface of the sheet member is in mating and sealing engagement with the surface of the body member to sealing block flow between the two channels, and a second position in which the sheet surface is spaced from the first position to allow fluid flow across the land surface between the two flow channels.

Abstract: A blood gas control liquid comprises water, 5-40 percent by volume of a water-insoluble perfluorinated compound material that has an oxygen solubility coefficient, at one atmosphere pressure, 25.degree. C., and a volumetric proportion of 15 percent of at least 10 ml O.sub.2 per 100 mL emulsion, 0.25-10 percent by volume of a nonionic, fluorocarbon-based surfactant, a preservative agent and a buffering agent which is substantially non-reactive with said preservative agent. The blood gas control liquid has a pH in the range of 7-8, a partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the range of 15-80 millimeters Hg, and a partial pressure of oxygen in the range of 20-600 mm Hg.

Abstract: A total carbon dioxide analyzer system has a reaction chamber that includes a tube and a piston mounted for sliding movement in the tube to change the volume of the chamber. A valve coupled to the chamber has a sample inlet port and a reagent inlet port, and is movable between a first state in which the sample inlet port is connected to the chamber, a second state in which the reagent inlet port is connected to the chamber, and a third state in which the reaction chamber is sealed. A system controller coordinately operates the valve and moves the piston to increase the volume of said chamber to draw sample into the chamber for mixing with an acid reagent in the chamber, and then seals the chamber and increases the volume of the chamber to facilitate the release of carbon dioxide. A transducer then senses the pressure of carbon dioxide in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A valve includes housing and body members that have cylindrical valve surfaces. The valve body being centered in the housing by an array of at least three resilient support elements circumferentially spaced about the valve body. The valve body includes a plurality of ports arranged for selective alignment with housing ports as the valve body member is rotated and a through passage that connects two of the valve body ports. The resilient support members are apertured and conform in sealing engagement between the juxtaposed cylindrical valve surfaces so that they also function as annular valve seal members.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a biological fluid specimen or the like includes an analysis chamber and an electrochemical electrode measuring system connected in sensing relation to the analysis chamber. A flow network connects a sample inlet port and an auxiliary fluid reservoir to the analysis chamber. The flow network includes a sample line connected between the sample inlet port and the analysis chamber and an auxiliary manifold connected to the auxiliary fluid reservoir. A positive displacement pump is connected in the sample line between the analysis chamber and a waste outlet port.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing the contents of a sealed package includes a package alignment assembly, and a probe assembly that has a puncturing tip. The package alignment assembly includes a positioning support surface in alignment with the puncturing tip and supplemental resiliently supported structure spaced from the support surface for aligning the package to be analyzed with the probe assembly. A flow path extends from the puncturing tip to an analysis unit for withdrawing and analyzing a sample of the contents of the package.

Abstract: A portable fluid analyzer has a sampling section with flow passage structure for sealing engagement with a discharge port of a zwickel fitting or the like and retainer structure for engagement with the fitting. The retainer structure is urged by a spring towards a retaining position and is movable, by a manual operator towards a released position. When the retainer structure is engaged with the fitting and the manual operator is released, the sealing member is urged by the spring into engagement with the fitting's discharge port. The analyzer also includes an analysis chamber connected to the discharge end of the flow passage structure and monitoring means for providing an output as a function of a constituent of the fluid in the analysis chamber.

Abstract: Sampling apparatus designed for aspirating, diluting and mixing a small sample of fluid in precise amounts and delivering the mixture to a scientific apparatus at a place remote from the place of aspiration. Operation of the device may be manual but is preferably automatic. The apparatus is designed to process a plurality of sample fluids with no cross-contamination between samples. In essence, the apparatus is a fluid handling system including a sample pick-up assembly in fluid communication with an automatic valve assembly having two operative positions. The automatic valve assembly is in fluid communication with a dilutor assembly having a sample pump and a diluent pump operable by a common means. A mixing and delivery assembly is also in fluid communication with the automatic valve assembly and includes a cup designed for bidirectional rotation with an annular space about the cup.

Abstract: A disposable multi-cuvette rotor for use in an analytical photometer which comprises two injection molded parts from a transparent material of suitable chemical and absorption characteristics. These parts are joined together by ultrasonic welding and when so joined, define a plurality of radially-arranged cuvettes being separated by triangularly-shaped open spaces. Each of the cuvettes is divided into adjoining sample and reagent/measuring chambers by a wedge-shaped dam in a manner that the chambers are communicating with one another through an open space above the dam. There are pairs of recessed optical windows formed in both of the parts which are axially aligned and positioned adjacent the chambers of the greater radial distance so as to provide opposing planar walls defining an optical path through the chambers. There is provided a further integral optical window in the radial outer wall of each reagent/measuring chamber for use of the chamber in a light scattering or fluorescent measuring mode.

Abstract: The fluid valve essentially comprises a support structure designed rotatably to support an inlet within a certain oscillatory ambit and stationarily supporting a plurality of outlets within the oscillatory ambit, and operative means for effecting fluid-tight communication seriatim between the inlet and one of the outlets. The inlet is preferably a blunt needle provided with a side port and each of the outlets comprises an inverted "Y"-shaped member formed of an entrance portion and a pair of leg portions. The needle is designed to be thrust into the entrance portion, so that its side port establishes fluid-tight communication with one of the leg portions. Means are provided, including a pneumatic cylinder, for effecting relative motion between the inlet and the outlets. There is also a means for normally closing off all the entrance portions of the outlets except the selected one, and only during the entry of the blunt needle therein.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the simultaneous automatic analysis and sequential displaying in digital form of a plurality of parameters of whole or hemolyzed blood samples, such as total hemoglobin, percent oxyhemoglobin, percent carboxyhemoglobin, percent methemoglobin (in each case percent meaning percentage of total hemoglobin) and oxygen content. The apparatus is an electro-optical instrument including a servo-controlled spectral line source, such as a hollow cathode lamp, a laser etc., a ratiometric logarithmic amplifier of minimized dynamic range, a fluid-flow system of improved design that combine to measure the absorbances of blood samples at a plurality of wavelengths defined and generated by the spectral line source, to calculate the above parameters based on the absorbances by the use of a micro-computer and associated circuitry absorbances, to display automatically and digitally one of the parameters, and then to display digitally seriatim the remaining parameters responsive to operator intervention.

Abstract: A continuous automatic calibration system and fault detection method for analytical instruments of the kind used for measuring constituents of a fluid sample which system includes a memory for storing reference information, a comparator circuit for continuously comparing the instrument output to the stored reference information, and a sample-and-hold circuit charged positive or negative by the comparator, depending whether or not the instrument output exceeds the value of the reference information. The output of the sample-and-hold circuit in turn is coupled to the instrument continuously to adjust its output to correct value. Where the maximum allowed corrective range of the sample-and-hold circuit is exceeded by the signal from the comparator circuit beyond a predetermined time period, the system displays fault, warning the operator.