Abstract: A measuring instrument for bioluminescence and chemiluminescence has coupled holders that can slide on a horizontal locating surface with specimen pans, which are fed successively to a light entry port (point of measurement) which is shielded outwardly in light-tight fashion. The holders are fitted with a side window and the point of measurement is placed at the level of these windows opposite thereto.Among other advantages, the specimen pans need no longer be removed from their holders in order to carry out the measurement at the point of measurement, but can remain therein. The mechanical driving and sliding mechanisms for this vertical lift needed heretofore can thus be dispensed with.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting oil and other lighter-than-water contaminants in an effluent stream in a sewage system. The apparatus includes a disposable detector which floats in the effluent stream and detects oil and other contaminants having a specific gravity lighter than the water by absorbing the oil and such contaminants in an oleophilic material, permitting the oil and other contaminants to rise and collect in a collection tube. The acidity or pH of the effluent being monitored is determined by routing a portion of the effluent stream through the lower side of the detector across a litmus paper. The detector is held in the sewage system by a securing system which indicates whether the detector has been tampered with since it was installed.

Abstract: An analysis instrument is characterized by a rotatable mold ring onto which is drawn superimposed sheets of plastic material. The inner sheet is softened and formed into an indented mold cavity and the outer sheet sealed thereover to define a partially closed sample chamber, or cuvette. A sample to be analyzed is introduced into the chamber. Any of the chambers may have selectively introduced thereinto a suitable reagent and the reaction occurring in any chamber may be selectively monitored at any predetermined circumferential location of the mold ring.

Abstract: The automatic sampling system includes a test apparatus for testing specific characteristics of a fluid withdrawn from a closed test tube. Stoppered test tubes are continuously and automatically delivered to the test apparatus by a conveyor system that includes a continuous linkage of test tube holders. The test tube holders have the capability of pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis of the test tube holders, and tilting movement wherein a longitudinal axis of one test tube holder tilts with respect to the longitudinal axis of another test tube holder in the linkage. The compound pivotal and tilting movement capability of the test tube holders in the linkage enable the linkage to be stacked in a fan-fold or Z-fold arrangement because of the flexible characteristics of the linkage. The linkage also has the capability of having one or more test tube holders tilted together at a group with respect to other test tube holders. Thus, the basis for a mixing operation of specific test tube holders is achieved.

Abstract: An extraction and treatment apparatus which includes multiple solvent tanks which are switchably connected to multiple sample tubes in which material to be processed is contained. The sample tubes are filled with solvent from the tanks and drained of their processed contents, under the control of a microcomputer.

Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus for analyzing agglutination patterns produced in response to an immunological agglutinating reaction is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a device for carrying a plurality of sample tubes which accommodate blood samples to be analyzed therein at a delivery position in order, a device for forming a plurality of diluent blood samples by diluting the blood samples in the tubes at the delivery position, and a device for transporting microplates having blood samples and reagents delivered in the reaction vessels along the line in a substantially stationary manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a combustible gas which comprises a Wheatstone bridge circuit having a detector element comprising an electrically conducting member coated with a refractory and having on the surface of said refractory a catalyst for the oxidation of said gas, said detector element constituting one leg of said bridge, and a reference element comprising an electrically conducting member coated with a refractory, said reference element constituting a second leg of said bridge, whereby upon catalytic oxidation of said gas an electrical signal approximately proportional to the amount of said gas present at the detector element is produced. The improvement comprises a reaction control block having a cover in the form of a dust shield and having two chambers, one containing said detector element, and the other containing said reference element.

Abstract: In the production of carbon black, low BTU content gases are combusted in a compact combustion zone with near stoichiometric amounts of oxidant gases, tempered to the desired temperature and volume with a diluent gas stream which can be selected from air and filter off-gases, and introduced into a reactor for the pyrolysis of a carbonceous feedstock to form carbon black.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable test kit which contains selected reactants, or reagents, necessary for the rapid concentration and detection of selected antigens from biologic extracts. Typically, and preferably, the time required for concentration and detection is less than one hour. The present kit includes internal false position and false negative controls and suitably has a standard color code to assist in the interpretation of the test results. The present kit is a unitary, compartmented package having a reaction chamber, preferably centrally located thereon, and at least one reagent storage chamber. Each reagent storage chamber is connected to the reaction chamber through a valve means which allows fluid flow from the reagent chamber to the reaction chamber, but inhibits flow from the reaction chamber to the reagent chamber. The top portions of the reagent chambers are fabricated of a flexible, or pliable, material, preferably transparent or semi-transparent.

Abstract: An immunoassay incubation device is employed for detecting the presence of specific analytes in solid and semisolid compositions using solid phase immunoassay methods. Analysis of such compositions by solid phase immunoassay first requires that soluble or particulate analytes be extracted from the sample composition. A representative example of such composition is fecal material. The immunoassay incubation device includes a vessel for homogenizing the sample composition. The device also includes a solid phase assay member immunologically sensitized for detecting particular analytes. After the sample composition is homogenized, the assay member is incubated in an incubation chamber which is immersed into the homogenate within the homogenization vessel. The incubation chamber includes a screen which screens out unextracted components from the homogenate while passing extracted components.

Abstract: An analysis system includes sample insertion module structure with structure defining a reduced pressure reservoir, structure defining a sample region, and structure defining a reagent circuit that includes metering chamber structure in series with the reagent circuit. First transfer valve structure is arranged to couple the sample region to the reagent circuit on one side of the metering chamber structure, and second transfer valve structure is arranged to couple the reagent circuit to the reduced pressure reservoir structure on the side of the metering chamber structure remote from the first transfer valve structure for inserting an intact metered quantity of sample liquid into a reagent stream.

Abstract: A method of converting a stacked FCC reactor-regenerator arrangement into a two-stage regenerator. In this method, a stacked FCC unit having a bottom regeneration vessel, a superadjacent reactor vessel, and a stripping vessel laterally offset from and in open communication with the reactor vessel are used to make a two-stage regenerator having a lower first stage of regeneration, an upper second stage regeneration vessel, and a catalyst cooler for moving heat from the catalyst. This method makes complete use of the three existing vessels in the stacked reactor regenerator arrangement by converting the upper reactor vessel into the second stage regeneration vessel and the stripping vessel into the catalyst cooler. Therefore, apart from the addition of a new reactor only relatively minor modifications are nesessary to convert the stacked reactor-regenerator arrangement into a two-stage regenerator.

Abstract: A method of preparing intracellular parasites for storage by infecting a layer of living cells and incubating the infected cell for 8 to 12 hours.

Abstract: A device for analyzing a liquid sample such as blood includes a cartridge portion and a casing portion. The cartridge includes an inlet for directly receiving a sample. The cartridge is then irreversibly clipped to the casing so that an inlet of the casing is in communication with an outlet of the cartridge. The sample is then mixed in the casing with a diluent and/or reagent by using a centrifuge, and measurements are taken. The device allows a sample to be taken directly into the cartridge, and restricts employment of the device to a single use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the sampling of liquids which permeate dialysis membranes, comprising cells bounded by two such membranes. The device according to the invention is suited for determining hydrochemical profiles of groundwater, in lakes and the like. The device according to the invention is a modular one, comprising a plurality of consecutive dialysis cells, spaced at predetermined intervals, in a support system. The sampler is introduced into the liquid and left there for an adequate period of time to establish an equilibrium. After removal, each of the cells is analysed and provides information on the composition of the liquid at the given depth.

Abstract: In order to obtain a higher measuring accuracy and better selectivity in the optical quantitative analysis of sulphur dioxide in gaseous or liquid media, it is proposed that the medium to be analyzed be brought into contact with a fluorescent indicator which emits fluorescent light upon excitation and which is from the group of triphenylmethane dyes, and that the extent to which fluorescence is quenched by the SO.sub.2 quencher be used as a measurable variable for quantitative determination of the content of sulphur dioxide in the medium.

Abstract: There are described the apparatus and a process for using it, wherein a wash station is provided apart from a continuously rotating incubator. Means are provided for moving a test element to the wash station before or in the middle of its incubation, and from the wash station to the incubator after it is washed.

Abstract: A chemical assay system comprises at least one incubator having a plurality of slide receiving chambers each for receiving a chemical assay slide. The chambers are arranged in a row so that the chemical assay slides received in the chambers are arranged in a row in one plane and each chamber is provided with an opening for exposing the chemical assay slide received therein. A probe for projecting light onto the chemical assay slide and measuring the intensity of the light reflected from the chemical assay slide is provided to be movable along the row of the chemical assay slides to positions in front of one of the openings of the slide receiving chambers.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention operationally macrocyclic molecular structures are employed to input and/or to read out information, electrical potential, optical characteristics, energy levels, state information, etc. with respect to another material, such as a neurological or biological material, nucleic acid or other materials. In one example disclosed in the above mentioned application macrocyclic molecules were adsorbed on a silver substrate; in the present invention the operationally macrocyclic molecular structure is adsorbed onto other substrates, such as nerve cells, muscles, nucleic acid (RNA and DNA), etc.

Abstract: A sample containment apparatus for use in an automated analyzer network is disclosed. The sample containment apparatus comprises a ring and a plurality of sample containers attached or mounted thereto. Each sample container has the capacity to contain an aliquot of sample sufficient for an entire battery of tests to be performed. Mounting flanges are disclosed for removably mounting the sample containment apparatus on carousels of each of a selected plurality of analyzers in the network to perform a selected plurality of tests on the samples.