Abstract: A biasing structure for biasing a locking pawl-equipped operation rod in a given direction is described. A slit is formed in a rear end of the operation rod. A spring retainer is integrally provided by a bracket through which the operation rod is rotatably connected to a movable rail. The spring retainer includes a rearwardly projected portion whose one surface faces toward a rear end portion of the operation rod and a recess which is formed in a base part of the projected portion and faces toward the rear end portion of the operation rod. A coil spring includes a multi-turned major portion, a front straight portion tangentially extending from a front end of the major portion and a rear straight portion extending radially inward from a rear end of the major portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the functioning properties of cells which includes a sample containing chamber, a rotor disposed in the chamber and having a conical surface which faces the inner bottom surface of the chamber at an angle of not greater than 2.degree., a ray transmission path from which a ray is projected into a sample of a cell suspension between the rotor and the inner bottom surface, and a transmitted ray detection path from which transmittance from the sample is detected. The optical path length in the sample is not smaller than 1 cm. An adequate shear stress is applied to the sample by adjusting the gap between the rotor and the inner bottom surface and rotating the rotor. A fine response by the cells caused by the applied shear stress, particularly the aggregation of platelets in a platelet suspension, can be accurately and quantitatively determined with a high sensitivity.