Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
A multicuvette rotor for use in a centrifugal analyzer, said rotor defining a-circumferential array of elongated radially extending cuvettes and comprising a one-piece body member of transparent material that has a planar upper surface and that defines a circumferential array of elongated cuvette recesses, and a one-piece cover member of transparent material that has a planar lower surface parallel to said planar upper surface of said body member.with a continuous seal extending around each said cuvette recess between said planarsupper and lower surfaces to define said circumferential array of analytical cuvettes, each said elongated cuvette including structure defining a first chamber region for receiving a first constituent and a loading port in said cover member through which said first constituent is introduced into said first chamber region, structure defining a second chamber region for receiving a second constituent, a second loading port in said cover member through which said second constituent is introduced-into said--second chamber region, divider structure between said first and second chamber regions, said divider structure having a crest portion spaced from said lower surface of said cover member so that a transfer passage between said first and second chamber regions is defined between said crest portion and said lower surface of said cover member through which said first constituent may be flowed into said second chamber region for forming a reaction product with said second constituent, barrier structure extending along the top of each sidewall of each cuvette between said loading ports of said first and second chamber regions that fills the junction between said cover and body members so that there is no capillary channel at that junction and premature mixing of the constituents due to wicking movement of a constituent stored in one of said chamber regions to the other chamber region along that junction is inhibited, and structure defining an analysis region adjacent the radially outer wall of said cuvette where said reaction product is subjected to analysis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
324 words
A multicuvette rotor for use in a centrifugal analyzer, said rotor defining a-circumferential array of elongated radially extending cuvettes and comprising a one-piece body member of transparent material that has a planar upper surface and that defines a circumferential array of elongated cuvette recesses, and a one-piece cover member of transparent material that has a planar lower surface parallel to said planar upper surface of said body member.with a continuous seal extending around each said cuvette recess between said planarsupper and lower surfaces to define said circumferential array of analytical cuvettes, each said elongated cuvette including structure defining a first chamber region for receiving a first constituent and a loading port in said cover member through which said first constituent is introduced into said first chamber region, structure defining a second chamber region for receiving a second constituent, a second loading port in said cover member through which said second constituent is introduced-into said--second chamber region, divider structure between said first and second chamber regions, said divider structure having a crest portion spaced from said lower surface of said cover member so that a transfer passage between said first and second chamber regions is defined between said crest portion and said lower surface of said cover member through which said first constituent may be flowed into said second chamber region for forming a reaction product with said second constituent, barrier structure extending along the top of each sidewall of each cuvette between said loading ports of said first and second chamber regions that fills the junction between said cover and body members so that there is no capillary channel at that junction and premature mixing of the constituents due to wicking movement of a constituent stored in one of said chamber regions to the other chamber region along that junction is inhibited, and structure defining an analysis region adjacent the radially outer wall of said cuvette where said reaction product is subjected to analysis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The rotor of claim 1 wherein said barrier structure is integral with said continuous cuvette seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rotor of claim 1 wherein said barrier structure is formed of melted and flattened energy director ridge material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The rotor of claim 3 wherein said barrier ridge portion, before melting and flattening, is spaced from the edge of the adjacent cuvette side wall substantially. the same distance as the height of said barrier ridge portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The rotor of claim 1 wherein said barrier structure extends continuously around each said cuvette recess between said planar upper and lower surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rotor of claim 1 wherein said barrier and seal structures are integral with said body member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The rotor of claim 1 wherein said cover - member is a flat circular disc that has on optical window region, an outer circumferential array of loading ports, an inner circumferential array of loading ports, and a substantially "D" shaped central opening; and said body member has a flat upper surface, an optical window region formed in its lower surface that is aligned with the optical window region of said cover member and a circumferential array of individual cuvette recesses corresponding to said loading ports.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The rotor of claim 7 wherein said barrier structure is integral with said body member and is formed from an energy director ridge portion that has a sharp crest.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The rotor of claim 1 wherein each said cuvette recess of said rotor has a length of about three centimeters, the sidewalls of said hambers diverge, and the sidewalls of said analytical regions are parallel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The rotor of claim 9 wherein said cover member is a flat circular disc that has an optical window region, an outer circumferential array of loading ports, an inner circumferential array of loading ports, and a central opening; and said body member has a flat upper surface, an optical window region formed in its lower surface that is aligned with the optical window region of said cover member and a circumferential array of individual cuvette recesses corresponding to said loading ports.