US5048957A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speciman rack with insertable cuvettes
Assignee: Berthold Technologies GmbH and Co KG
•
Filing: 1990-07-10
•
Granted: 1991-09-17
•
Expires: 2010-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A specimen rack composed of a block having a matrix-like arrangement of M×N through chambers, into which M×N cuvettes can be inserted, individually or in the form of strip-racks. Separate connecting strips may be provided to form the strip-racks, and these strips, like the block, are of radiopaque material so that each cuvette, except for a region defined by the lower opening cross section of the through chambers and their upper filling opening, is continuously opaquely shielded from scattering radiation from adjacent cuvettes. Annular shoulders, serving as rests, are dimensioned and disposed in the through chambers such that the vertical position and thus the assay position of the cuvettes in the through chambers can be fixed in defined fashion. Thus the measurement sensitivity on the one hand and possible crosstalk phenomena in the vicinity of the measurement openings on the other can be minimized or optimally adapted to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Fritz Berthold
- 👤 Willy Lohr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/0303; B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/508; B01L3/5085; B01L3/50855; B01L9/00; B01L9/06; G01N35/00; G01N2035/00178; G01N2035/00237; G01N21/75; G01N21/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A specimen rack for holding a plurality of insertable cuvettes for performance of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence assays, comprising a holder block of radiopaque and dimensionally stable material, said block having opposed upper and lower major surfaces and being provided with a plurality of through chambers extending between said upper and lower major surfaces and arranged in a rectangular array composed of a plurality of rows and columns of through chambers for receiving and positioning a corresponding plurality of the cuvettes, so that when the cuvettes are inserted in said chambers, the material of said block forms an opaque enclosure for the inserted cuvettes over at least a portion of the height of the cuvettes, wherein said block is formed such that each said through chamber has an inner wall and an annular shoulder extending radially inwardly from said inner wall to define a rest for supporting a respective cuvette, the annular shoulder determining the insertion depth and thus the assay position of the respective cuvette in said through chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A specimen rack for holding a plurality of insertable cuvettes for performance of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence assays, comprising a holder block of radiopaque and dimensionally stable material, said block having opposed upper and lower major surfaces and being provided with a plurality of through chambers extending between said upper and lower major surfaces and arranged in a rectangular array composed of a plurality of rows and columns of through chambers for receiving and positioning a corresponding plurality of the cuvettes, so that when the cuvettes are inserted in said chambers, the material of said block forms an opaque enclosure for the inserted cuvettes over at least a portion of the height of the cuvettes, wherein said block is formed such that each said through chamber has an inner wall and an annular shoulder extending radially inwardly from said inner wall to define a rest for supporting a respective cuvette, the annular shoulder determining the insertion depth and thus the assay position of the respective cuvette in said through chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The specimen rack of claim 1 in combination with means defining a strip-rack for holding a number of cuvettes equal to the number of rows or columns of the rectangular array of through bores.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The specimen rack of claim 2 wherein said means defining a strip-rack comprises a connecting strip of radiopaque material for holding the cuvettes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The specimen rack of claim 3 wherein said connecting strip has a plurality of lower cylindrical extensions each dimensioned to extend into, and frictionally engage, a respective cuvette.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The specimen rack of claim 4 wherein said connecting strip additionally has upper cylindrical extensions which are located coaxially with said lower extensions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The specimen rack of claim 3 wherein said connecting strip has two opposed ends provided with handling tabs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The specimen rack of claim 6 wherein said connecting strip is formed in one piece from black polyethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The specimen rack of claim 3 wherein said connecting strip is formed in one piece from black polyethylene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2007087A
Cited
US3388807A
Cited
US3551062A
Cited
DE2451769A1
Cited
DE2711853A1
Cited
EP0056417A1
Cited
US4305723A
Cited
US4690900A
Cited
EP0135502A1
Cited
US4659222A
Cited
EP0148736A1
Cited
DE3738375A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |