Micromedic Systems, Inc.

Rohm and Haas Company

Icn Micromedic Systems, Inc.

Icn Biomedicals Inc.

Edgar G Johnson

James J Cornelison

Byron E Sturgis

Paul V Mackovjak

Howard L McGill

A manifold with improved flow-splitting characteristics, resulting in uniform or nearly uniform flows from its outlet passages, is provided. The internal flow dynamics of the manifold are adjusted by modifying the cross-sectional area of the elongated manifold cavity. The cross-sectional area may be modified by placing one or more inserts in the interior cavity of the manifold, each insert having a nonconstant cross-sectional area designed to compensate for the differential flow characteristics within the manifold. Alternatively, the interior of the manifold may be formed with a nonconstant cross-sectional area designed to compensate for the differential flow characteristics within the manifold.

Manifold construction

An improved beta activity counter is disclosed which provides for counting plural, preferably even numbers of, samples simultaneously, while allowing automated handling of sample vial racks which are different widths are multiples of the number of simultaneous testing cells. The number of indexing steps needed per rack are adjusted automatically according to the number of vials that each rack will hold. Quench counting of adjacent samples simultaneously via use of one external source is also provided.

Beta counting means and apparatus

This invention is directed to an automatic pipette which directly detects the volume of an inserted syringe, thus eliminating the need for operator specification of this quantity.

Direct reading automatic pipette

A gamma activity counter apparatus for use in automated radioimmunoassay systems including a scintillator counter which has two scintillator crystal-photomultiplier tube assemblies removably contained within a lead radiation shield. Each crystal has formed in it a sample receiving zone, each zone communicating with vertical bores formed in the radiation shield, so that a lifting means can lift sample carriers disposed beneath and in alignment with the sample receiving zones into the zones for gamma activity counting. The lift means is so designed that for each counting period, a pair of sample carriers, separated from each other by an even number of sample carrier spaces, is lifted into the sample receiving zones for simultaneous counting, the sample carriers being contained in holders that are continually advanced over the lift means in increments of two sample carrier spaces per increment. The sample carriers, arranged in a specified order in the holders, are counted out of order and this counting data is fed to a logic means in which the data is re-ordered, and this properly re-ordered data is fed to a data printing means.

Gamma counter apparatus

An incubation apparatus for use in automated biochemical analyzer systems which comprises a block of thermoconductive material having rows of wells for the reception of sample carriers to be incubated with temperature control attached to the block; the block resting with well openings facing downward upon a pair of insulating plates so arranged that by movement of one of the plates, a row of wells is exposed so as to allow a number of sample carriers, equivalent in number to the number of wells in a row, to be loaded into that row of wells, the sample carriers being in alignment with and directly below the row of wells; and a means for lifting the sample carriers up into the wells or lowering sample carriers down out of the wells.

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Edgar G Johnson