Csir

Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education

Lekratek Instrumentation

Ronald A Van Steenderen

Lodewyk Jacobus Mienie

Andre K Joubert

Wouter J De Wet

Julius H Ueckermann

Henning J Els

Elardus Erasmus

A method and apparatus for the preliminary detection of abnormal levels of metabolites in the urine of a human or mammal. The method includes the steps of determining the amount of creatinine in the urine of the human or animal, measuring the total metabolites content in the urine, using the amount of creatinine in the urine as an internal standard to compensate for variations in the urine concentration, and comparing the total metabolites content in the urine with a reference value which corresponds to the expected total metabolites content in the urine of a person or animal who does not suffer from a metabolic disorder. The apparatus (10) includes an ultraviolet oxidation unit (16) for oxidising total metabolites in a urine sample to carbon dioxide, an organic carbon stripper (18) for stripping carbon dioxide gas from the oxidised sample, and a carbon dioxide detector (69) for measuring the amount of carbon dioxide produced from the sample.

Fluid analysis

The invention provides a peristaltic metering pump for dosing metered quantitites of fluids along a plurality of flow lines. The pump comprises a set of rollers and a plurality of flexible liquid transfer tubes, the tubes being mounted on a tube mounting against which they are simultaneously compressed by the rollers. The rollers are drivingly connected to a motor, the rollers being mounted on a roller support. The motor is operable to drive the rollers so that they roll successively along the tubes and compress the tubes simultaneously against the tube mounting as they roll along the tubes. The roller support is biassed against a stop with the roller support being movable away from the stop against the bias by force exerted on at least one roller by the tubes.

Peristaltic pump with hinged rotor support housing and adjustable tube

Growing community of inventors

Pretoria, South Africa

Ronald A Van Steenderen