Inventors:
Sanford L. Simons - Morrison CO
Frederick M. McNeill - Denver CO
International Classification:
G01N 3316, G01N 2128
Abstract:
Instrument apparatus and method for the cyclically concurrent display of the time related transitional characteristics of a plurality of samples, at least one of which may be a laboratory standard of known value, or all of which samples may be unknown. Separate electrical signals derived as the samples are simultaneously activated, exposed, treated, analyzed or observed are gated by multiplexing circuits on a split time basis that may allot equal or varied time periods for the separate samples. The strength of the signal from the samples may be separately or cooperatively adjusted to enhance comparison or differential features as the signals are delivered to display components for study or recording. Where strip chart or other index marking recorders having a time related movement pattern are utilized, the sequential signals derived for each sample progressively provide traces, the length or arc of which is a derivative of the then occurring rate of reaction for the sample and the process to which it is being subjected, and this trace length then provides a graphical representation of the instantaneous slope or rate of change for that sample. As an example, the apparatus is used in aggregation or other studies of blood samples wherein components of the instrument provide a controlled temperature environment, rate controlled and identical stirring, even lighting with ambient light influence correction, and selective release and recording of single or multiple signals.