Apparatus for automatically performing multiple chemical analyses of a plurality of liquid specimens. The apparatus comprises apparatus for loading a plurality of test samples from each specimen into a row of reaction vessels. As the reaction vessels are transported to a determinating apparatus, other apparatus adds reagents to preselected ones of the reaction vessels a predetermined time before the reaction vessels reach the determinating apparatus. In particular, each of the several sample con...

The invention is directed to a device for dispensing and observing the luminescence of individual specimens in multi-specimen arrangements, particularly for the examination of biological, chemical or cytobiological assays with high specimen throughput. It is the object of the invention to find a novel possibility for dispensing in multi-specimen arrangements (microplates) and for observing the luminescence of the individual specimens, particularly for examining biological assays with high specim...

A rotary incubation station for an automated analyzer is provided. The rotary incubation station includes a platform, a circular ring-shaped outside rotary wheel having a plurality of nesting locations for washing and reading vessels, and a circular disc-shaped inside rotary wheel having a plurality of nesting locations for incubation and storage of vessels. The rotary incubation station also includes a spur gear mechanism for rotating the outside and inside rotary wheels, including spur gear dr...

A transport system is provided for a sample testing machine. The transport system includes a carrier holding a set of test sample devices and a drive subsystem for moving the carrier through the sample testing machine. The drive subsystem includes a reciprocating motor-driven block engaging the carrier and moving the carrier back and forth in a predetermined longitudinal path extending along a longitudinal axis from an entrance station to a plurality of processing stations in the sample testing ...

The present invention relates to a single-mode optical fiber having a configuration which enables lowering of dispersion slope while securing a sufficient MFD. This single-mode optical fiber has a refractive index profile in which an indent with a sufficient width is provided at the center of its core region. In particular, this indent satisfies the following relationship: when the first core portion in the single-mode optical fiber has a mean relative refractive index difference of .DELTA.n.sub...

A plurality of analyzer units for serum, a plurality of analyzer units for blood plasma and a plurality of analyzer units are arranged along a main transfer line for transferring a sample rack from a rack delivery portion to a rack returning portion. A reagent bottle for inspecting liver function is contained in each of reagent delivery mechanisms of two analyzer units among the plurality of analyzer units for serum. When reagent for inspecting liver function in one of the two analyzer units is ...

A transport system is provided for a sample testing machine. The transport system includes a carrier holding a set of test sample devices and a drive subsystem for moving the carrier through the sample testing machine. The drive subsystem includes a reciprocating motor-driven block engaging the carrier and moving the carrier back and forth in a predetermined longitudinal path extending along a longitudinal axis from an entrance station to a plurality of processing stations in the sample testing ...

A sample-conveying system has first and second conveying paths which are separated from each other. A first transition base is located at a conveyance terminal end portion of the conveying path. A second transition base is located at a conveyance starting end portion of the conveying path. A mobile unit moves between the first and second conveying paths. The transition base is provided with a receptacle carrier and a rack carrier. The receptacle carrier transfers receptacles on the conveying pat...

A loop conveyor for automatic chemical testing apparatus having a plurality of rigid slats for carrying a row of reaction tubes intermediate their ends with the open ends extending upwardly above the conveyor and the lower closed ends extending beneath the upper portion of the loop whereby chemical tests may be performed in the tube as the conveyor is indexed along the various positions. Heating means positioned inside the conveyor and movable upward for heating the bottom of some of the tubes a...

High-strength, low-loss splices of optical fiber can be produced by fusion splicing the fiber with a D.sub.2 -O.sub.2 flame. According to the invention, the deuterium concentration in the gas mixture used to produce the flame is at least 10% by volume of the reducing gas present in the mixture. Preferably, substantially all of the reducing gas in the mixture is deuterium, with oxygen the oxidizing gas species.