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Abstract

An analytic instrument for kinetically measuring light absorption characteristics of a plurality of independent samples contained in disposable test tubes arranged in a circular pattern about a single light source. The instrument is designed to be used with a host personal computer and is not specific to any particular type of assay. The instrument obtains and temporarily stores raw data in the form of digitized output signals from the plurality of photodetectors and periodically passes them to the host computer. An incubator has test tube wells arranged in a circular array equidistant from a single incandescent light source. The circular symmetry controls the thermal gradients in the incubator such that all of the samples are disposed on the same isotherm and all of the photodetectors are disposed on the same isotherm. The instrument is designed for use with disposable test tubes, and sources of error arising from optical variation in such test tubes are minimized by providing a separate detector for each tube and by holding the tube fixed with respect to the detector. The light output from the single light source is continuously monitored and is kept constant.

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First Claim