U.S. patent application number 09/809428 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-19 for molded casing for a test kit.
Invention is credited to Brestel, Mordechai, Glattstein, Baruch, Huss, Shmuel.
Application Number | 20020131892 09/809428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25201313 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020131892 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Glattstein, Baruch ; et
al. |
September 19, 2002 |
Molded casing for a test kit
Abstract
A casing for use as a test kit that employs crushable ampoules
prefilled with chemical or biological reagents, comprising a molded
casing having a distinct reaction chamber, and at least one
distinct cell adapted for receiving a crushable ampoule. The cell
has a flexible pressing area at its outer wall for pressing and
crushing the ampoule. An opening exists between the chamber and the
cell that is either narrow enough, or provided with filtering means
so as to allow passage of the reagent while preventing passage of
glass shards from the cell to the chamber. The casing further
comprises an inlet leading from the exterior of the casing into the
inner space of the reaction chamber and a sampling probe, for
enabling obtaining samples of material and delivery of said
material through the inlet to the reaction chamber.
Inventors: |
Glattstein, Baruch;
(Jerusalem, IL) ; Huss, Shmuel; (Jerusalem,
IL) ; Brestel, Mordechai; (Rehovot, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Benjamin J. Hauptman
LOWE HAUPTMAN GILMAN & BERNER, LLP
Suite 310
1700 Diagonal Road
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
25201313 |
Appl. No.: |
09/809428 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01L 3/502 20130101;
G01N 2021/0321 20130101; B01L 1/52 20190801; B01L 2300/0867
20130101; B01L 2300/0681 20130101; B01L 2300/0835 20130101; B01L
2400/0481 20130101; B01L 2300/0816 20130101; G01N 21/03 20130101;
B01L 2200/16 20130101; B01L 2400/0683 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/58 ; 422/61;
422/101; 422/102; 422/100; 422/55 |
International
Class: |
G01N 021/01 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A casing for use as a test kit using crushable ampoules
prefilled with chemical or biological reagents, comprising a molded
casing having a distinct reaction chamber, at least one distinct
cell adapted for receiving a crushable ampoule and having a
flexible pressing area at its outer wall for pressing and crushing
said ampoule, wherein there is an opening between said chamber and
said at least one cell, and said opening is narrow enough, or
provided with filtering means, to prevent the passage of glass
shards from the cell to the chamber.
2. A casing according to claim 1 made from either casted, injected,
vacuum-formed, or press-formed material.
3. A casing according to claim 1, provided as a disposable closed
unit equipped inside its cells with all the required ampoules for a
specific test reaction.
4. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the opening between the
reaction chamber and the at least one cell is formed in the shape
of a channel.
5. A casing according claim 1, further comprising aeration channels
between cells or between the chamber and the cells.
6. A casing according to claim 1, wherein the flexible pressing
area at the outer wall of a cell is focused for crushing its
associated ampoule in a specific predetermined breaking point.
7. A casing according to claim 1, provided with a protective
barrier between each pair of cells, to protect ampoules from being
crushed mistakenly.
8. A casing according to claim 1 wherein the pressing area is
marked with a pattern.
9. A casing for use as a test kit using crushable ampoules
prefilled with chemical or biological reagents, comprising a molded
casing having a distinct reaction chamber, at least one distinct
cell adapted for receiving a crushable ampoule and having a
flexible pressing area at its outer wall for pressing and crushing
said ampoule, wherein there is an opening between said chamber and
said at least one cell, and said opening is narrow enough, or
provided with filtering means, to prevent the passage of glass
shards from the cell to the chamber, said casing further comprising
an inlet leading from it's outer side into the inner space of the
reaction chamber for inserting a sample of a tested material.
10. A casing according to claim 9, wherein the inlet is provided
with one-time-only breakable seal for punching it closely prior to
use.
11. A casing for use as a test kit using crushable ampoules
prefilled with chemical or biological reagents, comprising a molded
casing having a distinct reaction chamber, at least one distinct
cell adapted for receiving a crushable ampoule and having a
flexible pressing area at its outer wall for pressing and crushing
said ampoule, wherein there is an opening between said chamber and
said at least one cell, and said opening is narrow enough, or
provided with filtering means, to prevent the passage of glass
shards from the cell to the chamber, said casing further comprising
an inlet leading from it's outer side into the inner space of the
reaction chamber for inserting a sample of a tested material, and
is provided with a sampling probe having collecting means at its
tip, for sampling outer material and delivering it through the
inlet to the reaction chamber.
12. A casing according to claim 11, wherein the sampling probe
collecting means is a sticky portion for collecting samples by
adhesion.
13. A casing according to claim 11, wherein the sampling probe
comprises means for collecting liquid samples.
14. A casing according to claim 11 wherein the sampling probe is
formed also as a sealing cap to the inlet.
15. A casing according to claim 11 having together with it's
sampling probe mutual interlocking means for locking the probe to
the casing.
16. A casing according to claim 11 having together with it's
sampling probe mutual interlocking means for locking the probe to
the casing, wherein said interlocking means are irreversible.
17. A casing according to claim 1, further comprising ampoule
fulcrums in the at least one cell, reducing the pressing force
needed for crushing the ampoule.
18. A casing according to claim 1, made of a transparent material
casting having a glossy polishing at least on one of the reaction
chamber walls.
19. A casing according to claim 1, made of opaque material, with an
eyepiece at the reaction chamber, or with a reaction chamber made
from transparent material.
20. A casing according to claim 1, further comprising
color-indexing spot printed or sticked on a wall of the reaction
chamber.
21. A casing according to claim 1, having walls with straight
bottom ends, enabling positioning the casing vertically on any
horizontal surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a molded casing useful as a
test kit for chemically or biologically identifying and analyzing
the presence of substances (such as illegal drugs). More
specifically, the present invention relates to a molded casing
having flexible pressable cells (one or more), each adapted to
receiving a crushable ampoule pre-filled with a predetermined
required chemical or biological reagent or reagents and having a
reaction chamber opened to said cells, which also has an inlet for
delivering the examined specimen into said reaction chamber, and at
least one transparent inspection "window" for observing the results
of the reaction carried out in the reaction chamber. Until now,
performing such tests was a matter for professionals. The molded
casing of the present invention improves and facilitates the
performance of the chemical tests, such that unskilled people such
as worried parents, school administrators, or employers, can easily
and privately check for the presence of drugs. The molded casing
according to the present invention is manufactured as a closed
disposable unit, thereby ensuring against drain of noxious
materials that are involved in some of the chemical tests.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A basic problem with glass ampoules used in ampoule-based
tests is that, for releasing it's content, there is a need to crush
the ampoules which is an unpleasant action. The glass shards of
broken ampoules are dangerous to the fingers of the user, and
uselessly disperse into the mixture of the reacting materials,
disturbing the inspection of the reaction results.
[0003] Another problem with ampoule-based tests is that the process
of bringing all the involved materials together is slow and
toilsome, especially in some kinds of tests which have to be done
by using a plurality of ampoules and materials, or by using noxious
reagents.
[0004] Another problem arises when a test has to be done outdoors
or in field conditions. On one hand, the testing ampoules have to
be protected, and on the other hand, they have to be ready to use
and in a proper composition of materials for the specific test to
be made.
[0005] The molded casing according to the present invention is
especially useful as a testing kit for identifying drugs (such as
Cocaine, Heroin, Hashish, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, LSD etc.). In
this kind of test, a sample of the material which is suspected of
being a drug, has to be mixed with up to three or four different
liquids stored in a similar number of small glass ampoules.
[0006] The prior art in this field discloses a testing kit,
arranged such that a composition of the glass ampoules of the
appropriate materials are closed together inside a small plastic
pouch, and a sampling tube or toothpick is enclosed as well.
Another kind of prior art testing kit is a flexible cigarette-like
transparent tube, provided with the required chemicals in sealed
pre-filled glass ampoules positioned in a column along the tube,
and with a sampling toothpick.
[0007] The detection process using said kits is long and cumbersome
for people skilled in the art, and it is difficult for use for
unskilled people.
[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a new device
enabling fast, facile and clean chemical tests, for the use of
unskilled people (worried parents, school administrators, employers
etc.) as well as for professionals. The prior art testing kits do
not comply with the following, which are the basic requirements for
a test kit:
[0009] a) ampoules have to be crushed safely and easily.
[0010] b) the reaction mixture must be clean from glass shards of
broken ampoules.
[0011] c) the device has to be insured against fluid leakage.
[0012] d) ampoules have to be well-protected in field
conditions.
[0013] e) sampling of suspected material into the kit has to be
fast and easy.
[0014] f) the predetermined sequence of crushing the ampoules has
to be easily identified by the unskilled user.
[0015] h) the device have to include a minimum number of mobile
(releasable) parts.
[0016] i) each ampoule must be protected from being crushed while
crushing other ampoules.
[0017] j) the sampled material has to be inserted directly into the
test location, without having to tap the device for driving the
sample to the place, and for minimizing the possibility of
contaminating the sampled material.
[0018] k) a convenient background is needed for easily reading the
results of a test.
[0019] Surprisingly, all said requirements are achieved, in the
device of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] In the context of the present invention, "test" is any kind
of test or chemical or biological reaction, that is performed by
mixing at least one tested material (reagent) with at least one
other material (reagent) pre-filled in a sealed glass ampoule.
[0021] The present invention relates to a casing for use as a test
kit using crushable ampoules, comprising a molded casing having a
distinct reaction chamber and at least one distinct cell adapted
for receiving a crushable ampoule and having a flexible pressing
area at its outer wall for pressing and crushing said ampoule,
wherein there is an opening between said chamber and said at least
one cell, and said opening is narrow enough, or provided with
suitable filtering means, to prevent the passage of glass shards
from the cell to the chamber. The reaction chamber is further
provided with an appropriate inlet opening for the insertion of a
sample of tested material, and with a sampling probe for easy
placement of the sample inside the reaction chamber, through said
inlet.
[0022] A reaction between the contents of crushable ampoules and a
sample of tested material is produced after crushing the ampoules
in the correct sequence and after the required mixture is formed
inside said reaction chamber.
[0023] The casing can be made from either a casting, injection,
vacuum-forming, or press-forming etc. of any appropriate
material.
[0024] The casing is provided as a closed disposable unit equipped
with all the required ampoules inside.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention relates to a molded casing useful as a
test kit for identifying the presence of substances such as drugs.
The casing has flexible, pressable cells (one or more), each
adapted for receiving a crushable ampoule filled with a
predetermined required chemical reagent (or reagents). Each cell is
opened to the reaction chamber, directly or through a short narrow
channel. The opening or the channel which connects between a cell
and the chamber is either screened, meshed, or built narrower then
its associated ampoule, so as to prevent shards of ampoule from
passing into the reaction chamber. However, it is wide enough so as
to ensure free flow of the ampoule's content from the cell to the
chamber. For improved flow, the device may further comprise
aeration channels between the cells or between the chamber and
cells, for avoiding a bottleneck effect.
[0026] The walls of the cells are formed in thickness and
flexibility such that crushing the ampoules is easy and safe. At
least one portion of an outer wall of each cell is designed to be a
"pressing point". This portion is both thin and flexible so as to
enable application of sufficient pressure on the inner ampoule for
crushing said ampoule to produce a reaction. However, the pressing
point is thick enough for protecting the fingers of the user
crushing the ampoule, as well as for protecting the ampoule in
field conditions. The required flexibility of the pressing point
may also be achieved by chocolate bar shaped crossing grooves
formed in the casting of the casing material, on the interior
surface of the cell wall, behind the pressing point.
[0027] The pressing point is located in the wall of a cell for
crushing the ampoule at a specific predetermined desired breaking
point, preferably against the middle of the ampoule for a complete
crush (or according to another variation, near the end of the cell
for crushing the round bottom of the ampoule).
[0028] Fore easy identification, the pressing points can be marked,
i.e. by changing the smoothness (or pattern) of the outer surface
of the cells at their pressing points.
[0029] For making the crushing action even easier, it is possible
to create, at the back side of the cell, two fulcrums, located on
opposite ends of the ampoule. In this manner, pressure produced by
a user on the pressing point (near the middle of the ampoule, and
in the opposite direction to said fulcrums) is given the added
advantage of a lever.
[0030] According to the preferred embodiment of this invention, if
a casing comprises more than one ampoule cell, it further comprises
a protective separation barrier between each pair of cells, so as
to insure that pressing on one cell for crushing its ampoule, will
not cause the (mistaken) crushing of a neighboring ampoule.
According to the preferred embodiment of this invention, the casing
further comprises side walls having straight bottom ends, thereby
enabling positioning the casing vertically on any horizontal
surface. The side walls are also useful for protecting the cells in
field conditions, in addition to the protection provided by said
protective barriers. Another advantage of the side walls is that
they may be used as gripping regions for holding the casing by hand
during a test procedure.
[0031] The casing is further provided with an appropriate inlet
opening leading to the reaction chamber. An opening for this
purpose may also be a temporarily sealed orifice, having a sealing
comprised of a thin layer of material, for being broken and opened
at a preferred moment.
[0032] It is also possible to design an openable casing (without a
fixed opening), for the placement of a sample inside of the
reaction chamber by opening the casing itself, and closing it after
the sample is placed.
[0033] For sampling the tested material, the casing is equipped
with a sampling probe, having means for collecting related
materials. Such means may be a toothed edge, pronged edge, pincette
edge, piped edge, sticky edge or any other efficient means for
collecting sample of a specific related material, including means
useful for collecting liquid samples (e.g. syringe-like means
comprising a miniature piston and a hollow edge, a spongy material
edge, or any other means for collecting liquids as known in the
art). It is also possible to design a sampling probe with a
replaceable end-unit, such that an appropriate end-unit may be
adapted for each kind of test from a selection of various shapes
and lengths of end-units.
[0034] The sampling probe is designed such that it fits into the
inlet opening leading to the reaction chamber. The opening of the
probe is cone-like, wider at its outer end and narrower at the end
that joins with the reaction chamber. The sampling probe has a
portion formed with a conforming shape, such that when inserted
into the casing in a correct position, the opening is sealed. By
such a design, the sampling probe is used also as a sealing cap for
the casing, and only two free parts are included in the kit; the
casing, and the probe. Thus, the user may easily control the test
procedure, without worries about loosing parts.
[0035] According to another embodiment of the invention, the
sampling probe and the casing have mutual interlocking means such
that the probe is locked to the casing, and its removal or
insertion requires the application of force to overcome the locking
force.
[0036] The locking means are molded in the body of the probe and
the casing, as a protrusion and groove or the like. According to
one preferred embodiment of this invention, the locking means are
for one time only (irreversible) insertion, such that once a
sampling was entered by the probe into the chamber, the probe is
locked in the casing, and thus the unit is insured against leakage.
Preferably, the casing includes means for gripping the probe before
use without lock, thus the kit is supplied to the customer as one
unit.
[0037] According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, the
casing is made from a transparent material, such that it is very
easy for a user to observe any color change inside the reaction
chamber. Preferably, only predetermined portions ("inspection
windows") of the reaction chamber having glossy polishing, while
the other portions of the reaction chamber and the casing are
opaque (by having a coarse polishing). Thus unskilled people may
easily know where to look, for inspecting the color change.
[0038] The transparent material has to be resistant against
corrosive chemicals that may be involved in the tests. Different
variations of polypropylene, which are also very transparent
materials, and resistive as required, are suitable.
[0039] It is also possible to make the casing from any resistive
opaque material, while the reaction chamber is provided with a
transparent eyepiece.
[0040] The dimensions of the reaction chamber are predetermined and
adapted for accommodating the exact quantity of reagents which is
expected from a specific test. The sampling probe is also shaped to
hold the sample in the exact desired point inside the reaction
chamber. The color and shape of the sampling probe can be designed
such that the sampling probe provides a convenient background next
to the inspection window, for easily viewing the results of a test.
Due to all these means, the test is reliable. The casing may be
provided to the customer with a color indexing spot printed
adjacent to the definite resulting point of the reaction, or
printed on a sticker for being adhered there.
[0041] It is possible to select any of the above mentioned
arrangements and combine them according to the requirements of any
specific test, for the manufacturing of a suitable test kit.
[0042] The advantages provided by the present invention are as
follows:
[0043] a) ampoules are crushed safely and easily, and (if
necessary) at a predetermined crushing point.
[0044] b) the reaction chamber is clean from parts of broken
ampoules.
[0045] c) the kit is sealed and prevents leakage of fluids during
the test procedure.
[0046] d) ampoules are protected from harm in field conditions.
[0047] e) the sampling of the suspected material into the kit is
made fast and easy.
[0048] f) crushing of ampoules according to a predetermined order
can easily be made (The manufacturer provides each kit with
ampoules in their cells in a requested order. The casing may be
designed asymmetrically, to avoid mistakes, and/or cells may be
marked or numbered according the required order for crushing the
associated ampoules.)
[0049] g) interlocking means between the sampling probe and the
casing prevents leakage of chemicals from the thrown away
casing.
[0050] h) the user has to handle not more than two separate parts
(the casing and the probe)
[0051] i) each ampoule is protected from being crushed while
crushing other ampoules.
[0052] j) the sampled material is inserted directly into the
reaction chamber, avoiding loses of material during the insertion,
and there is no need to tap the kit for driving the sample to the
bottom.
[0053] k) the sampling probe provides a convenient background
behind the inspection window for easily reading the results of a
test.
[0054] l) the casing can be positioned vertically on any horizontal
surface, with no need to hold it constantly by hand.
[0055] The invention will be further described in details by FIG.
1-6. These figures are solely intended to illustrate some preferred
embodiments of the present invention, and in no way are meant to
limit the scope of the invention.
[0056] FIG. 1 describes a test kit (1) for narcotic drug detection,
comprising a molded casing (2), with a transparent reaction chamber
(3), three cells (4) (5) (6) for ampoules, each ampoule cell being
open to the reaction chamber through a channel (4a) (5a) (6a), and
a sampling probe (11) provided with the casing in a scabbard (10)
(which is one example of gripping means for gripping the probe
prior to use), for insertion into a conduit (7) with a sample of
suspected material. The conduit (7) is cone shaped, and has a wide
opening (9) toward the outer side, and a narrow opening (8) toward
the reaction chamber (3). The sampling probe (11) has a cone shaped
portion (13), adapted to be inserted through the conduit (7) into
the chamber (3), and to seal it. The sampling probe (11) has a
gripping handle (12) and a tip (14) having means (the depicted
pincette-like means is only one of various possibilities) for
collecting a predetermined quantity of the sampled material. The
opening (8) from the conduit to the chamber, and the arrow shaped
end (15) of the probe, provide mutual irreversible locking means,
such that once the probe is fully inserted through the conduit, the
arrow shaped end (15) preventing pulling out of the probe. After a
sample is inserted, the ampoules are crushed by the user by finger
pressing through the walls of cells (4)(5)(6). The liquid of each
broken ampoule flows through the associated channel (4a) (5a) (6a)
into the reaction chamber (3). The sampled material is now ready
for a detection, and the test (reaction) is performed. To improve
the flow of reagents from the ampoule cell to the chamber by
avoiding a bottleneck effect, aeration channels are provided in the
molded casing; (4b) between cells, or (6b) between a cell and the
chamber. Since the channels are narrow, the crushed ampoule shards
are prevented from reaching the reaction chamber, and the result of
the reaction is well inspected through the transparent walls of the
chamber (3).
[0057] FIG. 2 describes the preferred embodiment of a test kit
molded casing according to the present invention. This casing is
comprised from two parts (21)(41). FIG. 2a and FIG. 2c, both
describe the same part (21). FIG. 2a illustrates its exterior side,
and FIG. 2c illustrates its interior side. The other part (41) is
illustrated by FIGS. 2b (interior side) and 2d (exterior side).
Part (21) of FIG. 2a is configured in position for being attached
with part (41) of FIG. 2c. The other side of both parts, is
illustrated by FIGS. 2b and 2d. The two parts have rims (33)(33a)
for attaching them to each other either by press or by means of
ultrasonic soldering.
[0058] Part (21) comprises three cells (22)(23)(24) adapted to
receive three ampoules (ampoules are not depicted). Pressing points
for breaking ampoules (22a) (23a) (24a) are marked in the exterior
wall of the cells by a pattern of protruding dots.
[0059] Rigid separation barriers (25) (26), protrude between the
cells for insuring each ampoule from being crushed while crushing a
neighboring one. Side walls (27) (28) are also provided, to protect
ampoules from harm in field condition and the like.
[0060] Part (21) further comprises an observation window (eyepiece)
(29) which is also one of the exterior walls of the reaction
chamber of the casing, (the horizontal line pattern does not exist
in the real test kit, and is provided only to illustrate the actual
eyepiece region). The eyepiece is an integral part of the casing,
which is all one casting. The eyepiece portion is transparent, due
to its glossy polishing.
[0061] FIG. 2c illustrates other walls (30) (31) of the reaction
chamber. These inner walls reduce the actual inner space of the
chamber such that only a mid portion of the observation window is
used for observing a reaction (color change) made in the chamber
(in these figures, the actual eyepiece region is patterned by
horizontal lines). The two excess regions of the observation window
(from both sides of said mid portion) may be used for printing (or
sticking) color-indexing spots for reading the results of a test in
a glance with the index.
[0062] Part (41) comprises a main portion of the reaction chamber
(44). The reaction chamber is shaped wide at part (45) which is
laid open to the ampoule cells (22)(23)(24) when the two parts
(21)(41) are attached to each other. The interior side of this wide
area of the reaction chamber is illustrated in FIG. 2b, having a
filtering screen made of a line of protrusions starts with
protrusion (46) which faces the lower end of cell (22), and ends
with protrusion (47) which faces the lower end of the opposing cell
(24). This filtering screen of spaced protrusions, prevents pieces
of broken ampoules from passing into the chamber, but allows free
flow of the ampoule content from the cells to the chamber.
[0063] The lower part (34) of the chamber is shaped narrow, for
focusing the reagents into a distinct region facing the observation
window (29). The casing is further comprised of an inlet opening
(48) for the insertion of the sampling probe (seen in FIGS. 3a,
3b). The sampling probe is adapted for the placement of a suspected
material inside the chamber, at a point facing the observation
window. The inlet opening (48) and the sampling probe are contoured
such that the opening is sealed by the probe, when the probe
reaches its final position inside the chamber. Pit (42) and ramp
(43) are parts of mutual interlocking arrangement between the
casing and the sampling probe.
[0064] FIGS. 3a and 3b, each illustrate the other side of the
sampling probe (50). The probe is comprised of a hand grip (57),
and a wide body (51) ends with a thin rod (52). The rod (52) has a
removable extension (53)(53a), which is the sampling member of the
probe. The probes depicted by these two FIGS. (3a and 3b) differ
from each other by the type of their sampling members (53)(53a).
This difference may be achieved either by designing a main probe
and a selection of removable sampling members, or by designing
different probes, each with a unique type of sampling member. On
the edge of the sampling members (53)(53a) are located collecting
means for collecting a sample of suspected material. The collecting
means on the edge of the sampling member (53) is a toothed area, to
be pressed to a crumb of suspected material for trapping and
picking it. The collecting means on the edge of the sampling member
(53a) is a miniature hollow cylinder to be pressed to suspected
powder remains for picking a sample. The probe further comprises on
its wide body (51) an inclined protrusion (56). This protrusion is
for locking the probe to the casing, by its mutual interlocking
mechanism with said pit (42) (see FIG. 2d). The inclination of the
protrusion is for allowing driving the protrusion over said ramp
(43) (see FIG. 2d), for being locked into the pit (42).
[0065] FIGS. 4a and 4b each illustrate both sides of the complete
casing with a sampling probe in position. The mutual interlocking
means between casing and probe comprises two projections projecting
from the hand grip of the probe, that are held in part (21) of the
casing. Those projections, together with the probe rod which is
hooked inside of the chamber (44), are secure the protrusion (56)
in its conforming pit (42) in part (41) of the casing. Once the
probe is fully inserted, there is a "click" made by protrusion (56)
slipping from ramp (43) into pit (42). This "click" informs the
user that the probe is locked in its position, the reaction chamber
is sealed, and the suspected material is placed in front of the
observation window. This is the appropriate time to crush the
ampoules by pressing the cells in the appropriate sequence. When
waiting for the reaction results, the casing can be positioned
vertically on a horizontal surface (such a table), due to its wide
basis portion, created between the bottom ends (27a)(28a)(59a)(49a)
of the side walls (27)(28)(59)(49).
[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section view of the probe
positioned and locked in the casing. The end (the tip) (61) of the
sampling member is fronting the window (29), the protrusion (56) is
locked in pit (42) by the strait end of ramp (43) and by projection
(54) which is held from the opposite side of the casing. The dotted
patterned pressing point (23a) of cell (23) is ready for pressing
it to position (65).
[0067] FIG. 6 illustrates a complete view of the casing and the
probe from the above.
* * * * *