Appeal No. 1996-3504
Application No. 08/265,648
We interpret the claimed “measuring means” as the
specific arrangement of optical devices illustrated in Figure
1 and described at page 4, lines 22 to 26 and page 7, lines 17
to 25, of the specification, which is provided below for
convenience:
In Fig. 1 there is shown exemplary
apparatus 20 for assaying a fluid sample and
which may typically employ an optical system
including light source 22 for providing
excitation radiation, light detector 24 for
detecting light stimulated by the excitation
radiation, beam splitter means such as dichroic
or semitransparent mirror 26 and collimator
means 28.
. . . .
. . . Light source 22 is then
activated to generate excitation light beam
23 (shown in broken lines) which, in turn
is directed to mirror 26 by collimating
lens 28 so that the collimated beam is
reflected onto lens means 32. The latter
focusses the excitation beam to a focal
region at which the mass of beads 40 in
reaction chamber 36 is located, and the
excitation radiation excites the
fluorescence on beads 40 into fluorescence.
That fluorescence is transmitted through
lens 32 and directed through beam splitter
mirror 26 to detector 24. After
measurements are made, the mass of beads 40
can be readily removed from reaction
chamber 36 simply by back-flushing through
conduit 34.
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