Optics: measuring and testing – Sample – specimen – or standard holder or support – Fluid containers
Patent
1992-08-14
1994-02-08
Rosenberger, Richard A.
Optics: measuring and testing
Sample, specimen, or standard holder or support
Fluid containers
250576, 422102, 422104, G01N 110, B01L 900
Patent
active
052852539
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
SCOPE OF APPLICATION
The present invention relates to a cuvette for holding substances to be analyzed preferably by optical means, more particularly a measuring cuvette for analyzing chromogenic substances, solutions or substrates. In this cuvette, a special suitability is provided for the analysis of photometric determinations over the entire spectral range, in this case especially of chromogenic substrates, enzyme-kinetic determinations and end-point determinations; however, the cuvette may be employed anywhere it is intended to transport, store and/or supply to an analyzer a substance to be analyzed.
STATE OF THE ART
The invention proceeds from a cuvette for holding substances to be analyzed preferably by optical means, more particularly for the analysis of chromogenic substances, solutions and substrates, having a measuring section that is closed at the bottom for holding the substance.
Such so-called optical measuring cuvettes are employed by preference for analytical measurements of enzymatic tests and coagulation end-point determinations in accordance with the so-called fibrin timer measurement principle or else in enzyme kinetics analyses. In measurements of this kind, the measuring cuvette, for the measuring operation, is placed into a measuring block or measuring rotor, in which case, with the aid of a stirring rod placed on the bottom of the measuring section of the cuvette, an as homogeneous as possible a mixing of the substances to be analyzed and, simultaneously or subsequently, the actual measuring operation is effected. After the completion of the measurements, the measuring cuvette is removed from the measuring block or rotor. When this is done, it has to be ensured that the risk of contamination for the operators, e.g. by infected specimen material, is kept as low as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
That is why the invention is based upon the technical problem of making sure by means of simple steps that, by the provision of optimal marginal conditions for the measurement, the handling of the cuvette prior to, during and subsequent to the completion of the measurements, can take place involving a minimal risk of contamination.
According to the invention, a cuvette is provided which is of such a design that it can be had recourse to for accommodating the measuring specimen and to serve at the same time as an empty cuvette and, on the one hand, for screening off the measuring section and, with it, the substance to be analyzed from the outside and, on the other, for serving as a handling or transporting aid for the measuring cuvette containing the substance to be analyzed. For this purpose it is only necessary to insert two identically configured cuvettes into each other, whereby, owing to the attached or inserted empty measuring cuvette, a closure of the measuring space of the other measuring cuvette is brought about. In this state it is possible for the measuring specimen, by way of example, infected specimen material, to be removed from the measuring block or from a rotor provided for this without the involvement of any risk of contamination for the operators. Consequently, also the disposal of the analyzed specimens is without problems. Especially when the plug-in connection between the cuvettes is designed so as to be detachable, a simplification of the method steps in the disposal of the specimens results since it is possible for the plug-in connection to be disengaged already prior to the actual disposal method steps being performed. In this connection, due to the steps according to the invention, the additional advantage is obtained that empty cuvettes can, on the one hand, be stacked or transported in a space-saving manner so that a stirring rod always placed in the measuring cuvette cannot be lost. The cuvettes stacked in this way can be introduced into an individual cuvette dispenser, from which an individual removal of the cuvettes is rendered possible with the risk of contamination of the measuring section being reduced to an absolute minimum.
It is generally possible t
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patent: 3607098 (1971-09-01), Strande
patent: 4643033 (1987-02-01), Solazzi
patent: 4761378 (1988-08-01), Godsey
patent: 4799599 (1989-01-01), Hermann
patent: 5035866 (1991-07-01), Wannlund
Pham Hoa Q.
Rosenberger Richard A.
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