Cuvette

Details Cuvette Cuvette

1991-10-17

1994-02-15

Warden, Robert J.

Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser

Control element responsive to a sensed operating condition

422101, 422 72, 422 58, 422 57, 436177, 436178, B01L 300

Patent

active

052864545

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a cuvette for taking up at least one fluid and mixing the fluid with a reagent for analysing the mixture, the cuvette having at least one first cavity in which the fluid can be taken up through an inlet.
A cuvette of this type, which is used for direct optical analysis of the mixture, is previously known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,448. The cuvette according to this patent consists of a body member having two flat surfaces forming an optical path and spaced a predetermined distance from each other for determining the length of the optical path, and defining a cavity having an inlet by means of which the cavity communicates with the ambient atmosphere. The cavity has a predetermined fixed volume, and the predetermined distance between said surfaces enables the cavity to take up a sample by capillary action. Further, a reagent is applied to the surfaces of the cavity.
This known cuvette offers many advantages over other prior art apparatuses of the same type. By means of the cuvette, a fluid can be taken up, mixed and chemically reacted with a suitable reagent, e.g. for colour development in the same cavity as is used for the subsequent measuring operation. Thus, the cuvette according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,448 simplifies the sampling procedure, reduces the amount of accessory equipment and in most cases--depending on the type of analysis--considerably increases the accuracy of the analysis by making the analysis procedure independent of the skill of those carrying out the analysis.
The cuvette according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,197 increases the number of reactions possible in a cuvette system, by using a semipermeable membrane as a functional part of the cuvette.
The object of the present invention is to further improve these known cuvettes and to that end, the new cuvette is characterized in that it has, in addition to said first cavity, at least one second cavity adapted to take up fluid from the first cavity by capillary action without any external influence via a first channel having means for admitting fluid therein by external influence only, preferably by the exertion of centrifugal force, and that at least the second cavity contains a reagent or a fluid-modifying agent.
Thus, the cuvette according to the invention has at least two cavities defined by surrounding walls, viz. a first cavity or inlet cavity in which the fluid is taken up, preferably by capillary action through the inlet, and a second cavity in which the fluid can be taken up after centrifugation of the cuvette. Preferably, a reception cavity is provided which communicates with the first cavity through said channel. The reception cavity can be said to be divided into two sections, viz. a first, lower section for receiving heavy material taken up in the fluid, and a second, upper section forming the second cavity and serving as measuring cavity. Instead of relying on centrifugal force for fluid transport through the channel, it is also possible to exert a pressure on the fluid in the first cavity, which however presupposes a venting device. The walls of the cavities, the reception cavity and the channel, or a desired portion thereof, may be coated with reagent or the like, and an analysis can be carried out on fluid in both the first cavity and the second or the capillary section of the reception cavity, and also in the heavier-material section of the reception cavity.
From e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,964 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,590 it is previously known, in an analysis cuvette, to provide capillary orifices in the fluid path. As opposed to the arrangement according to the invention, these orifices however serve to prevent fluid transport until the cuvette is subjected to centrifugation. During centrifugation, the fluid is pressed through the capillary orifices into the analysis cells. The special means which in the cuvette according to the invention prevents fluid from entering the channel might be in the form of capillary orifices as in the known devices, but such orifices would probably not be more effective

REFERENCES:
patent: 1365183 (1921-01-01), Moffatt
patent: 3795451 (1974-03-01), Mailen
patent: 3799742 (1974-03-01), Coleman
patent: 3901658 (1975-08-01), Burtis et al.
patent: 4066512 (1978-01-01), Lai et al.
patent: 4088448 (1978-05-01), Lilja
patent: 4178345 (1979-12-01), Terk
patent: 4284602 (1981-08-01), Kelton et al.
patent: 4330206 (1982-05-01), Gausmann et al.
patent: 4447546 (1984-05-01), Hirschfeld
patent: 4462964 (1984-07-01), Guigan
patent: 4605536 (1986-08-01), Kuhnert et al.
patent: 4654197 (1987-03-01), Lilja et al.
patent: 4696798 (1987-09-01), Timgren
patent: 4714590 (1987-12-01), Guigan
patent: 4756884 (1988-07-01), Hillman et al.
patent: 4806316 (1989-02-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 4883763 (1989-11-01), Holen et al.
patent: 4999304 (1991-03-01), Robertson
patent: 5039617 (1991-08-01), McDonald et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Cuvette does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Cuvette, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cuvette will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1204822