Sample cell

• US 20060203237A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Rees, Dianne M., Ji, Zhenghua
• Application Number:
  US11/402,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203237A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/246
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0248 Prongs, quill pen type dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0364 flexible, compressible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0378 Shapes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/11 Filling or emptying of cuvettes

Abstract

A sample cell for retaining a fluid sample comprising a handle and parallel plates. The parallel plates are coupled to the handle and are spaced at a distance thereby defining a cavity which is open on at least three sides. The distance between the plates allows capillary action to draw and retain a fluid sample in the cavity. Methods of using the sample cell are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sample cell for retaining a fluid sample, the sample cell comprising:

a handle;

a first plate having a planar surface, the first plate connected to the handle by a first deformable region;

a second plate having a planar surface, the second plate connected to the handle by a second deformable region; and

the planar surface of first plate and the planar surface of the second plate defining between them a measurement zone;

the distance between the planar surface of first plate and the planar surface of the second plate selected to allow capillary action to draw and retain a fluid sample in the measurement zone, and

the first and second deformable regions being configured to alter the distance between the plates.

2. The sample cell of claim 1, wherein the measurement zone is open on three sides.

3. The sample cell of claim 1, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise optically transparent material.

4. The sample cell of claim 1, further comprising:

clamping device;

the clamping device being operatively coupled to the first and the second deformable regions;

the clamping device being configured to apply deforming force to the first and the second deformable regions.

5. The sample cell of claim 1, wherein the sample cell is formed of an optically transparent polymeric material.

6. The sample cell of claim 5, wherein the first and second deformable regions have a reduced thickness compared to the first and second plates.

7. The sample cell of claim 5, wherein the optically transparent polymeric material comprises of a polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polymethacryate, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile, and any mixtures thereof.

13. The sample cell of claim 5, wherein the first and second deformable regions each have a thickness that is smaller than a thickness of either of the first or second plates.

8. A sample cell for retaining a fluid sample, comprising:

a handle;

a first plate having a first planar surface, the first plate connected to the handle by a first deformable region;

a second plate having a second planar surface, the second plate connected to the handle by a second deformable region;

a measurement zone defined between the first and second planar surfaces, said first and second planar surfaces being spaced from one another by a distance sufficient to allow capillary action to draw and retain a fluid sample in the measurement zone, wherein the first and second deformable regions are configured to alter the distance.

9. The sample cell of claim 8, wherein the measurement zone is open on three sides.

10. The sample cell of claim 8, wherein the first plate and the second plate comprise optically transparent material.

11. The sample cell of claim 8, further comprising a clamping device operatively coupled to the first and second deformable regions, the clamping device being configured to apply a deforming force to the first and second deformable regions.

12. The sample cell of claim 8, wherein the sample cell is formed of an optically transparent polymeric material.

14. The sample cell of claim 8, wherein the optically transparent polymeric material comprises of a polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polymethacryate, polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile, and any mixtures thereof.