Cuvette, Insert, Adapter and Method for Optically Examining Small Amounts of Liquid

• US 20140340674A1
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eppendorf Se
• Original Assignee: Eppendorf AG
• Inventors: HARNACK, Kurt, KNOFFE, Helmut, SCHEFFLER, Peter, GOEMANN-THOSS, Wolfgang, EIKELMANN, Sven, JOLIE, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 9,677,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/246
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/021 Adjust spacings in an array of wells, pipettes or holders, format transfer between arrays of different size or geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/043 Hinged closures
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/161 Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/18 Spatulas
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5088 confining liquids at a location by surface tension, e.g. virtual wells on plates, wires B01L3/50857 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0267 Sample holders for colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0307 Insert part in cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/035 Supports for sample drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• 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 21/15 Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path

Abstract

Cuvette, comprising at least one measuring area on each one of two arms that are pivotally connected to each other such that from a swung-apart condition, they can be swung together into a measuring position in which the two measuring areas have a distance for positioning a sample between the measuring areas, and means for positioning the two arms in a measuring position in a cuvette shaft of an optical measuring device with a sample between the two measuring areas in a beam path of the optical measuring device that crosses the cuvette shaft.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. Cuvette, comprising at least one measuring area (4, 5, 83, 84) on each one of two arms (7, 8, 67, 68) that are pivotally connected to each other, such that from a swung-apart condition, they can be swung together into a measuring position in which the two measuring areas (4, 5, 83, 84) have a distance for positioning a sample between the measuring areas (4, 5, 83, 84), the cross-section of the arms when swung together in a measuring position in a cuvette shaft of an optical measuring device with a sample between the two measuring areas (4, 5, 83, 84) in a beam path of the optical measuring device that crosses the cuvette shaft has a cross-sectional shape that is adapted to the cuvette shaft.

38. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the adapter for positioning the two arms (7, 8, 67, 68) is disposed in the measuring position in the standard cuvette shaft.

39. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the cuvette is disposed in the measuring position in different positions in a cuvette shaft.

40. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the cuvette is disposed in the measuring position in different height positions or different horizontal positions in a cuvette shaft.

41. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the two arms (7, 8, 67, 68) are pivotally linked to each other via an articulation.

43. Cuvette according to claim 37, which has a limiter for preventing the swinging together of the arms in the measuring position, or which has a locking mechanism for detachably locking (85 to 88, 89 to 92) the two arms (67, 68) in the measuring position.

44. Cuvette according to claim 37, which has the two measuring areas (83, 84) on two insert parts (81, 82) and which has means for detachably or not detachably holding the two insert parts on the arms (67, 68).

45. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein at least one arm (67′

) has a recess (125), extending from the outer side of the arm (67′

) up to the measuring area (83′

), for inserting a pipette point (127) and putting a sample between the measuring areas (83′

, 84′

) in the measuring position.

46. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein at least one measuring area (83, 84) or at least one insert part (81, 82) are made of plastics or quartz glass or glass or at least one arm or the insert or the adapter are made of plastics or metal.

47. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein at least one measuring area (83, 84) has a planar pedestal.

48. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein at least one measuring area (83, 84) has a deepening.

49. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein at least one measuring area (83, 84) is hydrophobic.

50. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein at least one measuring area (83, 84) is hydrophilic.

51. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein at least one measuring area (83, 84) has a less hydrophobic or hydrophilic spot.

52. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the measuring areas (83, 84) are planar.

53. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the measuring areas (83, 84) are disposed in parallel in the measuring position.

54. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the distance of the measuring areas (83, 84) from each other is about 1 mm in the measuring position.

55. Cuvette according to claim 37, wherein the distances between the two measuring areas (83, 84) are dimensioned such that the volumes of the samples are 0.2 to 5 micro-litres.

56. Cuvette according to claim 37, which has at least one stop for limiting a light beam through the measuring areas (83, 84).

42. Cuvette according to claim 42, wherein the articulation is a floating articulation.