POLYMERIC DEVICE SUITABLE FOR ULTRAVIOLET DETECTION

• US 20160313240A1
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytiva Sweden AB (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ehring, Hanno
• Granted Patent: US 10,094,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/74 Optical detectors measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, or phase of infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48707 by electrical means G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flow cell (10) comprising a fluid inlet (16) and a fluid outlet (18) separated by a sample flow-through chamber (12) comprising at least one UV-transparent window (22′), wherein the at least one UV-transparent window (22′) is made of a polymer material and has been subjected to Gamma radiation sterilisation. In one aspect, the flow cell is combustible.

Claims

1. A method for measuring UV absorption of a sample using a flow cell including a polypropylene material, the method comprising:

subjecting the flow cell to a Gamma radiation sterilization procedure;

conveying the sample through the flow cell;

transmitting UV light through the polypropylene material and through the sample; and

determining the UV absorption of the sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is based on the transmitted UV light.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining includes measuring an intensity of the transmitted UV light.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the measuring includes detecting the transmitted UV light using a detector disposed adjacent to the flow cell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the Gamma radiation sterilization procedure includes subjecting the flow cell to a dose of at least 10 kGy of Gamma radiation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow cell includes at least one of (i) a circular wall made of polypropylene and (ii) a polypropylene window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV transmission of the polypropylene material after being subjected to the Gamma radiation sterilization procedure does not vary by more than about 10% during an exposure to UV light for a period of about 72 hours.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein an optical power density during the exposure to UV light is about 0.6 μ

W/mm².

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV transmission of the polypropylene material after being subjected to the Gamma radiation sterilization procedure does not vary by more than about 10% during an exposure to UV light for a period of about 48 hours.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an optical power density during the exposure to UV light is about 0.6 μ

W/mm².

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypropylene material has a UV transmission in the range of between 1% and 40% per mm at a wavelength of 280 nm after being subjected to the Gamma radiation sterilization procedure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV-transmission of the polypropylene material is greater than 2% and less than 30% per mm after being subjected to the Gamma radiation sterilization procedure.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV-transmission of the polypropylene material is greater than 5% and less than 20% per mm after being subjected to the Gamma radiation sterilization procedure.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV-transmission of the polypropylene material is greater than 12% and less than 18% per mm after being subjected to the Gamma radiation sterilization procedure.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveying includes delivering the sample to the flow cell in one of a chromatography system and a filtration system.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising sealing the flow cell utilizing a sealing means.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the conveying includes flowing the sample in at least one channel of the flow cell.

18. A flow cell for measuring UV absorption of a sample, the flow cell comprising:

polypropylene windows having been subjected to a Gamma sterilization procedure; and

a sealing means configured to provide an interface between the flow cell and (i) a fluidic port of one of a filtration and a chromatography system and (ii) a UV absorption detector module.

19. The flow cell of claim 18, wherein the flow cell is combustible.

20. The flow cell of claim 18, further comprising a chamber formed between the polypropylene windows, the chamber being configured to house the sample.