FLUORESCENCE CUVETTE

• US 3,849,654 A
• Filed: 10/19/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry Herbert Malvin
• Original Assignee: Harry Herbert Malvin
• Inventors: Malvin, Harry Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, James W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, B. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/407,823
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 250/363,368,361 356/75,246
• US Class Current: 250/363.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0389 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• 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 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/51 inside a container, e.g. in an ampoule G01N21/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters

Abstract

A fluorimeter cuvette is constructed with internal reflective surfaces such that the measured fluorescent radiation passing to the photodetector travels in the same direction as the direction of the exciting radiation entering the cuvette. As a result, fluorimetry measurements can be made in standard spectrophotometry equipment. The cuvette is also useful for nephelometry measurements.

Claims

1. A cuvette comprising a cavity for receiving a fluid sample to be activated by incoming incident radiation, said cavity defined by confronting rearward and forward end walls spaced from each other in the direction of the incoming incident radiation and side walls therebetween, the rearward end wall being entirely opaque to incoming incident radiation and the forward wall being transparent to radiation scattered or emitted by said fluid sample, reflective surface means located external to and in fixed relationship to said cavity for reflecting said radiation at a 90* angle relative to the direction of the incoming radiation incident on the relecting surface, and means in said cavity for inserting and withdrawing a fluid sample.

2. The cuvette of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the opaque rearward end wall of the cavity is reflective to radiation scattered or emitted by said fluid sample.

3. The cuvette of claim 1 wherein said cavity has a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet spaced from said fluid inlet to allow continuous flow of fluid through said cavity.

4. A method of measuring the light generating or light scattering properties of a fluid sample comprising passing incoming radiation prior to passing through the sample to a reflective surface situated to reflect the radiation at a 90* angle relative to the direction of the incoming radiation incident on the reflective surface, passing the reflected radiation through the fluid sample, and measuring the intensity of radiation emitted from the sample along an axis parallel to the incoming exciting radiation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the exciting radiation which has passed through the fluid sample is reflected and passed back through the sample parallel to the direction of first passage of the exciting radiation through the sample.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the radiation emitted from the sample is fluorescent radiation having a wavelength different from the incoming radiation.