Mobile water analysis

• US 9,180,449 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hach Company (Veralto Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hach Company (Veralto Corp.)
• Inventors: Duncan, Jim, Farjam, Aria, Harbridge, Jim, Harmon, Brian, Lundgreen, Ulrich, MacFarland, Darren, Moore, Leon, Palumbo, Perry, Pherigo, William Louis Jr., Stoughton, Robert, Waaler, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US13/844,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20130330245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/554, 422/561, 422/547
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• 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 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/182 : specific anions in water electrochemical analysis G01N27/26; detection of ions by colorimetry G01N31/22

Abstract

An embodiment provides a cuvette apparatus including: a lid and a body, the body including a fluid channel disposed therein; and the lid including at least one opening aligned with a portion of the fluid channel, thereby providing access to the fluid channel in the body. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A cuvette apparatus comprising:

a lid and a body, said body comprising a fluid channel disposed therein; and

said lid comprising at least one opening aligning with a portion of the fluid channel, thereby providing access to the fluid channel in the body;

wherein said body is made of transparent material and has a top and two sides;

wherein said lid comprises opaque material, said lid covering at least a portion of the top and the two sides of the body; and

said lid comprising opposing apertures aligned with a portion of said fluid channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening has at least one rounded end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rounded end is scooped shape.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening has a scooped end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening has a slotted shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the slotted shape has a beveled edge.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body may has a male mating member, and the lid has a female mating member that mates with the male mating member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lid has a male mating member, and the body has a female mating member that mates with the male mating member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel comprises at least one recess.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the at least one recess in the channel aligns with the at least one opening in the lid.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body is made from clear polystyrene.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one or more optical lenses are formed within the transparent material, each of said lenses aligned with said fluid channel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apertures are aligned with said lenses, and said lenses are affixed over each of said apertures.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body is made from a translucent material.

14. A cuvette apparatus comprising:

a lid and a body, said body comprising a fluid channel disposed therein; and

said lid comprising at least one opening aligned with a portion of the fluid channel, thereby providing access to the fluid channel in the body;

wherein said cuvette comprises an outer surface having at least one recess therein;

wherein the at least one recess is configured to engage a resilient member of a slot within an instrument to releasably secure the cuvette in said slot;

wherein the at least one recess comprises;

at least one recess disposed in a side wall of said cuvette; and

a set of recesses disposed in a bottom surface of said cuvette;

wherein said at least on recess disposed in a side wall of said cuvette is positioned to engage a corresponding resilient member in said slot responsive to insertion in said slot; and

wherein, responsive to said at least one recess disposed in a side wall of said cuvette engaging the corresponding resilient member in said slot, said set of recesses disposed in the bottom surface of said cuvette align and engage with a series of resilient members in said slot with an audible sound.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one recess comprises a curved indent within said outer surface, and the resilient member is a leaf spring disposed within said slot and configured to releasably engage said curved indent.