Device for receiving small volume liquid samples
First Claim
1. A device for receiving a liquid sample to be analysed by a process of involving the passing of electromagnetic radiation through the sample, the device comprising a housing assembly, a light inlet guide supported by the housing assembly for directing electromagnetic radiation into the sample, a light receiving element supported by the housing assembly, situated in an opposed relationship to the guide, and spaced from the guide by a fixed distance to define a fixed length gap for receiving, and being filled with, the sample, the device being operable to cause the radiation to pass from the light inlet guide to the light receiving element, the path length of radiation through the sample being defined by said gap, the housing assembly having a recess to allow a droplet of the sample to be deposited directly in the gap, wherein the gap is situated in the recess;
- wherein the light inlet guide is elongate, having an output end face positioned within the recess and through which, in use, electromagnetic radiation is emitted into said gap;
wherein the light inlet guide comprises an inlet optical fibre including first and second regions, wherein the first region consists of a fibre core surrounded by a flexible cladding, and the second region consists of a rigid metallic cladding encasing the fibre core, and wherein the second region is located coincident with the output end face and adjacent to the gap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improvements in and relating to devices for receiving liquid samples A device for receiving a liquid sample may form part of a micro sampling head for an instrument such as a spectrophotometer. The device receives a liquid sample to be analyzed by a process involving the passing of electromagnetic radiation through the sample, and comprises a light inlet guide (20) for directing electromagnetic radiation into the sample, a light receiving element (23) situated in an opposed relationship to the guide and spaced from the guide by a fixed distance to define a fixed path length gap (21), which is, in use, filled with the sample. In use, radiation is passed from the light inlet guide to the light receiving element (23), and the path length of radiation through the sample is defined by the gap (23). The device is open or openable to allow a droplet of sample to be deposited directly in the gap.
29 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for receiving a liquid sample to be analysed by a process of involving the passing of electromagnetic radiation through the sample, the device comprising a housing assembly, a light inlet guide supported by the housing assembly for directing electromagnetic radiation into the sample, a light receiving element supported by the housing assembly, situated in an opposed relationship to the guide, and spaced from the guide by a fixed distance to define a fixed length gap for receiving, and being filled with, the sample, the device being operable to cause the radiation to pass from the light inlet guide to the light receiving element, the path length of radiation through the sample being defined by said gap, the housing assembly having a recess to allow a droplet of the sample to be deposited directly in the gap, wherein the gap is situated in the recess;
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wherein the light inlet guide is elongate, having an output end face positioned within the recess and through which, in use, electromagnetic radiation is emitted into said gap; wherein the light inlet guide comprises an inlet optical fibre including first and second regions, wherein the first region consists of a fibre core surrounded by a flexible cladding, and the second region consists of a rigid metallic cladding encasing the fibre core, and wherein the second region is located coincident with the output end face and adjacent to the gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A spectrophotometer comprising a device for receiving a liquid sample to be analysed by the spectrophotometer, the device comprising a housing assembly, a light inlet guide supported by the housing assembly for directing electromagnetic radiation into the sample, the light inlet guide having an inlet, and a light receiving element supported by the housing assembly, situated in an opposed relationship to the guide, and spaced from the guide by a fixed distance to define a fixed length gap for receiving, and being filled with, the sample, the spectrophotometer further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation which is incident on an inlet end of the light inlet guide, the device being operable to cause the radiation to pass from the light inlet guide to the light receiving element, a path length of radiation through the sample being defined by said gap, the spectrophotometer further comprising a monochromator for analysing the radiation received by the light receiving element, wherein the housing assembly has a recess to allow a droplet of the sample to be deposited directly in the gap, wherein the gap is situated in the recess;
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wherein the light inlet guide is elongate, having an output end face positioned within the recess and through which, in use, electromagnetic radiation is emitted into said gap; wherein the light inlet guide comprises an inlet optical fibre including first and second regions, wherein the first region consists of a fibre core surrounded by a flexible cladding, and the second region consists of a rigid metallic cladding encasing the fibre core, and wherein the second region is located coincident with the output end face and adjacent to the gap.
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Specification