Chemical analysis cuvette
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a chemical analyzer, an improved cuvette comprising:
- integrally formed means for defining individual compartments adapted to hold specimens, said compartments being arranged to pass through a line defining a closed curve having a central axis;
.[.and.].window means .Iadd.associated with each compartment comprising opposed planar members that are parallel to each other .Iaddend.for transmitting radiant energy through at least some portions of the compartments, whereby the specimens may be analyzed.Iadd.;
ventilation means for defining an opening within said curve for allowing the passage of air; and
additional analyzing apparatus comprising;
a source of radiant energy located within the area bounded by a vertical projection of said line defining a closed curve;
rotation means for rotating the cuvette in relationship to the radiant energy source, whereby the radiant energy sequentially passes through the window means in each of said compartments; and
means for passing air over the source and through said opening, whereby the source is cooled. .[.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Improved components, such as a cuvette, are disclosed in the specification.
52 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. In a chemical analyzer, an improved cuvette comprising:
-
integrally formed means for defining individual compartments adapted to hold specimens, said compartments being arranged to pass through a line defining a closed curve having a central axis;
.[.and.].window means .Iadd.associated with each compartment comprising opposed planar members that are parallel to each other .Iaddend.for transmitting radiant energy through at least some portions of the compartments, whereby the specimens may be analyzed.Iadd.; ventilation means for defining an opening within said curve for allowing the passage of air; and additional analyzing apparatus comprising; a source of radiant energy located within the area bounded by a vertical projection of said line defining a closed curve; rotation means for rotating the cuvette in relationship to the radiant energy source, whereby the radiant energy sequentially passes through the window means in each of said compartments; and means for passing air over the source and through said opening, whereby the source is cooled. .[. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
7. time during the operation of the rotation means. .Iadd.14. An improved cuvette for use in a chemical analyzer comprising:
-
integrally formed means for defining individual compartments adapted to hold specimens, said compartments having an open end and a closed end and being arranged to pass through a line defining a closed curve having a central axis, said integrally formed means comprising an outer sidewall defining an outer edge which fits within a circle having a center point lying in the central axis and defining a first slanting surface which is a common boundary for the compartments and which is slanting with respect to the central axis, an inner sidewall defining a second slanting surface which is a common boundary for the compartments and which is slanting toward the first slanting surface, bottomwall means extending between the outer and inner sidewalls adjacent the closed end of the compartments, a plurality of spacer means integrally formed with the outer sidewall, inner sidewall and bottomwall means for preventing the transfer of a specimen between adjacent compartments, each said spacer means comprising an upper section at least partially located adjacent the open end of a compartment, a first lower section integrally formed with a first one of the plurality of bottomwall means and a second lower section integrally formed with a second one of the plurality of bottomwall means, the first and second lower sections being separated by an air space, whereby heated fluid can flow around each compartment to incubate the specimens; lip means integrally formed with the outer sidewall and extending radially outward from the outer edge of the outer sidewall for supporting and securing the cuvette; ventilation means for defining an opening within the inner sidewall for allowing the passage of air; and window means for transmitting radiant energy through at least some portions of each of the compartments comprising an opposed pair of planar members separated by a predetermined distance located in each compartment, one of the planar members in each pair being integrally formed with the outer sidewall and the other of the planar members in each pair being integrally formed with the inner sidewall, each of said planar members intersecting a
-
- 14. so that mixing of the specimen is aided. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 32, wherein the ventilation means comprises a hollow collar integrally formed with the inner sidewall, whereby air may pass through the hollow portion of the collar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 33, wherein any line lying in the lateral area of the first cone and intersecting the central axis makes a predetermined acute angle with respect to the central axis and wherein any line lying in the lateral area of the second cone and intersecting the central axis also makes substantially the same predetermined acute angle with respect to the
- 15. central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 34, wherein each positioning notch and the compartment located opposite the positioning notch are bisected by a plane passing through the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 35, wherein the upper section of each spacer means is planar and wherein the air space is wider than the planar upper section, so that the cuvette can be nested with another like cuvette. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 36, wherein the collar defines a cylinder having an axis colinear with the central axis and defines a circular upper edge lying in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 37, wherein the predetermined acute angle is at least 15 degrees, so that the specimen is inhibited from splashing as the
-
16. compartment is being filled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 38, wherein a positioning notch is located opposite each compartment, and wherein each positioning notch includes an arcuate shaped section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 39, wherein each planar upper section of each spacer means is bisected by a plane which passes through the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 40, wherein said plane which passes through the central axis also bisects said air space. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 41, wherein the inner and outer sidewalls are 0.04 inch thick, wherein the predetermined distance between the planar members is one centimeter, and wherein the planar members in each opposed pair are substantially parallel. .Iaddend.
Specification