Cuvette

• US 8,920,754 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
• Original Assignee: Postech Academy-Industry Foundation
• Inventors: Kim, Joon-Won, Chung, Wan-Kyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHER, BRITTANY I
• Application Number:
  US13/498,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20120189510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 422/554
• US Class Current: 422/554
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50857 using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/115 Washing; Purging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/11 Filling or emptying of cuvettes

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a cuvette of which an inner space thereof is easily cleansed while minimizing its inner space.

A cuvette according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an upper portion having an inlet and forming a first inner space; a middle portion following the first inner space and forming a second inner space that is smaller than the first inner space; and a lower portion following the second inner space and forming a through hole having an interior diameter that is narrower than a cross-section of the second inner space.

Accordingly, the through hole functions as a valve to stop the solution when the solution is divided to the inner space for the test, and after the test, the inlet is pressed such that the through hole functions as a nozzle when cleansing such that the solution may be exhausted therefrom.

Claims

1. A cuvette made of a container used for a spectroscope test of a sample solution, comprising:

an upper portion having an inlet and forming a first inner space of the container;

a middle portion connected to the first inner space and forming a second inner space of the container configured to contain the sample solution; and

a lower portion having a through hole connected to the second inner space, a horizontal cross-section area of the through hole being narrower than a horizontal cross-section area of the second inner space,

wherein the vertical length of the second inner space is longer than the vertical length of the through hole,

wherein the lower portion and the middle portion have a quadrangle outer shape and the lower portion has substantially the same outer width and outer thickness with the middle portion, and

wherein the horizontal cross-section areas of the second inner space and the through hole respectively have a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension of the second inner space is the same to the first dimension of the through hole and the second dimension of the second inner space is greater than the second dimension of the through hole.

2. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein

the through hole has a function as a valve that is closed by a capillary force and is opened by an added pressure.

3. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein

the through hole is formed for a surface tension acting between the sample solution and an inner surface of the through hole to be equal or larger than gravity applied to the sample solution included in the container.

4. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein

the through hole and the inlet are satisfied with a condition below:

5. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein:

the horizontal cross-section area of the second inner space is smaller than the horizontal cross-section area of the first inner space.

6. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein

the width of the second inner space is larger than the width of a sensor.

7. The cuvette of claim 5, wherein

the cuvette is formed by combining a body unit of which the upper portion and the middle portion are integrally formed, and a through hole unit forming the lower portion.

8. The cuvette of claim 7, wherein

the through hole unit is formed of a non-wetting material.

9. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein,

for the through hole, the horizontal cross-section of the lower portion is formed with a quadrangular shape or a circular shape.

10. The cuvette of claim 1,

wherein a plurality of through holes formed in the lower portion are respectively connected to the second inner space, and

wherein the sum of horizontal cross-section areas of the through holes are narrower than a horizontal cross-section area of the second inner space.

11. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein

for the through hole, the horizontal cross-section of the lower portion is formed with a slit shape.

12. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein

the through hole has an inner surface that is curved or is formed with a minute structure.

13. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein

the through hole further includes a non-wetting coating layer formed at the inner surface thereof.

17. The cuvette of claim 1, wherein the inlet is configured to receive a cleansing solution such that the received cleansing solution is exhausted to the through hole for cleaning the first inner space and the second inner space when the spectroscope test of the sample solution is completed.

14. A cuvette made of a container including a sample solution and used for a spectroscope test, comprising:

an upper portion having an inlet and forming a first inner space of the container; and

a lower portion formed to communicate with the first inner space and forming a through hole having a horizontal cross-section area of the through hole is narrower than the horizontal cross-section area of the first inner space,

wherein the lower portion further includes a groove connected to the through hole.

15. The cuvette of claim 14, wherein

the groove is formed and connected in a direction vertical to the through hole.

16. The cuvette of claim 14, wherein

the groove is formed singularly or in plural with respect to an entire length of the through hole.