Polymeric device suitable for ultraviolet detection

• US 9,404,862 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytiva Sweden AB (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Ehring, Hanno
• Primary Examiner(s): BRYANT, REBECCA CAROLE
• Application Number:
  US13/891,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20130240747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 356/246, 250/431, 250/461.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/74 Optical detectors measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, or phase of infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48707 by electrical means G01N33/49, G01N33/493 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flow cell (10) comprising a fluid inlet (16) and a fluid outlet (18) separated by a sample flow-through chamber (12) comprising at least one UV-transparent window (22′), wherein the at least one UV-transparent window (22′) is made of a polymer material and has been subjected to Gamma radiation sterilization. In one aspect, the flow cell is combustible.

Claims

1. A method for measuring UV absorption of a sample using a flow cell comprising the steps of:

subjecting a flow cell to a Gamma radiation sterilisation procedure, said flow cell comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet separated by a sample-flow-through chamber comprising first and second UV-transparent windows, each being made of polypropylene, wherein the distance between said windows is within the range of 1-5 mm;

conveying a flow of liquid sample into the inlet and out of the outlet;

transmitting UV light from a source of UV radiation outside the flow cell through the sample flow-through chamber and said UV-transparent windows to a detector of UV radiation and;

measuring a sample signal from said detector, wherein the signal is indicative of an absorption of the liquid sample with respect to the UV light from the source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a dose of at least 10 kGy is used for said Gamma radiation sterilisation procedure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer material has a UV transmission in the range of between 1% and 40% per mm at a wavelength of 280 nm after being subjected to said Gamma radiation sterilisation procedure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV transmission of the polymer material after being subjected to Gamma radiation sterilisation does not vary by more than 10% during exposure for a period of 72 hours to UV-light of an intensity of approximately 0.6 μ

W/mm2.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV transmission of the polymer material after being subjected to said Gamma radiation sterilisation procedure does not vary by more than 10% during exposure for a period of 48 hours to UV-light of an intensity of approximately 0.6 μ

W/mm2.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV-transmission of the polymer material is greater than 2% and less than 30% per mm after being subjected to said Gamma radiation sterilisation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV-transmission of the polymer material is greater than 5% and less than 20% per mm after being subjected to said Gamma radiation sterilisation procedure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a UV-transmission of the polymer material is greater than 12% and less than 18% per mm after being subjected to said Gamma radiation sterilisation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a sealing means is fitted outside the flow cell to provide a sealable flow cell.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said sealing means comprises a housing made of an opaque material, said sealing means additionally comprising a UV radiation transmission window.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow cell is combustible.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the UV radiation is provided by one or more light emitting diodes.

13. A kit of parts comprising:

a flow cell with an optical path length in the range of 0.2-15 mm, comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet separated by a chamber comprising at least one UV-transparent window, wherein said at least one UV-transparent window is made of a polymer material polypropylene and has been subjected to a Gamma radiation sterilisation procedure;

an opaque sealing means and wherein said flow cell is contained in an opaque sealing means covering all the walls of the flow cell, except for at least one UV radiation transmission window; and

a UV absorption detector which is open on one side and adapted to allow said flow cell to inserted therein, wherein the detector is configured to measure a signal indicative of an absorption of a sample in the flow cell.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a radiation beam from the UV source proceeds through the cell to the detector to measure the signal.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein one radiation beam from the UV source proceeds through the cell to the detector to measure the signal and another radiation beam from the UV source proceeds directly to the detector to produce a reference signal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein in the conveying step in step b) a liquid flow rate through the cell is between 25 ml/min and 9 L/min.

17. The kit of claim 13, further comprising at least one holder and at least one liquid flow channel.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UV-transparent window is disposed opposite to the second UV-transparent window.

19. The kit of claim 13, comprising a first UV-transparent window and a second UV-transparent window, and wherein the first UV-transparent window is disposed opposite to the second UV-transparent window.