Adaptor Plate for Vertical Cuvette Alignment in Spectrophotometers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for validating vertical light beam spectrophotometers require specialized cuvettes or bubble traps, limiting their usability with conventional cuvettes and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
An adaptor plate with a top face, bottom face, and light openings that allows conventional cuvettes to be aligned vertically, enabling their use in vertical light beam spectrophotometers without the need for specialized cuvettes or bubble traps, by propping one end of the cuvette vertically relative to the other end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional cuvettes are used in vertical light beam spectrophotometers, then the optical pathlength becomes variable due to meniscus shape, but if specialized cuvettes with fixed pathlength are used, then manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adaptor plate as an intermediary component between the conventional cuvette and the spectrophotometer well. This adaptor plate has a flat bottom surface that creates a defined optical pathlength, while the conventional cuvette retains its traditional meniscus-forming geometry. The adaptor plate thus mediates between the conventional cuvette design and the requirement for fixed pathlength, allowing standard cuvettes to be used without modification while achieving consistent optical measurements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cuvettes are used in vertical light beam spectrophotometers, then existing cuvettes can be utilized without modification, but the optical pathlength cannot be kept constant due to meniscus curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light path into two distinct segments: the first segment through the adaptor plate with a fixed, defined pathlength, and the second segment through the conventional cuvette containing the sample. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the adaptor plate provides precise optical pathlength control while the conventional cuvette maintains its versatile, meniscus-forming design. The light beam traverses both segments sequentially to achieve both adaptability and precision.
3Measurement precision
If specialized cuvettes or bubble traps are required for validation, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor plate serves multiple functions: it defines the optical pathlength for measurements, accommodates conventional cuvettes with their menisci, and enables validation of vertical light beam spectrophotometers using standard reference materials. By making this single component universal and multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate specialized validation cuvettes or bubble traps, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the use of conventional cuvettes in vertical light beam spectrophotometers, reducing costs by allowing the same reference cells to be used in both horizontal and vertical systems, and simplifying the validation process by eliminating the need for specialized cuvettes or bubble traps.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the top face is configured such that an end of at least one cuvette aligned over one or more of the openings in the top face is propped in a vertical direction relative to the opposite end of the cuvette
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for adapting conventional spectrophotometer cuvettes for use in a vertical light beam spectrophotometer.