NMR Flow Cell Asymmetric Sealing Head

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing NMR flow cell assemblies are limited by their design, which often requires complex and irreversible connections, making them difficult to replace and use in spectrometers with non-parallel magnetic fields, and they suffer from leakage issues at high pressures.

Innovation Solution

A modified flow cell design with a tapered first opening and a sealing head that creates a positive fit, allowing for easy replacement of flow lines and stable operation regardless of magnetic field orientation, using a connecting piece with a larger seal head diameter than the opening, and incorporating sealing elements for enhanced security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional flow cell assembly with parallel connections is used, then the connection is simple to make, but the flow lines cannot be easily replaced and the assembly cannot be used in spectrometers with non-parallel magnetic fields

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connectionVSAvoidadaptability to different magnetic field orientations and replaceability of flow lines

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flow cell assembly employs asymmetric geometry where the first opening has a different diameter than the second opening. The connector is designed with a corresponding asymmetric sealing head that matches each opening's diameter. This asymmetric design enables magnetic field independent operation while maintaining ease of connection through the tapered geometry that guides proper alignment during insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The flow cell assembly is divided into separable components: the flow cell body, the first connector with sealing head, the second connector, and the flow lines. This segmentation allows flow lines to be easily replaced by disconnecting and reconnecting the connectors, while each connector maintains a secure friction-fit connection to the flow cell openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a glued connection is used to secure flow lines, then the connection is strong and leak-proof, but the flow lines cannot be replaced and the assembly becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak-proof connectionVSAvoidreplaceability of flow lines

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between connectors and flow lines is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than permanently fixed. The friction-fit mechanism allows the connection to be tightened or loosened as needed, providing both the reliability of a secure connection during use and the flexibility to disconnect and replace flow lines when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple connector design is used, then the assembly is easy to manufacture, but it cannot prevent leakage at high pressures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of connector designVSAvoidresistance to high pressure without leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing head of the connector features a curved, spherical sealing surface that mates with the corresponding curved surface of the flow cell opening. This spheroidal geometry distributes pressure evenly across the sealing interface, preventing leakage at high pressures while maintaining a simple connector design without complex sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Productivity

If flow lines extend into the flow cell, then they can convey the liquid sample, but they interfere with the magnetic field and degrade measurement quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample conveyance capabilityVSAvoidNMR measurement quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flow lines are extracted from the flow cell measurement volume and routed externally through the connectors. The connectors provide sealed connections at the flow cell openings while keeping the flow lines outside the magnetic field region. This extraction eliminates the magnetic field interference caused by flow lines extending into the flow cell, thereby maintaining high NMR measurement quality while preserving sample conveyance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4145164B1Coupling device for nmr flow cell for magnetic field independent alignment and nmr spectrometer

Publication Date: 2023.11.15 BRUKER SWITZERLAND AG

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AI summary

A flow cell assembly (10) for use in an NMR spectrometer (100) for performing NMR measurements on a liquid NMR sample (101), comprising: - a flow cell (11) for receiving the NMR sample, which forms a first opening (12) at a first end (13) and a second opening at a second end, and wherein the flow cell is cylindrical along a longitudinal axis (AL), and - a connector (14) for the fluid-tight connection of a flow line (15) to the flow cell, wherein the connector is arranged at the first opening, is characterized in that an opening diameter doff of the first opening is smaller than an inner flow cell diameter dinn, and that a sealing head (14a) of the connector is arranged in the first opening, wherein a sealing head diameter ddicht of the sealing head is larger than the opening diameter doff of the first opening.The flow cell assembly is technically modified for NMR measurements of a liquid NMR sample in such a way that the flow lines are easily interchangeable. Using this flow cell assembly according to the invention, high-quality NMR flow measurements can be performed regardless of the orientation of the magnetic field in the NMR spectrometer.