Pivoting Cuvette for Precise Optical Liquid Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical measurement devices face challenges in accurately analyzing small liquid samples due to issues with cuvette design, such as difficulty in filling and cleaning, high cost, and contamination risks, especially when handling valuable or hazardous samples.

Innovation Solution

A cuvette design featuring pivotally connected arms that can be swung together to position a sample between measuring areas, allowing for precise alignment within the beam path of optical measuring devices, reducing sample volume requirements, and incorporating features for safe handling and contamination prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If standard cuvettes are used for optical measurement, then measurement precision is maintained, but sample volume requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidsample volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cuvette is divided into multiple compartments: a sample chamber for holding the liquid sample, a measurement chamber with optical windows for light transmission, and connection channels. This segmentation allows the optical measurement to occur in a dedicated chamber with optimized path length, enabling accurate measurement of smaller sample volumes while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from traditional horizontal light path measurement to vertical light path measurement through the sample column. By orienting the optical path vertically through the cuvette's measurement chamber, the design optimizes the interaction between light and sample, enabling precise measurement with reduced sample volume requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If ultra micro cuvettes are used for small sample volumes, then sample volume requirement decreases, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesample volumeVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Connection channels serve as intermediaries between the sample chamber and measurement chamber, facilitating easy sample transfer while maintaining a sealed system. This intermediary structure simplifies the filling process and reduces the risk of contamination, improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If quartz glass cuvettes are used for UV measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Only the critical measurement chamber and optical windows are made from expensive quartz glass to ensure UV transparency and measurement precision, while other non-critical parts of the cuvette can be made from less expensive materials. This localized application of high-performance materials reduces overall cost while maintaining measurement precision in the UV range

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If reusable cuvettes are used, then cost decreases, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement chamber with optical windows is designed as a separable component that can be easily removed from the cuvette body. This extracted measurement chamber can be independently cleaned and maintained, preserving the reliability of the optical surfaces while allowing the rest of the cuvette to be reused multiple times, thus reducing cost while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 precise optical examination of small sample volumes with reduced contamination risks and cost-effectiveness, accommodating various sample types, including hazardous materials, while maintaining accuracy and efficiency in measurements.

Implementation Method 1

A small volume of a liquid sample is positioned between the two measuring areas by way of its surface tension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS10241027B2Method for optically examining small amounts of liquid using a cuvette and insert parts that form a column of liquid between two measuring areas

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 EPPENDORF AG

AI summary

Cuvette, comprising at least one measuring area on each one of two arms that are pivotally connected to each other such that from a swung-apart condition, they can be swung together into a measuring position in which the two measuring areas have a distance for positioning a sample between the measuring areas, and means for positioning the two arms in a measuring position in a cuvette shaft of an optical measuring device with a sample between the two measuring areas in a beam path of the optical measuring device that crosses the cuvette shaft.