Reaction Cuvette Surface Treatment for Air Bubble Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for making reaction cuvettes hydrophilic either degrade the resin, cause physical damage, or result in non-uniform surface treatment, leading to air bubble adhesion and sample liquid contamination, while existing gas treatments either oxidize the cuvette excessively or fail to control the hydrophilic area effectively.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using electric discharge between electrodes to selectively make specific areas of the reaction cuvette hydrophilic, generating ozone in an oxygen atmosphere to prevent air bubbles and control the hydrophilic area, with a hollow electrode allowing for precise gas management to prevent unnecessary oxidation and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire inner wall surface of the reaction cuvette is made hydrophilic using ozone water treatment, then air bubbles are prevented from adhering to the inner walls, but the resin is excessively oxidized and translucency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies hydrophilic treatment only to specific local areas of the reaction cuvette inner wall where air bubbles are most likely to form (corners and edges), rather than treating the entire surface. This selective local treatment prevents air bubble adhesion while minimizing overall resin oxidation and preserving translucency of the cuvette.
2Reliability
If masking is performed to localize the areas to be made hydrophilic, then air bubble adhesion is prevented in specific areas, but the inner walls are physically damaged during masking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the masking step entirely from the process. Instead of applying masks to protect or target specific areas, the invention uses the electric discharge method to directly and selectively treat only the necessary areas without any physical masking materials, thereby avoiding any physical damage to the inner walls.
3Reliability
If gas containing ozone is sprayed to make inner walls hydrophilic, then air bubbles are prevented from adhering, but the entire area is treated causing meniscus phenomenon and sample liquid contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses electric discharge to create hydrophilic areas only in specific locations where air bubbles are most likely to form (corners and edges of the reaction cuvette). This localized treatment approach prevents air bubble adhesion without creating hydrophilic pathways that would allow sample liquid to escape, thus avoiding the meniscus phenomenon and contamination.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional cleaning methods are used, then the reaction cuvette is cleaned, but large amounts of water remain in the cuvette after cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical cleaning methods (rinsing with water) with an electrochemical surface treatment method. By making the inner wall surface hydrophilic through electric discharge, the treatment enables effective cleaning with minimal water usage, as the modified surface properties facilitate water removal and prevent water retention in the cuvette.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a highly reliable reaction cuvette in which air bubbles are adhered little and mutual contamination can be prevented among samples and reagents in adjoining reaction cuvettes, a method of surface treatment for a reaction cuvette, and an automatic analyzer with the reaction cuvette mounted therein. The reaction cuvette according to the present invention, in which a sample and a reagent are mixed with each other and its concentration is measured, has an area subjected to hydrophilic treatment by electric discharging on inner and outer surfaces of the reaction cuvette. Further the reaction cuvette has a container-like form with its upper portion opened to provide an opening and its lower portion closed to provide a bottom. The hydrophilic area is present from a bottom of the reaction cuvette up to a midway to the opening.