Apparatus and method for performing photometric analysis
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorElbert P. Carter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for photometrically analyzing a fluid in which the fluid is deposited in a deformable container, the container is squeezed between two windows to form a sample cell with a precise cell length, and then the optical density of the fluid in the container is measured with a photometer. The cell forming means is designed such that the majority of the fluid in the deformable container is forced into the sample cell so that the dimensions of the sample cell can be maximized for the small amount of fluid contained in the container. A means for coating the interfaces between the sample cell and the windows may also be provided so that changes in reflection from the surface of the deformable container due to imperfections in that surface are minimized.
Claims14
An apparatus for performing photometric analysis on a sample fluid contained in a deformable container, comprising:
- an irradiating means, said deformable container being transparent to the radiation from said irradiating means;
- a cell-forming means adapted to form said deformable container into a sample cell with a predetermined cell length, said cell-forming means comprising a sealing means adapted to squeeze the majority of said sample fluid into a region of said deformable container and to seal off that region to form a closed test pouch;
- and a radiation detection means adapted to measure the radiation transmitted through said sample cell.
An apparatus for performing photometric analysis on a sample fluid contained in a deformable container comprising:
- an irradiating means comprises, a source of radiation, a power supply for said source of radiation, a means for selecting the frequency of the radiation from said source of radiation, and a regulating means adapted to regulate the intensity of the radiation from said source of radiation, said deformable container being transparent to the radiation from said radiation means;
- a cell-forming means adapted to form said deformable container into a sample cell with a predetermined cell length;
- and a radiation detection means adapted to measure the radiation transmitted through said sample cell.
A method for measuring chemical changes in a fluid with a photometer which comprises:
- placing said fluid in a deformable container;
- sealing said container in such manner that a closed test pouch containing the majority of said fluid is formed;
- forming said test pouch into a sample cell, containing the majority of said fluid and disposed substantially within the path of radiation from an irradiating means, by squeezing it between two windows;
- subjecting said sample cell to radiation of fixed intensity and distinct but selectable frequency;
- and measuring photometrically the intensity of the transmitted radiation.
Photometric means for monitoring the chemical composition of a reaction mixture held within a reaction compartment of a flexible disposable chemical testing container comprising radiation source means adjacent a first side of the reaction compartment, means adjacent the opposite side of the reaction compartment responsive to the magnitude of light absorbed by the reaction mixture as electromagnetic radiation is transmitted therethrough from said radiation source means, and means to press said radiation source means and said responsive means against opposite sides of the reaction compartment during analysis to define a fixed optical path length through the reaction mixture.
Photometric means for monitoring the chemical composition of a reaction mixture held within a reaction compartment of a flexible disposable chemical testing container comprising radiation source means adjacent a first side of the reaction compartment, means adjacent the opposite side of the reaction compartment responsive to the magnitude of light absorbed by the reaction mixture as electromagnetic radiation is transmitted therethrough from said radiation source means, and means to deform the flexible wall or walls of the reaction compartment, during analysis, to define a fixed optical path length through the reaction contained therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.