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US 6,605,474 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for determining temperature of and controlling the evaporation of liquid samples
AssigneeGenevac Limited
InventorMichael Cole
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGenevac Limited
InventorMichael Cole
Estimating the term…
A method is described for evaporating liquid samples contained in sample holders mounted within a chamber and rotated by the rotor during an evaporation process in which the pressure in the chamber is reduced below atmospheric and the sample holders are rotated at high speed so as to exert centrifugal force on the contents of the holders. Heat is supplied to elevate the temperature of the liquid component of the samples to assist in the evaporation process. The temperature of the sample material is continuously or regularly monitored during the evaporation process and temperature signals are transmitted to a remote computing means which is programmed to generate a control signal for controlling the supply of heat to the samples and controlling the evaporation process. The temperature may be sensed by a probe in a sample holder containing an evaporating liquid sample, or in an adjoining sample holder containing a buffer liquid. The rotational speed is also sensed and a speed signal conveyed to the computing means. In an alternative method the rate of flow of vapor from the chamber is monitored and a flow rate signal is computed which is also supplied to the computer means and the evaporation process is controlled in relation to the value of the vapor flow rate signal. Improved methods of heating and means for supporting sample holders which are to be heated, to achieve more uniform heating thereof, within an evaporating chamber, are described. Apparatus for performing the various methods is also described.
A method of evaporating liquid samples contained in at least some of a plurality of individual sample holders which are mounted within a vacuum chamber and rotated during the evaporation process so that centrifugal force is exerted on liquid contained therein during the evaporation process, comprising the steps of supplying heat to the sample holders to heat the liquid therein while a pressure below atmospheric is maintained in the chamber, locating a temperature sensing device in or adjacent at least one of the samples holders for rotation therewith in order to sense the temperature therein at least during the evaporation process, generating an electrical data signal which is proportional to the sensed temperature, and conveying the temperature data signal via a signal path to electronic data signal processing means located within a housing.
Centrifugal evaporation apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber, a plurality of sample holders for containing separately contained liquid samples to be evaporated, which are located therein for rotation about a generally vertical axis, heating means for heating the sample holders and therefore the liquid samples therein, temperature sensitive probe means located in or adjacent at least one of the sample holders for rotation therewith, signal path means for conveying electrical signals from the probe means to a signal processing means located within the chamber, a transmitting device also within the chamber for transmitting signals to a receiver outside the chamber, signals from the signal processing means being employed to modulate the transmitted signal so that when decoded by the remote receiver, the latter will provide a signal containing information about the temperature of the probe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.