Apparatus and method for calibration of spectrophotometers
AssigneeArtel, Inc.
InventorsJohn Thomas Bradshaw, Richard H. Curtis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and related method for optical calibration of spectrophotometers is described. The apparatus is a calibration plate including one or more cuvettes filled with solutions of interest. The cuvettes are sealed to prevent evaporation. The cuvettes also possess a compressible component to allow for expansion of the solution and a bubble control apparatus to ensure that the compressible component does not intersect the beam path. A piece of neutral density glass is optionally included in the apparatus to track optical changes of the solutions over time.
Claims32
An apparatus for calibrating a spectrophotometer, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a calibration plate having a first face, a second face, means for removably retaining therein one or more cuvettes, and one or more light beam ports from said first face through to said second face, or from said second face through to said first face;
- and
- b. a cuvette containing a solution, wherein the solution includes one or more chromophores.
A method for calibrating a spectrophotometer comprising the steps of:
- a. placing a calibration plate including one or more solution-filled cuvettes in the spectrophotometer, said calibration plate including one or more beam ports associated with each of said one or more solution-filled cuvettes, each of said one or more solution-filled cuvettes including one or more chromophores of reference light absorbance therein, each of said solution-filled cuvettes configured and arranged to present a fixed beam path to the spectrophotometer;
- b. measuring the light absorbance of each of said solution-filled cuvettes;
- c. obtaining reference light absorbance values of the one or more solution-filled cuvettes from a reference spectrophotometer;
- and
- d. comparing the measured light absorbance values with the reference light absorbance values.
A cuvette for calibrating a spectrophotometer, the cuvette comprising a top with a crimp seal, an expansion allowance zone, a solution including one or more chromophores, and a compressible component therein.
A cuvette having a top, the cuvette comprising a crimp-top seal to cover the top and a film disposed between the top and the crimp-top seal.
An apparatus for calibrating a spectrophotometer, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a calibration plate having a first face, a second face, means for removably retaining therein one or more cuvettes and a Neutral Density (ND) glass filter, and one or more light beam ports from said first face through to said second face, or from said second face through to said first face;
- b. one or more cuvettes placeable in the means for removably retaining, wherein each of the one or more cuvettes is arranged to contain a solution having one or more chromophores;
- and
- c. a ND glass filter placeable in the means for removably retaining.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.