Azimuthally-orienting NMR samples
AssigneeVarian, Inc.
InventorsLayne E. Howard, Fabian M. van de Graaf, Arthur V. Mesina
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Abstract
In some embodiments, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sample container having an elongated transverse cross-section is held in a predetermined azimuthal orientation in an NMR probe by keying-in a sample container holder into a matching azimuthal-alignment adapter. The azimuthal-alignment adapter may be a lead-in adapter having an azimuthally-sloping upper guiding surface of a cylindrical shell part, with the sloping guiding surface leading into a longitudinal channel defined through the shell wall. A transversely-protruding pin of the sample container holder slides down the guiding surface and into the longitudinal channel to lock the sample in the desired azimuthal orientation.
Claims18
A nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
- a sample container holder comprising a generally-transverse azimuthal-alignment protrusion, the sample container holder holding a nuclear magnetic resonance sample container in a nuclear magnetic resonance probe;
- and
- a lead-in adapter comprising an azimuthally-sloping guiding surface leading into a generally-longitudinal azimuthal-alignment channel matching the azimuthal-alignment protrusion, the guiding surface leading the azimuthal-alignment protrusion into the azimuthal-alignment channel, the channel orienting the nuclear magnetic resonance sample container in a predetermined azimuthal orientation within the nuclear magnetic resonance probe.
A nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
- a nuclear magnetic resonance probe azimuthal-orientation adapter;
- and
- a sample container holder keyed into the azimuthal-orientation adapter, the sample container holder holding a transversely-elongated nuclear magnetic resonance sample container in a predetermined azimuthal orientation within a nuclear magnetic resonance probe.
A lead-in adapter for azimuthally orienting a nuclear magnetic resonance sample container in a nuclear magnetic resonance probe, the lead-in adapter comprising a longitudinal shell having an azimuthally-sloping upper guiding surface leading into a generally-longitudinal azimuthal-alignment channel sized to engage an azimuthal-alignment protrusion of a nuclear magnetic resonance sample container holder, an interior of the longitudinal shell defining a central longitudinal bore allowing a passage of the sample container held by the sample container holder.
A nuclear magnetic resonance measurement method comprising:
- positioning a nuclear magnetic resonance sample container in a predetermined azimuthal orientation in a nuclear magnetic resonance probe by keying-in a sample container holder holding the sample container into a nuclear magnetic resonance probe azimuthal-orientation adapter;
- and
- performing a nuclear magnetic resonance measurement on a sample contained in the sample container positioned in the azimuthal orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.