Measurement cuvette and radiation sensor, which can be detachably connected only in a predefined relative orientation
Inventors
BREITRUCK, Felix • Roffler, Jürg • Schreiber, Marie-Kristin • Schranz, Christoph
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Assignees
Member
Hamilton Medical Inc.Hamilton Medical is focused on the development, manufacturing, and training for advanced respiratory support technologies. The company provides intelligent ventilation systems, high flow oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, and educational platforms for healthcare professionals. Their offerings emphasize patient safety, data-driven decision making, and regulatory compliance across intensive care, transport, neonatal, and emergency settings.
Hamilton Medical is focused on the development, manufacturing, and training for advanced respiratory support technologies. The company provides intelligent ventilation systems, high flow oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, and educational platforms for healthcare professionals. Their offerings emphasize patient safety, data-driven decision making, and regulatory compliance across intensive care, transport, neonatal, and emergency settings.
Publication Number
US-12467849-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A measurement cuvette for detecting at least one fluid constituent of a fluid flowing through the measurement cuvette by means of electromagnetic radiation, includes: a channel, which extends through the measurement cuvette along a channel path extending centrally through the channel; a coupling and detection portion, which extends, between its first longitudinal end and its second longitudinal end, along a linear longitudinal axis, detachably mechanically coupled to a radiation component; a physical orientation structure, which allows detachable mechanical coupling of the measurement cuvette to the radiation component in a predefined desired relative orientation and prevents the detachable mechanical coupling in an undesired relative orientation. The physical orientation structure is arranged and formed between the first and the second longitudinal ends of the coupling and detection portion.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a measuring cuvette for detecting at least one fluid component of a fluid flowing through the measuring cuvette with the involvement of electromagnetic radiation. The measuring cuvette includes a duct penetrating through the measuring cuvette along a duct path conceived as penetrating through the duct centrally, first and second connector formations for connecting first and second fluid-conveying lines, and a coupling and detection section extending along a straight longitudinal axis and configured for irradiation of electromagnetic radiation into a duct region surrounded by the coupling and detection section.
The coupling and detection section is configured for detachable mechanical coupling with a radiation component comprising a radiation source and/or a radiation sensor of the electromagnetic radiation. To ensure correct detachable mechanical coupling, the measuring cuvette exhibits a physical orientation structure arranged between the first and second longitudinal end of the coupling and detection section at a distance to the longitudinal axis that varies, and/or with a dimension orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that varies along the longitudinal axis.
The physical orientation structure extends along the longitudinal axis over more than one third of the dimension between the first and second longitudinal ends. In the coupled state, the radiation component surrounds an accommodating space reachable by electromagnetic radiation along an accommodation axis, and includes a corresponding physical aligning structure with flanks and tapering geometry varying along the accommodation axis so that coupling is possible only in the desired alignment, and latching and locking elements provide positive-locking engagement, aligning the longitudinal axis and accommodation axis in a parallel or collinear relationship at the joint.
Claims Coverage
The document provides coverage centered on one independent claim with multiple dependent refinements that specify the structural geometry and mechanical coupling features. The inventive features focus on a centrally penetrating duct, a coupling and detection section irradiatable by electromagnetic radiation, and a predetermined, geometry-defined orientation structure enabling detachable coupling only in a desirable relative orientation. Complementary radiation-component alignment and positive-locking engagement are also covered through dependent subject matter.
Measuring cuvette with centrally penetrating duct and irradiatable coupling and detection section
A measuring cuvette for detecting at least one fluid component of a fluid flowing through the measuring cuvette with the involvement of electromagnetic radiation, comprising a duct penetrating through the measuring cuvette along a duct path conceived as penetrating through the duct centrally, first and second connector formations for connecting first and second fluid-conveying lines, and a coupling and detection section between the connector formations extending along a straight longitudinal axis and configured for irradiation of electromagnetic radiation into a duct region surrounded by the coupling and detection section.
Detachable mechanical coupling with predetermined desirable relative orientation via a varying orientation structure
The measuring cuvette is configured for detachable mechanical coupling of the coupling and detection section with a radiation component comprising a radiation source and/or a radiation sensor, and exhibits a physical orientation structure arranged between the first and second longitudinal end of the coupling and detection section that allows detachable mechanical coupling only in a predetermined desirable relative orientation and prevents it in an undesirable relative orientation.
Orientation structure varying in distance or orthogonal dimension along more than one third of the longitudinal dimension
The physical orientation structure is arranged and configured between the first and second longitudinal end at a distance to the longitudinal axis which varies along the longitudinal axis and/or with a dimension orthogonal to the longitudinal axis which varies along the longitudinal axis, wherein the orientation structure extends along the longitudinal axis over more than one third of the dimension.
Radiation-component accommodating space with aligning structure and detachable mechanical coupling in predetermined alignment
A radiation component for a measuring cuvette includes a transparent section and an accommodating space surrounded by the radiation component, with electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source reaching the accommodating space along a straight accommodation axis, and includes a detachable mechanical physical aligning structure that allows coupling only in a desired alignment and prevents coupling in an undesirable alignment.
Aligning structure with axis-varying geometry and more than one third extension
The aligning structure has a distance to the accommodation axis and/or a dimension orthogonal to the accommodation axis varying along the accommodation axis and extending along the accommodation axis over more than one third of the accommodation-space dimension.
Sensor assembly with aligned axes and positive-locking engagement between orientation and aligning structures
A sensor assembly includes a measuring cuvette and a radiation component that detachably couple, with their longitudinal and accommodation axes parallel or collinear in a shared spatial region, and with an orientation structure and an aligning structure engaged in positive-locking or abutment contact.
Overall, the claims coverage emphasizes a measuring cuvette architecture with a central duct path, an irradiatable coupling and detection section, and first and second fluid-conveying connectors, combined with a geometry-defined physical orientation structure that permits detachable mechanical coupling only in a predetermined relative orientation, while complementary radiation-component aligning structures and positive-locking engagement establish corresponding correct axis alignment in the coupled sensor assembly.
Stated Advantages
Prevents detachable mechanical coupling in an undesirable relative orientation.
Allows detachable mechanical coupling in a predetermined desirable relative orientation.
Provides positive-locking engagement and/or abutment contact for the coupled sensor assembly alignment.
Aligns the longitudinal axis and accommodation axis in a parallel or collinear relationship at the joint.
Documented Applications
Infrared sensing using the measuring cuvette and the radiation component for detecting at least one fluid component with electromagnetic radiation.
Fluorescence spectroscopy in a respiratory gas line [procedural detail omitted for safety].
CO2 detection in a respiratory gas line, including respiratory gas lines used with artificial ventilation [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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