Capillary microcuvette having double loading means
Inventors
Choi, Eui Yul • Nham, Ki Bong • Kim, Byeong Chul • Park, Ki Tae • Kim, Cheol Min
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9261455-B2
Publication Date
2016-02-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a capillary microcuvette, the microcuvette comprises a body member having two plates and a cavity formed within the body, the cavity being defined by two opposing inner surfaces of the two plates of the body member, a portion of the cavity defining a detection zone, a capillary inlet being provided at one end of the body member that is communicated with the cavity, a sample slot being provided at a portion of the body member in which the capillary inlet is not formed, the sample slot being communicated with the cavity. The present microcuvette improves user convenience by providing dual application means of applying a specimen directly from a fingertip or using a pipette.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention is a capillary microcuvette for optical analysis of a sample. The microcuvette includes a body member comprising two planar plates and a cavity formed within the body member, where the cavity is defined by two opposing inner surfaces of the plates and a portion of the cavity defines a detection zone for optical analysis.
The body member comprises an end portion with a capillary inlet communicated with the cavity, and a sample slot provided at a portion of the body member where the capillary inlet is not formed. The sample slot is communicated with the cavity, so the sample is routed through the cavity between the capillary inlet and the sample slot to reach the detection zone.
At least one of the two opposing inner surfaces inwardly protrudes to form a narrower cavity gap at the detection zone than in the rest of the cavity. The cavity geometry may include a taper in which the cavity width gradually decreases from the inlet toward the slot, and structural refinements including a slant of the capillary inlet or a recessed portion in the sample slot.
The inwardly protruding inner surface and the narrowed detection-zone gap are described as reducing and/or trapping air bubbles to improve measurement accuracy. The microcuvette may include a handle and light-transmissive material for optical analysis.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 covers a capillary microcuvette with a cavity-to-detection-zone geometry, a capillary inlet and sample slot communicating with the cavity, and a narrowed detection-zone gap formed by inwardly protruding inner plate surfaces. The dependent claims recite additional structural refinements to the inlet and slot and more specific cavity-gap geometry constraints.
Two planar plates defining a cavity with a detection zone
A body member comprising two planar plates, with a cavity formed within the body member where the cavity is defined by the two opposing inner surfaces of the plates, and a portion of the cavity defines a detection zone.
Capillary inlet at an end portion and sample slot communicating with the cavity
A body member comprising an end portion with a capillary inlet provided at the end portion to be communicated with the cavity, and a sample slot provided at a portion of the body member where the capillary inlet is not formed, the sample slot being communicated with the cavity.
Inwardly protruding inner plate surface to narrow the detection-zone gap
At least one of the two opposing inner surfaces inwardly protrudes so that a gap of the cavity at the detection zone is narrower than a gap of the cavity in the rest of the cavity.
Cavity gap range constraint
The gap is in the range of 0.10 to 0.25 mm.
Cavity width progressively decreasing from the capillary inlet toward the sample slot
The cavity width progressively decreases from the capillary inlet toward the sample slot, as viewed from above.
Slant of the capillary inlet
The capillary inlet is configured with a slant.
Recessed portion in the sample slot
The sample slot includes a recessed portion.
Sample introduction and flow-direction relationship between inlet and slot
The sample is introduced either through the capillary inlet to flow toward a sample slot or through the sample slot to flow toward the capillary inlet.
Overall, the claim set centers on a cavity between two planar plates with a dedicated detection zone, communication to both a capillary inlet and a sample slot, and a narrowed detection-zone gap produced by inwardly protruding inner plate surfaces. Dependent claims further specify a quantitative gap range, taper or decreasing width, optional slant and recessed portions, and the directionality relationship between inlet and slot during sample introduction.
Stated Advantages
Reducing and/or trapping air bubbles.
Improving measurement accuracy.
Documented Applications
Optical analysis of a sample, including absorbance measurement within the detection zone [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Hemoglobin, glucose, urea, nitrogen, proteins, whole blood, plasma, serum, and urine for optical analysis [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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