Patent ID: 6458526
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for inhibiting bubble formation during a chemical reaction, comprising:a base having a surface with at least a portion of the surface representing a fluid contact area; a fluid comprising a liquid component in contact with the fluid contact area; a cover which forms an enclosure with the base, which contains the fluid and a gas wherein the fluid and the gas form a gas-fluid interface having an interface radius; a fluid distribution member which may or may not be part of the cover having a surface in contact with the fluid, wherein the member surface is disposed in an opposing and non-free-floating manner with respect to the base surface at a predetermined distance from the fluid contact area; and vapor maintenance means for maintaining a desired vapor pressure of the liquid component in the gas, wherein the interface radius formed at the desired vapor pressure results in a predetermined critical radius below which a bubble in the fluid will shrink.