MICROCUVETTE SET

Abstract: Microcuvette set which comprises several cuvettes (5) in a matrix form, arranged so as to be handled as one whole unit. The frame portion of the microcuvette set (1) consists of a preferably rectangular frame portion (2) designed so that two or more cuvette-set components (3) can be attached to it in the longitudinal or transverse direction one after the other. Each of the said cuvette-set components (3) consists of several cuvettes (5) disposed in a line or matrix form and connected to each other or attached together by means of a support plate (4), and the middle portion of the frame portion (2) is open at least within the area covered by the cuvettes (5) in the cuvette-set components (3). The microcuvette set (1) comprises a rectangular locking frame (6), open at its middle portion at least within the area corresponding to the frame portion (2), which locking frame is arranged so as to be attached to the top face of the frame portion (2), e.g., by means of a friction joint, so-called snap-in joint, or by means of any other joint suitable for the purpose. Thereby, the ends of the support plates (4) of the cuvette-set components (3) fitted into the frame portion (2) remain between the top face of the frame portion (2) and the locking frame (6).

Description: Microcuvette set The present invention is concerned with a microcuvette set which comprises several cuvettes in a matrix form, arranged so as to be handled as one whole unit, whereat the frame portion of the micro¬ cuvette set consists of a preferably rectangular frame portion, designed so that two or more cuvette-set com¬ ponents can be attached to it in the longitudinal or transverse direction one after the other, whereat each of the said cuvette-set components consists of several cuvettes disposed in a line or matrix form and connected to each other or attached together by means of a support plate, and the middle portion of the frame portion being open at least within the area covered by the cuvettes in the cuvette-set components. The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement by means of which several cuvette-set com¬ ponents in the linear or matrix form can be made to remain in position in the frame portion. This is important in view of treatment of the microcuvette set, e.g. during washing, dosage of liquids, or performance of measurement operations. According to the invention, the microcuvette set is provided with a particular locking frame, and the invention is mainly characterized in that the micro¬ cuvette set comprises a rectangular locking frame, open at its middle portion at least within the area corres- ponding to the frame portion, which locking fr4 'ame is arranged so as to be attached to the top face -of the frame portion, e.g., by means of a friction joint, so-called snap-in joint, or by means of any other joint suitable for the purpose, so that the ends of the support plates of the cuvette-set components fitted into the frame portion remain between the top face of the frame portion and the locking frame. OMM _ By means of the locking frame, all the dif¬ ferent parts of the microcuvette set can be fixed to each other so that the microcuvette set can be handled as a single whole unit in any position whatsoever. The invention comes out in more detail from the following description and from the attached drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side view of the locking frame. Figure 2 shows a section along line A-A in Figure 1 , Figure 3 shows the microcuvette set as viewed from above, and Figure 4 is a sectional view along line B-B in Figure 3. The microcuvette set 1 consists of several parts. It comprises a rectangular frame portion 2, which is open in its middle portion and into which smaller units can be placed, which smaller units can be packed into this frame portion 2 one after the other. The size of the frame portion 2 is such that it is suit¬ able for measurement in a photometer. The number of cuvettes 5 in the cuvette-set components 3 is lower than 96, e.g. 4 x 8 = 32 or 6 x 8 = 48, 3 x 8 = 24, 1 x 8 = 8, or 1 x 12 = 12. Two or more cuvette-set components 3 are arranged so as to be attached to the frame portion 2 one after the other, whereat each cuvette-set component 3 consists of several cuvettes 5 in a line or matrix form, the said cuvettes being connected to each other by means of a support plate 4. r . In the exemplifying embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, cuvette-set components 3 of linear shape have been fitted into the frame portion 2. The top face of the frame portion 2 is provided with pins 7, as is shown in Fig. 3, and one end of the support plates 4 of the cuvette-set components 3 is provided with a hole 8, whereat the cuvette-set components 3 can be ' ., fitted into the frame portion 2 in one direction only. The projections provided at the ends of the cuvette-set components 3, i.e. the ends of the support plates 4, remain on the top face of the frame portion 2, whereat the cuvette-set components 3 rest in support on the frame portxon 2. The microcuvette set 1 additionally includes a rectangular locking frame 6, which is in its middle portion open at least within the area corres¬ ponding to the frame portion 2 and which is arranged so as to be attached to the top face of the frame portion 2, e.g., by means of a friction joint, a so-called snap-in joint, or in any other way suitable for the purpose. Thereby the ends of the support plates 4 of the cuvette-set components 3 fitted into the frame portion 2 remain between the top face of the frame portion 2 and the locking frame 6. The locking frame 6 keeps the cuvette-set components tightly in position. The frame of the locking frame 6 is shaped in accordance with Fig. 2 so that it is very rigid at its long sides. This favours the keeping in position of the cuvette-set components. As the cross-sectional shape of the locking frame 6 is rectangular, owing to the rigidity obtained by means of the shape, it has been possible to minimize the consumption of material, and a low-weight locking frame 6 has been obtained. Also, the height of such a micro¬ cuvette set 1 is only about 1 mm higher than that of a conventional microtiter plate, so that the micro¬ cuvette set 1 can be used in apparatuses designed for microtiter plates (e.g. photometers) . The looking frame 6 is advantageously made of a plastic materiaά. by means of the injection moulding technique.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: Microcuvette set which comprises several cuvettes (5) in a matrix form, arranged so as to be handled as one whole unit, whereat the frame portion of the microcuvette set (1) consists of a preferably rectangular frame portion (2) designed so that two or more cuvette-set components (3) can be attached to it in the longitudinal or transverse direction one after the other, whereat each of the said cuvette-set com¬ ponents (3) consists of several cuvettes (5) disposed in a line or matrix form and connected to each other or attached together by means of a support plate (4) , and the middle portion of the frame portion (2) being open at least within the area covered by the cuvettes (5) in the cuvette-set components (3), c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the microcuvette set (1) com¬ prises a rectangular locking frame (6) , open at its middle portion at least within the area corresponding to the frame portion (2) , which locking frame is arranged so as to be attached to the top face of the frame portion (2), e.g., by means of a friction joint, so-called snap-in joint, or by means of any other joint suitable for the purpose, so that the ends of the support plates (4) of the cuvette-set components (3) fitted into the frame portion (2) remain between the top face " of the frame portion (2) and the locking frame (6) . y- OMPI

Inventors: EKHOLM PERTTI, EKHOLM, PERTTI
Applicants: LABSYSTEMS OY
Application year: 1983
Main classification: G01N21
IPC codes: B01L3, G01N21, G01N35