An adaptor for holding a micropipette

Abstract: An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectro­ photometer includes a base member for holding the micro­ pipette and an optical system for linearly focusing visible or ultraviolet light onto the micropipette. Specifically, the optical system includes a cylindrical lens which focuses collimated light from a light source into a line along the axis of the micropipette. The optical system also includes a cylindrical quartz lens which recollimates the light that has passed through the micropipette sample holder. A detector is provided to receive the recollimated light for measuring the absorptivity of the sample material held in the micro­ pipette.

Description: The present invention pertains to devices which hold sample materials while the composition of the material is being measured and analysed. Specifically, the present invention pertains to sample holders which may be used with spectrophotometers and colorimeters. More particularly, the present invention relates to adaptors for holding micropipettes in spectrophotometers. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for obtaining spectroscopic measurements of very small samples of material. The use of spectrophotometers to measure the light absorption characteristics of sample materials is well known. Indeed, the basic principles involved are relatively simple. A beam of light, whose characteristics are known, is directed through the sample material and the light that emerges is analysed to determine which wavelengths of the original beam were absorbed, or otherwise affected, by the sample material. Based on differences between the incident light and the transmitted light, certain characteristics of the sample material can be determined. Many variables are involved, however, that can make a spectrophotometric measurement quite complex. In sum, these complexities arise from the fact that the sensitivity and accuracy of a measurement rely on the ability of the spectrophotometer to measure the light which is absorbed by the samples. Analytically, a spectrophotometric analysis relies on a known relationship of the variables involved. Specifically, in a standard spectrophotometric measurement, the amount of light transmitted through a test cuvette is measured and the percent of transmitted light is related to the material in the cuvette by the following relationship: I t (λ) = I o (λ) 10 -OD where I o (λ) and I t (λ) are respectively the input and transmitted intensities, and the optical density, OD, is given by: OD = α(λ)L C where α(λ) is the absorptivity of the material as a function of λ, L is the optical path length, and C is the concentration. From the above, it will be easily appreciated that the output intensity I t (λ) is directly proportional to the input intensity I o (λ). Therefore, it is clearly necessary to have an input intensity that is sufficient to give an output intensity which can be effectively used for analysis and measurement of the sample material. Further, the efficacy of the measurement will also be enhanced if the concentration of the sample material is increased. Thus, for spectrophotometric analysis it is desirable to have a light input of high intensity, and have a highly concentrated sample in solution. There is a problem, however, when low concentration solutions of sample material are available in only very small quantities (e.g. 0.5 to 50 micrograms/microliter). Some presently available spectrophotometers, such as the UVIKON Model 820 by Kontron, have an adaptor for holding a test cuvette. Such adaptors hold the cuvette in a block which can be inserted into the spectrophotometer. Collimated light is directed onto the cuvette by a directing lens and the emergent light is recollimated by a receiving lens. To be effective for spectroscopic measurements, test cuvettes for holding the sample material must be completely filled. This typically requires a substantial amount of sample material. Consequently, when only a small amount of the sample material is effectively available for testing, presently available test cuvettes (e.g. 12.5mm x 12.5mm cuvette) are inadequate because of their relatively large size. Merely reducing the size of the cuvette is not the answer. This is so because, with a size reduction of the cuvette there is also a reduction in the amount of sample material through which light can pass. Consequently, the intensity of the light passing through the sample material is reduced and the sensitivity and accuracy of the measurement is compromised. Further, known adaptors are not suitable for the accurate positioning of small diameter vessels and have no means of maximising the light passed through the sample materials, as this is not necessary for larger samples. US-A-3 531 211 discloses apparatus for locating a cuvette in a spectrophotometer. The cuvette is held in a cylindrical cavity in a block, a beam of uncollimated light is focused on the cuvette and the light leaving the cuvette is passed through a lens to form an image at a photoreceptor receiver. This reference discloses the use of uncollimated light emerging from a monochromater slit, the focussing of a portion of that light as an image of the slit at the axis of a cuvette, and the focussing of light emerging from the cuvette as an image of the slit on the cathode. Problems resulting from this design are the failure to utilize all of the available light, inability to focus the light at the axis of a very small (eg. of the order of 0.5mm) diameter cylindrical vessel, inability to use many imperfect cuvettes, the necessity to relocate the image focussed on the cathode for each cuvette used, and the inability to accurately centre a very small diameter vessel. As a consequence of these problems this design would not be suitable for holding micropipettes. US-A-4 006 990 discloses a liquid chromatography device which focuses collimated light onto a flow cell and then recollimates light from the flow cell onto a detector. This references discloses a continuous flow device with no means for using a plurality of micropipettes, because there is no way to position each vessel in the device, and because there is no way to focus the incident light on the axis of each vessel or to accurately recollimate the emergent light for reading by the photoreceptor. This is acceptable in a device intended for use in a continuous flow situation such as the flow cell disclosed, but it is unacceptable when miciropipettes must be placed in an adaptor and removed, for each sample reading. The device is intended for use with a flow cell having a diameter of 2mm, which is much larger than the 0.5mm diameter of some micropipettes. It is an object of this invention to provide an adaptor for holding a micropipette which enables many of the problems associated with prior art devices, such as the inability of prior art adaptors to centre accurately a small diameter vessel, to focus the light at the axis of a very small diameter vessel or to allow use of many imperfect vessels, their failure to utilize a maximum of the available light and the necessity for relocating the image focused on the cathode for each vessel used, to be overcome. It is a particular object of the invention to provide an adaptor which enables a plurality of micropipettes to be used, which can accurately position even very small diameter micropipettes and which enables a maximum of the available light to be used. According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an adaptor for holding an elongated, hollow, cylindrical micropipette in a spectrophotometer having a source of collimated lighted and a detector, said adaptor comprising: a base member having a first hole for holding said micropipette; a directing lens for focusing the collimated light from said light source; and a receiving lens to recollimate the light passed through said micropipette for measurement by said detector, characterised in that the base member is formed with a conical well distanced from said first hole and positioned on the opposite side of said base member from said first hole, said conical well being aligned with said first hole and cooperating therewith to hold said micropipette; and the directing lens is adapted for linearly focusing the collimated light from said light source along the axis of said micropipette. According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for analyzing a sample solution held in an elongated, hollow, cylindrical micropipette which comprises: a source of collimated light; an adaptor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13; and a detector for measuring said recollimated light to determine the light absorption characteristics of said sample. According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for determining the light absorptivity of a sample solution held in an elongated hollow cylindrical micropipette which comprises the steps of: producing a beam of collimated light; holding said micropipette on a base member; positioning said micropipette in the path of said beam of collimated light; juxtaposing a directing cylindrical quartz lens with said base member to linearly focus said beam into axial alignment with said micropipette; moving a receiving cylindrical quartz lens relative to said base member to recollimate the light which has passed through said micropipette; and measuring the recollimated light to determine the absorption characteristics of said sample. The micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a base member which is adapted to hold a capillary tube, such as a micropipette, which is filled with a solution of the sample material to be analysed. The base member may be formed with an opening, and may be formed with a hole which is distanced across the opening from a conical well. As formed on the base member, both the hole and the conical well may be aligned with each other to respectively receive a portion of the micropipette and hold it on the base member. When so held, the micropipette may extend across the opening of the base member to permit light to pass through the micropipette. An optical system is provided for the adaptor and is attached to the base member to both focus a beam of collimated light onto the micropipette, and to recollimate the light that has passed through the micropipette. For focusing the beam of collimated light, a cylindrical quartz lens (i.e. a directing lens) may be positioned between the base member and the source of collimated visual or ultraviolet light. The directing lens is used to focus collimated light from the light source into a line, this linearly focused light is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the micropipette to provide a very high intensity light input for the sample material which fills the lumen of the micropipette. Another cylindrical quartz lens (i.e. a receiving lens) may be positioned behind the base member to receive the light which has passed through the sample material in the pipette and to recollimate it for analysis and measurement by a detector. Both the directing lens and the receiving lens may be respectively held by holders which are positioned on opposite sides of the base member. Each of these holders may be independently adjustable in its position relative to the base member. Thus, the directing lens may be independently moved relative to the micropipette to achieve alignment of its linearly focused light with the axis of the micropipette. Similarly, the receiving lens may be moved relative to the micropipette to achieve effective recollimation of the light that has passed through the micropipette. This recollimated light may then be received by a detector in the spectrophotometer for further spectro-analysis. It will be appreciated by the skilled artisan that, depending on the wavelength of the light, the receiving lens and the directing lens may be made of quartz, glass, sapphire, fused silicon or any other appropriate light transmitting material. The adaptor is intended for use with very small micropipettes. For example, it is within the contemplation of the present invention that a micropipette having a capillary tube with a lumen which is approximately half a millimeter (0.5 mm) in diameter can be effectively used with the adaptor disclosed herein. Even so, it will be appreciated by the skilled artisan that pipettes of various sizes may be used. Furthermore, it is to be appreciated that the light wavelengths which are useful with the adaptor of the present invention need not necessarily be limited to the visual and ultraviolet ranges. Thus, the present invention recognises that it is possible to take spectrophotometric measurements of very small quantities of a sample material, even where there is a relatively low concentration of the material in solution. The present invention recognises that this can be done by properly focusing collimated light onto the sample material to obtain sufficiently high input light intensities for the desired measurements. Further, the present invention recognises that this focusing can be accomplished by a device which is engageable, and operatively compatible, with presently available spectrophotometers such as a UVIKON Model 820 spectrophotometer by Kontron. In light of the above, it is an advantage of the present invention that it provides a micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers which allows for spectrophotometric measurements of very small quantities of sample material in solution. Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers which permits recovery of the sample material after spectrophotometric measurements have been made. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers which allows spectroscopic measurements of samples to be made while the sample is in the process of being transferred in a micropipette. Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers which provides for a high light collection efficiency to increase the sensitivity of the measurements which are made. Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers which allows a micropipette or other capillary sample holder to be easily installed and removed from the adaptor. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers which provides approximately the same intensity light path length product for small samples as is provided for larger samples. Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers which is relatively easy to manufacture and comparatively cost-effective to operate. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings,in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the micropipette adaptor in its operative relationship with elements of a spectrophotometer; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the micropipette adaptor with selected elements shown in phantom and portions broken away for clarity; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the micropipette adaptor as seen along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the micropipette adaptor as seen along the line 4-4 in Figure 2. Referring initially to Figure 1, the micropipette adaptor for spectrophotometers in accordance with the present invention is schematically shown in its operative environment and is designated 10. As shown, adaptor 10 is positioned for operative engagement with a spectrophotometer 12 and, specifically, is positioned between a light source 14 and a detector 16. As so positioned, an input beam of collimated light 18, having an intensity I o (λ), is directed from the light source 14 toward the adaptor 10. In a manner to be subsequently disclosed, adaptor 10 focuses the beam 18 of collimated light onto a micropipette 20 which is held by the adaptor 10. Adaptor 10 then recollimates this light into an output light beam 22 which has an intensity of I t (λ). As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the differences between I o (λ) and I t (λ) is indicative of the light absorption characteristics of the sample material held in micropipette 22 and, hence, is an indication of the composition of the sample material. The construction of adaptor 10 will, perhaps, be best seen by reference to Figure 2 wherein it is shown that adaptor 10 comprises a base member 24 which is sandwiched between a resilient member 26 and a resilient member 28. Respectively positioned against resilient members 26 and 28 and opposite base member 24 are holders 30 and 32. Preferably, base member 24 and the holders 30 and 32 are made of a rigid material, such as black Delrin® plastic, while the resilient members 26 and 28 are made of an elastomeric material such as rubber or foam plastic. For purposes of the present invention, holder 30 is formed with an opening 34 as shown in Figure 2, and base member 24, resilient members 26, 28 and holder 32 are each formed with openings (not shown in Figure 2) which are aligned with opening 34 to establish a pathway 44 which allows light to pass through adaptor 10. Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that base member 24 is formed with an opening 36 which, as indicated above, is positioned in alignment with opening 34 of holder 30. Further, base member 24 is shown formed with a hole 38 and a conical-shaped well 40 which are positioned across the opening 36 from each other. Specifically, hole 38 and conical well 40 respectively receive portion of micropipette 20 to hold the micropipette 20 in place within and across the opening 36. A bushing 42, which is appropriately sized to receive micropipette 20, may be positioned in hole 38 to securely hold the micropipette on adaptor 10. As best seen in Figure 4, the base member 24, together with its adjacent resilient members 26, 28 and the holders 30, 32 are all positioned with their respective openings aligned to create a pathway 44 through adaptor 10 along which light can shine. Figure 4 also shows that a lens 46 is positioned in pathway 44. Specifically, lens 46 is attached or mounted on holder 30 by any means well known in the pertinent art, such as by gluing or solvent bonding. Further, lens 46 may be mounted on holder 30 by a frictional snap-in configuration or held thereon by set screws (not shown). Similarly, a lens 48 is attached or mounted on holder 32 and is positioned in the pathway 44 substantially as shown. For purposes of the present invention, it is preferable that the lenses 46, 48 be cylindrical. This is so in order for the lens 46 (the directing lens) to linearly focus input light beam 18 onto a line which can be positioned along the longitudinal axis of micropipette 20. Further, a cylindrical shape for lens 48 (the receiving lens) is also preferable in order for the linearly focused input light beam 18 to be recollimated as output light beam 22. Preferably, both cylindrical lens 46 and cylindrical lens 48 are made of a quartz material which permits use of either visible or ultraviolet light. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, input light beam 18 can be precisely focused along the longitudinal axis of micropipette 20 by appropriately moving lens 46 in a direction along the pathway 44. In order to linearly focus input light beam 18 and obtain the highest intensity I o (λ) for the light which is incident on the sample material being held in micropipette 20, the holder 30 on which lens 46 is mounted, can be moved relative to the base member 24 on which micropipette 20 is mounted. As seen in Figure 4, when lens 46 is properly positioned, input beam 18 will be focused into a line which is coincident with the centre of lumen 50 of micropipette 20. Following well known optical principles, light will emerge from micropipette 20 in a predictable fashion. Consequently, cylindrical lens 48 (the receiving lens) can receive this emerging light and recollimate the light into the output light beam 22. To accomplish this, lens 48 is mounted on holder 32 and is movable therewith relative to base member 24. As will be readily appreciated, the resilient members 26, 28 permit selective relative movement between base member 24 and the respective holder 30, 32. At the same time, resilient members 26, 28 provide a support for maintaining the relative positions of these components when they are not being moved. It is possible, however, to completely eliminate the resilient members 26, 28. Manufacturing tolerances may suffice to properly position lens 46 on holder 30 without any further adjustment necessary to predictably focus light from the lens 46 along the interior lumen of micropipette 20. Similarly, lens 48 may be mounted on holder 32 and positioned relative to base member 24 without the need for subsequent adjustments. The mechanism for moving holders 30, 32 relative to base member 24 will be best seen by referring to Figure 2 wherein a screw 52 is shown extending through holder 30 and resilient member 26 for threadable connection with base member 24. The screws 54 and 56 likewise connect holder 30 with base member 24. Similarly, screws (of which the screw 58 is shown in phantom is exemplary) connect holder 32 with base member 24. In each case, the screws 52, 54, 56, 58 (and others not shown) can be individually rotated to independently move the holders 30, 32 relative to the base member 24. Consequently, this moves lenses 46, 48 relative to micropipette 20. As intended for the present invention, movement of cylindrical lens 46 relative to micropipette 20 is accomplished to linearly focus input light beam 18 along the axis of micropipette 20. This increases the intensity I o (λ) of the light which is incident on the sample material held in solution in lumen 50 of micropipette 20. Similarly, movement of the cylindrical lens 48 relative to micropipette 20 is accomplished in order to recollimate the light which emerges from micropipette 20 for easier analysis of its intensity I t (λ) by the detector 16.

Claims: An adaptor (10) for holding an elongated, hollow, cylindrical micropipette (20) in a spectrophotometer (12) having a source of collimated light (14) and a detector (16), said adaptor (10) comprising: a base member (24) having a first hole (38) for holding said micropipette (20); a directing lens (46) for focusing the collimated light (18) from said light source (14); and a receiving lens (48) to recollimate the light (22) passed through said micropipette (20) for measurement by said detector (16), characterised in that the base member (24) is formed with a conical well (40) distanced from said first hole and positioned on the opposite side of said base member (24) from said first hole (38), said conical well (40) being aligned with said first hole (38) and cooperating therewith to hold said micropipette (20); and the directing lens is adapted for linearly focusing the collimated light (18) from said light source (14) along the axis of said micropipette (20). An adaptor (10) according to Claim 1 wherein said directing lens (46) is a cylindrical quartz lens. An adaptor (10) according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said receiving lens (48) is a cylindrical quartz lens. An adaptor (10) according to any preceding claim further comprising a bushing (42) positioned in said first hole (38) for securely holding said micropipette (20) on said base member. An adaptor (10) according to any preceding claim further comprising a holder (30) for holding said directing lens (46) and a holder (32) for holding said receiving lens (48). An adaptor (10) according to Claim 5 further comprising means for moving said directing lens holder (30) relative to said base member (24) to linearly focus said collimated light (18) from said light source (14) in axial alignment onto said micro-pipette (20). An adaptor (10) according to Claims 5 or 6 further comprising means for moving said receiving lens holder (32) relative to said base member (24) to recollimate the light (22) which has passed through said micropipette (20). An adaptor (10) according to Claim 7 when dependent on Claim 6 wherein said moving means are screws (52) for respectively movably connecting said receiving lens holder (30) with said base member (24) and movably connecting said directing lens holder (32) with said base member (24). An adaptor (10) according to Claim 5, 6, 7 or 8 further comprising a resilient member (26) disposed on one side of said base member (24) between said base member (24) and said directing lens holder (30) and another resilient member (28) disposed on another side of said base member (24) between said base member (24) and said receiving lens holder (32) to stabilise said holders (30,32) relative to said base member (24). An adaptor (10) according to Claim 9 wherein said resilient members (26,28) are made of rubber. An adaptor (10) according to any preceding claim wherein said lenses (46,48) are suitable for transmission of visible light. An adaptor (10) according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein said lenses (46,48) are suitable for transmission of ultraviolet light. An adaptor (10) according to any preceding claim wherein said base member (24), said directing lens holder (30) and said receiving lens holder (32) are made of plastic. An apparatus for analysing a sample solution held in an elongated, hollow, cylindrical micropipette (20) which comprises: a source of collimated light (14); an adaptor (10) as claimed in any preceding claim; and a detector (16) for measuring said recollimated light (22) to determine the light absorption characteristics of said sample. A method for determining the light absorptivity of a sample solution held in an elongated, hollow, cylindrical micropipette (20) which comprises the steps of: producing a beam (18) of collimated light; holding said micropipette (20) on a base member (24) of an adaptor (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13; positioning said micropipette (20) in the path of said beam (18) of collimated light; juxtaposing a directing cylindrical quartz lens (46) with said base member (24) to linearly focus said beam (18) into axial alignment with said micropipette (20); moving a receiving cylindrical quartz lens (48) relative to said base member (24) to recollimate the light which has passed through said micropipette (20); and measuring the recollimated light (22) to determine the absorption characteristics of said sample. A method according to Claim 15 wherein said producing step is accomplished by producing a beam of either visible or ultraviolet light.

Inventors: GARNER HAROLD R, GARNER, HAROLD R.
Applicants: GEN ATOMICS, GENERAL ATOMICS
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B01L9
IPC codes: G01N35, B01L3, G01N21