Patent Description:
In the field of laboratory analysis, so-called cuvette tests have become established, for which laboratory analysis cuvettes pre-filled with a liquid reagent are used, which are inserted into a laboratory analyser unit after filling or pipetting a defined volume of a liquid sample for the quantitative analysis of an analyte or a chemical parameter of the liquid sample. The liquid reagent already filled into the cuvette by the manufacturer reacts with the analyte of the liquid sample, for example a waste water sample from a treatment process, by changing colour. This colour change is quantitatively determined in the laboratory analyser unit using a photometer. In this process, the upright standing cuvette is photometrically analysed in a horizontal direction, whereby the measured transmission or absorption is substantially proportional to the concentration of the analyte in question or to the intensity of the parameter in question.

Systematic errors in the evaluation of the photometry result on the one hand from so-called dilution errors and on the other hand from measurement section errors. A measurement section error results from the fact that the horizontal inner width of the transparent cuvette body, which defines the length of the measurement section, varies due to production, even within one production batch and from cuvette to cuvette. These variations are typically in the single-digit percentage range. In the case of cylindrical cuvettes, for example, cuvettes with diameters that deviate significantly from the nominal value can be sorted out. However, for an economical cuvette production, a variation of the diameter of up to <NUM> % must be accepted. This also varies the horizontal inner width of the cuvette, which defines the photometric measuring section. The length of the photometric measuring section in turn directly affects the photometrically measured optical absorption or transmission. The smaller the allowed variations in the horizontal inner width of the cuvette, the greater the production waste and the resulting production costs for sufficiently accurately manufactured cuvettes.

A method for determining a shape correction value for laboratory liquid-analysis cuvettes for photometric laboratory analyzers is known from <CIT>.

A method for determining a cuvette form correction value is known from <CIT>, in which the inner diameter, corresponding to the photometric measuring distance, of a cross-sectionally circular cuvette body is determined photographically by means of a camera, the camera looking into the interior of the cuvette from above through the cuvette opening. A form correction value is determined by comparison with a nominal inner diameter, which is stored at a two-dimensional barcode attached to the outside of the cuvette body. The laboratory analyser unit reads the form correction value stored in the barcode of the cuvette inserted in the analyser unit with by means of a corresponding reading device and corrects the photometric measurement result determined by an analyser unit photometer accordingly. In this way, the photometric measurement error can be minimised.

The photographic determination of the cuvette inner diameter by a camera directed through the cuvette opening into the cuvette interior is technically challenging, and is possible only if the cuvette opening is not smaller than the cuvette inner diameter to be determined.

In contrast, the object of the invention is to provide a simple method for determining a cuvette form correction value for a laboratory analysis cuvette filled with a liquid reagent.

This object is solved according to the present invention with a method for determining a cuvette form correction value with the features of claim <NUM>.

The method according to the present invention for determining a cuvette form correction value for a laboratory analysis cuvette filled with a liquid reagent is provided by an indirect measurement of the interior of the cuvette. This no longer requires a camera that is directed through the cuvette opening into the interior of the cuvette.

The laboratory analysis cuvette is defined by a transparent cuvette body which comprises a horizontal bottom wall and a lateral vertical wall. In principle, the vertical wall can comprise any shape suitable for horizontal photometry, for example, it can be quadratic in cross-section. More preferably, however, the cuvette vertical wall is configured to be circular cylindrical.

For the determination of the form correction value according to the present invention, the cuvette is already filled with the liquid reagent. First, the liquid reagent volume of the liquid reagent already filled into the laboratory analysis cuvette is obtained. The information about the exact volume of liquid reagent filled in can be transmitted by the filling system that previously filled the liquid reagent into the laboratory analysis cuvette. A typical laboratory analysis cuvette comprises an internal volume in the order of <NUM>. The volume of the liquid reagent in the laboratory analysis cuvette is typically between <NUM>µl and up to <NUM>.

The liquid reagent level of the liquid reagent in the laboratory analysis cuvette is determined optically by a level determination camera. The camera looks at the vertical wall of the cuvette from the outside in a horizontal direction. It therefore does not matter whether the cuvette opening is smaller than the cuvette interior in plan view or whether the cuvette opening is already closed by a lid. The camera can basically be a vertical line camera, but can also be a <NUM>-dimensional area camera. The camera is used to determine the level of the liquid reagent volume in the interior of the laboratory analysis cuvette.

From the determined liquid reagent level and the known volume of the filled-in liquid reagent, the actual horizontal inner width of the laboratory analysis cuvette can then be calculated by a suitable electronic device or control. The horizontal inner width corresponds to the length of the optical measuring path in the cuvette during photometry. In the case of a cuvette body that is square in plan view, it is assumed that both inner widths crossing at right angles are approximately identical. By comparing the actual horizontal inner width of the cuvette determined in this way with an ideal reference inner width, the electronic control system finally calculates a form correction value which can correspond in a first approximation to the quotient of the actual inner width and the reference inner width.

This form correction value can then be used to correct the absorption or transmission value determined by the photometer during the subsequent photometry of a water sample filled into the cuvette whose analyte to be determined has reacted with the liquid reagent. In this way, the true analyte concentration is determined much more accurately. Furthermore, in this way, the waste in the cuvette production can be considerably reduced, as the requirements for the dimensional accuracy of the cuvettes can be reduced. Hereby, the average production costs for the usable cuvettes can be significantly reduced.

Preferably, the type of liquid reagent is identified prior to calculating the horizontal internal width. Typical liquid reagents used for water analysis in laboratory analysis cuvettes are used, for example, to determine the concentration of ammonium or nitrate, or to determine the chemical oxygen demand. For the sake of simplicity, an analyte in the present case and in the following is understood to be any parameter typically to be determined in water analysis. Typical liquid reagents are, for example, phosphorus-sulphuric acids or chromium-sulphuric acids. The liquid reagents used in water analysis sometimes have very different absorption spectra, specific masses and different viscosities or surface tensions, which can have a significant effect on the present method.

Preferably, the liquid reagent volume is determined by a cuvette scale which determines the mass of the filled liquid reagent. Either the empty mass of the empty cuvette is known, or is determined exactly beforehand by the cuvette scale or by another scale. The difference between the empty mass of the cuvette and the weighed total mass of the cuvette plus the liquid reagent is the mass of the liquid reagent.

From the liquid reagent mass determined by the cuvette scale and the identified liquid reagent type, the filled liquid reagent volume subsequently can exactly be calculated. In this way, when the liquid reagent is filled by the filling system, an extremely precise control of the injected liquid reagent volume can even become unnecessary.

Preferably, the electronic control comprises a meniscus interpretation module and a meniscus library in which meniscus form values are stored for different liquid reagent types, respectively. The meniscus interpretation module or the electronic control evaluates the camera signal of the level determination camera using the meniscus form value assigned to the respective liquid reagent type.

The level determination camera sees the phase transition meniscus from the outside through the transparent vertical wall of the cuvette body, the meniscus being configured on the inside between the liquid surface and the vertical side wall. The radius and height of the meniscus are considerably dependent on the surface tension of the liquid reagent in question. Depending on its form, the meniscus, which is annular in the case of a cylindrical cuvette, may have a relevant intrinsic volume, especially if the total volume of the liquid reagent introduced is relatively small. With use of the liquid reagent type, the relevant meniscus form value is determined from the meniscus library, so that the true liquid reagent level or the liquid reagent volume and the horizontal inner width of the laboratory analysis cuvette calculated from this can be calculated much more accurately.

Preferably, once the form correction value has been calculated, it is stored at the laboratory analysis cuvette. More preferably, the form correction value is stored as an optically readable marking at the laboratory analysis cuvette. For example, the form correction value can be stored as a numerical value in a two-dimensional barcode that is fixed to the cuvette body so that it is visible from the outside. In this way, the form correction value is assigned to the cuvette in question without assignment errors and cannot be lost. The optically readable form correction value identification can be read by a corresponding one- or two-dimensional digital barcode reader of the analyser unit. For example, the barcode reader may be located in the analyser unit's cuvette compartment into which the cuvette is inserted for photometry.

Preferably, the liquid reagent reacts with the analyte of a liquid sample filled into the cuvette in a colour-changing manner. The photometer determining the concentration determines the transmission or absorption of the reacted liquid sample, so that finally, with the help of the form correction value, the concentration of the analyte in the liquid sample can be calculated with high accuracy and reliability.

In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. They show:.

<FIG> shows a cuvette <NUM> containing a liquid reagent <NUM>, which cuvette <NUM> is closed by a lid-like transport cap <NUM>. The cuvette <NUM> is defined by a beaker-shaped cuvette body <NUM> of transparent glass defining a horizontal bottom wall <NUM> and a circular cylindrical vertical wall <NUM>. A two-dimensional barcode <NUM>' is applied to the outside of the cuvette body <NUM> as an optically readable marking <NUM>.

The total internal volume of the cuvette <NUM> is approximately <NUM> and the horizontal reference inner width D', which corresponds to the inner diameter on the inner side <NUM> of the vertical wall <NUM>, is in the single-digit millimetre range, and is for example <NUM>. The actual horizontal inner width D can differ from the reference inner width D' due to the production process. The liquid reagent <NUM> may comprise a liquid reagent volume V of <NUM>µl to <NUM>, depending on the type of liquid reagent. Typical water analysis liquid reagents for the determination of ammonium concentration, nitrate concentration or chemical oxygen demand are phosphorus-sulphuric acids, chromium-sulphuric acids, etc..

<FIG> and <FIG> show an arrangement for the determination of a cuvette form correction value F. This arrangement comprises a level determination camera <NUM> which is directed laterally towards the cuvette <NUM> standing on a cuvette scale <NUM>. The cuvette <NUM> is placed on a scale platform <NUM> of the cuvette scale <NUM>. The arrangement comprises an electronic control <NUM> for determining the cuvette form correction value F. The controller <NUM> comprises a meniscus interpretation module <NUM> and a meniscus library <NUM> in which meniscus form values MF are stored for different liquid reagent types T, respectively. The meniscus form value MF comprises the extent to which the liquid reagent level H optically detected by the level determination camera <NUM> must be corrected in order to obtain a normalised level H of the liquid reagent <NUM> for the subsequent volume calculation.

Finally, the arrangement of <FIG> comprises a barcode printer <NUM> which prints an optically readable identification <NUM> in the form of a two-dimensional barcode <NUM>' which is finally applied to the vertical wall <NUM> of the cuvette <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a laboratory analyser unit <NUM> for the quantitative determination of an analyte or a parameter of a liquid sample using a so-called cuvette test.

The analyser unit <NUM> comprises a cuvette compartment <NUM> for positioning the cuvette <NUM>. A turntable <NUM> is arranged at the bottom of the cuvette compartment <NUM>, which can be rotated by an electric drive motor <NUM>. Furthermore, the analyser unit <NUM> comprises a two-dimensional barcode reader <NUM> configured as a digital camera, which reads the barcode <NUM> as a photograph through a corresponding opening of the cuvette compartment wall. The analyser unit <NUM> comprises a photometer <NUM> defined by a photometer transmitter <NUM> and a photometer receiver <NUM>. Finally, the analyser unit <NUM> comprises an electronic analyser unit controller <NUM>.

After the laboratory analysis cuvette body <NUM> has been manufactured, it is filled in a filling unit with the predetermined target volume of a liquid reagent <NUM> of a specific liquid reagent type T, for example with a chromium-sulphuric acid for determining the chemical oxygen demand parameter. The reagent reacts with the analyte to be determined of the liquid sample filled later into the cuvette <NUM> to change its colour. During filling, the cuvette <NUM> may in general already be placed in the arrangement shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The controller <NUM> receives the liquid reagent type T and the filled liquid reagent volume V from the filling system.

Alternatively, the controller <NUM> receives only the liquid reagent type T from the filling system, but not the filled liquid reagent volume V. Instead, the liquid reagent volume V is determined by means of the cuvette scale <NUM> by a differential measurement, i.e. a determination of the mass difference of an empty weighing and of a full weighing of the cuvette <NUM> without and with the liquid reagent <NUM>. Since the liquid reagent type T and thus the specific weight of the liquid reagent <NUM> are known, the exact filled liquid reagent volume V can be calculated using the calculated mass M of the filled liquid reagent <NUM>.

By means of the camera <NUM> and a corresponding image recognition, the control <NUM> determines the visible actual level H of the liquid reagent <NUM> in the laboratory analysis cuvette <NUM>. The actual level H of the liquid reagent <NUM> visible through the camera <NUM> is defined by the cuvette central surface <NUM> of the liquid reagent <NUM>. The controller <NUM> further determines from the meniscus library <NUM> the meniscus form value MF associated with the liquid reagent type T, with which the liquid reagent level H optically detected by the camera <NUM> is corrected accordingly, for example by addition. This is necessary because, depending on the surface tension of the liquid reagent <NUM> in question, the annular meniscus <NUM> may comprise a more or less relevant meniscus volume which, particularly in the case of a small total liquid reagent volume, may have a considerable influence on the accuracy of the following calculations.

In <FIG>, a relatively small and less relevant possible meniscus <NUM>" and a relatively large and, in the case of a relatively small liquid reagent volume, very relevant possible meniscus <NUM>' are shown for supplementary and purely informative purposes. The meniscus volume may indeed amount to several percent of the liquid reagent volume V, and therefore could make a significant error in the following calculation of the form correction value F.

Based on the meniscus-corrected true liquid reagent level H and the filled liquid reagent volume V, the control <NUM> calculates the horizontal inner width D of the hollow cylindrical cuvette body <NUM>. The horizontal inner width D corresponds exactly to the length of the measuring section <NUM> of the photometer <NUM> within the cuvette <NUM>. The actual inner width D determined in this way is set in relation to a reference inner width D' stored for the cuvette <NUM>, and a form correction value F is calculated from this ratio.

A barcode <NUM>' is virtually generated from the form correction value F, which contains further information about the liquid reagent <NUM>. The barcode <NUM>' is printed on a label representing the optically readable identification <NUM> and is adhered to the outside of the cuvette body <NUM>. Together with the transport cap <NUM>, the cuvette <NUM> is then ready for shipping or for the analysis process.

For quantitative determination of an analyte, the transport cap <NUM> is removed, a defined volume of the liquid sample to be analysed, for example a wastewater sample from a treatment process, is pipetted into the cuvette, and the cuvette <NUM> is closed again with the transport cap <NUM>. Then the liquid reagent <NUM> is mixed with the filled liquid sample by shaking, and the cuvette <NUM> is inserted into the cuvette compartment <NUM> of the analyser unit <NUM>. After the reagent has reacted with the analyte to be determined in the liquid sample, the analysis process is started.

A turntable <NUM> is arranged at the bottom of the cuvette compartment <NUM>, which can be rotated by the electric drive motor <NUM>. The cuvette <NUM> is first rotated until the barcode reader <NUM>, which is configured as a digital camera, has found the barcode <NUM> on the outside of the cuvette body <NUM>. The barcode reader <NUM> then reads the barcode <NUM>' so that the analyser unit control <NUM> derives from this, among other things, the form correction value F.

Claim 1:
A method for determining a cuvette form correction value (F) for a laboratory analysis cuvette (<NUM>) filled with a liquid reagent (<NUM>) and having a transparent cuvette body (<NUM>) comprising a vertical wall (<NUM>) and a bottom wall (<NUM>), comprising the method steps:
determining the liquid reagent volume (V) of the liquid reagent (<NUM>) filled into the laboratory analysis cuvette (<NUM>),
optical determination of the liquid reagent level (H) of the liquid reagent (<NUM>) in the laboratory analysis cuvette (<NUM>) by a level determination camera (<NUM>), characterised by
calculating a horizontal inner width (D) of the laboratory analysis cuvette (<NUM>) from the determined liquid reagent volume (V) and the determined liquid reagent level (H) by an electronic control (<NUM>), and
calculation of the form correction value (F) from the calculated horizontal inner width (D) and a reference inner width (D') of the laboratory analysis cuvette (<NUM>) by the electronic control (<NUM>).