Chemical analysis cuvette

Abstract

Improved components, such as a cuvette, are disclosed in the specification.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a chemical analyzer, an improved cuvette comprising: integrally formed means for defining individual compartments adapted to hold specimens, said compartments being arranged to pass through a line defining a closed curve having a central axis; .[.and.].   window means .Iadd.associated with each compartment comprising opposed planar members that are parallel to each other .Iaddend.for transmitting radiant energy through at least some portions of the compartments, whereby the specimens may be analyzed.Iadd.;   ventilation means for defining an opening within said curve for allowing the passage of air; and   additional analyzing apparatus comprising:   a source of radiant energy located within the area bounded by a vertical projection of said line defining a closed curve; rotation means for rotating the cuvette in relationship to the radiant energy source, whereby the radiant energy sequentially passes through the window means in each of said compartments; and   means for passing air over the source and through said opening, whereby the source is cooled. .[.     
     
     
       2.  A cuvette, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising ventilation means for defining the opening within said curve for allowing the passage of air..]. .[.3. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a common plane intersects each of the window means..]. .[.4. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window means associated with each compartment comprises opposed planar members that are parallel to each other..]. .[.5. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compartments comprise sidewall means and wherein the window means are formed integrally with the sidewall means..]. .[.6. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each compartment comprises bottomwall means that are curved adjacent the 
     
     
        compartment..]. 7. A cuvette, as claimed in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.14.Iaddend., wherein the window means are fabricated from material 
     
     
        that transmits ultraviolet light. 8. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the window means are fabricated from acrylic. .[.9. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compartments are interrupted by air spaces..]. .[.10. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 9, and further comprising temperature control means for maintaining the specimens at a predetermined temperature comprising: a bath solution in which the sidewall means are at least partially immersed so that the bath solution enters the air spaces between the compartments; and   means for maintaining the bath solution at a constant temperature..].   
     
     
        .[.     A cuvette, as claimed in claim 2, in combination with additional analyzing apparatus comprising a source of radiant energy located within the area bounded by a vertical projection of said line defining a closed curve..]. .[.12. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, and further comprising: rotation means for rotating the cuvette in relationship to the radiant energy source, whereby the radiant energy sequentially passes through the window means in each of said compartments; and   means for passing air over the source and through said opening, whereby the   
     
     
        source is cooled..]. 13. Apparatus, as claimed in claim .[.12.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein the source is aligned so that the radiant energy is transmitted perpendicular to the surface of the window means at some 
     
     
        time during the operation of the rotation means. .Iadd.14.  An improved cuvette for use in a chemical analyzer comprising: integrally formed means for defining individual compartments adapted to hold specimens, said compartments having an open end and a closed end and being arranged to pass through a line defining a closed curve having a central axis, said integrally formed means comprising an outer sidewall defining an outer edge which fits within a circle having a center point lying in the central axis and defining a first slanting surface which is a common boundary for the compartments and which is slanting with respect to the central axis,   an inner sidewall defining a second slanting surface which is a common boundary for the compartments and which is slanting toward the first slanting surface,   bottomwall means extending between the outer and inner sidewalls adjacent the closed end of the compartments,     a plurality of spacer means integrally formed with the outer sidewall, inner sidewall and bottomwall means for preventing the transfer of a specimen between adjacent compartments, each said spacer means comprising an upper section at least partially located adjacent the open end of a compartment,   a first lower section integrally formed with a first one of the plurality of bottomwall means and   a second lower section integrally formed with a second one of the plurality of bottomwall means, the first and second lower sections being separated by an air space, whereby heated fluid can flow around each compartment to incubate the specimens;     lip means integrally formed with the outer sidewall and extending radially outward from the outer edge of the outer sidewall for supporting and securing the cuvette;   ventilation means for defining an opening within the inner sidewall for allowing the passage of air; and   window means for transmitting radiant energy through at least some portions of each of the compartments comprising an opposed pair of planar members separated by a predetermined distance located in each compartment, one of the planar members in each pair being integrally formed with the outer sidewall and the other of the planar members in each pair being integrally formed with the inner sidewall, each of said planar members intersecting a   
     
     
        common plane, whereby the specimens may be analyzed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first slanting surface defines a portion of the lateral area of a first cone and wherein the second slanting surface defines a portion of the lateral area of a second 
     
     
        cone which intersects the first cone. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  A cuvette, as claimed in claim 15, wherein any line lying in the lateral area of the first cone and intersecting the central axis makes a predetermined acute angle with respect to the central axis and wherein any line lying in the lateral area of the second cone and intersecting the central axis also makes substantially the same predetermined acute angle with respect to the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the predetermined acute angle is at least 15 degrees, so that the specimen is inhibited from splashing as the compartment is being filled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the outer sidewall comprises a first upper edge adjacent the open end of the compartments defining a first circle having a first center point lying in the central axis, and wherein the inner sidewall comprises a second upper edge adjacent the open end of the compartments defining a second circle having a second center point lying in the central axis. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     A cuvette, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the inner and outer sidewalls are each 0.04 inch thick. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lip means comprises a planar upper surface defining a first plane perpendicular to the central axis and a planar lower surface defining a second plane parallel to the first plane. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lip means defines an outer perimeter and comprises a plurality of positioning notches, each said positioning notch being located adjacent the perimeter and opposite one of the compartments. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 21, wherein each positioning notch and the compartment located opposite the positioning notch are bisected by a plane passing 
     
     
        through the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  A cuvette, as claimed in claim 22, wherein each positioning notch includes an arcuate shaped section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 23, wherein a positioning notch is located opposite each compartment. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predetermined distance between the planar members is one centimeter, and wherein the planar members in each pair are substantially parallel. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     A cuvette as claimed in claim 25, wherein the upper section of each spacer means is planar and wherein the air space is wider than the planar upper section, so that the cuvette can be nested with another like cuvette. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 26, wherein each planar upper section of each spacer means is bisected by a plane which passes through the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 14, wherein each bottomwall means is curved adjacent a compartment so that mixing of the specimen is aided. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ventilation means comprises a hollow collar integrally formed with the inner sidewall, whereby air may 
     
     
        pass through the hollow portion of the collar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  A cuvette, as claimed in claim 29, wherein the collar defines a cylinder having an axis colinear with the central axis and defines a circular upper edge lying in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the lip means defines an outer perimeter and comprises a plurality of positioning notches, each said positioning notch being located adjacent the perimeter and opposite one of the compartments. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 31, wherein each bottomwall means is curved adjacent a compartment 
     
     
        so that mixing of the specimen is aided. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  A cuvette, as claimed in claim 32, wherein the ventilation means comprises a hollow collar integrally formed with the inner sidewall, whereby air may pass through the hollow portion of the collar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 33, wherein any line lying in the lateral area of the first cone and intersecting the central axis makes a predetermined acute angle with respect to the central axis and wherein any line lying in the lateral area of the second cone and intersecting the central axis also makes substantially the same predetermined acute angle with respect to the 
     
     
        central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  A cuvette, as claimed in claim 34, wherein each positioning notch and the compartment located opposite the positioning notch are bisected by a plane passing through the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 35, wherein the upper section of each spacer means is planar and wherein the air space is wider than the planar upper section, so that the cuvette can be nested with another like cuvette. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 36, wherein the collar defines a cylinder having an axis colinear with the central axis and defines a circular upper edge lying in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 37, wherein the predetermined acute angle is at least 15 degrees, so that the specimen is inhibited from splashing as the 
     
     
        compartment is being filled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39.  A cuvette, as claimed in claim 38, wherein a positioning notch is located opposite each compartment, and wherein each positioning notch includes an arcuate shaped section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 39, wherein each planar upper section of each spacer means is bisected by a plane which passes through the central axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 40, wherein said plane which passes through the central axis also bisects said air space. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A cuvette, as claimed in claim 41, wherein the inner and outer sidewalls are 0.04 inch thick, wherein the predetermined distance between the planar members is one centimeter, and wherein the planar members in each opposed pair are substantially parallel. .Iaddend.