NMR spectrometer with quick-change system for samples

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11073583-B2
Application number	US-202016827856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2020
Priority date	Mar 25, 2019
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

An NMR spectrometer ( 1 ) with a magnet system ( 2 ), which has a bore ( 3 ) through the magnet center ( 4 ) for inserting a measuring sample ( 5 ) in a transport container ( 7 ), and with a transport device for pneumatic transport of the sample through a transport channel ( 8 ) into and out of the magnet system. The transport device includes a mechanical interface ( 9 ) with a mounted exchange system ( 10 ) which has parking receptacles ( 11 ) temporarily storing the transport containers. In a transport position, the parking receptacle is inserted into the transport channel, to be loaded with a transport container, removed from the transport channel for temporarily storing the transport container, and reinserted into the transport channel for further transport of the transport container. In the transport position, the parking receptacle forms a part of the transport channel, which permits a faster automated change of the measuring samples in short measurement cycle times.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer with an NMR magnet system, which has a bore extending through a magnet center for inserting an NMR measuring sample in a transport container, and with a transport device configured to pneumatically transport the NMR measuring sample through a transport channel into the NMR magnet system and out of the NMR magnet system, wherein the transport device comprises:
a changing system comprising at least one parking receptacle for temporarily storing the transport container, and
a mechanical interface on which the changing system is mounted,

wherein the at least one parking receptacle is inserted into the transport channel to form part of the transport channel for loading with the transport container, is removed from the transport channel for temporarily storing the transport container, and is reinserted into the transport channel to form part of the transport channel for further transporting the transport container.

2. NMR spectrometer according to claim 1 , wherein the changing system comprises a lock mechanism configured to alternatingly block the transport container from passing into or permit the transport container to pass into the NMR magnet system.

3. NMR spectrometer according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one parking receptacle has lock openings through which the lock mechanism engages with the transport container of the at least one parking receptacle.

4. NMR spectrometer according to claim 3 , wherein the lock mechanism is part of the at least one parking receptacle and comprises a system of locking pins which engages through the lock openings with the transport container in the at least one parking receptacle.

5. NMR spectrometer according to claim 1 , wherein the changing system for transporting the transport container out of the NMR magnet system and through the changing system comprises an azimuthally closed through-tube which is open at axial ends of the through-tube and which is configured to insert into the transport channel.

6. NMR spectrometer according to claim 5 , wherein the transport channel, the at least one parking receptacle and the through-tube are each cylindrical.

7. NMR spectrometer according to claim 1 , wherein the changing system comprises a plurality of parking receptacles.

8. NMR spectrometer according to claim 1 , wherein the changing system comprises a tempering device, with which the transport container with the NMR measuring sample, temporarily stored in the at least one parking receptacle, is heated and/or cooled.

9. NMR spectrometer according to claim 8 , wherein the tempering device comprises a heating resistor and/or a Peltier element and/or a hot air supply and/or an infrared radiation source and/or a microwave radiation source and/or a device for compressed air expansion and/or a device for cold air supply.

10. NMR spectrometer according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one parking receptacle comprises at least one tempering opening for access of the tempering device to the NMR measuring sample in the transport container.

11. NMR spectrometer according to claim 10 , wherein the changing system has at least one pivotable heating or cooling jaw configured to temper the transport container with an NMR measuring sample, wherein, in a tempering position of the at least one parking receptacle, the pivotable heating or cooling jaw reaches through the tempering opening.

12. NMR spectrometer according to claim 8 , further comprising an electronic control device controlling the temperature of the NMR measuring sample in the temporarily stored transport container.

13. NMR spectrometer according to claim 12 , wherein the control device is configured to temper the NMR measuring sample in the temporarily stored transport container along a predetermined temporal temperature profile, wherein the predetermined temporal temperature profile is defined such that a desired temperature of the NMR measuring sample is reached without exceeding a predetermined maximum temperature.

14. NMR spectrometer according to claim 8 , further comprising plural electronic control devices for respective parking spaces and respectively controlling respective temperatures of plural NMR measuring samples in respective temporarily stored transport containers.

15. NMR spectrometer according to claim 1 , wherein the NMR measuring sample contains a liquid substance, and wherein, for transporting the liquid sample in the transport container, the transport channel has an axis that is aligned at least essentially in parallel to gravity.

16. NMR spectrometer according to claim 1 , wherein the transport channel and the at least one parking receptacle are both cylindrical.

17. Method for operating an NMR spectrometer according to claim 1 , comprising:
(a) feeding a first transport container arriving from outside the NMR magnet system with a first NMR measuring sample through the transport channel into the magnet center and inserting at least one further transport container arriving from outside the NMR magnet system with a further NMR measuring sample into a parking receptacle of the changing system and temporarily storing the further transport container during a parking duration tp;
(b) performing an NMR measurement on the first NMR measuring sample;
(c) pneumatically transporting the first transport container with the first NMR measuring sample back from the magnet center to the outside of the NMR magnet system; and
(d) pneumatically transporting the temporarily stored further transport container from the parking receptacle of the changing system into the magnet center.

Assignees

• Bruker Switzerland Ag

Inventors

• Meister Roger
• Schmid Reto
• Sieber Sven

Classifications

• G01R33/31

  Temperature control thereof · CPC title

• G01N24/08

  by using nuclear magnetic resonance (G01N24/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01R33/307 Primary

  specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer · CPC title

• G01R33/46 Primary

  NMR spectroscopy · CPC title