NMR apparatus with flexible sample transport tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467992-B1
Application number	US-202519259619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 3, 2025
Priority date	Jul 3, 2025
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

An NMR spectrometer having an NMR magnet system which is mounted on a device for isolating the vibrations of the NMR magnet system from the environment includes a sample storage means for providing and temporarily storing NMR measurement samples to be measured, and a transport device for transporting one NMR measurement sample at a time from the sample storage means to a measurement volume within the NMR magnet system. The transport device comprises a continuous, pneumatically bidirectionally operable, gastight transport tube that is mechanically flexibly constructed from a plurality of interconnected sub-elements in the form of separate rigid tube sections that can move relative to one another and are dimensionally stable relative to a flow cross-section of the transport tube. This allows a passive mechanical decoupling from the NMR magnet system, without the need to actively monitor the position of the NMR magnet system relative to the sample storage means.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An NMR spectrometer comprising:
an NMR magnet system mounted on a device for isolating vibrations of the NMR magnet system from the environment; a sample storage means for providing and temporarily storing NMR measurement samples to be measured; and a transport device for transporting an NMR measurement sample from the sample storage means into a measurement volume within the NMR magnet system, the transport device comprising a continuous, pneumatically bidirectionally operable, gastight transport tube that is mechanically flexibly constructed from a plurality of interconnected sub-members in the form of separate rigid tube sections, which can move relative to one another and are dimensionally stable with respect to a flow cross-section of the transport tube.

2 . A transport device for the pneumatic transport of NMR measurement samples from a sample storage means into a measurement volume within an NMR magnet system of an NMR spectrometer, comprising a continuous, pneumatically bidirectionally operable, gastight transport tube that is mechanically flexibly constructed from a plurality of interconnected sub-members in the form of separate rigid tube sections, which can move relative to one another and are dimensionally stable with respect to a flow cross-section of the transport tube, wherein the sub-members of the transport tube are configured such that, in the event of any axial displacement or tilting of immediately adjacent sub-members relative to one another, radially inner portions of the sub-members do not project into a clear flow cross-section in the interior of the transport tube through which the NMR measurement samples are pneumatically transported.

3 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein each of the sub-members of the transport tube have, in an end portion with which they connect to an immediately adjacent sub-member, a shape of either a positive or a negative ball joint segment, the positive ball joint segment precisely engaging in the negative ball joint segment of the adjacent sub-member such that the positive and negative ball joint segments abut each other surface-to-surface and exert a sealing function between the clear flow cross-section of the transport tube and an external environment in a transition region of the two ball joint segments.

4 . The transport device according to claim 3 , further comprising cylindrical partial surfaces that are part of the ball joint segments.

5 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the sub-members comprise, in an inner region of transition points between adjacent sub-members, a meshing toothed structure, an outer surface of which is conical.

6 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the transport tube is configured such that, at transition points between adjacent sub-members, a degree of relative movement possible between the two adjacent sub-members is limited so as to establish a minimum radius of curvature of the transport tube.

7 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the transport tube is configured such that transition points between adjacent sub-members allow for linear extensions in a longitudinal direction of the transport tube and can compensate for a mechanical offset of the NMR spectrometer.

8 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein at least some of the sub-members of the transport tube are identical.

9 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the transport tube comprises sub-members whose lengths and/or relative freedom of movement differ.

10 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the sub-members of the transport tube are configured to permit the transport tube to be repeatedly disassembled and reassembled without tools.

11 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein at least some sub-members of the transport tube have closable radial openings.

12 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein at least some sub-members of the transport tube are constructed entirely or partially from optically transparent material.

13 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the transport tube is constructed entirely or partially from electrically conductive material or is coated with such a material.

14 . The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the transport tube comprises fastening elements for fastening it to parts of the NMR spectrometer and/or for coupling a plurality of transport tubes to one another at the same time.

Assignees

• Bruker Switzerland Ag

Inventors

• Schmid Reto
• Sieber Sven

Classifications

• 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