Systems and methods for refractive index detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018326-A1
Application number	US-201414775752-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention provides differential refractive index detectors and methods for the use of differential refractive index detectors. In an exemplary embodiment, a differential refractive index detector includes a flow cell body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis extending between the proximal and the distal end. The flow cell body includes a first chamber and a second chamber and the fluid conduits coupled to the flow cell body can be tapered to reduce dispersion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A differential refractive index detector, comprising:
a flow cell body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis extending between the proximal and the distal end, the flow cell body comprising a first chamber and a second chamber; the flow cell body further comprising a first inflow port configured to allow fluid to flow into the first chamber, a first outflow port configured to allow fluid flow out of the first chamber, a second inflow port configured to allow fluid flow into the second chamber, and a second outflow port configured to allow fluid flow out of second chamber, wherein at least one of the first and second inflow ports is configured to provide fluid flow in a direction parallel to the flow axis of the flow cell body.

2 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second inflow ports is disposed at the proximal end of the flow cell.

3 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second outflow ports is disposed at the distal end of the flow cell.

4 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inflow conduit coupled to one of the first inflow port and the second inflow port, the inflow conduit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an inner diameter of the inflow conduit at the distal end being greater than an inner diameter of the inflow conduit at the proximal end.

5 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 4 , wherein the inner diameter of the inflow conduit at the distal end being greater than the inner diameter of the inflow conduit at the proximal end provides a taper angle of the inflow conduit in the range of about 8° to about 20°.

6 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outflow conduit coupled to one of the first outflow port and the second outflow port, the fluid conduit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the proximal end being greater than an inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the distal end.

7 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 6 , wherein the inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the proximal end being greater than the inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the distal end provides a taper angle of the outflow conduit in the range of about 8° to about 20°.

8 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber has a volume less than a volume of the second chamber.

9 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber has a volume in the range of about 2 μL to about 5 μL.

10 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flow cell body is formed of clear quartz.

11 . A differential refractive index detector, comprising:
a flow cell body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis extending between the proximal and the distal end, the flow cell comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, each of the first chamber and the second chamber having an inner surface extending substantially parallel to the flow axis of the flow cell body; wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber is shaped to minimize sharp corners extending along the flow axis.

12 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 10 , wherein a cross-sectional profile of at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber taken perpendicular to the flow axis of the flow cell body comprises at least one curved portion.

13 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first inflow port configured to allow a fluid to flow into the first chamber, a first outflow port configured to allow fluid flow out of the first chamber, a second inflow port configured to allow fluid flow into the second chamber, and a second outflow port configured to allow fluid flow out of second chamber.

14 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 13 , further comprising
an inflow conduit coupled to one of the first inflow port and the second inflow port, the inflow conduit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an inner diameter of the inflow conduit at the distal end being greater than an inner diameter of the inflow conduit at the proximal end.

15 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 14 , wherein the inner diameter of the inflow conduit at the distal end being greater than the inner diameter of the fluid conduit at the proximal end provides a taper angle of the fluid conduit in the range of about 8° to about 20°.

16 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 13 , further comprising:
an outflow conduit coupled to one of the first outflow port and the second outflow port, the fluid conduit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the proximal end being greater than an inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the distal end.

17 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 16 , wherein the inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the proximal end being greater than the inner diameter of the outflow conduit at the distal end provides a taper angle of the outflow conduit in the range of about 8° to about 20°.

18 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 10 , wherein the flow cell body comprises a first assembly and a second assembly, the first assembly defining the first chamber and the second assembly defining the second chamber.

19 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 18 , wherein the flow cell body comprises at least one window configured to prevent fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, the at least one window configured to transmit light between the first chamber and the second chamber.

20 . The differential refractive index detector of claim 19 , wherein the at least one window is formed of clear quartz.

Assignees

• Waters Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Jeanotte Anthony C
• Basile Mark
• Bala Senthil
• Fredette Colin

Classifications

• G01N30/74

  Optical detectors {(measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, or phase of infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01J)} · CPC title

• G01N21/05 Primary

  Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10) · CPC title

• G01N2021/4146

  Differential cell arrangements · CPC title

• G01N21/4133 Primary

  Refractometers, e.g. differential · CPC title