Method for detection of the contamination of a sample cuvette of a nephelometric turbidimeter

US10126236B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• HACH LANGE GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Manfred Battefeld · Goldkronach, DE
• Michael Kussmann · Goldkronach, DE
• Bas De Heij · Dormagen, DE
• Bernd Gassner · Neuss, DE
• Frank Steinhauer · Berlin, DE
• Hans-Joachim Kumpch · Berlin, DE
• Axel Leyer · Rheydt, DE
• Michael Kueppers · Kaarst, DE
• Andreas Golitz · Moers, DE
• Andreas Mitreiter · Berlin, DE
• Clemens Hanschke · Berlin, DE
• Lothar Heidemanns · Korschenbroich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 8, 2017
• Grant date: Nov 13, 2018
• Expiry date: Nov 8, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/0634
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for detecting a contamination of a cuvette of a turbidimeter. The turbidimeter includes a light source which emits a light beam directed to a cuvette, a scattering light detector, and a diffuser with a body and an actuator. The actuator moves the body between a parking position and a test position where the body is between the measurement light source and the cuvette, thereby interferes with the light beam, and generates a diffuse test light entering the cuvette. The method includes activating the actuator to move the body from the parking position into the test position, activating the light source, measuring a test light intensity received by the scattering light detector, comparing the test light intensity measured with a reference light intensity, and generating a contamination signal if a difference between a reference light intensity and the test light intensity measured exceeds a first threshold value.