Thermo Separation Products, Inc.

Eldex Laboratories, Inc.

Miner Nelson Munk

Douglas A Perry

Brian Robert Said

A bent capillary flow cell with protruding end bulbs coaxial with centerline of an elongated center cylindrical section of capillary tubing. The bulbs provide a high light throughput entrance window for the cell. Light is piped along the elongated center section by total internal reflection at the outside surface of the cell wall. An external light absorbing band is placed in optical contact with outer surface of the cell wall over a transition cone region between the bulb and center cylindrical section of the cell. Each of the external light absorbing bands extend a short prescribed distance over the cylindrical wall to absorb light rays that would otherwise be light piped within the cell wall and have little exposure to the liquid in the cell.

Capillary flow cell with bulbous ends

A process for making a flow cell having an internal flow passage of a material having a refractive index less than that of water or having the internal walls of the flow passage coated or otherwise covered with such a material is provided. The flow cell so produced substantially totally internally reflects light along the cell bore.

Method of making a flow cell for light absorption measurement of small volume samples

A coated flow cell and a method for making the coated flow cell are provided. The flow cell comprises a flow passage internally coated with a polymer having an index of refraction lower than that of water. In this manner, light directed into the flow cell is internally reflected or 'piped' down the length of the flow passage. As a result, flow cells having path lengths significantly longer and accepting incident angles of light much greater than possible with prior art flow cells. A method for internally coating the flow cell is also provided.

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Sonoma, CA, United States of America

Miner Nelson Munk