Container having a measuring cell
A container ( 1 ) has a measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) that protrudes into the container interior ( 2 ). The measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) has a measuring gap ( 6 ) bounded by two opposed spaced-apart lateral surfaces ( 8, 9 ), and a connecting surface ( 10 ) connects the lateral surfaces ( 8, 9 ). Each lateral surface ( 8, 9 ) has an optical window ( 11, 12 ). A first optical fiber (15, 15′) is arranged before the first window ( 11 ) and a second optical fiber ( 17, 17 ′) is arranged before the second window ( 12 ). Receiving channels ( 14, 16, 18 ) are arranged before the windows ( 11, 12, 13 ) and subsequently can be fit with the optical fibers ( 15, 15′, 17, 17′, 19 ) from the outside. The measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) having the windows ( 11, 12, 13 ) and the receiving channels ( 14, 16, 18 ) is connected fixedly to the wall ( 3 ) of the container interior ( 2 ).
1. A container ( 1 ) having a measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) of an optical measuring cell ( 4 ) that protrudes into the container interior ( 2 ) of the container, wherein the measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) has a measuring gap ( 6 ), which is bounded by two opposite-facing lateral surfaces ( 8 , 9 ) spaced apart from each other at a distance ( 7 ) and by a connecting surface ( 10 ) that connects the lateral surfaces ( 8 , 9 ), wherein the lateral surfaces ( 8 , 9 ) each have an optical window ( 11 , 12 ), and wherein at least one first optical fiber ( 15 , 15 ′) can be arranged before the first window ( 11 ) and at least one second optical fiber ( 17 , 17 ′) can be arranged before the second window ( 12 ),
wherein
the measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) has receiving channels ( 14 , 16 , 18 ) arranged before the windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) for receiving the at least one optical fiber ( 15 , 15 ′, 17 , 17 ′, 19 ) in each case,
the receiving channels ( 14 , 16 , 18 ) can be subsequently fitted from the outside with the optical fibers ( 15 , 15 ′, 17 , 17 ′, 19 ), and
the measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) having the windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) and the receiving channels ( 14 , 16 , 18 ) is fixedly connected to the wall ( 3 ) of the container interior ( 2 ).
2. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
at their ends facing the windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ), the receiving channels ( 14 , 14 ′″, 16 , 16 ′″, 18 ′″) are oriented orthogonally to the windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ).
3. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
the measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) has a third optical window ( 13 ) on its connecting surface ( 10 ) and
that before the third optical window ( 13 ) there is arranged a third receiving channel ( 18 ) that can be fitted from the outside with at least one third optical fiber ( 19 ).
4. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
at their ends facing away from the windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ), the receiving channels ( 14 , 14 ′″, 16 , 16 ′″, 18 , 18 ′″) have receiving openings ( 26 , 27 , 28 ) the longitudinal axes ( 29 , 30 , 31 ) of which extend parallel to one another.
5. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
the measuring-cell housing ( 5 ) having windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) and receiving channels ( 14 , 16 , 18 ) constitutes a single-use part of the optical measuring cell ( 4 ) and
that the optical fibers ( 15 , 15 ′, 17 , 17 ′, 19 ), along with connected light sources and/or sensors and evaluation and control electronics, constitute a reusable part of the optical measuring cell ( 4 ).
6. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
the optical windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) are lenses.
7. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
for transmission purposes light 20 from a light source can be conducted via the at least one first fiber ( 15 ) in the first receiving channel ( 14 , 14 ′″), through the first window ( 11 ) into the measuring gap ( 6 ) with a sample volume, and further via the second window ( 12 ) and the at least one second fiber ( 17 ) arranged in the second receiving channel ( 16 , 16 ′″), to a detector.
8. The container of claim 7 ,
wherein
at least one pinhole aperture is arranged between the second window ( 12 ) and the second fiber ( 17 ) arranged in the second receiving channel ( 16 ).
9. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
for reflection purposes, light 20 ′ from a light source can be conducted via a first fiber ( 15 ′) in the first receiving channel ( 14 ), through the first window ( 11 ) into the measuring gap ( 6 ) with a sample volume, and can be conducted back as reflected light ( 22 ′) from the sample volume via the first window ( 11 ) and a second fiber ( 17 ′) arranged in the first receiving channel ( 14 ), to a detector.
10. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
for transflection purposes, light 20 ′ from a light source can be conducted via a first fiber ( 15 ′) in the first receiving channel ( 14 ), through the first window ( 11 ) into the measuring gap ( 6 ) with a sample volume, and be further conducted via the second window ( 12 ) in the second receiving channel ( 16 ) onto a diffusely reflecting surface ( 23 ), and be conducted back as reflected light ( 22 ″), via the first window ( 11 ) and a second fiber ( 17 ′) arranged in the first receiving channel ( 14 ), to a detector.
11. The container of claim 10 ,
wherein
the reflecting surface ( 23 ) is arranged at the free end of a dummy fiber ( 26 ) inserted into the second receiving channel ( 16 ).
12. The container of claim 3 ,
wherein
scattered light ( 22 ) from a sample volume can be conducted via the third optical window ( 13 ) and the third optical fiber ( 19 ) arranged in the third receiving channel ( 18 , 18 ′″), to a detector.
13. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
the container ( 1 ) is a single-use bioreactor or a single-use mixing bag.
14. The container of claim 1 ,
wherein
the receiving channels ( 14 ′″, 16 ′″, 18 ′″) form a common spatial depression ( 32 ) in which the optical fibers ( 15 , 17 , 19 ) are fastened by means of brackets ( 33 , 34 , 35 ) and are arranged before the windows ( 11 , 12 , 13 ).