SE538371C2

SE538371C2 - A cuvette holder

Info

Publication number: SE538371C2
Application number: SE1451074A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Patrik Jönsson; Carl-Fredrik Emilsson
Original assignee: Hemocue Ab
Priority date: 2014-09-15
Filing date: 2014-09-15
Publication date: 2016-05-31
Also published as: SE1451074A1

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a cuvette holder (1) being movable between an extracted position and an inserted position in a housing (3) of an analysis apparatus, the cuvette holder (1) comprising: a cuvette receiving 5 portion (10); a guiding portion (13) adapted to interact with said housing (3) such that the cuvette holder (1) is adapted to be removably and at least partly insertable, along an insertion direction (I), into said housing (3); a locking portion, adapted to interact with a guide element (31) of said housing (3), for locking the cuvette holder (1) in the inserted position; the locking portion comprising a guide track (12) adapted to interact with said guide element (31) of said housing (3); the guide track (12) comprising: an insertion section (20); a first transition section (21); and a locking section (22). The invention also relates to an analysis apparatus comprising the cuvette holder (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a cuvette holder (1) being movable between an extracted position and an inserted position in a housing (3) of an analysis apparatus, the cuvette holder (1) comprising: a cuvette receiving portion (10); a guiding portion (13) adapted to interact with said housing (3) such that the cuvette holder (1) is adapted to be removably and at least partly insertable, along an insertion direction (I), into said housing (3); a locking portion, adapted to interact with a guide element (31) of said housing (3), for locking the cuvette holder (1) in the inserted position; the locking portion comprising a guide track (12) adapted to interact with said guide element (31) of said housing (3); the guide track (12) comprising: an insertion section (20); a first transition section (21); and a locking section (22). The invention also relates to an analysis apparatus comprising the cuvette holder (1). 538 371 Abstract The present invention relates to a cuvette holder (1) being movable between an extracted position and an inserted position in a housing (3) of an analysis apparatus, the cuvette holder (1) comprising: a cuvette receiving 5 portion (10); a guiding portion (13) adapted to interact with said housing (3) such that the cuvette holder (1) is adapted to be removably and at least partly insertable, along an insertion direction (I), into said housing (3); a locking portion, adapted to interact with a guide element (31) of said housing (3), for locking the cuvette holder (1) in the inserted position; the locking portion comprising a guide track (12) adapted to interact with said guide element (31) of said housing (3); the guide track (12) comprising: an insertion section (20); a first transition section (21); and a locking section (22). The invention also relates to an analysis apparatus comprising the cuvette holder (1). 538 371 A CUVETTE HOLDER Technical field The present invention relates to a holder for a cuvette, and in particular to a cuvette holder for a cuvette for blood analysis and to an analysis apparatus comprising such a cuvette holder.

Background of the invention The field of blood analysis is wide and there are many types of blood analysis methods and apparatuses thereof. One type of blood analysis is based on collecting a blood sample, from e.g. a vein in an arm or a finger tip, into a cuvette. The cuvette comprises two interspaced transparent plates between which the sampled blood is located. The cuvette is thereafter inserted in a blood analysis apparatus for analysis such as hemoglobin determination or white blood cell count.

The cuvette may be inserted by placing the cuvette in a fixed cuvette position in the apparatus. Thus, each cuvette is arranged in the exact same position which provides good measurement accuracy. However, the positioning of the cuvette directly inside the apparatus typically requires a complex construction of the apparatus and further renders the cleaning of the apparatus difficult. Keeping the apparatus clean, and especially the parts of the apparatus which may come in contact with the cuvette is very important when handling potential infectious substances such as blood. It is therefore desirable to provide for an easy cleaning procedure of the apparatus.

An alternative way to insert the cuvette into the apparatus is by placing the cuvette on a holder which is inserted into a cavity of the apparatus. By this way, the apparatus does not need to be opened and the need for complex construction may be alleviated. The cuvette holder may in some configurations be completely removed from the apparatus for easy cleaning of the holder.

WO 2008/010759 discloses a cuvette holder and apparatus which 30 applies the latter insertion method. 1 538 371 Thus, placing the cuvette in a holder for insertion into the housing is user-friendly and may facilitate cleaning. However, since the cuvette holder needs to be inserted into the housing for each cuvette, there is a risk that the position in which the cuvette is positioned during analysis becomes different for different cuvettes. Care must be taken in order to ensure that good measurement accuracy is obtained.

Hence, there is a need for an improved analysis apparatus for a reliable and user-friendly handling of cuvettes for analysis of blood samples.

Summary of the invention An object of the present invention is to alleviate the above mentioned drawbacks and problems. Further objects are to provide a user-friendly cuvette holder and analysis apparatus for such a cuvette holder in combination with reliable measurement accuracy, and to provide a cuvette holder and apparatus which are easy to clean.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this and other objects are achieved by a cuvette holder adapted to be removably and at least partly insertable, along an insertion direction, into a housing of an analysis apparatus, the cuvette holder being movable between an extracted position and an inserted position, the cuvette holder comprising: a cuvette receiving portion for receiving a cuvette when the cuvette holder is positioned in the extracted position; a guiding portion adapted to interact with said housing such that the cuvette holder is adapted to be removably and at least partly insertable, along said insertion direction, into said housing; a locking portion, adapted to interact with a guide element of said housing, for locking the cuvette holder in the inserted position; the locking portion comprising a guide track adapted to interact with said guide element of said housing; the guide track comprising: an insertion section allowing the cuvette holder to be inserted into said housing along the insertion direction past the inserted position to a first end position; a first transition section allowing the cuvette holder to be moved in an extraction direction, opposite the insertion direction, from the first end position to the inserted position; and a locking section 2 538 371 adapted to interact with said guide element of said housing to lock the cuvette holder in the inserted position.

Several advantages are achieved by a cuvette holder according to the present invention.

Firstly, the guide track is arranged to lock the guide element in the same position every time the cuvette holder is inserted into the housing. The locking position is formed by a non-complex mechanics which renders the locking mechanism robust and the precision reproducible. For analysis systems as the one discussed here, it is very important that the locking position is fixed in view of a measurement area. When the cuvette holder is arranged in the inserted position, the measurement area must be located in a specific position in relation of the housing of the analysis apparatus in order for the apparatus to obtain measurements with good reliability. For example, for analysis methods based on light absorption measurements, the measurement area must be located in the correct position in view of the light source in the analysis apparatus, in order for the emitted light to travel through the blood sample area located in the measurement area.

By that the locking mechanism of the cuvette holder provides a robust and reproducible locking at a certain position in relation to the housing, good measurement accuracy may be achieved. The positioning of the measurement area is defined by the predetermined distance between the locking section and the measurement area. The predetermined distance is a well-defined distance which remains the same for every measurement, i.e. for every insertion of the cuvette holder in the housing. The distance does not depend on any mechanical movement in the cuvette holder. Thus, the cuvette holder provides reliable measurements which may be repeated.

Secondly, by that the guide track is located on the cuvette holder and adapted to interact with the guide element located inside the housing, cleaning of the cuvette holder is facilitated. The cuvette holder may easily be removed from the housing and may easily be cleaned. The cuvette holder is a robust one-piece-device with no moving parts which need to be cared for during handling or cleaning. Moreover, the cuvette holder needs no disassembling or reassembling. 3 538 371 The guide track may be provided with an opening towards one end of the cuvette holder for receiving said guide element, into the insertion section of the guide track, when said end of the cuvette holder is inserted into said housing.

The guide track may further comprise: a second transition section allowing the cuvette holder to be moved in the insertion direction from the inserted position to a second end position; and a return section allowing the cuvette holder to be moved in the extraction direction from the second end position to the extracted position.

The first end position and the second end position may be separated from each other by a distance in a direction transverse to the insertion direction.

The insertion section and the return section may be, in the vicinity of the locking section, separated from each other by a distance in a direction 15 transverse to the insertion direction.

The insertion section and the return section may, in the vicinity of the opening, form a single track. Thus, the guide element is suitably positioned for the next entry when exiting the guide track, and must therefore not be repositioned before the next time the cuvette holder is inserted.

The cuvette holder may be flat. In that case, the guide track may extend along a major surface of the flat cuvette holder. Thus the cuvette holder forms a compact device and contributes to a compact construction of the analysis apparatus.

The cuvette holder may be provided with a through hole in a portion arranged to be located within the housing when the cuvette holder is arranged in the extracted position. The through hole may be a blank measurement area, and may be used for performing an absorption measurement of the air environment, a so called blank measurement. This background information may be taken into account when performing the absorption measurement on the blood sample. By providing a blank measurement area, the cuvette holder does not need to be removed from the housing when performing the blank measurement. 4 538 371 The cuvette receiving portion may be provided with a through hole arranged to be located within the housing when the cuvette holder is arranged in the inserted position. The through hole may be the measurement area. The position of the blank measurement area in relation to the housing when the cuvette holder is arranged in the extracted position may be the same as the position of the measurement area in relation to the housing when the cuvette holder is arranged in the inserted position.

The cuvette holder may further comprise a stopping portion for preventing accidental removal of the cuvette holder from said housing when 10 the cuvette holder is arranged in the extracted position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the above mentioned and other objects are achieved by an analysis apparatus system comprising: a housing comprising a guide element; and a cuvette holder according to any of the above disclosed embodiments of the first aspect, wherein the guide element is movable relative to the housing in a travel direction at least having a component being transverse to the insertion direction; wherein the guide element extends in an extension direction at least having a component being transverse to the insertion direction and to the travel direction, allowing the guide element to interact with the guide track when the cuvette holder is inserted into the housing; and wherein the housing comprises a sliding carriage being movable along the insertion direction and the extraction direction, said sliding carriage being adapted to apply an extraction force acting in the extraction direction and on the cuvette holder, whereby the sliding carriage is biased in the extraction direction at least as long as the cuvette holder is inserted into the housing such that the guide element is in the vicinity of the locking section of the guide track.

The housing may comprise an elastic element, such as a spring element, adapted to achieve the extraction force. The elastic element may be provided on the slide carriage. The elastic element may be adapted to apply the extraction force while the cuvette holder moves between the inserted position and the extracted position.

The guide element may have the form of a guide pin. 538 371 It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features recited in the claims.

Brief description of drawings This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in 5 more detail, with reference to the enclosed drawings showing embodiments of the invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cuvette holder according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view from the top of the cuvette holder in figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the cuvette holder in different positions when arranged in a housing of an analysis apparatus.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a guide member.

Figure 6 illustrates a sliding carriage for being located in the analysis apparatus.

Figure 7 is a view from the front of the cuvette holder.

Detailed description The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and for fully conveying the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

One embodiment of the cuvette holder 1 will now be disclosed with 25 reference to figures 1-4.

The cuvette holder 1 comprises a cuvette receiving portion 10 in which a cuvette may be positioned. The cuvette receiving portion 10 comprises a recess 26 in which the cuvette is to be positioned. By the recess 26 in the cuvette holder 1, the position of the cuvette is fixated.

The cuvette holder 1 is in this embodiment flat and comprises two major surfaces (an upper surface and a lower surface) and four minor surfaces (side surfaces). Thus, the cuvette holder 1 may be regarded as being card shaped. 6 538 371 The thickness of the cuvette holder 1 is in this embodiment within 1015 % of the width of the major surfaces, i.e. the smallest length of the major surfaces. The width of the major surfaces is in this embodiment within 4050 % of the length of the major surfaces, i.e. the greatest length of the major surfaces.

The cuvette holder 1 may be manufactured in any suitable material such as plastics or metal.

The cuvette holder 1 further comprises a guide track 12 forming a locking portion. The guide track 12 may be arranged to extend along one of the major surfaces, and in this embodiment along the upper major surface.

The cuvette holder 1 is insertable into a housing 3 of an analysis apparatus. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate different positions of the cuvette holder 1 when arranged in the housing 3.

In figure 3, the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in an extracted position. In 15 this position, the cuvette receiving portion 10 is arranged outside the housing 3 and is thus accessible.

In figure 4, the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in an inserted position. The cuvette holder 1 is inserted along an insertion direction I, and extracted along an extraction direction E. The insertion direction I and extraction direction E are opposite directions. In this embodiment, the cuvette holder 1 is inserted into the housing 3 by a rectilinear movement. In other embodiments, the cuvette holder 1 may be inserted by another type of linear or non-linear movement.

The analysis apparatus comprises a guide member 30. A guide element 31 is formed on the guide member 30. When the cuvette holder 1 is inserted into the housing 3, along the insertion direction I, the guide track 12 interacts with the guide element 31 by that the guide element 31 follows the guide track 12. The purpose of the guide track 12 is to lock the position of the cuvette holder 1, in relation to the housing 3, in the inserted position, as illustrated in figure 4. The guide track 12 may be formed by milling. The depth of the guide track 12 may be chosen in view of the guide element 31, in order to enable interaction between the guide track 12 and the guide element 31. 7 538 371 The shape of the guide track 12, for the purpose of locking the cuvette holder 1, will now be disclosed with reference to figure 2.

The guide track 12 comprises an insertion section 20, a first transition section 21 and a locking section 22. The different sections of the guide track 12 are marked in figure 2 for illustrative purposes. It is to be understood that the markings do not necessarily correspond to any physical features of the guide track 12.

The guide track 12 is further provided with an opening towards one end of the cuvette holder 1 for receiving the guide element 31. The opening thus forms an entrance to the guide track 12. The end which the guide track 12 is open towards becomes the front of the cuvette holder 1.

The insertion section 20 extends from the entrance of the guide track 12 to a first innermost end of the guide track 12. The first transition section 21 extends from the first innermost end of the guide track 12 to the locking section 22. The locking section 22 is located at a distance in the extraction direction E from the first innermost end of the guide track 12, when the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in the housing 3.

The guide element 31 is in figure 3 located by the entrance of the guide track 12. In figure 4, where the cuvette holder 1 has been inserted into the housing 3, the guide element 31 is located in the locking section 22 of the guide track 12. During the movement of the cuvette holder 1 between the extracted position and the inserted position, the guide element 31 follows the insertion section 20 until located at a first end position at the first innermost end of the guide track 12. The cuvette holder 1 is now located past the inserted position in view of the insertion direction I.

From the first end position, the guide element 31 follows the first transition section 21 to the locking section 22. When the guide element 31 is arranged in the locking section 22, as illustrated in figure 4, the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in the inserted position.

In the inserted position, the position of the cuvette holder 1 is locked in relation to the housing 3 of the analysis apparatus. By locked is meant that the cuvette holder 1 and the housing 3 interacts in such a way that the cuvette holder 1 does not leave the locked position without an active release 8 538 371 of the cuvette holder 1 from the locked position. In this embodiment, the locking is achieved by the shape of the locking section 22 of the guide track 12. The locking is enforced by combining the shape of the locking section 22 with the application of an extraction force, in the extraction direction E, while the guide element 31 is in the vicinity of the locking section 22.

The shape of the locking section 22 is in this embodiment a valley which is open in the insertion direction I. By the applied extraction force on the cuvette holder 1, the guide element 31 is actively withheld in the valley.

In other embodiments, other forms and/functions are possible for achieving the locking effect of the locking section 22.

The guide track 12 further comprises a second transition section 23 and a return section 24. The second transition section 23 extends from the locking section 22 to a second innermost end of the guide track 12.

From the inserted position, where the guide element 31 is arranged in the locking section 22, the guide element 31 follows the second transition section 23, in the insertion direction I, to the second innermost end of the guide track 12. Here, the guide element 31 is positioned in a second end position. From the second end position, the guide element 31 follows the return section 24, in the extraction direction E, towards the entrance of the guide track 12 where is may leave the guide track 12.

The first end position and the second end position are separated from each other by a distance in a direction transverse to the insertion direction I. Further, the insertion section 20 and the return section 24 are separated from each other by a distance in the direction transverse to the insertion direction I.

In another embodiment, the cuvette holder 1 and the apparatus in which the cuvette holder 1 is inserted may be arranged such that the guide element 31 follows the same sections of the guide track 12 during both the insertion and the extraction. In the illustrated embodiment, this would correspond to that the guide element 31 travels from the inserted position, when positioned in the locking section 22, along the first transition section 22 into the first end position and from there along the insertion section 20, in the extraction direction E to the entrance of the guide track 12 where the guide element 31 9 538 371 may exit the guide track 12. Thus, in such an embodiment, the second transition section 23 and the return section 24 would not be necessary.

Returning to the illustrated embodiment, the insertion section 20 and the return section 24 form a single track in the vicinity of the opening forming the entrance/exit to the guide track 12. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, an island 25 is formed by the shape of the guide track 12. By that the insertion section 20 and the return section 24 form a single track, the guide element 31 is suitable positioned for the next entry when exiting the guide track 12, and must therefore not be repositioned before the next time the cuvette holder 1 is inserted.

How the insertion and extraction of the cuvette holder 1 into the housing may be executed is exemplified by the following steps: positioning a cuvette in the cuvette receiving portion 10 of the cuvette holder 1 when arranged in the extracted position; inserting the cuvette holder 1 into the housing 3 by pushing, i.e. applying an insertion force on, the cuvette holder 1 along the insertion direction I; and releasing the insertion force when reaching the first end position of the insertion, i.e. when the cuvette holder 1 cannot be pushed any further into the housing.

The cuvette will now be located within the housing in the correct position for analysis. By an applied extraction force on the cuvette holder in the vicinity of the locking section 22, the cuvette holder 1 will be pushed slightly backwards into the inserted position, when releasing the insertion force.

When the required measurement has been performed, the cuvette holder may be extracted according to the following: pushing, i.e. applying an insertion force on, the cuvette holder 1 along the insertion direction I; and releasing the insertion force when reaching the second end position of the insertion, i.e. when the cuvette holder 1 cannot be inserted any further into the housing. 538 371 The cuvette holder 1 will thereby extract from the housing 3 of the analysis apparatus. The extraction is for example achieved by an elastic element applying an extraction force on the cuvette holder 1.

Several advantages are achieved by a cuvette holder according to the 5 present invention.

Firstly, the guide track 12 is arranged to lock the guide element 31 in the same position every time the cuvette holder 1 is inserted into the housing 3. The locking position is formed by a non-complex mechanics which renders the locking mechanism robust and the precision reproducible. For analysis systems as the one discussed here, it is very important that the locking position is fixed in view of the area of interest be analyzed. In the system discussed here, the area of interest is the area of the cuvette in which the blood sample is located.

This area is located at a measurement area 28, formed by a through hole, in the cuvette receiving portion 10. By the form of the cuvette receiving portion 10, the portion of interest, i.e. where the blood sample is located, of the cuvette will be positioned in the measurement area 28. When the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in the inserted position, the measurement area 28 must be located in a specific position in relation of the housing 3 of the analysis apparatus in order for the apparatus to obtain reliable measurements. For example, for analysis methods based on light absorption measurements, the measurement area 28 must be located in the correct position in view of the light source in the analysis apparatus, in order for the emitted light to travel through the blood sample area located in the measurement area 28.

Dislocations of as small as tenths of millimeters may influence the measurement and thus the accuracy of the analysis result of the blood sample.

By that the locking mechanism of the cuvette holder 1 provides a robust and reproducible locking at a certain position in relation to the housing 3, good measurement accuracy may be achieved. The positioning of the measurement area 28 is defined by the predetermined distance between the locking section 22 and the measurement area 28. The predetermined distance is a well-defined distance which remains the same for every 11 538 371 measurement, i.e. for every insertion of the cuvette holder 1 in the housing 3. The distance does not depend on any mechanical movement in the cuvette holder 1. Thus, the cuvette holder 1 provides reliable measurements which may be repeated.

Secondly, by that the guide track 12 is located on the cuvette holder 1 and adapted to interact with the guide element 31 located inside the housing 3, cleaning of the cuvette holder 1 is facilitated. The cuvette holder 1 may easily be removed from the housing 3 and may be easily cleaned. The cuvette holder 1 is a robust one-piece-device with no moving parts which need to be cared for during cleaning. Moreover, the cuvette holder 1 needs no disassembling or reassembling during for example cleaning.

Returning to figure 1, the cuvette holder 1 further comprises a guiding portion which in this embodiment is formed by a groove 13 extending along two of the minor surfaces of the flat-shaped cuvette holder. Each of the grooves 13 is adapted to receive and guide a wheel when inserted into and moved within the apparatus housing 3. Thus, the movement of the cuvette holder 1 in view of the housing is stabilized.

The cuvette holder 1 further comprises a stopping portion, which in this embodiment is formed by a disruption 11 in the groove 13. The disruption 11 forms an obstruction for the wheel travelling in the groove 13. Preferably the wheel is resiliently arranged such that the wheel may pass the disruption 11. However, the passing required an increase in extraction force. Thus, the disruption 11 helps to prevent accidental removal of the cuvette holder from the apparatus housing.

The cuvette holder 1 further comprises a blank measurement area 29 formed by a through hole in the cuvette holder 1. The blank measurement area 29 is arranged such that its position is within the housing when the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in the extracted position. In particular, the position of the blank measurement area 29 in relation to the housing 3 when the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in the extracted position is the same as the position of the measurement area 28 in relation to the housing 3 when the cuvette holder 1 is arranged in the inserted position. The blank measurement area 29 is used for performing an absorption measurement of the air 12 538 371 environment, a so called blank measurement. This background information may be taken into account when performing the absorption measurement on the blood sample.

By providing a blank measurement area 29, the cuvette holder 1 does not need to be removed from the housing 1 when performing the blank measurement. The cuvette holder 1 may thus stay in the extracted position, and the user may for example prepare and place the cuvette in the cuvette receiving portion 10 while the blank measurement is performed.

The form of the guide member 30 will now be discussed with reference to figures 5a and 5b. As disclosed above, the guide member 30 comprises a guide element 31. In this embodiment, the guide element 31 has the form of a guide pin.

When arranged in the housing 3, the guide element 3 is movable relative the housing 3 in a travel direction. In this embodiment, the guide member is arranged to rotate about a hub element 50 of the guide member 30. The hub element 50 is arranged to be pivotable relative to the housing 3 about a pivot axis at least having a component being transverse to the insertion direction. The guide element 31 of the guide member 30 is fixedly positioned relative to the guide member 30 at a distance from the pivot axis, whereby the guide element 31 is movable relative to the housing 3 in the travel direction at least having a component being transverse to the insertion direction I, for being able to follow the guide track 12 which extends in the insertion direction and in a direction being transverse to the insertion direction.

Thus, the guide element 31 is movable along a circle shaped direction 25 which forms the travel direction.

When arranged in the housing 3, the guide element 31 extends in an extension direction at least having a component being transverse to the insertion direction I and to the travel direction. The guide element 31 is thereby arranged to interact with the guide track 12 when the cuvette holder 1 is inserted into the housing 3.

In other embodiments the interaction between the guide element and the guide track may be achieved by other constructions of the guide track and/or the guide element. For example, the guide member may comprise a plate on 13 538 371 which a guide element in the form of a guide pin is provided. The housing may be provided with an oblong opening extending at least in a direction being transverse to the insertion direction I. The guide element is arranged through the oblong opening and the plate helps the guide member to stay in the opening. In other words, the guide member may be regarded to have a fungus form, where the foot of the fungus is inserted into and may travel along the oblong opening while interacting with the guide track. The construction of the guide member may be altered in many other ways as understood by the skilled person and also as can be achieved by the same.

Returning to figures 3 and 4, a torsion spring 32 is arranged to interact with the guide member 30. The torsion spring 32 is arranged to interact with the guide member 30 by acting on a projection 51 of the guide member 30 as illustrated in figure 5b. The purpose of the torsion spring 32 is to facilitate the guiding of the guiding element 31 into the locking portion 22 of the guide track 12. A further purpose is to counteract that the guiding element 31 is guided backwards along the insertion section 20, instead of along the first transition section 21, when released from the first end position. To this end, the guide track 12 comprises a bulging section 200 forming a sub-section of the insertion section 20. When passing the bulging section 200, the guide element 31 is dislocated in a direction transverse to the insertion direction. The torsion spring 32 and the projection 51 are positioned such that, when the guide element 31 is dislocated in this manner, the torsion spring 32 applies a counteracting force on the projection 51 such that the guide element 31 is urged in the direction transverse to the insertion direction and towards the locking section 22. The guide element 31 will thus leave the bulging section 200 influenced by a force urging it towards the locking section 22. Thus, the guide element 31 will be led towards the locking section 22 and not go backwards in the insertion section 20 or get stuck on the tip which is formed between the valley forming the locking section 22 and the insertion section 20.

The analysis apparatus further comprises a sliding carriage 60, which is illustrated in figure 6. The sliding carriage 60 is arranged to be movable along the insertion direction I and along the extraction direction E. When the cuvette 14 538 371 holder 1 is connected to the housing and arranged in the extracted position, it connects to the sliding carriage 60. When the cuvette holder 1 is moved from the extracted position to the inserted position, the cuvette holder 1 pushes the sliding carriage 60 forward into the housing 3 in the insertion direction I. The sliding carriage 60 functions as a protection for the cavity of the housing in which the cuvette holder 1 is inserted into. By the sliding carriage 60, the depth of the cavity is limited by the sliding carriage 60. This feature may facilitate the cleaning of the cavity, and may protect the inside of the apparatus.

In order to stabilize the position of the cuvette holder 1, especially when arranged in the extracted position, the sliding carriage comprises a magnet 61. The magnet 611s arranged to interact with a magnet 71 of the cuvette holder 1, as illustrated in figure 7. Figure 7 is a view of the front of the cuvette holder 1. By front is of the cuvette holder 1 is meant the portion of the cuvette holder 1 which is intended to be arranged to face the opening of the housing 3 when the cuvette holder 1 is to be inserted. By that the magnet 71 and magnet 61 connects to each other, the position of the cuvette holder 1 is stabilized. Also, the control of the blank measurement through the blank measurement area 29 may be increased.

The sliding carriage 60 further comprises stabilizing projections 62. The stabilizing projections 62 are arranged to interact with recesses 72 in a similar way as for the magnets 61 and 71. Thus, the position of the cuvette holder 1 is further stabilized.

The sliding carriage 60 further comprises an elastic element in the form of a spring element 63. The spring element 63 is arranged to apply an extraction force in the extraction direction. Thus, when the cuvette holder 1 is moved from the extracted position to the inserted position, the sliding carriage 60 applies an extraction force, by means of the spring element 63, on the cuvette holder 1. When the cuvette holder 1 is moved from a removed position to the extracted position, the cuvette holder 1 is not in contact with the sliding carriage 60 such that it is affected by the extraction force of the elastic element 63. 538 371 The extraction force of the elastic element 63 facilitate the positioning of the guide element 31 in the locking section 22, by that the sliding carriage 60, and thus cuvette holder 1, is biased in the extraction direction when the guide element 31 is in the vicinity of the locking section 22 of the guide track 12.

The spring element 63 is in this embodiment a plate spring, but may in other embodiment comprise other types of springs.

The sliding carriage 60 is arranged to be locked in the extracted position when the cuvette holder 1 is removed from the housing 3. The sliding carriage 60, and in particular the spring element 63, is designed such that the locking of the sliding carriage 60 is released when a release element 27, as illustrated in figures 1 and 7, is inserted into a release opening 64 of the sliding carriage 60. The release is further, or alternatively, enabled by means of locking elements 65 which are provided as parts of the spring element 63. When the locking elements 65 are pressed down, the spring element 63 is released.

The bottom side of the sliding carriage 60 is arranged to press down the locking elements 65 when being inserted into the housing, and thus releasing the spring element 63. By that the sliding carriage 60 is lockable and releasable, accidental movement of the sliding carriage 60 is counteracted.

It is understood that the above disclosed embodiments may be combined or altered within the scope of the claims. For example, many different forms of e.g. the guide member and the guide track are possible within the scope of the claims for achieving the invention. 16

Claims

538 371 Claims

1. A cuvette holder adapted to be removably and at least partly insertable, along an insertion direction, into a housing (3) of an analysis apparatus, the cuvette holder being movable between an extracted position and an inserted position, the cuvette holder comprising: a cuvette receiving portion (10) for receiving a cuvette when the cuvette holder is positioned in the extracted position; a guiding portion (13) adapted to interact with said housing such that the cuvette holder is adapted to be removably and at least partly insertable, along said insertion direction, into said housing (3); a locking portion, adapted to interact with a guide element (31) of said housing (3), for locking the cuvette holder in the inserted position; the locking portion comprising a guide track (12) adapted to interact with said guide element (31) of said housing (3); the guide track (12) comprising: an insertion section (20) allowing the cuvette holder to be inserted into said housing (3) along the insertion direction (I) past the inserted position to a first end position; a first transition section (21) allowing the cuvette holder to be moved in an extraction direction (E), opposite the insertion direction (I), from the first end position to the inserted position; and a locking section (22) adapted to interact with said guide element (31) of said housing (3) to lock the cuvette holder in the inserted position.

2. The cuvette holder according to claim 1, wherein the guide track (1 2) is provided with an opening towards one end of the cuvette holder for receiving said guide element (31), into the insertion section (20) of the guide track (12), when said end of the cuvette holder is inserted into said housing (3).

3. The cuvette holder according to claim 1 or 2, the guide track (12) further comprising: 17 538 371 a second transition (23) section allowing the cuvette holder to be moved in the insertion direction (I) from the inserted position to a second end position; and a return section (24) allowing the cuvette holder to be moved in the extraction direction (E) from the second end position to the extracted position.

4. The Guyette holder according to claim 3, wherein the first end position and the second end position are separated from each other by a distance in a direction transverse to the insertion direction (I).

5. The cuvette holder according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the insertion section (20) and the return section (24) are, in the vicinity of the locking section (22), separated from each other by a distance in a direction transverse to the insertion direction (I).

6. The cuvette holder according to claim 2 and any of claims 3-5, wherein the insertion section (20) and the return section (24), in the vicinity of the opening, form a single track.

7. The cuvette holder according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the cuvette holder is flat, wherein the guide track (12) extends along a major surface of the flat cuvette holder.

8. The cuvette holder according to any of claims 1-7, the cuvette holder being provided with a through hole (29) in a portion arranged to be located within the housing (3) when the cuvette holder is arranged in the extracted position.

9. The cuvette holder according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the cuvette receiving portion is provided with a through hole (28) arranged to be located within the housing (3) when the cuvette holder is arranged in the inserted position.

10. The cuvette holder according to any of claims 1-9, further comprising a stopping portion (11) for preventing accidental removal of the cuvette 18 538 371 holder from said housing (3) when the cuvette holder is arranged in the extracted position.

11. An analysis apparatus system comprising: a housing (3) comprising a guide element (31); and a cuvette holder (1) according to any of claims 1-10; wherein the guide element (31) is movable relative to the housing (3) in a travel direction at least having a component being transverse to the insertion direction (I); wherein the guide element (31) extends in an extension direction (E) at least having a component being transverse to the insertion direction (I) and to the travel direction, allowing the guide element (31) to interact with the guide track (12) when the cuvette holder (1) is inserted into the housing (3); and wherein the housing (3) comprises a sliding carriage (60) being movable along the insertion direction (I) and the extraction direction (E), said sliding carriage (60) being adapted to apply an extraction force acting in the extraction direction and on the cuvette holder (1), whereby the sliding carriage (60) is biased in the extraction direction (E) at least as long as the cuvette holder (1) is inserted into the housing (3) such that the guide element (31) is in the vicinity of the locking section (22) of the guide track (12).

12. The analysis apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the housing (3) comprises an elastic element (63), such as a spring element, adapted to achieve the extraction force.

13. The analysis apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the elastic element (63) is adapted to apply the extraction force while the cuvette holder (1) moves between the inserted position and the extracted position. 19 538 371 I foljande bilaga finns en oversattning av patentkraven till svenska. Observera att det r patentkravens lydelse pa engelska som gaiter. A Swedish translation of the patent claims is enclosed. Please note that only the English claims have legal effect.