Patent Application
20190064241
Capped containers, such as tubes, vials, bottles and cups, are often used to collect, store, and transport fluids and other materials. These materials may include biological and other specimens which may be sensitive to electromagnetic radiation from visible, UV and other wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. This sensitivity may result in the specimen degrading or otherwise chemically altering within the container upon being exposed to light of certain frequencies.
Thermochromic containers are known which change color when at a certain temperature. Such containers have been used as temperature indicators of the fluid within the container.
The present technology relates to a thermochromic container which is transparent at a first temperature range, such as for example at room or skin temperature, but opaque to predefined wavelengths of light at a second temperature range. In one example, the thermochromic container is transparent at skin temperature so that the container may be transparent when in use by a technician adding or subtracting a fluid from the thermochromic container. Thus, the technician may view the contents of the container as well as how much is in the container. When the technician finishes handling the container, the container may change color and turn opaque to prevent light of predefined wavelengths from passing through the container to the contents within.
In embodiments, the present technology relates to container for holding a fluid, the container comprising: a wall comprising a thermochromic material transmitting a wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive when the container is at a first temperature, and the thermochromic material blocking the wavelength of light when the container is at a second temperature.
In further embodiments, the present technology relates to a container for holding a fluid, the container comprising: a wall comprising a thermochromic material configured to allow visual inspection of the fluid within the container when the container is at a first temperature, and configured to block a wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive when the container is at a second temperature.
In another embodiment, the present technology relates to a container for holding a fluid, the container comprising: a wall comprising a thermochromic material configured to transmit a predefined wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive to allow visual inspection of the fluid within the container when the container is manipulated in a human hand to bring the container to a first temperature by manipulation of the container in a human hand, and the thermochromic material configured to block the wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive when the container is not at the first temperature.
In a further embodiment, the present technology relates to a method of working with a fluid within a container in a laboratory, the fluid sensitive to a wavelength of light, the method comprising the steps of: (a) controlling a temperature of the container to bring the container to a first temperature at which a thermochromic material of the container is clear; (b) visually inspecting the fluid and/or an amount of fluid within the container while the container is controlled to be at the first temperature; and (c) controlling a temperature of the container to bring the container to a second temperature at which the thermochromic material of the container is opaque to the wavelength of light to which the fluid is sensitive.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the Background.
The present technology, roughly described, relates to a container for holding a fluid sensitive to certain wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. The container may be formed of a thermochromic material or including a thermochromic coating. The properties of the thermochromic material or coating may be selected so as to be transparent to light of the wavelengths to which the fluid is sensitive at a first temperature, and to be opaque to those wavelengths of light at a second temperature. In one embodiment, the first temperature may be the temperature of human skin. Thus, while a technician is handling the container, the container is transparent. In this condition, the technician can easily examine the contents of the container, such as for example viewing properties of the fluid in the container and how much of the fluid is in the container. When the technician is finished handling the container, it may turn a color so as to be opaque or otherwise block wavelengths of light known to be harmful to the contents of the container.
In a further embodiment, the thermochromic material may be chosen so as to be transparent at room temperature (or other temperature of a room in which a technician is working with the container). Thus, while the technician is working in the room with the container, the container is transparent. When the technician is finished with the container, the technician may move the container to second location (colder or warmer than the first location) where the container may turn a color so as to be opaque or otherwise block wavelengths of light known to be harmful to the contents of the container.
It is understood that the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the invention to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents of these embodiments, which are included within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details.
The terms “top” and “bottom,” “upper” and “lower” and “vertical” and “horizontal” as may be used herein are by way of example and illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to limit the description of the invention inasmuch as the referenced item can be exchanged in position and orientation. Also, as used herein, the terms “substantially” and/or “about” mean that the specified dimension or parameter may be varied within an acceptable manufacturing tolerance for a given application. In one embodiment, the acceptable manufacturing tolerance is ±0.25%.
Container 100 may be used to collect, store and/or transport fluids and other materials.
In accordance with aspects of the present technology, container 100 may include thermochromic material which changes color at different temperatures. In one example, the walls forming the container 100 may be formed of thermochromic material, such as for example plastic or glass laced with thermochromic ink or other compound. In a further embodiment, a thermochromic ink or other compound may be applied as a film onto the walls of the container 100. Thermochromic inks and compounds are known, but in general, may for example include thermochromatic liquid crystals (TLCs) and leuco dyes. Leuco dye inks may be preferably given their durable chemistry, but either TLCs or leuco dyes may be used.
The properties of the thermochromic material in container 100 may be selected so as to be transparent or translucent at a first temperature or temperature range, and to be opaque at a second temperature or temperature range. In one embodiment, the first temperature (at which the container 100 is transparent or translucent) may be human skin temperature at about 37° C. (plus or minus a few degrees). The second temperature may be room temperature (about 23° C. plus or minus a few degrees), or temperatures in general other than the first temperature.
In such an example, manipulation of the container 100 by a technician will bring the container 100 (at least those parts handled by the technician) to skin temperature, thus making those parts of the container 100 transparent or translucent. In this state, the technician can add or remove fluid from the container 100, and visually examine the fluid 110 within the container 100 to inspect its visible properties and how much is in the container. Once the technician is done, he or she releases the container 100, at which point the container moves toward the second temperature. Once at the second temperature, the container changes color, for example to brown or some other color, as shown for example in
The first and second temperatures set forth above are by way of example only, and may be varied in further embodiments. For example, in one further embodiment, the first temperature at which container 100 may be transparent or translucent may be room temperature, plus or minus a few degrees. And the second temperature may cooler or warmer than room temperature by at least a few degrees. In such an embodiment, the technician can add or remove fluid 110 from the container 100, and visually examine the fluid 110 and how much is in the container 100 while working at room temperature. Thereafter, the container 100 may be stored or transported at a temperature other than room temperature. Once at the second temperature other than room temperature, the container 100 will change color so as to be opaque, blocking some or all wavelengths of light from reaching the fluid 110 within the container 100, and thus preserving the integrity of the fluid 110. It is understood that the first and second temperatures at which the container 100 is transparent/translucent and opaque, respectively may vary beyond those temperatures described above.
The thermochromic material used in container 100 may be such that it can repeatably switch between transparent/translucent and opaque upon cycling between the first and second temperatures. Thus, a technician may quickly, easily and repeatably change the color of container 100 from opaque to transparent or translucent whenever the technician wishes to inspect or work with the fluid 110 within the container 100.
Different fluids may be sensitive to different wavelengths of light. As such, container 100 may be customized with a thermochromic material of a particular composition so as to be opaque to a certain wavelength or wavelengths of light to which the fluids to be used within the container 100 are sensitive. For example, where a particular fluid 110 to be used within container 100 is sensitive to light in the visible spectrum, a thermochromic material may be selected which is opaque (at the second temperature) to visible light. On the other hand, where a particular fluid 110 to be used within container 100 is sensitive for example to UV light, the thermochromic material may be selected which is opaque (at the second temperature) to UV light. Thus, different containers 100 can be designed to work with different fluids 110.
A container 100 may be “tuned” to block a predefined wavelength or predefined wavelengths of light in a known manner when opaque at the second temperature. Similarly, different containers 100 may be tuned to block different wavelengths in a known manner when opaque at the second temperature. In one example, a container 100 may be formed with a thermochromic material, and then tested to see which wavelengths of light are blocked when the container 100 is opaque. In further embodiments, the container 100 may be formed with a thermochromic material which is known to block certain wavelengths of light when opaque. Thus, when a fluid 110 to be used within container 100 is known to be sensitive to certain wavelengths of light, a technician may choose a container 100 which is known to block those wavelengths of light when opaque.
In an embodiment where the container 100 is opaque to UV light, the container 100 may allow light in the visible spectrum to pass through. Thus, the container 100 may be opaque to certain wavelengths while still being transparent. In general, the container will transmit one or more selected wavelengths light (to which a fluid is sensitive) at the first temperature, and block those one or more selected wavelengths of light at the second temperature.
In the embodiment shown in
In embodiments, the container 100 may change from clear to opaque, or opaque to clear, in a relatively short period of time. For example, where the container 100 turns clear upon being manipulated in the hand of technician, the container 100 may turn from opaque to clear in 3-4 seconds. Once no longer handled by the technician, the container may turn back from clear to opaque in 3-4 seconds. This length of time to change from one state to the other is a way of example only, and it may be shorter than 3 seconds and longer than 4 seconds in further embodiments.
In embodiments described above, when opaque, the thermochromic container 100 may block all of a selected wavelength of light from penetrating into container 100. In further embodiments, when opaque, the thermochromic container 100 may not block all, but may reduce the amount of the selected wavelength of light that penetrates into the container 100.
The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.
