Refractive index probe apparatus and system

• US 20040190812A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (Smithkline Beecham PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation (Smithkline Beecham PLC)
• Inventors: Partridge, John Joseph, Walker, Dwight Sherod, Barger, Lee Allen
• Application Number:
  US10/490,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/431 Dip refractometers, e.g. using optical fibres

Abstract

A refractive index device (10) comprising a probe member (16) having a sensing region (24) and a length of optic fiber (40) having a refract region (44) and a reflecting surface (48) disposed proximate the distal end adapted to substantially redirect said light transmitted through the fiber, the fiber being substantially disposed in the probe member wherein the refract region (44) is disposed proximate the sensing region (24).

Claims

1. A refractive index device, comprising:

a probe member, said probe member having a sensing region; and

a length of optic fiber adapted to transmit light through said optic fiber, said optic fiber having first and second ends, said optic fiber including a refract region disposed between said first and second ends of said optic fiber and a reflecting surface disposed proximate said second end, said reflecting surface being adapted to substantially redirect said light transmitted in a first direction through said optic fiber in a second direction through said optic fiber,

said optic fiber being substantially disposed in said probe member whereby said refract region is proximate said sensing region.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a first portion of said light is transmitted through said refract region when said light is transmitted through said optic fiber in said first direction and a second portion of said light is transmitted through said refract region when said light is transmitted through said optic fiber in said second direction.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of said refract region is in the range of approximately 0.1-5.0 cm.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the width of said refract region is in the range of approximately 0.01-0.1 cm.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said probe member has a sensitivity level of at least approximately ±

0.005.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said probe member is constructed of polyetheretherketone (PEEK™

).

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said probe member includes a connector adapted to receive said optic fiber.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said reflecting surface comprises a mirror.

9. A refractive index device, comprising:

a length of optic fiber adapted to transmit light through said optic fiber, said optic fiber having first and second ends, said optic fiber including a refract region disposed between said first and second ends of said optic fiber and a reflecting surface disposed proximate said second end, said reflecting surface being adapted to substantially redirect said light transmitted in a first direction through said optic fiber in a second direction through said optic fiber;

a probe connector adapted to receive said optic fiber; and

a probe extension having a sensing region, said optic fiber being substantially disposed in said probe extension whereby said refract region is proximate said sensing region.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein a first portion of said light is transmitted through said refract region when said light is transmitted through said optic fiber in said first direction and a second portion of said light is transmitted through said refract region when said light is transmitted through said optic fiber in said second direction.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the maximum length of said sensing region is in the range of approximately 0.1-5.0 cm.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the maximum length of said sensing region is in the range of approximately 1.0-2.0 cm.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the maximum width of said sensing region is in the range of approximately 0.01-0.1 cm.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said probe extension has a cross-section less than approximately 1 cm².

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the sensitivity level of said refractive index is in the range of approximately ±

0.005.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein said probe member is constructed of polyetheretherketone (PEEK™

).

17. The device of claim 9, wherein said reflecting surface comprises a mirror.

18. A refractive index probe system, comprising:

a light source;

a probe member, said probe member including a sensing region;

a length of optic fiber having first and second ends adapted to transmit light from said light source through said optic fiber, said optic fiber including a refract region disposed between said first and second ends of said optic fiber and a reflecting surface disposed proximate said second end, said reflecting surface being adapted to substantially redirect said light transmitted in a first direction through said optic fiber in a second direction through said optic fiber, said optic fiber being substantially disposed in said probe member wherein said refract region is disposed proximate said sensing region; and

a detector in communication with said optic fiber for detecting the amount of light transmitted in said second direction through said optic fiber.

19. The probe system of claim 18, wherein a first portion of said light is transmitted through said refract region when said light is transmitted through said optic fiber in said first direction and a second portion of said light is transmitted through said refract region when said light is transmitted through said optic fiber in said second direction.

20. The probe system of claim 18, wherein the maximum length of said sensing region is in the range of approximately 1.0-2.0 cm.

21. The probe system of claim 18, wherein the maximum width of said sensing region is in the range of approximately 0.01-0.1 cm.

22. The probe system of claim 18, wherein said refractive index probe system has a sensitivity level in the range of approximately ±

0.005.

23. A method of detecting the refractive index of a medium, comprising the steps of:

placing a probe member in said medium, said probe member having a sensing region and a length of optic fiber having first and second ends substantially disposed in said probe member, said optic fiber including a refract region disposed between said first and second ends and a reflecting surface disposed proximate said second end, said refract region being disposed proximate said sensing region;

transmitting light into said first end of said optic fiber and through said optic fiber in a first direction wherein a first portion of said light is transmitted through said sensing region into and through said medium;

redirecting said light with said reflecting surface through said optic fiber in a second direction wherein a second portion of said light is transmitted through said sensing region into and through said medium;

detecting the intensity of the light received at said first end of said optic fiber; and

determining the refractive index of the medium using said detected light intensity.