SAMPLE CONTAINER AND SYSTEM FOR A HANDHELD SPECTROMETER AND METHOD FOR USING THEREFOR
First Claim
1. A device for holding a sample, comprising:
- an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;
a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, a bottom of the plunger, and said optical window;
said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container; and
said optical window adapted to allow a first plurality of photons to pass therethrough into said first volume and to allow a second plurality of photons to pass therethrough out of said first volume.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A container for holding a sample and a system and method for a handheld spectrometer using the container is disclosed. In one embodiment, the container includes a vial with an optical window at the base of the vial. A sample may be placed in the vial. A hollow plunger may be slidably inserted into the vial which seals the gap between the plunger and the walls of the vial. The plunger includes a filter element. When the plunger is inserted into the vial, the sample is forced against the optical window and the filter element vents liquid and/or gas that is in the vial into the hollow plunger. A portable or handheld system for detecting, for example, biothreat agents makes use of the container in order to determine a spectrum of the sample. The optical window of the container is preferably substantially transparent to photons illuminating the sample and to photons produced due to the interaction of the illuminating photons and the sample.
80 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A device for holding a sample, comprising:
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an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;
a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, a bottom of the plunger, and said optical window;
said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container; and
said optical window adapted to allow a first plurality of photons to pass therethrough into said first volume and to allow a second plurality of photons to pass therethrough out of said first volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for obtaining a spectrum of a sample, comprising:
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a photon source for providing a first plurality of photons;
a device for holding said sample, said device comprising;
an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;
a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, said plunger, and said optical window;
said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container; and
said optical window adapted to allow said first plurality of photons to pass therethrough into said first volume and to allow a second plurality of photons to pass therethrough out of said first volume;
a first optical lens for collecting said second plurality of photons;
a filter for blocking a portion of said first plurality of photons present in an optical path with said second plurality of photons;
a second optical lens for directing said second photons into a fiber optic array; and
said fiber optic array for directing said second photons to a photon detector to thereby obtain a spectrum of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A system for obtaining a spectrum of a sample, comprising:
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a photon source for providing a first plurality of photons;
a beam expander for providing a second plurality of photons;
a dichroic mirror for filtering said first and second plurality of photons;
a device for holding said sample, said device comprising;
an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;
a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, said plunger, and said optical window;
said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container; and
said optical window adapted to allow said first plurality of photons to pass therethrough into said first volume and to allow said second plurality of photons to pass therethrough out of said first volume;
a first optical lens for collecting said second plurality of photons;
a filter for blocking a portion of said first plurality of photons present in an optical path with said second plurality of photons;
a second optical lens for directing said second photons into a fiber optic array;
said fiber optic array for directing said second photons to a photon detector to thereby obtain a spectrum of said sample, wherein optical fibers comprising the fiber optic array are arranged in a two-dimensional array at a first end and a one-dimensional array at a second end of the fiber optic array, and wherein said first end accepts said second plurality of photons from said second optical lens and said second end directs said second plurality of photons to said photon detector;
a memory device for storing a spectrum of a biothreat agent;
a microprocessor for comparing an output signal from said photon detector with the stored spectrum in said memory device;
a display unit for displaying information based on said comparison; and
a device for accepting input from a user.
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40. A method for obtaining a spectrum of a sample, comprising:
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(a) illuminating said sample with a first plurality of photons;
(b) holding said sample using a device comprising;
(i) an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;
(ii) a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, said plunger, and said optical window;
(iii) said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container; and
(iv) said optical window adapted to allow said first plurality of photons to pass therethrough into said first volume and to allow a second plurality of photons to pass therethrough out of said first volume;
(c) collecting said second plurality of photons;
(d) blocking a portion of said first plurality of photons present in an optical path with said second plurality of photons; and
(e) directing said second plurality of photons to a photon detector to thereby obtain a spectrum of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A device comprising:
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an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;
a plunger configured to fit into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine a sample in a volume bounded by said hollow container, a bottom of the plunger, and said optical window, and also to allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container to be substantially transferred out of said hollow container when said plunger slides into said hollow container; and
said optical window adapted to allow a first plurality of photons to pass therethrough into said volume and to allow a second plurality of photons to pass therethrough out of said volume. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification