Devices, methods, and systems for measuring an optical property of a sample

• US 20080028854A1
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Evans
• Original Assignee: Richard Evans
• Inventors: Evans, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/906,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/035 Supports for sample drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/022 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0224 Pivoting casing

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for measuring a property of a sample, such as an optical property. Embodiments of the subject invention include a device having sample measurement componentry and one or more enclosure-forming components, wherein one or more of the enclosure-forming components are movable, and wherein the device is configured so that one or more of the enclosure-forming components have a positional relationship that can change from an open position to a closed position in which one or more of the enclosure-forming components define an enclosed space accessible by the sample measurement componentry. Also provided are systems and kits.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

(a) optical componentry; and

(b) first and second enclosure-forming components,

wherein said first enclosure-forming component comprises a substantially planar sample receiving surface and said second enclosure-forming component is movable in an up and down direction with respect to said planar surface of said first enclosure-forming component,

wherein said device is configured so that said enclosure-forming components have a positional relationship that can change from an open position to a closed position in which said first enclosure-forming component and said second enclosure forming component define an enclosed space accessible by said optical componentry, and

wherein said first enclosure-forming component is in optical communication with said optical componentry when the device is in the closed position; and

(c) a third enclosure-forming component, wherein said third enclosure-forming component comprises a surface parallel to said sample-receiving surface and is capable of moving from said open position to said closed position when said sample-receiving surface extends beyond an edge of said parallel surface of said third enclosure-forming component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more enclosure-forming components comprise a first enclosure-forming component, a second enclosure-forming component and a third enclosure-forming component.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two of said first, second and third enclosure-forming components are moveable.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second enclosure-forming components comprise said optical componentry or are in communication with said optical componentry.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first enclosure-forming component comprises the sample-receiving surface.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said third enclosure-forming component is moveably attached to said second enclosure-forming component.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said second enclosure-forming component is moveable and movement of said second enclosure-forming component causes said first enclosure-forming component to move from said open position to said closed position.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said third enclosure-forming component is moveably attached to said first enclosure-forming component.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said sample-receiving surface is substantially flat.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a photometer, spectrophotometer, fluorimeter, or spectrofluorimeter.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said optical componentry comprises at least one of a light source, a light detector, and an optical waveguide.

26. The device of claim 1 wherein a component surface comprising a portion which contacts a sample comprises surface energy characteristics for securing or confining a-liquid sample within boundaries of the portion.

27. The device of claim 26;

wherein the sample-contacting portion is more hydrophilic than surrounding regions of the component surface that comprises the sample-contacting portion.

31. A method of measuring an optical property of a sample, said method comprising:

(a) positioning a sample on an sample-receiving surface of a device according to claim 1;

(b) changing said positional relationship of components of the device from said open position to said closed position; and

(c) measuring an optical property of said sample.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said changing comprises moving said enclosure-forming components.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the second enclosure-forming component comprises a surface substantially parallel to the sample-receiving surface.

6. A device comprising:

(a) optical componentry; and

(b) first and second enclosure-forming components,

wherein said first enclosure-forming component comprises a substantially planar sample receiving surface and said second enclosure-forming component is movable in an up and down direction with respect to said planar surface of said first enclosure-forming component,

wherein said device is configured so that said enclosure-forming components have a positional relationship that can change from an open position to a closed position in which said first enclosure-forming component and said second enclosure forming component define an enclosed space accessible by said optical componentry,

wherein said first enclosure-forming component is in optical communication with said optical componentry when the device is in the closed position, and

wherein one or more of said enclosure-forming components is a shield-forming component that shields the enclosed space from ambient light, wherein said shield-forming component is moveably attached to a component forming a sample-receiving surface, wherein an edge of said sample-receiving surface extends beyond an edge of a shield-forming component when the device is in the open position and an edge of the shield-forming component extends beyond the edge of the sample-receiving surface when the device is in the closed position.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said shield-forming component(s) is deformable.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said shield-forming component(s) are opaque.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said shield-forming component(s) are reflective.

15. The device of claim 6, wherein an enclosure-forming component for shielding the enclosed space from ambient light is movably attached to an enclosure-forming component comprising optical componentry.

16. The device of claim 6, wherein an enclosure-forming component for shielding the enclosed space from ambient light is movably attached to an enclosure-forming component comprising a surface parallel to the sample-receiving surface.

19. The device of claim 6, wherein at least one of said shield-forming components is attached to a component forming a sample-receiving surface.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said at least one shield-forming component is moveably attached to said component forming a sample-receiving surface.

13. (canceled)

21-25. -25. (canceled)

28-30. -30. (canceled)

34-43. -43. (canceled)