FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A fluorescence analysis apparatus, comprising:
- i) a light source for producing exciting light,ii) a sensor section for propagating the exciting light through the interior of the sensor section to radiate out the thus propagated exciting light from an outside surface of the sensor section, such that the exciting light having thus been radiated out may excite a fluorescent substance for indicating the presence of a substance to be analyzed in a liquid sample;
iii) a photodetector for detecting the fluorescence, which has been produced by the fluorescent substance when the fluorescent substance is excited by the exciting light;
iv) sensor section actuating means for dipping the sensor section in the liquid sample, and thereafter moving the sensor section into a predetermined atmosphere, which is substantially free from occurrence of absorption or scattering of the exciting light and the fluorescence;
v) control means for actuating the light source and the photodetector in a state, in which the sensor section has been located in the predetermined atmosphere, and thereby causing a fluorescence detecting operation to be performed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
After a sensor section has been dipped in a liquid sample, the sensor section is moved into a predetermined atmosphere, which is substantially free from occurrence of absorption or scattering of exciting light and fluorescence. In the state, in which the sensor section has been located in the predetermined atmosphere, exciting light is produced by a light source and is propagated through the interior of the sensor section. The exciting light is radiated out from an outside surface of the sensor section in order to excite a fluorescent substance for indicating the presence of a substance to be analyzed in the liquid sample. Fluorescence, which is produced by the fluorescent substance when the fluorescent substance is excited by the exciting light, is detected by a photodetector.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A fluorescence analysis apparatus, comprising:
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i) a light source for producing exciting light, ii) a sensor section for propagating the exciting light through the interior of the sensor section to radiate out the thus propagated exciting light from an outside surface of the sensor section, such that the exciting light having thus been radiated out may excite a fluorescent substance for indicating the presence of a substance to be analyzed in a liquid sample; iii) a photodetector for detecting the fluorescence, which has been produced by the fluorescent substance when the fluorescent substance is excited by the exciting light; iv) sensor section actuating means for dipping the sensor section in the liquid sample, and thereafter moving the sensor section into a predetermined atmosphere, which is substantially free from occurrence of absorption or scattering of the exciting light and the fluorescence; v) control means for actuating the light source and the photodetector in a state, in which the sensor section has been located in the predetermined atmosphere, and thereby causing a fluorescence detecting operation to be performed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fluorescence analysis apparatus, comprising:
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i) a light source for producing exciting light, ii) a sensor section for propagating the exciting light, which has entered into the sensor section from one end of the sensor section, through the interior of the sensor section to radiate out an evanescent wave from the other end of the sensor section, such that the exciting light may excite a fluorescent substance for indicating the presence of a substance to be analyzed in a liquid sample, in which the other end of the sensor section is dipped; iii) a photodetector for detecting the fluorescence, which has been produced by the fluorescent substance when the fluorescent substance is excited by the exciting light; iv) an approximately cylindrical sensor section main body; and v) a tubular cover section for surrounding the sensor section main body, such that space may intervene between the cover section and an outside peripheral surface of the sensor section main body, which outside peripheral surface is adjacent at least to the other end of the sensor section, the cover section being provided with a blocking section for blocking the space, which intervenes between the cover section and the outside peripheral surface of the sensor section main body, at an end of the cover section, which end is located on the side of the other end of the sensor section. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification