Background corrector for spectrochemical analyses of biological samples
First Claim
1. In an emission spectrometer arrangement for determining the amount of one or more trace substances of interest in a biological sample and having means providing dynamic background correction with each wavelength of interest of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, the improvement comprising first means receiving a collected electromagnetic radiation emission beam derived from the sample for determining the intensity of said beam over at least one preselected range of the electromagnetic spectrum, said first means including a rotatable refractor plate which is mounted off-axis with respect to the beam whereby the plate will move into and out of the path of the beam while rotating at a constant angular velocity, said first means receiving said beam during the period the plate is in and out of the path of the beam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a novel spectral background corrector system which, by employing light refracting techniques, causes wavelength scanning or modulation which allows substantial elimination of spectral background.
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Citations
7 Claims
- 1. In an emission spectrometer arrangement for determining the amount of one or more trace substances of interest in a biological sample and having means providing dynamic background correction with each wavelength of interest of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, the improvement comprising first means receiving a collected electromagnetic radiation emission beam derived from the sample for determining the intensity of said beam over at least one preselected range of the electromagnetic spectrum, said first means including a rotatable refractor plate which is mounted off-axis with respect to the beam whereby the plate will move into and out of the path of the beam while rotating at a constant angular velocity, said first means receiving said beam during the period the plate is in and out of the path of the beam.
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5. In a process for correcting spectral background encountered when conducting a spectral analysis of a sample, such as biological sample, for trace amounts of certain substances, such as a toxic metals, the steps comprising:
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(a) introducing the sample suitably prepared into a spectrochemical emission electromagnetic radiation generating arrangement; (b) collecting at least some of the generated radiation by an optical system; (c) directing the collected radiation beam through a rotating refracting means which is off-axis with respect to the path of the beam whereby the rotating refracting means will move in and out of the path of said beam; (d) analyzing the output of said refracting means with an emission spectrometer arrangement to provide a plurality of outputs in electrical signal form, each representative of a particular trace substance of interest contained in the sample; (e) further analyzing the collected radiation beam when the refracting means is out of the path of said beam with said emission spectrometer arrangement; and (f) processing said electrical signals in synchronism with said refracting means to determine the amount of each of said trace substances of interest. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification