Fiber optic probe for light scattering measurements
First Claim
1. A probe for use in light scattering analyses of a sample, said probe for use with a source of light and a spectrophotometer, said probe comprising:
- a probe body having an interior, an interior surface, and means formed in said probe body for admitting said sample into said interior, said sample in said interior having a pressure;
means for controlling said pressure;
first light-transmitting means for transmitting exciting light from said source into said interior, a first portion of said exciting light interacting with said sample to produce Raman-scattered light, a remaining portion of said exciting light producing non-Raman-scattered light in said interior;
second light-transmitting means for transmitting light from said interior to said spectrophotometer; and
means for preventing a substantial portion of said non-Raman-scattered light from reaching said second light-transmitting means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic probe and a method for using the probe for light scattering analyses of a sample. The probe includes a probe body with an inlet for admitting a sample into an interior sample chamber, a first optical fiber for transmitting light from a source into the chamber, and a second optical fiber for transmitting light to a detector such as a spectrophotometer. The interior surface of the probe carries a coating that substantially prevents non-scattered light from reaching the second fiber. The probe is placed in a region where the presence and concentration of an analyte of interest are to be detected, and a sample is admitted into the chamber. Exciting light is transmitted into the sample chamber by the first fiber, where the light interacts with the sample to produce Raman-scattered light. At least some of the Raman-scattered light is received by the second fiber and transmitted to the detector for analysis. Two Raman spectra are measured, at different pressures. The first spectrum is subtracted from the second to remove background effects, and the resulting sample Raman spectrum is compared to a set of stored library spectra to determine the presence and concentration of the analyte.
156 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A probe for use in light scattering analyses of a sample, said probe for use with a source of light and a spectrophotometer, said probe comprising:
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a probe body having an interior, an interior surface, and means formed in said probe body for admitting said sample into said interior, said sample in said interior having a pressure; means for controlling said pressure; first light-transmitting means for transmitting exciting light from said source into said interior, a first portion of said exciting light interacting with said sample to produce Raman-scattered light, a remaining portion of said exciting light producing non-Raman-scattered light in said interior; second light-transmitting means for transmitting light from said interior to said spectrophotometer; and means for preventing a substantial portion of said non-Raman-scattered light from reaching said second light-transmitting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A probe for use in light scattering measurements of a sample containing molecules, said probe for use with a source of light and a spectrophotometer, said probe comprising:
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a probe body having an interior, an interior surface, and an inlet; at least one light-transmitting fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end in optical communication with said source and said distal end in optical communication with said interior, said at least one light-transmitting fiber transmitting exciting light from said source into said interior, a portion of said exciting light interacting with said sample molecules to produce Raman-scattered light, a remaining portion of said exciting light interacting with said sample molecules and said interior surface to produce non-Raman-scattered light; at least one light-receiving fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end in optical communication with a spectrophotometer and said distal end in optical communication with said interior, said light-receiving fiber transmitting light from said interior to said spectrophotometer; and a coating carried by said interior surface, Said coating including an adhesive and a quantity of carbon black particles carried by said adhesive, said coating preventing a substantial portion of said non-Raman-scattered light from reaching said at least one light-receiving fiber. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting the presence and concentration of an analyte in a sample, said sample having a pressure, said method comprising the steps of:
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directing exciting light into said sample so that at least a portion of said exciting light interacts with said sample to produce Raman-scattered light, a remaining portion of said exciting light producing non-Raman-scattered light; transmitting at least a portion of said Raman-scattered light to a spectrophotometer with an optical fiber, while preventing at least a portion of said non-Raman-scattered light from reaching said optical fiber; measuring a first Raman spectrum from said transmitted light, said pressure having a first value; changing said pressure of said sample to a second value; measuring a second Raman spectrum from said transmitted light; and comparing said first and said second Raman spectra to determine said presence and said concentration of said analyte. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification