Robust spectroscopic optical probe
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid-tight spectroscopic optical probe comprising:
- (a) a fluid-tight housing;
(b) a probe tip having a terminal surface, said probe tip sealably closing one end of said housing;
(c) at least one fiber optic excitation channel terminating at said terminal surface of said probe tip and extending within the length of said housing, said excitation channel transmitting radiation from a radiation source to a chemical composition to be irradiated for spectroscopic analysis; and
(d) at least one fiber optic collection channel terminating at said terminal surface of said probe tip and extending within the length of said housing, said collection channel transmitting radiation from an irradiated chemical composition to detector means remotely situated from said chemical composition;
wherein said fiber optic excitation channel and said fiber optic collection channel are each separated from one another and securely held and sealed within said probe tip by solder means encompassing each said channel.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a spectroscopic probe apparatus useful for Raman, near infrared, luminescence, ultraviolet or visible spectroscopies that is formed with a robust method of construction using a molten metal soldering technique. The disclosed method and apparatus provides an optical probe that is easy to manufacture yet able to withstand drastic environmental conditions without damage and produce useful spectroscopic results under such conditions.
48 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A fluid-tight spectroscopic optical probe comprising:
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(a) a fluid-tight housing; (b) a probe tip having a terminal surface, said probe tip sealably closing one end of said housing; (c) at least one fiber optic excitation channel terminating at said terminal surface of said probe tip and extending within the length of said housing, said excitation channel transmitting radiation from a radiation source to a chemical composition to be irradiated for spectroscopic analysis; and (d) at least one fiber optic collection channel terminating at said terminal surface of said probe tip and extending within the length of said housing, said collection channel transmitting radiation from an irradiated chemical composition to detector means remotely situated from said chemical composition; wherein said fiber optic excitation channel and said fiber optic collection channel are each separated from one another and securely held and sealed within said probe tip by solder means encompassing each said channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for forming a fluid-tight spectroscopic optical probe provided with a fluid-tight housing and a probe tip having a terminal surface and sealably closing one end of said housing, said housing and said probe tip each being formed of solder-adherable metal;
- at least one excitation channel that transmits radiation from a radiation source to a chemical composition to be irradiated; and
at least one collection channel that transmits radiation from an irradiated chemical composition to detector means remotely situated from said chemical composition, each said channel comprising an optical fiber having a circular cross-section, one end of each said fiber terminating at said terminal surface of said probe tip and extending within the length of said housing;
said method comprising;forming a cavity at said terminal surface of said probe tip; filling said cavity with molten metal solder, then allowing said solder to cool and solidify to a plug; forming at least two closely spaced holes of circular cross-section penetrating through said plug, said holes having a cross-section very slightly larger than the cross-section of said optical fibers; inserting one end of each of said optical fibers through said probe tip and into each of said holes in said plug, thereby substantially filling said holes in said probe tip and plug, said ends of said fibers being separated from one another and together with said plug forming a substantially continuous surface with said terminal surface of said probe tip; heating said solder plug to a temperature sufficient to cause the solder to flow around and encompassing each said optical fiber end; cooling said plug to ambient temperature, thereby securing and sealing said separated optical fiber ends at said terminal surface of said probe tip; and grinding and polishing said substantially continuous terminal surface of said probe tip, thereby forming an optically smooth terminal surface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
- at least one excitation channel that transmits radiation from a radiation source to a chemical composition to be irradiated; and
Specification