Photonic molecular probe

• US 6,594,510 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xoetronics LLC
• Original Assignee: Xoetronics LLC
• Inventors: Wyly, James, Madarasz, Frank, Engelhaupt, Darell, Milelli, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Application Number:
  US09/860,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 600/310, 600/316, 600/318, 600/319, 356/364, 356/366, 356/367
• US Class Current: 600/310
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14558 by polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/21 Polarisation-affecting properties G01N21/19 takes precedence

Abstract

An opto-electronic device utilizes a band of polychromatic light for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a mixed specimen. A movable polarizer produces a segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light. A specimen cell adapted for receiving the mixed specimen transports the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light to the mixed specimen. A movable polarizing analyzer is optically coupled to the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light exiting the mixed specimen. The segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light before entering the mixed specimen is compared with the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light after exiting the mixed specimen. The movable polarizer is synchronized with the movable polarizing analyzer. Additionally a frequency filter can be optically coupled to the movable polarizer, where the frequency filter produces a beam of single frequency ellipitically polarized light from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light such that the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light is a segmented band of ellipitically polarized light.

Claims

1. An opto-electronic device utilizing a band of partially polarized polychromatic light for quantitative analysis of a specimen containing a target molecule, the device comprising:

a polarizer for producing a segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light;

a specimen cell adapted for receiving the specimen and for transporting the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light to the specimen;

a polarizing analyzer optically coupled to the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light exiting the specimen; and

comparison means for comparing the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light before entering the specimen with the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light after exiting the specimen, the comparison means comprises an optical sensor and a signal processor for determining a quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen;

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the polarizing analyzer is a movable polarizing analyzer.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein the polarizer is a movable polarizer.

4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the movable polarizer is synchronized with the movable polarizing analyzer.

5. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the movable polarizer is incrementally rotatable.

6. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the movable polarizing analyzer is incrementally rotatable.

7. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a frequency filter optically coupled to the polarizer, wherein the frequency filter produces a beam of narrow frequency band of ellipitically polarized light from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light.

8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the band of partially polarized polychromatic light includes frequencies, which interact strongly with the target molecule.

9. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a frequency filter for producing a single frequency elliptically polarized light beam from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light.

10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a glucose level.

11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is an ethanol level.

12. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a drug serum level.

13. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a hormone serum level.

14. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a triglycerides level.

15. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, the method comprising the steps of:

producing elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

producing segmented characterized light with a polarizer optically coupled to the elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

transporting the segmented characterized light onto and through the specimen;

polarizing the segmented characterized light exiting the specimen; and

comparing the segmented characterized light before entering the specimen with the segmented characterized light after exiting the specimen to determine a quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light and the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a glucose level.

16. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, the method comprising the steps of:

producing elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

producing segmented characterized light with a polarizer optically coupled to the elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

transporting the segmented characterized light onto and through the specimen;

polarizing the segmented characterized light exiting the specimen; and

comparing the segmented characterized light before entering the specimen with the segmented characterized light after exiting the specimen to determine a quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen,

transporting the segmented characterized light onto and through the specimen;

polarizing the segmented characterized light exiting the specimen; and

comparing the segmented characterized light before entering the specimen with the segmented characterized light after exiting the specimen to determine a quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light and the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a hormone serum level.

17. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, the method comprising the steps of:

producing elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

producing segmented characterized light with a polarizer optically coupled to the elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

transporting the segmented characterized light onto and through the specimen;

polarizing the segmented characterized light exiting the specimen; and

comparing the segmented characterized light before entering the specimen with the segmented characterized light after exiting the specimen to determine a quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light and the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a hormone serum level.

18. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, the method comprising the steps of:

producing elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

producing segmented characterized light with a polarizer optically coupled to the elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

transporting the segmented characterized light onto and through the specimen;

polarizing the segmented characterized light exiting the specimen; and

comparing the segmented characterized light before entering the specimen with the segmented characterized light after exiting the specimen to determine a quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light and the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a hormone serum level.

19. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, the method comprising the steps of:

producing elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

producing segmented characterized light with a polarizer optically coupled to the elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

transporting the segmented characterized light onto and through the specimen;

polarizing the segmented characterized light exiting the specimen; and

comparing the segmented characterized light before entering the specimen with the segmented characterized light after exiting the specimen to determine a quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light and the quantitative level of the target molecule within the specimen is a triglycerides level.

20. An opto-electronic device utilizing a band of partially polarized polychromatic light for quantitative analysis of a specimen containing various target molecules, the device comprising:

a polarizer for producing a segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light;

a specimen cell adapted for receiving the specimen and for transporting the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light to the specimen;

a polarizing analyzer optically coupled to the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light exiting the specimen; and

comparison means for comparing the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light before entering the specimen with the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light after exiting the specimen,

wherein each target molecule of the various target molecules distinctly changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light as a function of concentration of the target molecule.

21. The device as recited in claim 20 wherein the polarizing analyzer is a movable polarizing analyzer.

22. The device as recited in claim 21 wherein the polarizer is a movable polarizer.

23. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein the movable polarizer is synchronized with the movable polarizing analyzer.

24. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein the movable polarizer is incrementally rotatable.

25. The device as recited in claim 21 wherein the movable polarizing analyzer is incrementally rotatable.

26. The device as recited in claim 20 further comprising a frequency filter optically coupled to the polarizer, wherein the frequency filter produces a beam of narrow frequency band of ellipitically polarized light from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light.

27. The device as recited in claim 20 wherein the band of partially polarized polychromatic light includes frequencies, which interact strongly with at least one of the various target molecules.

28. The device as recited in claim 20 further comprising a frequency filter for producing a single frequency elliptically polarized light beam from the band of partially polarized polychromatic light.

29. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein the comparison means further comprises an optical sensor and a signal processor for determining a quantitative level of at least one of the various target molecules within the specimen.

30. The device as recited in claim 29, wherein the quantitative level is a glucose level.

31. The device as recited in claim 29, wherein the quantitative level is an ethanol level.

32. The device as recited in claim 29, wherein the quantitative level is a drug serum level.

33. The device as recited in claim 29, wherein the quantitative level is a hormone serum level.

34. The device as recited in claim 29, wherein the quantitative level is a triglycerides level.

35. A method for quantitative analysis of various target molecules within a specimen, the method comprising the steps of:

producing elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

producing segmented characterized light with a polarizer optically coupled to the elliptical/partially polarized polychromatic light;

transporting the segmented characterized light onto and through the specimen;

polarizing the segmented characterized light exiting the specimen; and

comparing the segmented characterized light before entering the specimen with the segmented characterized light after exiting the specimen to determine a quantitative level of at least one of the various target molecules within the specimen,

wherein each target molecule of the various target molecules distinctly changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light as a function of concentration of the target molecule.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the quantitative level is a glucose level.

37. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the quantitative level is an ethanol level.

38. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the quantitative level is a drug serum level.

39. The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the quantitative level is a hormone serum level.

40. The method as recited in claim 38, wherein the quantitative level is a triglycerides level.