Measurement, data acquistion, and signal processing for a photonic molecular probe

• US 6,636,752 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Diagnostic Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Xoetronics LLC
• Inventors: Milelli, Joseph, Inguva, Ramarao, Wyly, James, Madarasz, Frank, Engelhaupt, Darell
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US09/505,533
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 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 partially polarized polychromatic light for quantitative analysis of a specimen containing a target molecule. The device comprises: 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 said segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light to the specimen; a polarizing analyzer optically coupled to said segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light exiting the specimen; and comparison means for comparing said segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light before entering the specimen with said segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light after exiting the specimen. The target molecule changes ellipticity of said segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light and said polarizer is synchronized with said polarizing analyzer.

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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light and the specimen cell is adapted for detecting an air borne indication of the target molecule.

2. The opto-electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the polarizer is synchronized with the polarizing analyzer.

3. 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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light and the specimen cell is adapted for detecting trace target impurity and doping molecules during manufacture of a semiconductor.

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

5. 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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light and the specimen cell is adapted for detecting an air borne indication of the target molecule.

6. The opto-electronic device as recited in claim 5 wherein the polarizer is synchronized with the polarizing analyzer.

7. 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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light and the specimen cell is adapted for detecting a pesticide.

8. The opto-electronic device as recited in claim 7 wherein the polarizer is synchronized with the polarizing analyzer.

9. 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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light and the specimen cell is adapted for detecting the target molecule in a continuous flowing fluid.

10. The opto-electronic device as recited in claim 9 wherein the polarizer is synchronized with the polarizing analyzer.

11. 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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented band of partially polarized polychromatic light and a quantitative value of the target molecule provides feedback to a process control.

12. The device as recited in claim 11 further comprising an RF source coupled to said specimen cell whereby the RF source causes particular changes of selected achiral molecules within the specimen.

13. The opto-electronic device as recited in claim 11 wherein the polarizer is synchronized with the polarizing analyzer.

14. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, said 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;

collecting a specimen in a continuous flowing fluid;

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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of coupling an RF source to the specimen whereby the RF source causes particular changes of selected achiral molecules within the specimen.

16. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, said 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;

collecting an air borne specimen containing the target molecule;

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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light.

17. A method for quantitative analysis of a target molecule within a specimen, said 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;

providing feedback to a process control as a function of a quantitative value of a target molecule;

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,

wherein the target molecule changes ellipticity of the segmented characterized light.