Apparatus and method for measuring optical properties by feedback control
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining at least one optical property of a medium, comprising:
- a light source configured to provide a transmitted beam that is transmitted towards and into the medium;
a detector configured to measure intensity of a modified beam exiting from the medium, a control unit configured to control the intensity of the beam transmitted by the light source, a processing unit configured to provide a representative value of a nominal intensity of the modified beam, and a feedback regulating system linked to the control unit, the detector, and the processing unit, and configured to control operation of the control unit so that the measured intensity of the modified beam is made equal to the nominal intensity to establish a stabilised intensity for the transmitted beam, wherein the processing unit is further configured to adjust the representative value of the nominal intensity so that the stabilised intensity of the transmitted beam falls within a predetermined range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for measuring at least one optical characteristic, which can include in particular turbidity (T), absorbance (A) and fluorescence (F), of a medium (1), and a micro-bioreactor, a connector and associated male and female parts. The apparatus comprises a light source (3) provided with means for controlling (6) the intensity of the beam transmitted (11) by the source, a photodetector (4) for measuring the intensity of the beam reflected (12) by the medium, a feedback regulating system (7) operating on the control means such that the measured intensity of the reflected beam is equal to a predetermined nominal intensity, and means for reading the transmitted beam intensity, said intensity representing the medium optical characteristic(s). The apparatus also comprises means for adjusting the nominal intensity, such that the transmitted beam stabilised intensity is within a predetermined range. The invention is applicable to micro-bioreactors.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining at least one optical property of a medium, comprising:
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a light source configured to provide a transmitted beam that is transmitted towards and into the medium;
a detector configured to measure intensity of a modified beam exiting from the medium, a control unit configured to control the intensity of the beam transmitted by the light source, a processing unit configured to provide a representative value of a nominal intensity of the modified beam, and a feedback regulating system linked to the control unit, the detector, and the processing unit, and configured to control operation of the control unit so that the measured intensity of the modified beam is made equal to the nominal intensity to establish a stabilised intensity for the transmitted beam, wherein the processing unit is further configured to adjust the representative value of the nominal intensity so that the stabilised intensity of the transmitted beam falls within a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a tube closed by a stopper configured to contain a culture, a first pipe configured to inject sterile air or gas and a culture medium into the culture, and a second pipe, configured to remove effluents, wherein the tube and the pipes are under pressure.
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14. Micro-bioreactor according to claim 13, further comprising a dilutation system designed to dilute the culture on a cyclic basis controlled by the processing unit.
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15. Micro-bioreactor according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit repeatedly activates the feedback regulating system, records representative values of said at least one optical property in a storage unit, and triggers the dilution system when a stagnation of said at least one optical property over a plurality of the latest recorded values is observed.
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16. Micro-bioreactor according to claim 13 wherein, at least one of the pipes includes a connector comprising a male part female part, a connection part configured to connect said male part and said female part together, each of said male and female parts comprising:
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a tapered hollow end configured to be connected to one end portion of said at least one of the pipes, and a sleeve surrounding a coupling hollow part communicating with said tapered hollow end, the coupling hollow part of the male part being introduced into the coupling hollow part of the female part, with the sleeve of one of the parts being introduced into the sleeve of the other part so that said sleeves are connected to each other by the connection part.
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17. Micro-bioreactor according to claim 16, wherein the sleeve of the male part is introduced into the sleeve of the female part.
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18. Micro-bioreactor according to claim 16, wherein the connection part includes a locking ring.
Specification