Sample container and system for a handheld spectrometer and method for using therefor

• US 7,542,138 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemimage Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chemimage Corporation
• Inventors: Gardner, Charles W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans; Fannie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/902,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 356/301, 356/244, 356/246
• US Class Current: 356/301
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/102 Plural sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2869 Background correcting
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2879 Calibrating scan, e.g. Fabry Perot interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0224 using polarising or depolarising elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0283 using a charging unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/26 using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence

Abstract

A container for holding a sample and a system and method for a handheld spectrometer using the container is disclosed. In one embodiment, the container includes a vial with an optical window at the base of the vial. A sample may be placed in the vial. A hollow plunger may be slidably inserted into the vial which seals the gap between the plunger and the walls of the vial. The plunger includes a filter element. When the plunger is inserted into the vial, the sample is forced against the optical window and the filter element vents liquid and/or gas that is in the vial into the hollow plunger. A portable or handheld system for detecting, for example, biothreat agents makes use of the container in order to determine a spectrum of the sample. The optical window of the container is preferably substantially transparent to photons illuminating the sample and to photons produced due to the interaction of the illuminating photons and the sample.

Claims

1. A device for holding a sample, comprising:

an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;

a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, a bottom of the plunger, and said optical window; and

said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongated hollow container is substantially cylindrical.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical window is substantially flat.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical window comprises fused silica, plastic, quartz, glass, or a combination thereof.

5. A system for obtaining a spectrum of a sample, comprising:

a device for holding said sample, said device comprising;

an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;

a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, said plunger, and said optical window;

said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container;

an optical lens for directing first photons into a fiber optic array wherein said first photons are formed by an interaction between said sample and illuminating photons; and

said fiber optic array for directing said first photons to a photon detector to thereby obtain a spectrum of said sample.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said fiber optic array is a fiber array spectral translator.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein optical fibers comprising the fiber optic array are arranged in a two-dimensional array at a first end and a one-dimensional array at a second end of the fiber optic array.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said first end accepts said photons from said optical lens and said second end directs said photons to said photon detector.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said photon detector is a charge-coupled device.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein said photon detector is a spectrometer.

11. The system of claim 5 further comprising a microprocessor for analyzing an output signal from said photon detector.

12. The system of claim 5 further comprising a memory device for storing a spectrum of a biothreat agent.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a microprocessor for comparing an output signal from said photon detector with the stored spectrum in said memory device.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a display unit for displaying information based on said comparison.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a device for accepting input from a user.

16. The system of claim 5 further comprising a photon source for providing illuminating photons to said sample via said optical window.

17. The system of claim 5 wherein said photons comprise photons selected from the group consisting of:

photons scattered by said sample, photons Raman scattered by said sample, photons emitted by said sample, and photons reflected by said sample.

18. The system of claim 5 wherein the system is portable.

19. A method for obtaining a spectrum of a sample, comprising:

holding said sample using a device comprising;

(a) an elongated hollow container open at a distal end and closed off at a proximal end by an optical window;

(b) a hollow plunger configured to fit snugly into said hollow container via said open distal end and to slide within said hollow container so as to confine said sample in a first volume bounded by said hollow container, said plunger, and said optical window;

(c) said plunger comprising a filter attached to said bottom of the plunger to thereby allow a gas or liquid contained within said hollow container with said sample to be substantially transferred to a second volume partially bounded by said hollow plunger as said plunger slides within said hollow container; and

collecting a plurality of first photons so as to obtain a measured spectrum of said sample wherein said first photons are formed by an interaction between said sample and illuminating photons.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

storing a predetermined spectrum of a biothreat agent in a memory device;

comparing a said measured spectrum with the stored spectrum; and

displaying information based on said comparison.