Devices and methods for analyzing granular samples

• US 9,846,077 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H20ptx Inc.
• Original Assignee: H2Optx, Inc
• Inventors: Hofmeister, Rudolf J., Ice, Donald A., Tandy, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, TERRELL HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US14/744,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 209576, 209577, 209579, 209580
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0002 Casings; Housings; Frame constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/42 Auxiliary equipment or operation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/00 Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0202 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0237 Adjustable, e.g. focussing
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0267 Sample holders for colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0286 Constructional arrangements for compensating for fluctuations caused by temperature, humidity or pressure, or using cooling or temperature stabilization of parts of the device; Controlling the atmosphere inside a spectrometer, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/06 Scanning arrangements arrangements for order-selection
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/06 providing a thin slice, e.g. microtome
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0106 General arrangement of respective parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/25 Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 : for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 : for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 : Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0231 : Thermostating
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/00 : Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 : Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility drug screening with animal cells G01N33/5008
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 : Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence

Abstract

In some aspects, a device for apportioning granular samples includes a sample feeder defining a conduit, the conduit including a first opening to receive the granular samples and a second opening. The device includes a shuttle operably coupled to the sample feeder to receive the granular samples from the conduit via the second opening. The shuttle is configured to apportion the granular samples to incrementally enter a sample chamber to be analyzed. The device includes an outlet conduit fluidly coupled to the sample chamber and configured to permit the sample chamber to be evacuated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a device for apportioning granular samples comprising;

a sample feeder defining a conduit, the conduit including a first opening to receive the granular samples and a second opening;

a shuttle operably coupled to the sample feeder to receive the granular samples from the conduit via the second opening, the shuttle configured to apportion the granular samples to incrementally enter a sample chamber to be analyzed; and

an outlet conduit fluidly coupled to the sample chamber and configured to permit the sample chamber to be evacuated; and

a hyperspectral analyzation subassembly electromagnetically coupled to the device, the hyperspectral analyzation subassembly configured to obtain information for at least portions of the granular samples in the sample chamber, the hyperspectral analyzation subassembly comprising;

one or more emitters configured to generate electromagnetic radiation electromagnetically coupled to the sample chamber;

one or more sensors configured to detect electromagnetic radiation electromagnetically coupled to the sample chamber;

an electromagnetically transmissive window defining at least a portion of the sample chamber, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation from the sample chamber via the window; and

an analyzation actuation subassembly configured to actuate at least a portion of the hyperspectral analyzation subassembly in one or more directions of movement with respect to the sample chamber.

2. The system of claim 1, the device further comprising an actuation subassembly configured to actuate the shuttle in one or more directions of movement, the actuation subassembly comprising:

a first actuator configured to actuate the shuttle in a first direction of movement between a first position and a second position; and

a first slide configured to permit the shuttle to be moved between the first position and the second position;

wherein the shuttle positioned in the first position does not permit the granular sample portions to enter the sample chamber, and the shuttle positioned in the second position permits at least one of the granular sample portions to enter the sample chamber.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the shuttle at least partially defines a shuttle passage sized and shaped to correspond with the size and shape of the sample chamber.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the shuttle passage extends at least partially through the shuttle.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an evacuation subassembly fluidly coupled to the outlet conduit and comprising:

one or more vacuum elements configured to generate a pressure differential to evacuate the sample chamber; and

a switch configured to selectively couple the one or more vacuums to one or more outlet channels to selectively evacuate the sample chamber into one or more outlet channels;

wherein the sample chamber is selectively evacuated based on one or more characteristics of at least one component of a substance detected or not detected inside of the sample chamber.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hopper coupled to the sample feeder and configured to direct the granular samples into the sample feeder.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein,

the analyzation actuation subassembly further comprises:

a first actuator configured to actuate at least the portion of the hyperspectral analyzation subassembly in a first direction of movement,

a second actuator configured to actuate at least the portion of the hyperspectral analyzation subassembly in a second direction of movement, and

a third actuator configured to actuate at least the portion of the hyperspectral analyzation subassembly in a third direction of movement; and

the hyperspectral analyzation subassembly further comprises;

an optical multiplexer electromagnetically coupled to the objective, wherein the optical multiplexer is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation between the sample chamber and at least one of the one or more sensors, at least one of the one or more emitters, or both at least one of the one or more sensors at least one of the one or more emitters; and

an objective electromagnetically coupled between the window and the optical multiplexer, the objective configured to focus electromagnetic radiation travelling to or from the sample chamber.

8. A method of analyzing granular samples comprising:

providing the system of claim 1;

providing granular samples to be analyzed to the conduit of the sample feeder;

apportioning the granular samples into granular sample increments; and

incrementally analyzing each of the granular sample increments, comprising, for each granular sample increment;

actuating the shuttle to permit a granular sample increment to enter the sample chamber at least partially defined by the electromagnetically transmissive window;

transmitting electromagnetic radiation from at least one of the one or more emitters to the granular sample increment;

moving a portion of the analyzation subassembly in the one or more directions of movement with respect to the granular sample increment to scan at least a portion of the granular sample increment;

receiving electromagnetic radiation from the granular sample increment by at least one of the one or more sensors through the electromagnetically transmissive window;

identifying at least one characteristic of a component of the granular sample increment based on the received electromagnetic radiation; and

evacuating the granular sample increment from the sample chamber.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the granular sample increment comprises receiving the electromagnetic radiation at a sensor of the one or more sensors, wherein the sensor is configured to generate signals based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising analyzing the signals to generate a representation of at least a portion of the granular sample increment.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising identifying at least one component of the granular sample increment based on the signals.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the granular samples comprise pharmaceutical micro-structured blends of substances.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more emitters generates visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, terahertz, or infrared radiation.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more emitters is a Raman laser source.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is configured to detect fluorescence or reflection.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a Raman spectrometer.