Automation of ingredient-specific particle sizing employing raman chemical imaging
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- configuring a spectroscopic imaging device to;
(a) irradiate a sample comprising at least one unknown particle to produce Raman scattered photons, and (b) collect the Raman scattered photons to generate a Raman chemical image representative of the sample;
integrating the intensity within the spectral peak at each pixel of the Raman chemical image to generate a working image; and
configuring a processor to;
(c) apply a first threshold to the working image wherein the first threshold is such that all particles in the sample are detected;
(d) select one of the detected particles;
(e) apply a second threshold to the working image to determine at least one geometric property of the selected particle, wherein the second threshold is unique to the selected particle such that the geometric property can be determined;
(f) analyze at least one spectrum, representative of the selected particle, wherein analyzing further comprises comparing at least one spectrum representative of the selected particle to at least one reference spectrum representative of a particle of interest; and
if comparing results in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as a particle of interest, andif comparing does not result in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as not a particle of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining at least one geometric property of a particle in a sample. A sample is irradiated to thereby generate Raman scattered photons. These photons are collected to generate a Raman chemical image. A first threshold is applied wherein the first threshold is such that all particles in the sample are detected. A particle in the sample is selected and a second threshold is applied so that at least one geometric property of the selected particle can be determined. At least one spectrum representative of the selected particle is analyzed to determine whether or not it is a particle of interest. The step of determining a second threshold may be iterative and automated via software so that candidate second thresholds are applied until a satisfactory result is achieved.
22 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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configuring a spectroscopic imaging device to;
(a) irradiate a sample comprising at least one unknown particle to produce Raman scattered photons, and (b) collect the Raman scattered photons to generate a Raman chemical image representative of the sample;integrating the intensity within the spectral peak at each pixel of the Raman chemical image to generate a working image; and configuring a processor to; (c) apply a first threshold to the working image wherein the first threshold is such that all particles in the sample are detected; (d) select one of the detected particles; (e) apply a second threshold to the working image to determine at least one geometric property of the selected particle, wherein the second threshold is unique to the selected particle such that the geometric property can be determined; (f) analyze at least one spectrum, representative of the selected particle, wherein analyzing further comprises comparing at least one spectrum representative of the selected particle to at least one reference spectrum representative of a particle of interest; and if comparing results in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as a particle of interest, and if comparing does not result in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as not a particle of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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configuring a spectroscopic imaging device to; (a) irradiate a sample comprising at least one unknown particle of interest to thereby produce interacted photons wherein the interacted photons are selected from the group consisting of;
Raman scattered by the sample, reflected by the sample, emitted by the sample, absorbed by the sample, and combinations thereof; andconfiguring a processor to; (b) collect the interacted photons to thereby generate a chemical image representative of the sample; (c) apply a first threshold to the chemical image wherein the first threshold is such that all particles in the sample are detected; (d) select one of the particles detected as a result of applying the first threshold; (e) apply a second threshold to the chemical image to thereby determine at least one geometric property of the selected particle, wherein the second threshold is unique to the selected particle such that the geometric property can be determined; and (f) analyze at least one spectrum representative of the selected particle, wherein analyzing further comprises comparing at least one spectrum representative of the selected particle to at least one reference spectrum representative of a particle of interest, and if comparing results in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as a particle of interest; and if comparing does not result in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as not a particle of interest. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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configuring a spectroscopic imaging device to;
(a) irradiate a sample comprising at least one unknown particle to produce Raman scattered photons, and (b) collect the Raman scattered photons to generate a Raman chemical image representative of the sample;integrating the intensity within the spectral peak at each pixel of the Raman chemical image corresponding to at least two edges of the particle to generate a working image; and configuring a processor to; (c) apply a first threshold to the working image wherein the first threshold is such that all particles in the sample are detected; (d) select one of the detected particles; (e) apply a second threshold to the working image, wherein the second threshold is unique to the selected particle such that the geometric property can be determined; (f) analyze at least one spectrum representative of the selected particle, wherein analyzing further comprises comparing at least one spectrum representative of the selected particle to at least one reference spectrum representative of a particle of interest; and if comparing results in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as a particle of interest, and if comparing does not result in a match between the spectrum representative of the selected particle and the reference spectrum representative of the particle of interest, identifying the selected particle as not a particle of interest. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification