Chemical sensing techniques employing liquid-core optical fibers
US6016372A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/80
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A gas or vapor permeable optical fiber waveguide with a liquid core is employed as a probe for the detection or measurement of a chemical specie of interest by filling the waveguide core region with a reagent liquid which undergoes a change in an optical characteristic thereof when exposed to the chemical specie and then inserting the filled waveguide into an environment in which the chemical specie may be present. The chemical specie, if present, will permeate through the waveguide wall and react with or be absorbed in the core liquid. Sensitivity is enhanced by controlling the pressure differential across the waveguide wall and/or by shaping the waveguide to enlarge the surface area. When the reaction generates light, the devices which detect that light will be shaped and disposed to maximize the collection thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.