Hollow optical waveguide for trace analysis in aqueous solutions
US6385380B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/6482
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Low concentrations of substances dissolved in liquids are detected by coupling analysis/excitation light into the liquid core of an optical waveguide in the form of a capillary. When the substance of interest is to be excited to cause the emission of fluorescent light, the excitation light is transversely coupled into the hollow core of the waveguide and the generated fluorescent light is kept in the optical path of the waveguide for as long as possible. The invention also contemplates the use, in either an absorption or fluorescence mode, of specially treated fused silica fibers to deliver analysis/excitation light with very short wavelengths into the liquid core of an optical waveguide.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.