Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus
US7800753B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/067
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. Chemical analysis instruments employed in some embodiments include capillary and gel plane electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, flow cytometry, flow cells for liquids and aerosols, and surface detection instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted simultaneously with native fluorescence spectroscopy to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.