US3679309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instruments for measuring molecular orientations with the aid of fluorescence
Assignee: Jasco Corp
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Filing: 1970-05-04
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1990-05-04
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to instruments for measuring molecular orientations with the aid of fluorescence, or more particularly to instruments for measuring molecular orientations that can measure the types of orientations of the macromolecular system of the samples through the measurement of the angular distribution of the intensity of the polarized components in the fluorescence emanated by the samples, by making use of the dual anisotropy exhibited when the light is absorbed and the fluorescence emitted, particularly with an eye to the anisotropy of fluorescent molecules dispersed among macromolecules.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideho Hiragaki
- 👤 Keshihiro Mochida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement comprising in combination; a light source, a lens system for converting the light from the light source into a parallel light flux, a monochromatic light filter for passing light from the lens system and for eliminating light out of the range of the wave length for excitation, a polarizer for receiving light from the monochromatic light filter and for obtaining a linearly polarized light, a sample holder for holding a sample to be illuminated by light from said polarizer, an analyzer for analyzing the polarized components of fluorescence emitted by the sample, a cut filter for cutting off light out of the range of the wave length of the fluorescence emanating from the analyzer, a detector, a lens system for condensing the light passed through the cut filter onto the detector, means in operative relationship for making electric vector directions of the linearly polarized lights incident upon the sample and the detector, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to each other, means in operative relationship for gradually and relatively changing the electric vector direction of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample with respect to the orientation direction of the molecule system composing the sample, and means operatively located for measuring and indicating the intensity of the fluorescence incident upon the detector by treating the signals emitted from the detector through an electric system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement comprising in combination; a light source, a lens system for converting the light from the light source into a parallel light flux, a monochromatic light filter for passing light from the lens system and for eliminating light out of the range of the wave length for excitation, a polarizer for receiving light from the monochromatic light filter and for obtaining a linearly polarized light, a sample holder for holding a sample to be illuminated by light from said polarizer, an analyzer for analyzing the polarized components of fluorescence emitted by the sample, a cut filter for cutting off light out of the range of the wave length of the fluorescence emanating from the analyzer, a detector, a lens system for condensing the light passed through the cut filter onto the detector, means in operative relationship for making electric vector directions of the linearly polarized lights incident upon the sample and the detector, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to each other, means in operative relationship for gradually and relatively changing the electric vector direction of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample with respect to the orientation direction of the molecule system composing the sample, and means operatively located for measuring and indicating the intensity of the fluorescence incident upon the detector by treating the signals emitted from the detector through an electric system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 1, further including an additional exciting optical system comprising a light source, a lens system for converting the light from the last-mentioned light source into a parallel light flux, a monochromatic light filter for passing light from the last-mentioned lens system and for eliminating light out of the range of the wave length for excitation, and a polarizer for receiving light from the last-mentioned monochromatic light filter and for obtaining a linearly polarized light, one of said exciting optical systems being designed as a reflection system and the other as a transmission system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the light source is divided into two light fluxes, one being a sample exciting flux and the other being a reference or standard flux, a chopper for selectively interrupting the sample exciting flux and the reference flux, a light extinguisher for extinguishing the reference or standard flux, and wherein the fluorescence emitted by the sample upon the incidence of the exciting flux and the reference flux extinguished through the light extinguisher are alternately led into the detector for measurement and comparison.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 1, further including a condensing lens system installed between the polarizer and the sample holder for reducing the parallel light flux coming out of the polarizer, and an objective lens system located between the sample holder and the analyzer for enlarging a fluorescent image from the sample into a parallel light flux.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 1, including means for rotating the analyzer and the sample holder independently of the fixed polarizer to make the electric vector directions of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample and the detector, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to each other and to gradually and relatively change the electric vector direction of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample with respect to the orientation direction of the molecule system of the sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 1, including means for rotating the polarizer and the analyzer synchronously relative to the sample holder to make the electric vector directions of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample and the detector, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to each other and to gradually and relatively change the electric vector direction of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample with respect to the orientation direction of the molecule system of the sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 5, wherein said means for rotating the analyzer further includes a magnet brake, a brake gear fitted to said magnet brake, a first driving gear which has a circular-arc-shaped hollow in a section with a ceNtral angle of 90* a second driving gear, a shaft, a friction gear, a driving motor, a holder having a stopper affixed thereto, said holder attached to the shaft against which said first gear is allowed to rotate independently in order to transmit through said friction gear rotation of said driving motor to the second driving gear and the holder, while the first driving gear is engaged with said brake gear fitted to said magnet brake and said stopper fixed to the holder is positioned in the circular-arc-shaped hollow of the first driving gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
172 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for rotating the sample holder includes a base plate; a holder fixed to said base plate and a first sample tilting shaft mounted on said holder, a first tilting table attached to said shaft and having a second sample tilting shaft positioned adjacent to said first table, a first bevel gear attached to said first shaft, a second tilting table having a sample rotating table which is rotated within a plane of the second tilting table by means of said first bevel gear attached to the sample tilting shaft, a second bevel gear engaged with the first bevel gear and fitted to the second sample tilting shaft, the inclination of the sample in one direction being carried out by the rotation of the second tilting table supported by the first tilting table and the inclination of the sample in the other direction being carried out by the rotation of the first tilting table supported by the holder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A sample holder as set forth in claim 1, further including a temperature controller having a window therein, a sample container located within the temperature controller and adjacent said window, and a liquid having a substantially equal refractive index to those of the materials used for the window and the sample container located within the temperature controller, whereby the temperature of a sample is maintained by regulating the temperature of the liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sample holder as set forth in claim 9, wherein fused quartz is used as the material for the window and the sample container and wherein the liquid is glycerine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 1, including means for rotating the polarizer and the sample holder independently of the fixed analyzer to make the electric vector directions of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample and the detector, respectively, parallel and perpendicular to each other and to gradually and relatively change the electric vector direction of the linearly polarized light incident upon the sample with respect to the orientation direction of the molecule system of the sample.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement according to claim 11, wherein said means for rotating the polarizer further includes a magnet brake, a brake gear fitted to said magnet brake, a first driving gear which has a circular-arc-shaped hollow in a section with a central angle of 90*, a second driving gear, a shaft, a friction gear, a driving motor, a holder having a stopper affixed thereto, said holder attached to the shaft against which said first gear is allowed to rotate independently in order to transmit through said friction gear rotation of said driving motor to the second driving gear and the holder, while the first driving gear is engaged with said brake gear fitted to said magnet brake and said stopper fixed to the holder is positioned in the circular-arc-shaped hollow of the first driving gear.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
172 words
An instrument for molecular orientation measurement as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means for rotating the sample holder includes a base plate; a holder fixed to said base plate and a first sample tilting shaft mounted on said holder, a first tilting table attached to said shaft and having a second sample tilting shaft positioned adjacent to said first table, a first bevel gear attached to said first shaft, a second tilting table having a sample rotating table which is rotated within a plane of the second tilting table by means of said first bevel gear attached to the sample tilting shaft, a second bevel gear engaged with the first bevel gear and fitted to the second sample tilting shaft, the inclination of the sample in one direction being carried out by the rotation of the second tilting table supported by the first tilting table and the inclination of the sample in the other direction being carried out by the rotation of the first tilting table supported by the holder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3151204A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |