US3734622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for photometrically analyzing a droplet of a sample liquid
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-19
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-11-19
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for photometrically testing for a constituent of a droplet of a discrete liquid sample having an arcuate surface and having a planar surface resting on or suspended from a surface and wherein light rays from a source are directed into the droplet through the planar surface thereof. Light energy as a measure of absorbance, light scattering or fluorescence is transmitted through the planar droplet surface to a photodetector for analysis of the sample which analysis may be qualitative or quantitative or indicate an end reaction. Such analysis may be automated.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanford L Adler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00009; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/86; G01N2035/00465; G01N2035/00534
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
In apparatus for testing for a constituent of a sample in liquid form, a support for vertical disposition having a horizontal surface portion, means defining a pair of vertically arranged light passageways in said support each shielded axially along its length, said passageways extending through said horizontal surface portion and each having input and output ends, said output end of one of said passageways being at said surface portion and said input end of the other of said passageways being at said surface portion, means structured of light-transmitting material closing said passageways at least at the last-named output and input ends, a shielded light source rays from which enter said input end of said one of the passageways, a shielded light detector coupled to said output end of said other one of the passageways, said surface portion providing support for a droplet of said liquid sample having a meniscus forming an outer light-refractive surface of dome shape in the ambient atmosphere and a planar inner surface extending over both of said passageways, said inner surface transmitting light from said source into said droplet and transmitting light returned from the meniscus of said droplet to said passageway coupled to said light detector, for analysis of such droplet constituent, and means to shield said droplet from ambient light outwardly from said outer droplet surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
In apparatus for testing for a constituent of a sample in liquid form, a support for vertical disposition having a horizontal surface portion, means defining a pair of vertically arranged light passageways in said support each shielded axially along its length, said passageways extending through said horizontal surface portion and each having input and output ends, said output end of one of said passageways being at said surface portion and said input end of the other of said passageways being at said surface portion, means structured of light-transmitting material closing said passageways at least at the last-named output and input ends, a shielded light source rays from which enter said input end of said one of the passageways, a shielded light detector coupled to said output end of said other one of the passageways, said surface portion providing support for a droplet of said liquid sample having a meniscus forming an outer light-refractive surface of dome shape in the ambient atmosphere and a planar inner surface extending over both of said passageways, said inner surface transmitting light from said source into said droplet and transmitting light returned from the meniscus of said droplet to said passageway coupled to said light detector, for analysis of such droplet constituent, and means to shield said droplet from ambient light outwardly from said outer droplet surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said means structured of light-transmitting material is formed respectively as a light pipe extending a distance along the respective passageway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said light passageways are arranged in parallelism with one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said light detector is a photosensitive device for detecting the presence in said sample liquid droplet of a constituent of interest.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said light detector is a photosensitive device for detecting by light absorbance the concentration in said sample liquid droplet of a constituent of interest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said light detector is a photosensitive device for detecting by light scattering the concentration in said sample liquid droplet of particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said light detector is a photosensitive device for detecting by fluorescence the coNcentration in said sample liquid droplet of a constituent of interest.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said means structured of light transmitting material is formed respectively as a light pipe extending a distance along the respective passageway, said light detector being a photosensitive device for detecting by light absorbance a concentration in said sample liquid droplet of a constituent of interest.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a transparent tape supported directly on said horizontal surface portion for supporting said liquid droplet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a transparent tape supported directly on said horizontal surface portion for supporting said liquid droplet, said tape having means defining thereon an annulus retaining the sample liquid droplet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said horizontal surface portion directly supports the sample liquid droplet thereon, said horizontal surface portion having formed thereon an annulus for retaining the droplet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said support is formed as an elongated sample-dipping probe for the immersion of said horizontal surface portion in a sample liquid for withdrawing from said liquid a sample droplet adhering to said horizontal surface portion by surface tension.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for photometrically analyzing a liquid droplet for a constituent of interest comprising the steps of: supporting said droplet on an essentially horizontal surface in ambient atmosphere so that its meniscus forms a dome-shaped outer surface and the inner surface of the droplet adjoins said horizontal surface directing in a shielded manner light from a light source through a portion of the support and a portion of said inner droplet surface for passage into the droplet and refraction within the droplet from the meniscus, while shielding the meniscus from ambient light without the droplet, and detecting the amount of light returned from the meniscus back through another portion of said inner droplet surface and a portion of the support in a shielded manner at a selected wavelength to indicate the constituent of interest in the droplet.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for photometrically analyzing a liquid droplet for a constituent of interest comprising the steps of: supporting said droplet on an essentially horizontal surface in ambient atmosphere so that its meniscus forms a dome-shaped outer surface and the inner surface of the droplet adjoins said horizontal surface directing in a shielded manner light from a light source through a portion of the support and a portion of said inner droplet surface for passage into the droplet and refraction within the droplet from the meniscus, while shielding the meniscus from ambient light without the droplet, and detecting the amount of light returned from the meniscus back through another portion of said inner droplet surface and a portion of the support in a shielded manner at a selected wavelength to indicate the constituent of interest in the droplet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |