Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An instrument for measuring the electrophoretic mobility of particles dispersed in a liquid and under the influence of an electric field, said instrument including: an electrophoresis cell for receiving and holding a liquid sample having electrophoretic responsive particles therein and in which said particles migrate under the infludence of an electric field; means for directing an illuminating beam at said cell to illuminate the particles migrating in the sample; a microscope positioned to enable the particles in the cell as illuminated by the beam to be viewed by an observer; and means for scanning the beam to cause it to track the movement of the particles in the cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An instrument for measuring the electrophoretic mobility of particles dispersed in a liquid and under the influence of an electric field, said instrument including: an electrophoresis cell for receiving and holding a liquid sample having electrophoretic responsive particles therein and in which said particles migrate under the infludence of an electric field; means for directing an illuminating beam at said cell to illuminate the particles migrating in the sample; a microscope positioned to enable the particles in the cell as illuminated by the beam to be viewed by an observer; and means for scanning the beam to cause it to track the movement of the particles in the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument defined in claim 1, in which said directing means comprises a laser and a lens system for focusing the beam from the laser into a focal spot within the electrophoresis cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument defined in claim 1, in which said scanning means comprises a mirror-galvanometer type beam deflector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument defined in claim 1, and which includes an adjustable power supply connected to said electrophoresis cell for producing an electric field within the cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The instrument defined in claim 3, and which includes electronic circuitry coupled to said galvanometer for producing the scanning action of the light beam, said electronic circuitry including manual controls for controlling the angular displacements of the beam and the rate of displacement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument defined in claim 2, in which said electrophoresis cell has a rectangular cross section, and in which said lens system focuses the light beam from the laser cell to a focal point in a region of said cell in which the average electro-endosmotic velocity is essentially zero.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The instrument defined in claim 5, and which includes modulating circuitry in circuit with said electronic circuitry for introducing an additional scanning action to the galvanometer so that the light beam is moved to one side of its normal position for short periods and to the other side of its normal position for periods longer than said short periods.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination defined in claim 1, in which said scanning means comprises a galvanometer, and which includes electronic circuitry connected through said galvanometer for introducing a scanning signal thereto, and an adjustable power supply connected to said electronic circuitry and to said electrophoresis cell to introduce a common adjustable voltage to said circuitry and to said cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument defined in claim 8, and which includes a control in said electronic circuitry for adjusting the scanning rate of the beam in said cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument defined in claim 9, in which said last-named control is calibrated in zeta potential.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument defined in claim 9, in which said last-named control is calibrated in mobility.