US3813544A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for evaporating, destroying, exciting and/or ionizing specimen material limited to micro-regions, and arrangement for carrying out this method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-16
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Granted: 1974-05-28
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Expires: 1992-08-16
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for examining micro-regions of biologic specimens normally radiation absorptive in which a source of coherent electromagnetic radiation is optically focused on a selected region of the specimen. The power density is adjusted in the central diffraction disk to the point where the specimen becomes absorbent, the power density distribution in the first diffraction ring being below the level necessary to initiate absorption in the said first diffraction ring. In its preferred form, the coherent radiation is fed to a microscope having a cooled objective through which focusing on a selected microregion is achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 G Franzen
- 👤 F Hillenkamp
- 👤 R Kaufman
- 👤 E Remy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J49/00; H01J49/26; H01J49/28; H01J49/30; G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/22; G01N23/225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
In a method for analysis of micro or subcellulor regions of normally non-radiation absorptive biological material with optically focused coherent electromagnetic radiation the improvement comprising the step of setting the power density level of said radiation to a level at least equal to the level at which said material begins to absorb said radiation, and controlling the power density such that the said level is sufficient to initiate absorption only in the zero-th order diffraction ring or central diffraction disk with reference to the focus of the incident radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a method for analysis of micro or subcellulor regions of normally non-radiation absorptive biological material with optically focused coherent electromagnetic radiation the improvement comprising the step of setting the power density level of said radiation to a level at least equal to the level at which said material begins to absorb said radiation, and controlling the power density such that the said level is sufficient to initiate absorption only in the zero-th order diffraction ring or central diffraction disk with reference to the focus of the incident radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method specified in claim 1 wherein the power density in said central disk is at least to 107 w/cm2 and wherein the power density in the diffraction maximum of the first order ring is below 107 w/cm2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method specified in claim 1 wherein the power density in said central differentiation disk is at least equal to 109 w/cm2 and the power density in the diffraction maximum of the first order ring is below 109 w/cm2.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method specified in claim 1 further comprising the step of producing said radiation in the UV-wavelength region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method specified in claim 4 wherein the step of producing UV-wavelengths comprises the step of exciting a ruby laser and doubling the normal frequency of said ruby laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method specified in claim 4 wherein the step of producing UV-wavelengths comprises the step of exciting a ruby laser and non-linearly filtering the laser output to change the frequency to a UV-wavelength.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method specified in claim 1 further comprising the step of subjecting removed specimen material to mass-spectroscopic analysis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method specified in claim 7 further comprising the step of subjecting removed specimen material to a force field for controlling the removed specimen material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method specified in claim 7 wherein said force field is an electromagnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method specified in claim 9 wherein said electromagnetic field is generated by a mass-spectrometer and the said specimen is placed in said mass-spectrometer electromagnetic field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for the analysis of micro-regions of normally non-absorptive biological specimens comprising means for emitting coherent electromagnetic radiation in the UV-wavelength range, an optical system for focusing said radiation to microregion size and means for placing said specimen in the focal plane of said optical system, said emitting electromagnetic radiation having sufficient power density in the central diffraction disk to cause said specimen to absorb said radiation and to emit particles, said power density being below the level necessary to cause absorption in the first order diffraction ring and means for producing a force field adjacent said specimen to urge at least selected energy level emitted particles into said mass analyzing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for the analysis of micro-regions of normally non-absorptive biological specimens comprising means for emitting coherent electromagnetic radiation in the UV-wavelength range, an optical system for focusing said radiation to microregion size and means for placing said specimen in the focal plane of said optical system, said emitting electromagnetic radiation having sufficient power density in the central diffraction disk to cause said specimen to absorb said radiation and to emit particles, said power density being below the level necessary to cause absorption in the first order diffraction ring and means for producing a force field adjacent said specimen to urge at least selected energy level emitted particles into said mass analyzing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for emitting radiation in the UV-wavelength range comprises a laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said force field is a magnetic field or an electric field or an HF field.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said force field is formed by a mass-spectrometer and wherein said specimen is positioned in said force field.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 comprising a second force field positioned outside said spectrometer for acting on said emitted particles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said optical system includes a microscope, said radiation being focused at least in part by said microscope.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
ApparatUs according to claim 11 further comprising means for deep freezing said specimen while said specimen is undergoing analysis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising means for ascertaining the effect of radiation on one or more optical properties of the specimen, said optical properties including absorption, scatter, fluorescence and phase shift of incident radiation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a cooling between the microscope objective and the specimen for cooling the specimen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising means for circulating said cooling fluid to reduce temperature gradient in said specimen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a window placed between said specimen and objective, one side of said window being in contact with said liquid and the other side of said window facing said specimen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a vacuum chamber, said specimen being in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said objective is positioned in said vacuum chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a source of visible radiation, said source of visible radiation being positioned to emit into said optical focusing system to produce a visible focal spot on the said specimen which coincides with the focal spot for the coherent electromagnetic radiation means for whereby the laser beam is pre-focused.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said source of visible radiation is a continuously operable laser having low power density.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a plurality of photocells placed to receive visible radiation scattered by the specimen and switch means cnnected to the output of said photocells for operating said source of coherent electromagnetic radiation, said switch means operating said coherent source of electromagnetic radiation only after a selected level of visible radiation has been received by said photocells.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |