US4382181A — Detection of atoms using monochromatic X-rays

Claim 1

Independent Claim 91 words

A method of detecting, in a specimen, atoms, of a particular element having an atomic number of at least 20, comprising irradiating the specimen with monochromatic X-rays having a wavelength to induce an inner shell ionization of said atoms with subsequent auger cascade, and detecting the auger electrons emitted by the cascade wherein the specimen is irradiated alternately with X-rays of said wavelength and with X-rays of a wavelength less than said wavelength and the difference between the auger electrons detected at said wavelength and at the shorter wavelength is determined.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 91 words

A method of detecting, in a specimen, atoms, of a particular element having an atomic number of at least 20, comprising irradiating the specimen with monochromatic X-rays having a wavelength to induce an inner shell ionization of said atoms with subsequent auger cascade, and detecting the auger electrons emitted by the cascade wherein the specimen is irradiated alternately with X-rays of said wavelength and with X-rays of a wavelength less than said wavelength and the difference between the auger electrons detected at said wavelength and at the shorter wavelength is determined.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the quantity and distribution of the atoms is recorded on a photographic emulsion which itself includes substantially no atoms of the element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 2, wherein the photographic emulsion is a layer disposed closely adjacent the specimen.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 3, wherein the specimen is a biological specimen in the form of a specimen slide and the photographic emulsion is a liquid emulsion coated directly on the specimen slide.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method according to claim 1, including producing the monochromatic X-rays by exposing a secondary radiator having atoms of an element which when exposed to X-rays produces excitation of these atoms and consequent secondary radiation in the form of X-rays of said wavelength.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein the inner shell ionization is converted to usable light by tellurium disposed adjacent the specimen.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method according to claim 6, wherein a matrix of x-ray opaque material is disposed between the source of monochromatic x-rays and the specimen and the tellurium is distributed in a matrix in optical alignment with the first mentioned matrix, whereby the tellurium is shielded from exposure to the monochromatic x-rays from the source.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 102 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the secondary radiator has at least two discrete radiating areas, at least one said area including atoms of said area including atoms of an element which when exposed to said secondary radiation producing element and at least another said X-rays produces excitation of these atoms and consequent secondary radiation in the form of X-rays of a wavelength less than that required to induce an inner shell ionization of the atoms to be detected in the specimen and selectively exposing the specimen to secondary radiation from a said one or a said another of the areas.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 57 words

A method according to clam 8, wherein the secondary radiator is a disc arranged for rotation about its axis and the areas are spaced circumferentially about the axis so that upon rotation of the disc the areas are exposed alternately to X-rays thereby alternately to expose the specimen to secondary radiation from the one and another areas.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 57 words

A method according to clam 8, wherein the secondary radiator is a disc arranged for rotation about its axis and the areas are spaced circumferentially about the axis so that upon rotation of the disc the areas are exposed alternately to X-rays thereby alternately to expose the specimen to secondary radiation from the one and another areas.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein the specimen is alternately and repeatedly exposed to secondary radiation from said one and said another of the areas.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein the difference between the detected auger electrons emitted by the cascade when the specimen is exposed to secondary radiation from a said one area and from a said another area is determined to provide an output representing an accurate quantitive indication of the auger electrons emitted by the atoms to be detected.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method according to claim 11, wherein the auger electrons are detected as to quantity and distribution and the difference is determined as to quantity and distribution.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the monochromatic X-rays are emitted by a Bragg diffractor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein a Bragg diffractor is cyclically adjusted to emit X-rays at said wavelength alternately with X-rays at a wavelength less than that required to induce an inner shell ionization of the atoms to be detected in the specimen and exposing the specimen to said cyclically adjusted X-rays.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the specimen is biological and the element to be detected is iodine or bromine.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein the quantity and distribution of the atoms is recorded by an electrostatic image produced by the auger electrons emitted.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 16 wherein the electrostatic image is produced and recorded by the establishment of an electrostatic image produced by the auger electrons and the production of a permanent image therefrom.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method according to claim 16 wherein the image is produced and recorded by xerography.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein the quantity and distribution of the atoms is recorded by a charge coupled device.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 58 words

A method according to claim 19 wherein the specimen is alternately exposed to different magnitudes of x-ray energy, the auger electron emission resulting from each of which is recorded by the charge coupled device and stored in a memory, the difference in the recorded information providing a spacial and quantitative indication of the particular element to be detected.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detecting means comprises a charge coupled device.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus according to claim 21 comprising means for alternately exposing the specimen to different magnitudes of X-ray energy, memory means for storing the detected auger electron emissions resulting from the different magnitudes of x-ray energy and a differential amplifier for ascertaining the difference between the stored information and providing a spacial and quantitative indication of the particular element to be detected.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 97 words

Apparatus for detecting, in a specimen, atoms, of a particular element having an atomic number of at least 20, comprising a source of monochromatic X-rays having a wavelength to induce an inner shell ionization of said atoms with subsequent auger cascade, and means for detecting the auger electrons emitted by the cascade, wherein the source is adapted to irradiate the specimen alternately with X-rays of said wavelength and with X-rays of a wavelength less than said wavelength and means are adapted to determine the difference between auger electrons detected at said wavelength and at the shorter wavelength.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 97 words

Apparatus for detecting, in a specimen, atoms, of a particular element having an atomic number of at least 20, comprising a source of monochromatic X-rays having a wavelength to induce an inner shell ionization of said atoms with subsequent auger cascade, and means for detecting the auger electrons emitted by the cascade, wherein the source is adapted to irradiate the specimen alternately with X-rays of said wavelength and with X-rays of a wavelength less than said wavelength and means are adapted to determine the difference between auger electrons detected at said wavelength and at the shorter wavelength.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the detecting means is a photographic emulsion which includes substantially no atoms of the element.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the specimen is a biological specimen slide and the emulsion is a liquid emulsion coated onto the slide.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 23 words

An Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the inner shell ionization is converted to usable light by a tellurium disposed adjacent the specimen.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein a matrix of x-ray opaque material is disposed between the source of monochromatic x-rays and the specimen and the tellurium is distributed in a matrix in optical alignment with the first mentioned matrix, whereby the tellurium is shielded from exposure to the monochromatic x-rays from the source.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the source includes a secondary radiator having atoms of an element which upon irradiation by X-rays will produce excitation of the atoms and consequent secondary radiation in the form of X-rays of said wavelength.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 12 words

Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the radiator is a flat plate.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 103 words

Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the secondary radiator has at least two discrete radiating areas, at least one said area including atoms of said secondary radiation producing element and at least another said area including atoms of an element which when exposed to said X-rays produces excitation of these atoms and consequent secondary radiation in the form of X-rays of a wavelength less than that required to induce an inner shell ionization of the atoms to be detected in the specimen and means for selectively exposing the specimen to secondary radiation from a said one or a said another of the areas.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein means alternately and repeatedly expose the specimen to secondary radiation from a said one and a said another of the areas.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 61 words

Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the secondary radiator is a disc arranged for rotation about its axis and the areas are spaced circumferentially about the axis so that upon rotation of the disc the areas are exposed alternately to X-rays thereby alternately to expose the specimen to secondary radiation from a said one and a said another of said areas.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 66 words

Apparatus according to claim 32, including means for rotating the disc and means associated therewith for providing an output signal representative of the rate and rotational position of the disc, and means for determining the difference between auger electrons detected at said wavelength and at said shorter wavelength on the basis of information received by said difference means from said detecting means and said output signal.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 12 words

Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the source includes an X-ray generator.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the difference means is a lock-in amplifier.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a Bragg diffractor is arranged to emit the monochromatic X-rays.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the source includes a Bragg diffractor which is cyclically adjustable to emit X-rays at said wavelength alternately with X-rays at a wavelength less than that required to induce an inner shell ionization of the atoms to be detected in the specimen and exposing the specimen to said cyclically adjusted X-rays.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 23, including means for relatively positioning the source, specimen and detecting means for the irradiation of the specimen by the monochromatic X-rays and the detection of the resulting auger cascade.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus according to claim 23 comprising means for recording the distribution of the atoms by the production of an electrostatic image produced by the auger electrons emitted.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus according to claim 39 comprising means for producing an electrostatic image produced by the auger electrons and means for producing a permanent image therefrom.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus according to claim 40 comprising xerographic means for producing and recording the electrostatic image.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-05-02	1986-11-01	1987-05-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-05-02	1990-11-01	1991-05-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-05-02	1994-11-01	1995-05-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Detection of atoms using monochromatic X-rays

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