Patent US5496997A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5496997A
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US
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Sensor incorporating an optical fiber and a solid porous inorganic microsphere
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1994-01-03
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Granted: 1996-03-05
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Expires: 2014-01-03
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a sensor which includes a porous microsphere and an optical fiber which having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the optical fiber is coupled to the porous microsphere by an adhesive material. The porous microsphere is doped with a dopant. The dopant may be either an organic dye or an inorganic ion. A sensing apparatus includes the sensor, a spectrophotometer and a source of light. The spectrophotometer is coupled to the proximal end of the optical fiber. The source of light causes either the organic dye or the inorganic ion to fluoresce.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. A. Pope
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6428; G01N21/643; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; G01N21/645; G01N2021/6484; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/4203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A sensor comprising: a. a solid porous inorganic microsphere; and b. an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said optical fiber being coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sensor comprising: a. a solid porous inorganic microsphere; and b. an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said optical fiber being coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with an organic dye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with an inorganic ion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with a radioluminescent dye.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sensor comprising: a. a solid non-porous inorganic microsphere which is doped with a radioluminescent dye; and b. an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said optical fiber being coupled to said solid non-porous inorganic microsphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sensor comprising: a. a solid non-porous inorganic microsphere which is doped with a radioluminescent dye; and b. an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said optical fiber being coupled to said solid non-porous inorganic microsphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with an electroluminescent dye and wherein said sensor includes: a. a first electrode coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere; b. a second electrode coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere and disposed parallel to said first electrode; c. a first conductor coupled to said first electrode; and d. a second conductor coupled to said second electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber is doped with an organic dye.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber is doped with an inorganic ion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber is doped with a radioluminescent dye.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sensor according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber is doped with an electroluminescent dye.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sensing apparatus comprising: a. a solid porous inorganic microsphere; b. a first optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said first optical fiber being coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere; and c. a spectrophotometer coupled to said proximal end of said first optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sensing apparatus comprising: a. a solid porous inorganic microsphere; b. a first optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said first optical fiber being coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere; and c. a spectrophotometer coupled to said proximal end of said first optical fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sensing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with an organic dye and wherein said sensing apparatus, includes a source of light which causes said organic dye to fluoresce.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sensing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with an inorganic ion and wherein said sensing apparatus includes a source of light which causes said inorganic ion to fluoresce.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A sensing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with a electroluminescent dye and wherein said sensing apparatus includes: a. a first electrode coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere; b. a second electrode coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere and disposed parallel to said first electrode; c. a first conductor coupled to said first electrode; d. a second conductor coupled to said second electrode; e. a source of electrical energy coupled to said first and second conductors to cause said electroluminescent dye to fluoresce.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensing apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said solid porous inorganic microsphere is doped with a radioluminescent dye.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
113 words
A sensing apparatus comprising: a. a solid porous inorganic microsphere which is doped with an organic dye; b. a first optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said first optical fiber being coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere; c. a source of light coupled to said proximal end of said first optical fiber, said source of light causing said organic dye to fluoresce; d. a second optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said second optical fiber being coupled to said porous inorganic microsphere; and e. a spectrophotometer coupled to said proximal end of said second optical fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
A sensing apparatus comprising: a. a solid porous inorganic microsphere which is doped with an organic dye; b. a first optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said first optical fiber being coupled to said solid porous inorganic microsphere; c. a source of light coupled to said proximal end of said first optical fiber, said source of light causing said organic dye to fluoresce; d. a second optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said second optical fiber being coupled to said porous inorganic microsphere; and e. a spectrophotometer coupled to said proximal end of said second optical fiber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
A sensing apparatus system according to claim 16 wherein said sensing apparatus includes a container containing a biological fluid to be tested for either the presence or the absence of an organism, said porous inorganic microsphere being placed in said container whereby if the organism is present a shift in the fluorescence peak wavelength of said dopant occurs and said spectrophotometer determines if said shift in the fluorescence peak wavelength of said dopant has occurred.
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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) | 1999-03-05 | 1999-09-04 | 2000-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-05 | 2003-09-04 | 2004-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-05 | 2007-09-04 | 2008-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |