Patent US5525520A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5525520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photo-activated luminescence sensor and method of detecting trichloroethylene and related volatile organochloride compounds
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1994-05-09
•
Granted: 1996-06-11
•
Expires: 2014-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A sensor for detecting trichloroethylene and related volatile organochloride compounds uses a photo-activator that produces a photo-product complex with the contaminant. Characteristics of the light emitted from the complex will indicate the presence of the contaminant. A probe containing the photo-activator has an excitation light interface and a contaminant interface. One particular embodiment uses a porous membrane as the contaminant interface, so that the contaminant can migrate therethrough to the photo-activator and thereby form the complex.
Inventors
- 👤 Tuan V. Dinh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/24; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01N33/0036; G01N33/0047; G01N33/0049; G01N33/18; G01N33/1826; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6428; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/19; Y10T436/196666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of testing for the presence of an organochloride contaminant, comprising the steps of: exposing a probe containing a photo-activator to a sample suspected of containing the organochloride contaminant so that the organochloride, if present, and the photo-activator form a complex; irradiating the photo-activator/contaminant complex with UV light at a first wavelength for a time sufficient to form a photo-product; and detecting the photo-product, the presence of the photo-product being indicative of the presence of the organochloride contaminant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of testing for the presence of an organochloride contaminant, comprising the steps of: exposing a probe containing a photo-activator to a sample suspected of containing the organochloride contaminant so that the organochloride, if present, and the photo-activator form a complex; irradiating the photo-activator/contaminant complex with UV light at a first wavelength for a time sufficient to form a photo-product; and detecting the photo-product, the presence of the photo-product being indicative of the presence of the organochloride contaminant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises irradiating the photo-product with a light of a second wavelength to cause the photo-product to luminesce, the luminescence of the photo-product complex being indicative of the presence of organochloride contaminant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises exposing the photo-product to a scanning light having a range of wavelength and measuring absorption of the scanning light by the photo-product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises exposing the photo-product to a scanning light having a range of wavelength and measuring reflection of the scanning light from the photo-product.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises exposing the photo-product to a scanning light having a range of wavelengths and measuring scattering of the scanning light from the photo-product.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting step comprises observing color change of the photo-product.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A probe for use in detecting an organochloride contaminant, comprising: a body adapted to contain a quantity of photo-activator; a light interface for introducing light from a source into the body; and a contaminant interface through which the organochloride contaminant, if present, passes to react with the photo-activator and thereby form a photo-product when exposed to light through the light interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A probe for use in detecting an organochloride contaminant, comprising: a body adapted to contain a quantity of photo-activator; a light interface for introducing light from a source into the body; and a contaminant interface through which the organochloride contaminant, if present, passes to react with the photo-activator and thereby form a photo-product when exposed to light through the light interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A probe according to claim 7, wherein the body comprises a cylindrical member having open opposite axial ends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A probe according to claim 8, wherein the light interface is at least one fiber optic fitted into one end of the cylindrical member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A probe according to claim 9, wherein the contaminant interface comprises a porous membrane fitted over the other end of the cylindrical member, and being transmissive of the organochloride contaminant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A probe according to claim 7, wherein the contaminant interface comprises a porous membrane fitted over the other end of the cylindrical member, and being transmissive of the organochloride contaminant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe according to claim 7, further comprising a chamber disposed within the cylindrical member for containing the photo-activator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A probe according to claim 7, further comprising means for communicating photo-activator to and from the body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe according to claim 13, wherein the communicating means comprises at least one conduit extending into the body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe according to claim 7, wherein the contaminant interface comprises a gas inlet and a gas outlet formed in the body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A probe according to claim 15, further comprising a pump connected to one of the gas inlet and gas outlet for circulating gas through the body.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for determining the presence of an organochloride contaminant, comprising: a probe having means for containing a photo-activator and an interface through which a sample suspected of containing the organochloride contaminant is contacted so that the organochloride, if present, and the photoactivator from a complex; means, optically coupled to the probe, for irradiating the photo-activator/contaminant complex with light at a first wavelength for a time sufficient to form a photo-product; and means, optically coupled to the probe, for detecting the photo-product, the presence of the photo-product being indicative of the presence of the organochloride contaminant.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for determining the presence of an organochloride contaminant, comprising: a probe having means for containing a photo-activator and an interface through which a sample suspected of containing the organochloride contaminant is contacted so that the organochloride, if present, and the photoactivator from a complex; means, optically coupled to the probe, for irradiating the photo-activator/contaminant complex with light at a first wavelength for a time sufficient to form a photo-product; and means, optically coupled to the probe, for detecting the photo-product, the presence of the photo-product being indicative of the presence of the organochloride contaminant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the irradiating means comprises a light source and a bifurcated optical fiber having a first portion communicating excitation light to the probe and a second portion communicating emission light to the detecting means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the irradiating means comprises a light source, a mirror disposed between the light source and the probe and having a pinhole for through which excitation light passes through to the probe, and a single optical fiber disposed between the mirror and the probe, emission light being reflected from the mirror to the detecting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5028395A
Cited
US5102625A
Cited
US5315993A
Cited
US5098659A
Cited
US5244813A
Cited
US5119463A
Cited
US5272089A
Cited
US5318751A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-11 | 1999-12-11 | 2000-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-11 | 2003-12-11 | 2004-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-11 | 2007-12-11 | 2008-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |