# US 10,054,540 B2 · Device generating evanescent waves, and method for the implementation thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,054,540 B2 - Document ID: US10054540B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/114,631 - Filed: 2015-01-23 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Granted: 2018-08-21 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-27 - Assignees: Diafir - Applicants: Diafir - Inventors: Hugues Tariel; Frédéric Charpentier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10054540B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/3577: for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water - A61B 5/0075: {by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence)} - B01L 3/5088: {confining liquids at a location by surface tension, e.g. virtual wells on plates, wires (B01L3/50857 takes precedence)} - G01N 21/431: {Dip refractometers, e.g. using optical fibres} - G01N 21/49: within a body or fluid - G01N 21/552: Attenuated total reflection - G01N 33/487: of liquid biological material - G02B 6/02395: {Glass optical fibre with a protective coating, e.g. two layer polymer coating deposited directly on a silica cladding surface during fibre manufacture (G02B6/02052, G02B6/02057, G02B6/024, G02B6/032, G02B6/105, G02B6/14 take precedence; coating on fibre gratings G02B6/02104; multilayer core or cladding G02B6/036; reinforcing splice joints G02B6/2558; optical cables, i.e. comprising protective structures external to the protective coating such as a jacket or plural coated optical fibres G02B6/44; coating of glass to obtain optical fibres C03C25/104)} - A61B 2562/0233: Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00 - B01L 2200/026: Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details - B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices - B01L 2300/0609: Holders integrated in container to position an object - B01L 2300/0654: Lenses; Optical fibres - B01L 2400/065: sliding valves - G01N 2021/4769: {Fluid samples, e.g. slurries, granulates; Compressible powdery of fibrous samples} - G01N 2201/0846: Fibre interface with sample, e.g. for spatial resolution - G01N 2201/0886: and using OTDR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract The invention relates to a device (10) comprising a support (14) having a wave guide (42) allowing the propagation of light of at least one wavelength, generating evanescent waves outwards. According to the invention, the device comprises means for receiving a liquid sample, designed to receive the liquid sample upon contact of the wave guide (42) in such a way as to impregnate the wave guide with a portion of the liquid sample, and actuatable means for breaking the contact between the liquid sample and the wave guide (42). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device adapted for coupling with a spectrometry system, the device comprising: a support having a wave guide attached to the support, the wave guide enabling the propagation of light in at least one wavelength, generating evanescent waves outwards, receiving means for receiving a liquid sample, configured to receive the liquid sample upon contact with the wave guide so as to impregnate the wave guide with a portion of the liquid sample, and actuatable means for breaking the contact between the liquid sample and the wave guide attached to the support, the actuatable means comprising a movable member which is movable relative to the support and which comprises at least a portion of the receiving means, wherein the movable member is movable between a first position in which the receiving means are adapted to receive the liquid sample upon contact with the wave guide and a second position in which the receiving means are configured so that the liquid sample is no longer in contact with the wave guide. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is mounted so as to be movable in translation on the support between the first and the second position thereof and wherein the support comprises means for guiding the motion of the movable member between the first and the second position thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, which comprises means for locking the motion of the movable member from the second position to the first position when the movable member has been moved into the second position thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the locking means comprise non-return pins or fingers formed on one of the support or the movable member, and configured to be used as displacement stops on the other one of the support or the movable member upon the movable member moving from the second position to the first position thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, which comprises a part forming a cover on the support and defining an enclosure accommodating a wave guide section with the support. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, which comprises means for locking the motion of the movable member from the second position to the first position when the movable member has been moved into the second position thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, wherein the locking means comprise non-return pins or fingers formed on one of the support or the movable member, and configured to be used as displacement stops on the other one of the support or the movable member upon the movable member moving from the second position to the first position thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, which comprises a part forming a cover on the support and defining an enclosure accommodating a wave guide section with the support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, which comprises a part forming a cover on the support and defining an enclosure accommodating a wave guide section with the support. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, which comprises a part forming a cover on the support and defining an enclosure accommodating a wave guide section with the support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, wherein the movable member is mounted so as to be movable in translation along a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of propagation of light in the wave guide section, the movable member comprising a portion accommodated inside the enclosure, wherein the portion comprises a sump for receiving a liquid sample, wherein the sump is movable between the support and the wave guide section so that, in the first position of the movable member, the sump is arranged at right angles with the wave guide section and in the second position, the sump is located at a distance from the wave guide section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the cover comprises an aperture opening inside the enclosure opposite the receiving sump of the movable member when the movable member is in the first position thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is sealed on the support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device according to claim 13, wherein the cover is sealed on the support by welding. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wave guide is heated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wave guide is made of a material enabling the propagation of light in at least one infrared wavelength. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the wave guide is made of chalcogenide glass fiber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A spectrometric system, which comprises a device according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method of implementing the device according to claim 1, comprising: a) positioning a liquid sample in the receiving means of the device; b) letting the outer surface of the wave guide impregnate with the liquid sample for a predetermined time; and c) actuating the contact breaking means so as to break the contact between the liquid sample and the optical fiber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, comprising positioning the device obtained in c) in a spectrometric system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means is a sump. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wave guide is fixedly arranged relative to the support. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wave guide has a surface adapted to be coupled to receive infrared light from the spectroscopy system and a second surface adapted to be coupled to send infrared light to the spectroscopy system for analysis.