Portable flow cell detector comprising a UV-led emitting at 235 nm
AssigneeAquamonitrix Limited
InventorsEoin Murray, Patrick Roche, Kevin Harrington, Matthieu Briet
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Abstract
The present invention discloses an optical detection cell for detecting inorganic analytes in an aquatic environment. The optical detection cell comprises a microfluidic channel defining an optical detection path. First and second transparent windows are bonded at opposite locations on the microfluidic channel. The optical detection cell is provided with a UV-LED, and light detector respectively positioned proximally to the first and second transparent windows. The UV-LED configured to be driven by a constant electrical current having a value between 2.5 mA and 50.0 mA.
Claims19
An optical detection cell for the detection of inorganic analytes in a fluid sample, the optical detection cell comprising:
- a detection cell body comprising
- a microfluidic channel having first and second ends, which is configured to provide an optical detection path for the fluid sample, a first opening for delivering a fluid sample to the microfluidic channel and a second opening for extracting fluid from the microfluidic channel, and
- first and second UV transparent windows attached respectively to opposing first and second locations of the microfluidic channel;
- an Ultra-Violet Light Emitting Diode, LED, proximally positioned to the first transparent window and configured when powered to emit a light at a UV wavelength range of 235.0 nm, which light is at least partially directed to the optical detection path of the microfluidic channel for the exposure of the fluid sample in the microfluid channel;
- and
- a light detector proximally positioned to the second transparent window and configured, when powered, for detecting the amount of UV light passing through the exposed fluid sample, the light detector being configured for generating at least one electrical signal having a value corresponding to the light being detected,
- wherein the UV-LED is configured to be driven by a constant electrical current having a value between 2.5 mA and 13.0 mA.
A portable system for detecting inorganic analytes in a fluid sample, the system comprising:
- an optical detection cell comprising, a detection cell body comprising:
- a microfluidic channel having first and second ends, which is configured to provide an optical detection path for the fluid sample, a first opening for delivering a fluid sample to the microfluidic channel and a second opening for extracting fluid from the microfluidic channel, and first and second UV transparent windows attached respectively to opposing first and second locations of the microfluidic channel;
- an Ultra-Violet (UV) Light Emitting Diode, LED, proximally positioned to the first transparent window and configured when powered to emit a light at a UV wavelength range of 235.0 nm, which light is at least partially directed to the optical detection path of the microfluidic channel for the exposure of the fluid sample in the microfluid channel;
- and a light detector proximally positioned to the second transparent window and configured, when powered, for detecting the amount of UV light passing through the exposed fluid sample, the light detector being configured for generating at least one electrical signal having a value corresponding to the light being detected, wherein the UV-LED is configured to be driven by a constant electrical current having a value between 2.5 mA and 15.0 mA;
- at least one pump module coupled to an opening of the optical detection cell body the at least one pump module being configured for delivering a fluid sample to the optical detection path of the microfluidic channel for exposure to the UV-LED of the optical detection cell;
- a sample intake module configured to provide a fluid sample of a predetermined volume to the at least one pump module;
- and
- a processing unit configured for processing the at least one signal generated by the light detector of the optical detection cell to compute the levels of inorganic analytes in the fluid sample;
- and
- a power source providing at least one electrical signal for powering at least one of the optical detection cell, and/or the least one pump module, and/or the sample intake system, and/or the processing unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.