Light-guiding flow cell technologies
AssigneeWaters Technologies Corporation
InventorsMichael O. Fogwill, Joseph D. Michienzi, Sebastien Besner, Brett G. Cook, Peter O'Brien
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow cell for a liquid chromatography detector comprises a substrate formed of a glass material; a fluidic channel extending through the substrate; and at least one gas filled region formed in the substrate along at least a portion of a length of the fluidic channel. A portion of the glass material separates the fluidic channel and the gas filled region. An interface between the gas filled region and the portion of the glass material separating the fluidic channel and the gas filled region enables total internal reflection of light propagating along the fluidic channel.
Claims19
A flow cell for a liquid chromatography detector, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a fluidic channel extending through the substrate;
- and
- at least one gas filled region formed in the substrate along at least a portion of a length of the fluidic channel, wherein a portion of the substrate separates the fluidic channel and the gas filled region, wherein the at least one gas filled region comprises a plurality of discrete air gaps positioned on opposite sides of the fluidic channel, wherein the at least one gas filled channel includes first and second gas filled regions adjacent to and parallel the fluidic channel, wherein an interface between the at least one gas filled region and the portion of the substrate separating the fluidic channel and the at least one gas filled region enables total internal reflection of light propagating along the fluidic channel, and wherein the total internal reflection occurs at a critical angle determined by a refractive index difference between the substrate and the at least one gas filled region.
A flow cell for a liquid chromatography detector, comprising:
- a glass substrate;
- a fluidic channel extending through the substrate;
- first and second gas filled regions adjacent to and parallel the fluidic channel;
- and
- a reflective coating disposed on a surface about a portion of the fluidic channel, wherein the reflective coating enables an internal reflection of light propagating along the fluidic channel, and wherein the internal reflection is achieved independently of a refractive index differential between the fluidic channel and the glass substrate.
A flow cell for a liquid chromatography detector, comprising:
- a glass substrate;
- a fluidic channel formed within and extending through the glass substrate, the fluidic channel having an input and an output;
- first and second gas filled regions adjacent to and parallel the fluidic channel;
- and
- an integrated mirror formed directly in the glass substrate at the input and/or the output, wherein the mirror enables an internal reflection of light propagating along the fluidic channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.