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US 2014/0110599 A1Published application
Adaptable cell design for a spectroscopy apparatus
AssigneeUniversity of Virginia Patent Foundation
InventorKevin K. Lehmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable optical cell assembly includes a hollow body defining a cavity and a plurality of optical elements rigidly affixed within the cavity. A first actuator is configured to apply a force to an external surface of the hollow body sufficient to elastically deform at least a portion of the hollow body such one of a distance and a relative orientation between first and second optical elements of the plurality of optical elements is responsively altered.
Claims20
An assembly comprising:
- an optical cell apparatus comprising:
- a hollow tubular body comprising a wall of the optical cell apparatus, the tubular body having longitudinally spaced first and second body ends and surrounding a longitudinal axis of the optical cell to define a member lumen therethrough;
- a first end member that is substantially rigid and attached to the first body end to define a first optical cell end;
- a first optical element, located within the member lumen and fixedly attached to the first end member;
- a second end member that is substantially rigid and attached to the second body end to define a second optical cell end;
- and
- a second optical element, located within the optical cell and fixedly attached to the second end member;
- and
- a first actuator mounted external to the member lumen and configured to apply a force to an external surface of the optical cell apparatus in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis that is sufficient to elastically deform at least a portion of the optical cell apparatus such that a longitudinal distance between the first optical element and the second optical element is responsively altered.
6 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a rigid, hollow body defining a cavity;
- a plurality of optical elements rigidly affixed within the cavity;
- and
- a first actuator configured to apply a force to an external surface of the hollow body sufficient to elastically deform at least a portion of the hollow body such one of a distance and a relative orientation between first and second optical elements of the plurality of optical elements is responsively altered.
1 more element
A method for determining the concentration of an analyte, comprising:
- exciting an optical cavity, comprising a rigid body and first and second optical elements affixed to the rigid body, with a laser producing light of a substantially fixed wavelength;
- elastically deforming the rigid body in at least a first location to bring the laser and the cavity into resonance;
- detecting light emitted from the cavity;
- and
- evaluating the detected light to determine the concentration of the analyte.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.