Method for calibrating investigated volume for light sheet based nanoparticle tracking and counting apparatus
AssigneeManta Instruments, Inc.
InventorJan J. Tatarkiewicz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for calibrating a dark field microcopy setup is disclosed. The method includes preparing a plurality of particle samples, each with a known concentration and particle size, the plurality having more than one particle size and, optionally, more than one refractive index and more than one diluent. For each sample in the plurality, the sample is measured in the setup and the scattered light intensity and number of particles is measured. From this data, a relationship between the scattered light intensity, particle size and calibrated investigated volume can be determined. The calibrated investigated volume is used to obtain the proper particle size distribution in a given diluent.
Claims12
A system for determining the particle size distribution of a colloid, the system comprising:
- a light source constructed to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a specimen chamber, the chamber is constructed to hold the colloid and to allow a portion of the beam to scatter from particles contained in the colloid;
- a sensor positioned to observe the scattered portion of the beam, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect the electromagnetic radiation;
- a database configured to store a predetermined relationship between a scattered light intensity, a particle size and a calibrated investigated volume;
- a processor connected to the light source, sensor and the database, the processor configured to perform the following steps:
- a. activating the light source;
- b. obtaining a series of images from the sensor;
- c. determining the size of the particles in the images by tracking Brownian motion, for each size;
- i. measuring the number of particles in the images;
- ii. measuring the scattered light intensity for the particles in the images individually;
- iii. based on steps (c)(i) and (ii), determining the calibrated investigated volume based on the predetermined relationship;
- d. calculating the particle size distribution of the colloid based on the measured number of particles from step (c)(i) and the determined calibrated investigated volume from step (c)(iii).
A method for calibrating dark field microcopy setup, wherein the setup comprises a light source constructed to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a specimen chamber, the chamber is constructed to hold the colloidal particles and to allow a portion of the beam to scatter from the particles, the scattered portion of the beam directed to a sensor, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect the electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising:
- a. preparing a plurality of particle samples with known concentrations and particle sizes, the plurality having more than one refractive index and more than one particle size;
- b. for each sample in the plurality:
- i. introducing the sample into the specimen chamber;
- ii. activating the light source;
- iii. measuring a scattered light intensity and a number of particles detected by the sensor;
- c. determining a relationship between the scattered light intensity and the sample's refractive index for each particle size in the plurality;
- d. determining a relationship between an investigated volume and the sample's refractive index for each particle size in the plurality, based on the number of particles measured for the sample, and
- e. determining calibrated investigated volumes based on the relationships of steps (c) and (d).
A method for calibrating dark field microcopy setup, wherein the setup comprises a light source constructed to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a specimen chamber, the chamber is constructed to hold the colloidal particles and to allow a portion of the beam to scatter from the particles, the scattered portion of the beam directed to a sensor, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect the electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising:
- a. preparing a plurality of samples with known particle sizes of known concentrations and;
- b. for each known particle size sample in the plurality:
- i. introducing the sample into the specimen chamber;
- ii. activating the light source;
- iii. measuring a scattered light intensity and a number of particles detected by the sensor;
- c. for each known particle size, determining calibrated investigated volume based on the known concentration, the measured scattering and the measured number of particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.