Non-invasive particle sensor using a multi-fiber connector
AssigneeBugLab LLC
InventorsGerald P. Coleman, Martin P. Debreczeny, Jaime Romero
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Abstract
This invention provides, e.g., devices for detection of particle concentrations in a vessel in real time from outside the vessel. The device is attached to the vessel so that light from an optic fiber enters a media of the vessel, is scattered by the particles, and the scattered light received by a second optic fiber. The received light is transmitted to a detector, generating a signal to a processor for determination of a particle concentration.
Claims27
A device for non-invasively determining the concentration of particles in a medium within a vessel, which device comprises:
- a multi-fiber connector attached to a fiber optic cable;
- a light source optically coupled into one or more optic fibers housed in the fiber optic cable;
- a detector optically coupled to one or more of the optic fibers housed in the fiber optic cable;
- an adapter comprising a receptacle for the multi-fiber connector and a mount configured to attach the adapter to the vessel so that light from the light source is directed by a first optical fiber into the medium, scattered by the particles, and a portion of the scattered light is collected by a second optical fiber connected to the detector where generates a signal;
- and,
- a processor configured to receive and to correlate the signal to the concentration of particles in the medium.
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A non-invasive method for measuring biomass in a bioreactor, which method comprises:
- attaching a multi-fiber connector to an exterior surface of the bioreactor;
- coupling one or more light sources into one or more optical fibers in the multi-fiber connector;
- coupling one or more detectors to one or more optical fibers in the multi-fiber connector;
- measuring the intensity of the source light directed into the bioreactor through the multi-fiber connector, scattered by the biomass, and collected through the multi-fiber connector onto the one or more detectors;
- and
- correlating the measured light intensity to the biomass in the bioreactor.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.