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US 2022/0107269 A1Published application
Refractometer with single use prism and reusable optical system
OwnerMarios LIAROMMATIS, Nicholas MOSSinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refractometer includes an enclosure, a single use prism, a light source, and an index of refraction (IoR) sensor. The single use prism is removably disposed within the enclosure. The light source and IoR sensor are disposed within the housing and are configured to be repeatably used with a series of single use prisms of similar construction. One single use prism can be removed after being used, and a new single use prism can be installed in the enclosure for use with the same light source and IoR sensor as were used with the first prism.
Claims20
A refractometer for a single use system, the refractometer comprising:
- an enclosure, the enclosure defining an interior chamber;
- a single use prism, the single use prism removably disposed within the interior chamber of the enclosure, the single use prism including a body made from an optically transmissive material, the body including a light-accepting surface, a light-refracting surface, and an interface surface, the light-accepting surface and the light-refracting surface being generally planar, the interface surface defining a passage extending along a longitudinal axis through the body;
- a light source, the light source disposed within the enclosure such that the light source is configured to selectively emit light in a light path emanating from a location external to the single use prism, the light path extending from the light source through the light-accepting surface of the single use prism to the interface surface, the light path being substantially perpendicular to the light-accepting surface and to the longitudinal axis of the passage;
- an index of refraction (IoR) sensor, the IoR sensor disposed within the interior chamber of the enclosure such that the IoR sensor is configured to detect total internal reflection light that reflects from the light path at the interface surface and passes through the light-refracting surface of the single use prism, the IoR sensor being configured to generate an IoR signal indicative of the total internal reflection light the IoR sensor detects.
1 more element
A single use prism for a refractometer, the single use prism comprising:
- a body, the body made from an optically transmissive material and including:
- a light-accepting surface, a light-refracting surface, first and second side surfaces, and an interface surface,
- the light-accepting surface and the light-refracting surface being planar and being in non-parallel relationship with each other,
- the first and second side surfaces disposed in lateral spaced relationship to each other, the first and second side surfaces each including first and second side edges, the light-accepting surface extending between the first side edges of the first and second side surfaces, and the light-refracting surface extending between the second side edges of the first and second side surfaces,
- the interface surface defining through the body a passage in communication with the first and second passage openings, the passage extending along a longitudinal axis between the first and second passage openings.
2 more elements
A method of using a refractometer, the method comprising:
- (i) removably installing a single use prism in an interior chamber of an enclosure, the single use prism made from an optically transmissive material, the single use prism including a body having a light-accepting surface, a light-refracting surface, and an interface surface, the light-accepting surface and the light-refracting surface being generally planar, the interface surface defining a passage extending along a longitudinal axis though the body;
- (ii) passing a fluid through the passage of the single use prism;
- (iii) directing a light path from within the interior chamber external to the single use prism through the light-accepting surface of the single use prism to the interface surface, the light path being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the passage;
- (iv) detecting total internal reflection light from the light path that is reflected at the interface surface and passes through the light-refracting surface of the single use prism;
- (v) generating an IoR signal indicative of the total internal reflection light detected;
- (vi) determining a value of a characteristic of the fluid based upon the IoR signal;
- (vii) removing the single use prism from the enclosure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.