Hollow core waveguide flow cell
AssigneeFEI Company
InventorChien-Sheng LIAO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow cell for use with a spectrometer is described. The flow cell includes a waveguide having a hollow core. An inlet is fluidly coupled at a first end of the hollow core, and an outlet is fluidly coupled at a second end of the hollow core. A window at the inlet is optically coupled to the waveguide at the second end, and a mirror at the outlet is optically coupled to the waveguide at the second end. The flow cell also includes a first conduit configured to couple a fluid to the inlet, and a second conduit configured to couple the fluid to the outlet. Methods and systems using the flow cell are described. For example, methods and systems for monitoring a bioreactor.
Claims22
A flow cell (100) comprising:
- a waveguide (104) having a hollow core (105);
- an inlet (110) fluidly coupled at a first end (106) of the hollow core (105);
- an outlet (112) fluidly coupled at a second end (108) of the hollow core (105);
- a window (114) at the inlet (110) optically coupled to the waveguide (104) at the first end (106):
- a mirror (122) at the outlet (112) optically coupled to the waveguide (104) at the second end (108):
- a first conduit (126) configured to couple a fluid (128) to the inlet (110);
- and
- a second conduit (130) configured to couple the fluid (128) to the outlet (112).
A system for in-line monitoring of a fluid process, comprising:
- a waveguide having a hollow core defined between a first end and a second end of the waveguide:
- a window optically coupled at the first end and configured to transmit light into and out of the hollow core;
- a mirror optically coupled at the second end of the waveguide and configured to reflect light towards the first end;
- an inlet fluidly coupled at the first end to the hollow core and an outlet fluidly coupled at the second end to the hollow core:
- a first conduit fluidly coupling a reactor to the inlet:
- a second conduit fluidly coupling the outlet to the reactor;
- and
- a spectrometer optically coupled to the waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.