ESR Based portable microanalytic apparatus and method
OwnerAlbert J. Baumaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modified electron spin resonance (ESR) apparatus and a novel sample preparation and handling means therefor is provided for diverse analytic and monitoring purposes requiring both high sensitivity and high specificity, and in portable form for field use.
Claims41
In an ESR spectrometer apparatus having an elongated microwave cavity providing a locus for receiving a sample to be measured for spin resonance response, a microwave energy source for said cavity, and a detector responsive to the microwave energy generated spin resonance signal of the sample in said cavity in sample identifying relation, the improvement comprising, means defining a cavity through passage within said locus, said through passage extending between an inlet and a separate outlet in the wall of said cavity and adapted to transport of said sample through said cavity through passage in microwave energy exposed relation and freely of contact with the walls of said cavity beyond said through passage.
In an ESR spectrometer apparatus having an elongated microwave cavity providing a locus for receiving a sample to be measured for spin resonance response, a microwave energy source for said cavity, and a detector responsive to the microwave energy generated spin resonance signal of the sample in said cavity in sample identifying relation, the improvement comprising, means defining a cavity through passage within said locus, said through passage extending between an inlet and a separate outlet in the wall of said cavity, and means to transport said sample through said cavity through passage in microwave energy exposed relation and freely of contact with the walls of said cavity beyond said through passage.
In an ESR spectrometer apparatus having an elongated microwave cavity providing a locus for receiving a sample to be measured for spin resonance response, a microwave energy source for said cavity, and a detector responsive to the microwave energy generated spin resonance signal of the sample in said cavity in sample identifying relation, the improvement comprising means defining a cavity passage within said locus, said passage extending between an inlet and an outlet in the wall of said cavity, and means to transport said sample through said cavity passage in microwave energy exposed relation and freely of contact with the walls of said cavity beyond said passage, said transporting means comprising a nonspin resonant signal generating inert elongated tape carrier of indefinite length dimensioned to traverse said cavity passage and defining a longitudinally distributed succession of sample locations including discrete sample means comprising a spin resonant free radical precursor having spin resonant free radical generating response selectively to exposure to ambient fluid containing a predetermined target entity, said tape being adapted to move progressively through said cavity passage for longitudinally successive presentation of sample locations for spin resonance response meaurement of sample at said locations and coincident with movement of said tape through said passage cavity.
Sample transporting carrier adapted for carriage of samples through a microwave cavity passage, said carrier comprising an elongated tape of indefinite length and having discrete sample means at locations thereon comprising a spin resonating free radical precursor at a longitudinally distributed succession of sample locations, said precursor having spin resonant free radical generating response selectively to exposure to ambient fluid containing a predetermined target entity, said tape being adapted to move progressively through said cavity passage for longitudinally successive presentation of sample locations for spin resonance response measurement of sample at said locations and coincident with movement of said tape through said passage cavity.
Apparatus according to claim 26, in which said tape comprises a succession of microporous beads defining said sample locations, said sample means being embedded in said beads in ambient fluid protected and target entity exposable relation.
Method of monitoring the presence of trace quantities of a target entity in situ in an ambient fluid, including exposing a selectively target entity-responsive spin resonant free radical precursor to contact with the ambient fluid in supported relation for free radical resonant response to the presence of the target entity in the ambient fluid, subjecting the supported, exposed precursor to microwave energy sufficient to spin resonate precursor-provided free radicals while selectively blocking ambient fluid constituents other than the target entity from contact with said precursor, and sensing the spin resonance as an indication of the presence or absence of the target entity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.