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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsGerald T. Warner, Colin G. Potter
Estimating the term…
In a sorption sheet (1) for sorbing a plurality of discrete samples that simultaneously emit photons or beta particles, the emission thereof to be individually monitored, barriers (2) of a photon and/or beta particle attenuating material extend through at least a portion of the thickness of the sheet (1) which is known per se, to prevent cross-talk between the samples when monitored. The barriers are produced by soaking a liquid photon and/or beta particle attenuating material in a pattern of lines through at least a portion of the thickness of the sheet, whereupon that material is dried and/or cured.
In a sorption sheet for sorbing a plurality of discrete samples that simultaneously emit photons or beta particles, which in contact with a scintillant cause an indirect emission of photons wherein the photon emission from the individual samples is to be monitored, where the improvement comprises barriers of a photon and/or beta particle attenuating material extending through at least a portion of the thickness of the sheet which substantially attenuates optical cross-talk between the samples when so monitored.
Method of producing a sorption sheet for sorbing a plurality of discrete samples that simultaneously emit photons or beta particles, and from which the emission of photons or beta particles is to be individually monitored, characterized in that liquid photon and/or beta particle attenuating material is soaked in a pattern of lines through at least a portion of the thickness of a sorption sheet, whereupon that material is dried and/or cured to form barriers to substantially attenuate optical cross-talk between the samples when monitored.
A method for substantially attenuating optical cross-talk in monitoring a sample on a sorption sheet for sorbing a plurality of discrete samples that simultaneously omit photons or beta particles, which in contact with a scintillant cause an indirect emission of photons, wherein the photon emission from the individual sample is to be monitored, comprising
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Term ended 24 Apr 2006 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The invention relates to a sorption sheet for sorbing a plurality of discrete samples that simultaneously emit photons or beta particles, the emission thereof to be individually monitored, and a method of producing such a sorption sheet and use thereof.
Such a sorption sheet is known, e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,796. The sorption sheet or support layer according to that patent comprises a filter mat of nitro-cellulose or glass fibre for supporting a plurality of beta particle emitting samples. This sheet is to be contacted with a scintillant to convert the beta particles into photons to be detected by means of a photodetector.
In use of this known sorption sheet radioactivity from one sample may diffuse towards an adjacent sample. Moreover, when the photodetector is monitoring a certain sample, photons from adjacent samples may strike the photodetector and cause an inaccuracy of measurement. This effect is normally called "optical cross-talk".
The invention will be described more in detail below with reference to the drawing on which
FIGS. 1 and 2 show two different embodiments of the sorption sheet according to the invention.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show two different embodiments of a microporous sorption sheet 1 according to the invention for sorbing a plurality of discrete samples (not shown) that simultaneously emit photons or beta particles, the emission thereof to be individually monitored. The sorption sheet as such is known per se and may be made of glass fibre, nylon, nitrocellulose or other polymers. To prevent cross-talk between samples upon monitoring on the one hand and confine each sample to a restricted area on the sheet 1 in order to prevent migration or diffusion of the samples into adjacent sample areas on the other hand, the sorption sheet 1 according to the invention is provided with barriers that extend through at least a portion of the thickness of the sheet. The barriers may extend essentially through the thickness of the sheet.
In FIG. 1 these barriers are denoted 2, while in FIG. 2 these barriers are denoted 3.
As apparent the barriers 2 in FIG. 1 form a grid pattern, while the barriers 3 in FIG. 2 are annular. In both cases the samples (not shown) will be sorbed on the sorption sheet 1 according to a matrix pattern with e.g. 8 columns as shown and 12 rows.