Dual sample mode spectrophotometer
AssigneeNanodrop Technologies, LLC
InventorsCharles W. Robertson, Jr., Catherine T. Williams, Jonathan Pundt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual-mode method and apparatus of selectively measuring samples in either a vessel or as a surface tension retained sample held between two opposing pedestals is introduced. In either configuration, such modes further contain optical paths from a source system through a small-volume or large-volume sample to a spectrometer based system. Such a system enables a user to measure samples with absorbances ranging from about 0.005 up to about 2.0 Absorbance Units for any given wavelength.
Claims28
A dual-mode spectrophotometer for measuring an optical property of a sample, comprising:
- a first pedestal surface coupled to a first optical conduit having a transmitting end;
- a base plate;
- a second pedestal surface mechanically coupled to said base plate and configured to receive a first liquid sample, said second pedestal surface being coupled to a second optical conduit having a receiving end, wherein said second pedestal surface is further operable so as to adjust a separation between said first and said second pedestal surfaces at a variable distance (P) to pull said first liquid sample into a column so as to be contained by surface tension, thereby providing an optical path with said transmitting end of said first optical conduit and said receiving end of said second optical conduit for photometric or spectrometric measurement;
- a vessel holder configured with a recessed guide means, said vessel holder configured to be removably coupled to said base plate;
- and
- a sample vessel configured to be resiliently secured within said recessed guide means, said sample vessel having a second liquid sample therein and configured with at least two window means therein, thereby also providing an optical path for photometric or spectrometric measurement.
A dual-mode spectrophotometer method for measuring an optical property of a sample contained in either a surface tension mode or contained in a cuvette, comprising:
- providing a first pedestal surface coupled to a first optical conduit having a transmitting end;
- placing a first sample on a second pedestal surface mechanically coupled to a base plate, said second pedestal surface being coupled to an optical conduit having a receiving end, wherein said second pedestal surface is further operable so as to adjust a separation between said first and said second pedestal surfaces at a variable distance (P) to pull said first liquid sample into a column so as to be contained by surface tension, thereby providing an optical path with said transmitting end of said first optical conduit and said receiving end of said second optical conduit for photometric or spectrometric measurements;
- providing a vessel holder configured with a recessed guide means, said vessel holder configured to be removably coupled to said base plate;
- and
- providing a sample vessel configured to be resiliently secured within said recessed guide means, said sample vessel having a second liquid sample disposed therein and configured with at least two window means therein, thereby also providing an optical path for photometric or spectrometric measurements, wherein desired photometric or spectrometric measurements can be provided on said sample held in surface tension and/or on said second liquid sample disposed therein said vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.