# US 8,541,743 B2 · Apparatus and method for detecting and quantifying analytes in solution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,743 B2 - Document ID: US8541743B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/668,479 - Filed: 2012-11-05 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-02 - Assignees: Roc8Sci Co. - Applicants: Roc8Sci Co. - Inventors: Frank Thomas Hartley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541743B2 ## CPC - G01J 3/26: using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/1455: using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters - A61B 5/6816: {Ear lobe} - G01J 3/02: Details - G01J 3/0259: {Monolithic} - G01J 3/10: Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry - G01J 3/2803: {using photoelectric array detector} - G01J 3/42: Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry (beam switching arrangements G01J3/08) - G01N 21/03: Cuvette constructions - A61B 2562/0238: Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue - G01N 21/35: using infrared light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - G01N 2021/0346: {Capillary cells; Microcells} - G01N 2021/3144: {for oxymetry} - G01N 2021/317: {Special constructive features} - G01N 2201/08: Optical fibres; light guides - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A method for identifying and quantifying one or more analytes included in a sample comprising a background solvent is disclosed. The present invention locates a sample fluid at a sample region by virtue of a sample holder that comprises work-hardened silver halide. The sample fluid at the sample region is then spectrally characterized via a mid-infrared spectrometer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: (1) a spectrometer comprising; (i) a source operable for providing mid-infrared radiation to a sample region; (ii) a wavelength discriminator operable for receiving a composite light signal from the sample region and spatially dispersing the composite light signal as a plurality of wavelength signals; and (iii) a plurality of detectors, each of the plurality of detectors operable for generating one of a plurality of first electrical signals based on one of the plurality of wavelength signals; and (2) a sample holder, the sample holder being operable for locating a sample fluid at the sample region, the sample holder being dimensioned and arranged to enable the sample fluid to (a) receive mid-infrared radiation such that at least a portion of the mid-infrared radiation transits the sample fluid and (b) provide the composite light signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sample holder includes a first region that is operable for drawing the sample fluid into the sample holder via capillary action. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sample holder includes a sample cell that comprises work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sample cell includes a portion of a conduit that is operable for conveying the sample fluid through the sample region, the portion of the conduit comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sample cell comprises a chamber operable for containing the sample fluid, the chamber comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of detectors comprises: (i) a plate, wherein the plate comprises an absorber operable for converting incident mid-infrared radiation to heat; (ii) an electrode disposed on a substrate, the electrode and the plate collectively defining a parallel-plate capacitor whose capacitance is based on a first separation between the electrode and the plate; and (iii) an actuator operable for changing the first separation in response to a change in the temperature of the actuator, the actuator comprising a first bi-material element having a first end and a second end, the first end being mechanically coupled with the plate and the second end being substantially immovable with respect to the substrate, wherein a change in the temperature of the first bi-material element induces motion of the first end with respect to the substrate; wherein the plate and the actuator are thermally coupled to enable transfer of heat from the plate to the actuator, and wherein the actuator and the substrate are thermally coupled to enable transfer of heat from the actuator to the substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source is dimensioned and arranged to provide the mid-infrared radiation as a pulse of mid-infrared radiation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the source emits the mid-infrared radiation in response to a drive signal that is an electrical pulse. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (3) a processor; and (4) a database comprising a plurality of spectra for each of a first chemical constituent and a second chemical constituent, wherein the sample comprises the first chemical constituent and the second chemical constituent; wherein the processor is operable for receiving the plurality of wavelength signals and providing an output signal that is based on the plurality of wavelength signals and the plurality of spectra. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: (3) a first optical fiber operable for conveying mid-infrared radiation, the first optical fiber comprising silver halide, the first optical fiber being operatively coupled with each of the source and the first region; and (4) a second optical fiber, the second optical fiber comprising silver halide, the second optical fiber operable for conveying the composite light signal from the first region to the wavelength discriminator. ### Claim 11 An apparatus comprising: (1) a spectrometer comprising; (i) a source operable for providing mid-infrared radiation; (ii) a wavelength discriminator operable for spatially dispersing a composite light signal into a plurality of wavelength signals; and (iii) a plurality of detectors, each of the plurality of detectors operable for generating one of a plurality of first electrical signals based on one of the plurality of wavelength signals; and (2) a sample holder that includes a sample cell that comprises work-hardened silver halide, the sample holder operable for locating a sample fluid such that the sample fluid (a) receives mid-infrared radiation from the source such that at least a portion of the mid-infrared radiation transits the sample fluid and (b) provides the composite light signal to the wavelength discriminator such that the composite light signal includes the mid-infrared radiation and spectral information based on the sample fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sample cell includes a portion of a conduit that is operable for conveying the sample fluid through the sample region, the portion of the conduit comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sample cell comprises a chamber operable for containing the sample fluid, the chamber comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sample cell includes a first region that is operable for drawing the sample fluid into the sample holder via capillary action, the first region comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising: (3) a first optical fiber operable for conveying mid-infrared radiation, the first optical fiber comprising a first material that is substantially transparent for mid-infrared radiation, the first optical fiber being operatively coupled with each of the source and the first region; and (4) a second optical fiber, the second optical fiber comprising the first material, the second optical fiber operable for conveying the composite light signal from the first region to the wavelength discriminator. ### Claim 16 An apparatus comprising: (1) a spectrometer comprising; (i) a source operable for providing mid-infrared radiation; (ii) a first optical fiber operable for conveying mid-infrared radiation from the source to a sample region, the first optical fiber comprising silver halide; (iii) a second optical fiber operable for conveying a composite light signal comprising mid-infrared radiation from the sample region to a wavelength discriminator, the second optical fiber comprising silver halide; (iv) the wavelength discriminator, the wavelength discriminator being operable for receiving the composite light signal and spatially dispersing it as a plurality of wavelength signals; and (v) a plurality of detectors, each of the plurality of detectors operable for generating one of a plurality of first electrical signals based on one of the plurality of wavelength signals; and (2) a sample holder, the sample holder being operable for locating a sample fluid at the sample region, the sample holder being dimensioned and arranged to enable the sample fluid to (a) receive mid-infrared radiation such that at least a portion of the mid-infrared radiation transits the sample fluid and (b) provide the composite light signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the sample holder includes a sample cell that comprises work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the sample cell includes a portion of a conduit that is operable for conveying the sample fluid through the sample region, the portion of the conduit comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the sample cell comprises a chamber operable for containing the sample fluid, the chamber comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the sample cell includes a first region that is operable for drawing the sample fluid into the sample holder via capillary action, the first region comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 21 A method comprising: locating a sample fluid in a sample region, the sample fluid including a first chemical constituent and a background solvent, the sample fluid being located by a sample holder that enables mid-infrared radiation to transit the sample fluid and enables the sample fluid to provide a composite light signal; passing mid-infrared radiation through the sample fluid; providing the composite light signal such that it includes spectral information based on each of a first chemical constituent and the background solvent; distributing the first composite light signal into a plurality of wavelength signals; and providing a first electrical signal based on the plurality of wavelength signals. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising generating an output signal that is based on first electrical signal and a first spectral model, wherein the first spectral model is based on the mid-infrared spectral signature of the background solvent. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising providing the infrared radiation, wherein the mid-infrared radiation is provided by operations comprising: providing a drive signal to a source, wherein the source is dimensioned and arranged to convert the drive signal into mid-infrared radiation; and modulating the drive signal such that it comprises a plurality of pulses of electrical energy. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising providing a sample holder, wherein the sample holder includes a portion of a conduit that conveys the sample fluid to the sample region, the portion of the conduit comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising providing a sample holder, wherein the sample holder includes a chamber that contains the sample fluid in the sample region, the chamber comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 further comprising providing a sample holder, wherein the sample holder includes a first region that is operable for drawing the sample fluid into the sample holder via capillary action, the first region comprising work-hardened silver halide. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the sample fluid is exposed to mid-infrared radiation by operations comprising: providing a drive signal to a source, wherein the source converts the drive signal into mid-infrared radiation; and conveying mid-infrared radiation from the source to the sample region via a first optical fiber that comprises a first material that is substantially transparent for mid-infrared radiation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 further comprising providing the first optical fiber such that the first material comprises silver halide. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the composite light signal is distributed into the plurality of wavelength signals by operations comprising: coupling the composite light signal into a first optical fiber at the sample region, the first optical fiber comprising a first material that is substantially transparent for mid-infrared radiation, wherein the first optical fiber is optically coupled with a wavelength discriminator operative to spatially disperse the composite light signal into the plurality of wavelength signals; and emitting the composite light signal from the first optical fiber such that it is received by the wavelength discriminator. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29 further comprising providing the first optical fiber such that the first material comprises silver halide.