US 9,618,449 B2Granted

Optical analysis of emissions from stimulated liquids

AssigneeThe Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York

InventorAlexander Chekalyuk

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Abstract

Modular systems can be used for optical analysis, including in-situ analysis, of stimulated liquids. An excitation module can include a radiation sources, e.g., a laser, LED, lamp, etc. A detection module can include one or more detectors configured to receive spectral and/or temporal information from a stimulated liquid. Such systems can be used to identify or measure optical emissions including fluorescence or scattering. The efficient excitation of liquid samples and collection of emissions from the samples provides substantial, up to four-fold increase in the emission signal over prior systems. In an example, emission measurements can be conducted in an isolated sample compartment, such as using interchangeable modules for discrete sampling, flow-through sampling, or sampling via fiber probe. The systems and methods described herein can be used to characterize natural aquatic environments, including assessments of phytoplankton pigments, biomass, structure, physiology, organic matter, and oil pollution.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a liquid sampling module;
an excitation module configured to provide an excitation energy to stimulate a liquid sample via a first excitation path, using the liquid sampling module;
a first detector path extending from the liquid sampling module to a first emission detector, the first detector path comprising:
a first collimating lens configured to receive an emission from the stimulated liquid sample and in response to pass a first collimated emission;
an optical filter configured to receive tile first collimated emission and in response to pass a spectrally filtered emission and to reflect a reflected emission toward the liquid sample via a second path:
and
the first emission detector configured to receive the spectrally filtered emission;
and
a second detector path extending from the liquid sampling module to a second emission detector, the second emission detector configured to receive other emissions from the liquid sample when the liquid sample is stimulated by the excitation energy via the first excitation path and is stimulated by the reflected emission via the second path;
a control circuit, coupled to the excitation module and the first and second emission detectors, the control circuit configured to initiate the excitation module to at least one of provide the excitation energy or to initiate the first or second emission detector to receive the emissions;
and
a processor circuit, coupled to the first emission detector, configured to obtain at least one of a spectral or temporal measurement of tile received spectrally filtered emission.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/376,297Filed 1 Feb 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Feb 2012
Published: US 2015/0000384 A11 Jan 2015
Granted: 11 Apr 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

G01N 21/6402
Fluorescence; Phosphorescence: atomic fluorescence; Laser induced fluorescence
G01J 3/0208
Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows: using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or…
G01J 3/021
Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows: using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or…
G01J 3/0216
Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows: using light concentrators or collectors or condensers