EP0089157A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Optical detector cell
Assignee: J and W Scientific Inc
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Filing: 1983-03-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-03-04
Abstract
Abstract An optical detector cell (10) for determining the presence of a solute in a sample fluid includes a sample tube (12), inlet and outlet means (30,32) for the sample fluid, and first and second optical waveguides (16,20) for passing a beam of light axially through the sample tube. The detector cell finds particular use in miniature chromatographic and microspec- troscopic applications where a very low volumetric flow of sample fluid is to be analyzed. By providing an optical flow path which is parallel to the fluid flow path, the thickness of the sample examined is maximized corresponding to a fixed sample volume, resulting in the ability to detect low threshold concentrations of solute.
Inventors
- 👤 David Le Febre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/05; G01N2021/0346; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/62; G01N30/74; G01N2030/746
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An optical detector cell for determining the presence of a solute in a fluid sample, said detector cell being characterised by: an elongate sample chamber (14) have a fluid inlet and fluid outlet means which define an axial flow path through the chamber for the sample; a first optical waveguide (16) arranged to transmit light from a source to one end of the chamber (12) so that at least a portion of the light travels axially into the chamber; and a second optical waveguide (20) disposed at the other end of the detection chamber (12) to collect light from the chamber and transmit the light to a remote analyzer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An optical detector cell for determining the presence of a solute in a fluid sample, said detector cell being characterised by: an elongate sample chamber (14) have a fluid inlet and fluid outlet means which define an axial flow path through the chamber for the sample; a first optical waveguide (16) arranged to transmit light from a source to one end of the chamber (12) so that at least a portion of the light travels axially into the chamber; and a second optical waveguide (20) disposed at the other end of the detection chamber (12) to collect light from the chamber and transmit the light to a remote analyzer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
An analytical detection system which determines the presence of a solute in a fluid sample by passing light from a light source (18) through a detector cell (10) containing the sample and analyzing light from the sample with a photosensor (22), the detector cell (10) being characterised by: an elongate sample chamber (14) having fluid inlet and fluid outlet means (30,32) the chamber (12) defining an axial flow path through the chamber for the fluid; a first optical waveguide (16) arranged to transmit light from the light source (18) into the sample chamber so that at least a portion of the light travels along said axial flowpath through chamber; and: a second optical waveguide (20) disposed at the other end of the sample chamber to collect light from the chamber and transmit the light to the photosensor (22).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
An analytical detection system which determines the presence of a solute in a fluid sample by passing light from a light source (18) through a detector cell (10) containing the sample and analyzing light from the sample with a photosensor (22), the detector cell (10) being characterised by: an elongate sample chamber (14) having fluid inlet and fluid outlet means (30,32) the chamber (12) defining an axial flow path through the chamber for the fluid; a first optical waveguide (16) arranged to transmit light from the light source (18) into the sample chamber so that at least a portion of the light travels along said axial flowpath through chamber; and: a second optical waveguide (20) disposed at the other end of the sample chamber to collect light from the chamber and transmit the light to the photosensor (22).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A detector cell as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the sample chamber (14) is defined by a cylindrical tube (12) and the first and second waveguides (16,20) are defined by cylindrical rods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A detector cell as claimed in claim 3, wherein the internal diameter of the cylindrical tube (12) is approximately equal to the diameter of the cylindrical rods (16,20).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A detector cell as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the outer wall of the cylindrical tube (12) is clad with light-absorbing material (38) so that the wall is inhibited from axially propagating light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A detector cell as in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the inner wall of the cylindrical tube (12) is coated with a light reflecting material (40) to inhibit the absorbance of light from the sample chamber by the wall of the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An optical detector cell as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sample chamber (14) and the fluid inlet and outlet means (30,32) are defined by a common cylindrical tube (12) which is bent in an S-shaped pattern to define the sample flow path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An optical detector cell as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the sample chamber (14) is defined by a diverging conical section (64) followed by a converging conical section (65) with an expanded girdle section (66) at the juncture between the diverging and converging sections whereby the light entering the girdle section is limited to isotropic light emanating from a point downstream of the apex of the diverging conical section.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for observing and analyzing a continuous stream of sample fluid in order to detect the preserve of a solute, said method employing an optical detector cell (10) characterised by: passing the sample fluid through and along the length of a sample chamber (14); transmitting light by means of a first optical waveguide (16) so that at least a portion of the light propagates into and along the length of the chamber (14); collecting light from the sample chamber (14) by means of a second optical waveguide (20); and analyzing the collected light to determine the presence of the solute.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for observing and analyzing a continuous stream of sample fluid in order to detect the preserve of a solute, said method employing an optical detector cell (10) characterised by: passing the sample fluid through and along the length of a sample chamber (14); transmitting light by means of a first optical waveguide (16) so that at least a portion of the light propagates into and along the length of the chamber (14); collecting light from the sample chamber (14) by means of a second optical waveguide (20); and analyzing the collected light to determine the presence of the solute.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light collected results at least in part from fluorescence of one or more solutes in the sample fluid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light collected results from light propagating through the sample chamber from the first waveguide, said propagated light being absorbed proportionally to the presence of one or more solutes in the sample fluid.
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