Monochromatic (e.g., Laser) Patents (Class 356/318)
  • Patent number: 7612350
    Abstract: A scanning microscope includes a light source unit that projects laser light, an optical system that converges and applies the laser light onto data obtaining points on a specimen, and a data obtaining order deciding unit that decides a data obtaining order such that adjacent data obtaining points are not consecutive in the data obtaining order. A scanning unit scans the laser light in accordance with the data obtaining order, a detector detects detection light from the data obtaining points, respectively, and a storage unit stores luminance information on the detection light detected by the detector in association with positional information on the data obtaining points, respectively. An image formation unit forms a two-dimensional image based on the stored associated luminance and positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Takamizawa
  • Patent number: 7609370
    Abstract: A single detector based spectroscopy system using FAST (fiber array spectral translator) fibers and two excitation sources in conjunction with a holographic spectrum analyzer (HSA) to obtain simultaneous and selective display of spectroscopic regions of interest. A sample can be illuminated with different laser excitation wavelengths and resulting multiple spectra can be comparatively observed on a single display screen for more fruitful analysis of sample spectral responses (and, hence, sample chemical or physical properties) under different excitations. The HSA may be configured to focus on user-selected spectral regions of interest from different such spectra and a single CCD detector may be configured to collect spectral data from all selected spectral regions of interest in corresponding portions of the CCD pixel array, thereby allowing subsequent simultaneous display of such selected spectral regions of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Voigt, David Tuschel
  • Patent number: 7609379
    Abstract: A system for detecting a chemical element within a material including at least one laser emission means for ionizing part of the material to generate fluorescence; at least one transmitting Bragg grating that filters the wavelength corresponding to the deexcitation wavelength of the element; and at least one photodiode that detects a line corresponding to the filtering wavelength, wherein the at least one Bragg grating is mobile to vary the filtering wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS
    Inventors: Lionel Canioni, Stéphane Santran, Bruno Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20090262345
    Abstract: The invention relates to an immersion probe (1) for a device for carrying out laser-induced plasma spectroscopy in a liquid or solid free-flowing material, such as a metallic melt, which immersion probe (1) has a tubular section (4) extending from a foot-side end (2) of the immersion probe (1) about a longitudinal axis (X) of the same and an opening for material to flow in. In order to be able to reliably determine, in particular, a chemical composition of a melt independently of an angle of inclination of the immersion probe with respect to a surface of the melt, it is provided according to the invention that the tubular section (4) is embodied essentially closed or closeable on the foot-side end (2) and has a lateral opening (5) through which the material can be inserted into the tubular section as a free flowing jet (12) directed at an angle (?) to the longitudinal axis (X).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Johann Gruber, Max Dallinger
  • Patent number: 7605920
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of identifying a unidentified substance, comprising directing light from a light emitting source directly upon a stationary unidentified substance; collecting fluorescence from the unidentified substance in a detector; wherein the detector comprises a lock-in detection system; analyzing the fluorescence; and identifying the unidentified substance. Disclosed herein is a detection system comprising a light emitting source; a circuit board; wherein the trigger is operative to trigger a pulse of electrons from the circuit board to the light emitting source; a detector; and a central processing unit, wherein fluorescence generated from an unknown unidentified substance that is illuminated by light from the light emitting source is collected in the detector and analyzed in the central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: GE Homeland Protection, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf, Alexei Vasilievich Vertiatchikh, Rui Chen, Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo
  • Patent number: 7601539
    Abstract: A standard material that is used for judging an abnormal portion in a particle analyzer is described. The standard material comprises first standard particles to be fluorescence-stained by a fluorescence-staining treatment and second standard particles that have preliminarily contained a fluorescence dye. A method and an analyzer that can judge an abnormal portion in a particle analyzer by using such a standard material are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Kawate
  • Patent number: 7602479
    Abstract: A light fluctuation measuring apparatus, comprising a parameter setting unit 2 which sets parameters of a microscopic image obtaining unit and/or parameters of a light emission measuring unit used for observing light emission in a desired area of a sample in time series, a parameter storage 4 which stores parameters, a mode selector 3 which selects one of a microscopic image obtaining mode for obtaining a microscopic image by a microscopic image obtaining unit, and a light emission measuring mode for observing light emission in a desired area by a light emission measuring unit, and a control unit 1 which reads parameters stored in the storage 4 based on a selected mode, inputs the parameter to a microscopic image obtaining unit or a light emission measuring unit, and controls these units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuji Sawada, Yoshio Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7599732
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for biomedical imaging includes directing time-varying excitation light at a surface area of a light scattering material, the material comprising a fluorescent target. Time-varying emission light from the fluorescent target is detected, substantially at a two-dimensional sensor surface, in response to the time-varying excitation light stimulating the fluorescent target. The time-varying emission light is filtered to reject excitation light re-emitted from the material. A three-dimensional image of the fluorescent target is generated based on the detection substantially at the sensor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Eva M. Sevick-Muraca, Alan B. Thompson, Roy Ranadhir
  • Patent number: 7599048
    Abstract: Methods and systems for control and monitoring processing of semiconductor materials with a focused laser beam. Laser light may be focused on a sample to excite optical emission at the sample surface during processing, which may include laser processing. Optical emission spectra produced may be analyzed for various properties effectively during the process. For example, process effects such as chemical composition analysis, species concentration, depth profiling, homogeneity characterization and mapping, purity, and reactivity may be monitored by optical spectral analysis. The wavelength may be selected to be appropriate for the process effect chosen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: WaferMasters, Inc.
    Inventors: Woo Sik Yoo, Kitaek Kang
  • Publication number: 20090242798
    Abstract: A microscopy system is configured for creating 3D images from individually localized probe molecules. The microscopy system includes a sample stage, an activation light source, a readout light source, a beam splitting device, at least one camera, and a controller. The activation light source activates probes of at least one probe subset of photo-sensitive luminescent probes, and the readout light source causes luminescence light from the activated probes. The beam splitting device splits the luminescence light into at least two paths to create at least two detection planes that correspond to the same or different number of object planes of the sample. The camera detects simultaneously the at least two detection planes, the number of object planes being represented in the camera by the same number of recorded regions of interest. The controller is programmable to combine a signal from the regions of interest into a 3D data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicants: The Jackson Laboratory, University of Maine
    Inventors: Joerg Bewersdorf, Manuel F. Juette, Travis Gould, Sam T. Hess
  • Patent number: 7595864
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a process of using the said apparatus in the in-time air sampling, detection and identification of bioaereosols; wherein identification of the said aerosol is based on a multiphoton laser diagnostic technique in combination with the velocity and aerodynamic size of the particular bioaerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Inventors: Jorge E. Gonzalez Cruz, Alfredo Ortiz Vega, Victor M. Salazar Izquierdo
  • Patent number: 7595874
    Abstract: Detection of a rarely occurring event within one or more biological samples includes (a) processing each biological sample to provide a gellable liquid solution comprising concentrated biological sample and a flourochrome designed to associate with a rarely occurring event within the concentrated biological sample; (b) depositing the solution in a layer on a surface of a slide; and (c) scanning the solution on the slide with energy adapted to cause fluorescence of the flourochrome to detect potential instances of the rarely occurring event within the concentrated biological sample in the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sciperio, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Pelekhaty, Anatoliy Kachurin, William Warren, Kenneth Church, Heather Fahlenkamp, Russell Higbee
  • Patent number: 7589839
    Abstract: A microscope examination apparatus is provided that includes a light source for emitting excitation light or illumination light to a specimen placed on a stage; an objective lens opposing the stage and capable of focusing fluorescence or reflected light from the specimen; an image-forming lens for forming an image of the specimen obtained by the objective lens; and an image-capturing unit for capturing the image of the specimen forming by the image-forming lens, wherein a plurality of the objective lenses having different magnifying powers is provided, and an objective-lens switching mechanism for switching among the objective lenses is provided, and wherein a plurality of the image-forming lenses having different magnifying powers is provided, and an image-forming-lens switching mechanism for switching among the image-forming lenses is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kawano, Keiji Shimizu, Minoru Sukekawa, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki, Susumu Honda, Kazuhiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7583369
    Abstract: The present invention compensates a fluctuation of a light-emitting intensity of a light source. First splitting portions (12, 13) in the present invention are used to split lights emitted from the light source, and an excitation light with a specific wavelength (?Ex) is incident to a sample element 15. Second splitting portions (16, 17) are used to split the lights from the sample element portion, and a fluorescence detecting portion 18 is used to measure the fluorescence intensity (IEm). A reference light detecting portion 19 detects a specific wavelength (?R) of the lights without being selected by the first splitting portion, and then the light intensities detected by the reference light detecting portion are outputted and stored in a spectrum data storage portion 21. The intensity (IEx) of the excitation light is calculated according to the wavelength of the excitation light, the wavelength of the reference light, and the intensity of the reference light in the spectrum data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masahide Gunji
  • Patent number: 7582882
    Abstract: A method of spectrographic measurement is disclosed. The method generates light energy using a solid state low capacitance excitation source, the light energy being caused to fall on a sample to be assayed, causing the sample to output an output optical signal. The method generates a plurality of modulation frequencies, and a plurality of heterodyne frequencies to form a set of heterodyne signals at the heterodyne frequencies. Each of the heterodyne frequencies is associated with one of the modulation frequencies. Coupling the modulation frequencies to the excitation source, causes the excitation source to generate excitation energy modulated in intensity in proportion to the modulation frequencies. A sampling a portion of the substantially incoherent excitation energy forms a reference substantially incoherent excitation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Horiba Jobin Yvon, Inc.
    Inventors: David McLoskey, Glenn Baker, Jim Mattheis, Sal Atzeni
  • Patent number: 7573570
    Abstract: A compact Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy system that uses a microprism or micromirror based optical structure to accomplish the introduction of excitation radiation with compactness and simplified system configuration for portable or mobile spectroscopy applications. A microprism may be glued to a surface location of a focusing lens in the system to directly receive the illumination signal without intervening optical components. Alternatively, the microprism may be simply placed in close physical proximity of the focusing lens without being glued thereto. On the other hand, a micromirror may be used instead of the microprism. The illuminating photons received by the microprism or micromirror may be directly transferred to the sample under investigation via the focusing lens. The compact system may be made portable and may further include an on-board spectrometer with or without a display unit. For chemical detecting applications, a detector (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Inventor: Jingyun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090180114
    Abstract: Fine particles such as nanoparticles and microparticles is irradiated to generate plasma by focusing an ultrashort pulse laser beam 15 emitted from a laser device 16. More preferably, the plasma is generated by a filament 14 generated in the ultrashort pulse laser beam 15. A constituent of the fine particles is measured based on an emission spectrum from the plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Takashi Fujii, Naohiko Goto, Megumi Miki, Takuya Nayuki, Koshichi Nemoto, Nobuyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7561265
    Abstract: An optical microscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes: a laser light source; a Y-directional scanning unit moving the light beam in a Y direction; an objective lens; a X-directional scanning unit moving the light beam in a X direction; a beam splitter provided in an optical path from the Y-directional scanning unit to the sample, and separating outgoing light out of the light beam incident on the sample, which exits from the sample toward the objective lens from the light beam incident on the sample from the laser light source; a spectroscope having an entrance slit extending along the Y direction and spatially dispersing the outgoing light passed through the entrance slit in accordance with a wavelength of the light; and a detector detecting the outgoing light dispersed by the spectroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventors: Minoru Kobayashi, Taisuke Ota, Takahiro Ode
  • Patent number: 7557917
    Abstract: A system for analyzing the chemical composition of a sample, comprising exciting a portion of the sample to generate atomic spectral emissions; a spectrometer for determining atomic emission characteristics; processor for receiving an output from the spectrometer, analyzing said output to determine atomic composition, said processor predicting at least one of (i) an origin of the sample, (ii) a treatment applied to said sample, (iii) a composition of the sample, and (iv) a feedback signal for controlling a process. Calibration samples are also provided for standardizing readings from the spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Collectors Universe, Inc.
    Inventor: Casper Beesley
  • Patent number: 7548367
    Abstract: A laser active optronic system has an emission channel for the emission by an emission source of a laser beam which illuminates a target, and a receiving channel for receiving the wave backscattered by the target. An optical switching device is positioned in the receiving channel to receive the backscattered wave and has an optical gain medium and pumping means for pumping the gain medium. The gain medium is absorbent at the wavelength of the laser and becomes substantially transparent when it is pumped to allow the switching device to be actuated in the on mode or off mode respectively. A control unit for controlling the pumping means, allows the switching device to be actuated in the on mode in at least one temporal window of predetermined duration, triggered at a predetermined instant after the start of emission of the illuminating laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Michel Papuchon, Jean-Paul Pocholle
  • Publication number: 20090147256
    Abstract: To provide a laser scanning microscope capable of enhancing the degree of freedom of observation while keeping its structure simple. Accordingly, a laser scanning microscope includes a light source, a spectroscopic unit guiding light from the light source to a specimen and guiding the light from the specimen to a detector, light path switching units switching a light path between the spectroscopic unit and the specimen to one among a plurality of light paths with different routes, and a plurality of light deflecting units each disposed in each of the plurality of light paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisashi Okugawa
  • Publication number: 20090147255
    Abstract: A method for testing a semiconductor device includes irradiating a transistor within the semiconductor device with a light beam, where the irradiating the transistor induces a current within the transistor, and, in response to the irradiating, detecting photon emission from the transistor. A semiconductor device testing system includes a light beam emitter which provides a light beam to a device under test (DUT) to induce a current in the DUT, a filter which receives a photon emission from the DUT and removes from the photon emission a reflected light beam that is reflected from the DUT to provide a filtered photon emission, and a photon detector which detects the filtered photon emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Kent B. Erington, Kristofor J. Dickson
  • Patent number: 7545494
    Abstract: A method for the ultrasensitive simultaneous measurement of nonlinear optical emission signals in one or two local dimensions wherein excitation light is irradiated in modulated form from at least one light source into an interactive space in which one or several emissions that are nonlinearly correlated with the excitement light can be excited. The light emanating from the interactive spaces is measured using a one or two-dimensional detector array. Measured data is then transmitted to a computer and formatted in a one or two-dimensional data matrix. Further, non-correlated portions of the light emanating from the interactive spaces that are linearly proportionate to the intensity of the excitement light available in the interactive spaces are separated from portions of the light emanating from the interactive spaces which are not linearly proportionate. The invention also relates to an analytical system for carrying out this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Bayer Technology Services GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Haiml, Laurent P. Balet, Gert L. Duveneck, Gerd Marowsky
  • Publication number: 20090135418
    Abstract: An apparatus to measure spatially resolved the luminescence of a semiconductor sample, in particular a semiconductor wafer or any part thereof, includes a rotatable sample holder for the semiconductor sample. This rotatable sample holder is mounted on an xy stage, and a drive mechanism is used to rotate the sample holder rapidly during the measurement. A device excites luminescence light on the semiconductor sample, and an optical device guides a portion of the luminescence light to a detector. The surface of the semiconductor sample is located in the range of a focal point of the optical device. Using a fixation device, it is possible to remove the rotatable sample holder from the xy stage, when required, and to replace it by a cryostat with an optical window and a further semiconductor sample, so that the surface of the further semiconductor sample is essentially located in the focus point of optical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: THOMAS WOLFF
  • Patent number: 7537732
    Abstract: Paper pulp is added to a stain solution. The stain solution and pulp fibers are mixed to form a slurry. Samples are removed from the slurry and are admixed with dilution water and a bleach. Then, the fibers are moved into a flow cell where they are subjected to a light source adapted to stimulate fluorescence from the stained pulp fiber. Before the fiber slurry enters the flow cell it is mixed with a dilution water of bleach to reduce background fluorescence. The fluorescent light is collimated and directed through a dichroic filter onto a fluorescence splitting dichroic filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Richard Gustafson, James B. Callis, Jeffrey D. Mathews, John Robinson, Carsten A. Bruckner, Kuntinee Suvamakich
  • Publication number: 20090128807
    Abstract: A metallic structure is provided on a surface of a substrate. A component having a longer wavelength than excitation light is detected from luminescence from fixation positions of biomolecules and emitted from a material other than the biomolecules, and is used for photometrical analysis. As the structure, usable is a particulate (a metallic structure of a size not larger than a wavelength of the excitation light), a minute protrusion, or a thin film with minute apertures, which are made of a metal such as gold, chrome, silver or aluminum. In the case of the particulate or the minute protrusion, photoluminescence of the structure is detected with a biomolecule being fixed thereon. In the case of the thin film with minute apertures, Raman scattered light of specimen solution around the biomolecules, and photoluminescence of the metallic structure near the biomolecules are detected with biomolecules being fixed in the apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sonehara, Satoshi Takahashi, Tomoyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 7535568
    Abstract: A biochip for implementing analysis on the basis of the distribution of a quantity of light of fluorescent light generated at sites disposed thereon, the biochip having, markers formed thereon and defined previously in a positional relationship relative to the sites; and a processor for recognizing positions of the sites on the biochip on the basis of the positions of the markers, wherein the markers are formed of at least one of dyes, pigment, metal colloid bonded to biopolymer, dyes bonded to biopolymer, and pigment bonded to biopolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Sugiyama, Takeo Tanaami
  • Patent number: 7535565
    Abstract: A system and method for performing laser plasma spectroscopy on a surface of a component, particularly to detect, analyze, and determine the extent of deposit build up on turbomachine components protected by coatings that are susceptible to damage from infiltration of deposits. The system includes a laser energy source and a probe interconnected with the laser energy source to receive a laser beam therefrom and then direct the laser beam onto the surface of the component and scan an area of the surface while the component remains stationary. The probe is further configured to collect radiation emitted from a laser-induced plasma generated by the laser beam at the surface of the component. The system is further equipped to transmit the radiation from the probe and spectrally analyze the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Ruediger Mader Viertl, Warren Arthur Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090122311
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a flow cytometer includes a plurality of optical sources, each of which illuminates an excitation beam at a predetermined frequency having a wavelength and a phase different from another; and a guide member for guiding the excitation beams into the same incident optical path to focus onto a dyed particle. According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible, without requiring introduction of the delay time, to detect a plurality of fluorescence excited at the cell particles labeled with a plurality of fluorescent labeling reagents, by a plurality of laser optical sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Masahiko Kanda
  • Publication number: 20090114805
    Abstract: A method for determining a chemical composition of a material in a borehole, the method including placing an analysis apparatus into the borehole; placing a sample of the material onto a metal surface of the apparatus; illuminating the sample at an interface between the sample and the metal surface with a first light beam and a second light beam; measuring sum frequency light generated from the illuminating; and analyzing the sum frequency light to determine the chemical composition of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Sebastian Csutak
  • Patent number: 7528607
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring the amount of energy released by a spark ignition system. This energy can be quantified spectroscopically by measuring the emission of cyanogen radicals in the presence of a ignition event and a known A/F ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Terrence F. Alger, II
  • Publication number: 20090108235
    Abstract: The present invention provides semiconductor-nanoparticle-dispersed small silica glass particles that emit bright fluorescent light with high fluorescence quantum yield and high density, compared to the conventional semiconductor-nanoparticle-dispersed small glass particles, and that have excellent fluorescence intensity stability over time; and a process for preparing the same. The semiconductor-nanoparticle-dispersed silica glass particles have a mean particle size of not less than 10 nanometers and not more than 5 micrometers, and contain a hydrolyzed alkoxide and semiconductor nanoparticles at a concentration of not less than 2×10?5 mol/l and not more than 1×10?2 mol/l. The particles emit fluorescent light with a fluorescence quantum yield (quantum yield) of 25% or more (and 60% or more), when dispersed in a solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Masanori Ando, Norio Murase, Chunliang Li, Ping Yang
  • Publication number: 20090103084
    Abstract: An oxygen sensor usable and accurate in solutions of up to pH 14 is featured. The sensor is fabricated by immobilizing a layer of polystyrene mixed with a fluorophore (e.g., Ruthenium tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) dichloride) in a solvent such as dichloromethane. The mixture may be coated onto a structure such as a stainless steel sensor probe. In typical use, the inventive sensor probe is inserted into a flow cell through which the solution to be monitored flows. A blue LED light source having a wavelength of approximately 470 nm, and a spectrophotometer detector complete the sensor system. In operation, the fluorophore layer of the probe is illuminated by a blue LED light and the fluorescence is reflected back to the spectrophotometer. The monitored solution, typically an electroless gold plating bath, is pumped from the process equipment through the flow cell, and then back to the solution's origin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Omowunmi A. SADIK, Hongwu XU
  • Patent number: 7518727
    Abstract: A system for detecting electromagnetic radiation from samples comprising: a plurality of sample volumes, each of said sample volumes confined within a portion of a capillary column; a plurality of electromagnetic radiation sources; a mirror for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation sources and for reflecting the electromagnetic radiation to the sample volumes; a scanner attached to the mirror; a parabolic reflector for collecting sample electromagnetic radiation from the sample volumes, the sample electromagnetic radiation being generated as a result of interaction of the reflected electromagnetic radiation with the sample volumes; a plurality of filters for filtering the sample electromagnetic radiation; and a plurality of detectors for detecting sample electromagnetic radiation from the sample volumes, each of the detectors being configured to receive sample electromagnetic radiation that has passed through a corresponding one of the plurality of filters and generate a signa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Pentoney, Jr., David L. Yang
  • Patent number: 7518710
    Abstract: A biological and chemical detection system is provided that detects and identifies biological and/or chemical particulates of interest. The biological and chemical detection system comprises a collector, a first optical device, a second optical device and a processor. The collector is configured to deposit particulates drawn from a fluid stream onto a sample substrate to define a sample area. The first optical device derives first data relative to at least a portion of the sample area, which is analyzed to determine at least one field of view and/or specific target location. The second optical device then interrogates the sample area at each determined target location, e.g., using Raman spectroscopy, to produce interrogation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Johnway Gao, Jerome U. Gilberry, William A. Ivancic, John J. Kester, Joseph A. McClintock, Clark A. Morrow, Jason A. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20090086205
    Abstract: A spectroscopic detector includes a tunable light source, such as a continuously tunable, optical parametric oscillator laser; means for measuring the emitted radiation at a plurality of emission wavelengths to obtain a plurality of spectral measurement data; and a processor for processing the spectral measurement data, where the processor includes a multispectral data processing algorithm or is configured for 1) combining the plurality of spectral measurement data into a composite spectrum, and 2) applying the algorithm to the composite spectrum. The spectra such as resonant and near-resonant Raman Spectra that are acquired are more complete and contain more information. A powerful multispectral analysis code such as IHPS, CHOMPS, or ENN analyzes the acquired data points, examining details of the spectra that could not be handled by traditional methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Jacob Grun, Sergei Nikitin, Charles K. Manka
  • Patent number: 7508516
    Abstract: A site position can be detected using transmitted light or reflected light which does not include an excitation wavelength according to a configuration of a biochip 60. When reflected light is used, a light source 21 is actuated. Light from the light source 21 passes through a barrier filter 22 and is bent by a dichroic mirror 23 and passes through a dichroic mirror 3 and illuminates the biochip 60. The reflected light in the biochip 60 enters a CCD camera 13. An output signal of the CCD camera 13 is sent to a computation part 51 and a position of a site on the biochip 60 is detected in the computation part 51.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Sugiyama, Takeo Tanaami
  • Publication number: 20090066934
    Abstract: A biological and chemical detection system is provided that detects and identifies biological and/or chemical particulates of interest. The biological and chemical detection system comprises a collector, a first optical device, a second optical device and a processor. The collector is configured to deposit particulates drawn from a fluid stream onto a sample substrate to define a sample area. The first optical device derives first data relative to at least a portion of the sample area, which is analyzed to determine at least one field of view and/or specific target location. The second optical device then interrogates the sample area at each determined target location, e.g., using Raman spectroscopy, to produce interrogation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Johnway Gao, Jerome U. Gilberry, William A. Ivancic, John J. Kester, Joseph A. McClintock, Clark A. Morrow, Jason A. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20090059222
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides fully integrated microfluidic systems to perform nucleic acid analysis. These processes include sample collection, nucleic acid extraction and purification, amplification, sequencing, and separation and detection. The present disclosure also provides optical detection systems and methods for separation and detection of biological molecules. In particular, the various aspects of the invention enable the simultaneous separation and detection of a plurality of biological molecules, typically fluorescent dye-labeled nucleic acids, within one or a plurality of microfluidic chambers or channels. The nucleic acids can be labeled with at least 6 dyes, each having a unique peak emission wavelength. The present systems and methods are particularly useful for DNA fragment sizing applications such as human identification by genetic fingerprinting and DNA sequencing applications such as clinical diagnostics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Network Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Tan, Heung Chuan Lam, Valery Leonidovich Bogdanov, Gregory John Kellogg, John A. Wright, Ulrich Hans Thomann, Richard F. Selden
  • Patent number: 7499153
    Abstract: The invention is related to the instrument for measuring a Raman signal of tissue, the instrument comprising a laser, a signal detection unit for measuring the Raman signal, and a fiber optic probe, wherein the fiber optic probe comprises one or more optical fibers for directing laser light onto the tissue and for collecting light that is scattered by the tissue and guiding the collected light away from the tissue towards the signal detection unit, wherein the fiber or fibers for collecting light have substantially no Raman signal in one or more parts of the 2500-3700 cm?1 spectral region, and wherein the detection unit records the Raman signal scattered by the tissue in said spectral region. The invention enables ex vivo, in vitro and in vivo analysis and diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaque and detection of tumor tissue with great advantages over current state-of-the-art technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: River Diagnostics B.V.
    Inventors: Gerwin Jan Puppels, Rolf Wolthuis, Senada Koljenovic
  • Patent number: 7492453
    Abstract: A system and method processes a structure comprising embedded material. The system includes a laser adapted to generate light and to irradiate an interaction region of the structure. The system further includes an optical system adapted to receive light from the interaction region and to generate a detection signal indicative of the presence of embedded material in the interaction region. The system further includes a controller operatively coupled to the laser and the optical system. The controller is adapted to receive the detection signal and to be responsive to the detection signal by selectively adjusting the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Loma Linda University Medical Center
    Inventors: Paul E. Denney, Jay R. Eastman, Ta-Chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 7485846
    Abstract: A scanning microscope with a first and at least one other detection channel is disclosed. The first detection channel comprises at least one first detector and the other detection channel comprises at least one other detector to detect the detection light given off by a sample. A switching mechanism is provided that selectively directs the detection light into the first or into the other detection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Schreiber
  • Patent number: 7482600
    Abstract: A method for investigating transport processes in a preferably biological specimen, a laser light beam (2, 3) being guided by means of a scanning apparatus line by line over the specimen within definable specimen regions, and the light proceeding from the specimen being detected by means of a detection apparatus, is characterized, in the interest of the capability of investigating, with high accuracy, processes within the specimen that proceed on a short time scale, in that both an image production light beam (5) for the purpose of observing the specimen and a manipulation light beam (4) for the purpose of manipulating the specimen are used as the laser light beam (2, 3), the image production light beam (5) preceding the manipulation light beam (4) in such a way that pixels of the specimen not yet manipulated by the manipulation light beam (4) are illuminated with the image production light beam (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Seyfried
  • Patent number: 7483131
    Abstract: An observation laser beam for observing a specimen and a manipulation laser beam for manipulating the specimen are multiplexed; the multiplexed beams irradiate the specimen, which is mounted on a stage, via an objective lens; and fluorescence emitted from inside the specimen in the observation optical axis direction is detected. In a preparation mode, a focal-position adjusting unit is controlled so that the focal position of the observation laser beam and the focal position of the manipulation laser beam are coincident, independent of the movement of the objective lens or the stage by a focusing mechanism; and in an observation mode, the focal-position adjusting unit is controlled so as to cancel out the shift of the focal position of the manipulation laser beam according to the movement of the objective lens or the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Takamizawa, Tatsuo Nakata
  • Publication number: 20090021731
    Abstract: A detection system is used during irradiation of an interaction region of a structure with laser light. The structure includes embedded material. The detection system includes means for receiving light emitted from the interaction region. The detection system further includes means for separating the received light into a spectrum of wavelengths. The detection system further includes means for analyzing at least a portion of the spectrum for indications of embedded material within the interaction region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Paul E. Denney, Jay R. Eastman, Ta-Chieh Huang
  • Publication number: 20090022491
    Abstract: A light collecting device is disclosed that is able to couple light from a light emission structure to an optical fiber at low loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuya TAKEMOTO
  • Patent number: 7480044
    Abstract: Device of modular construction which permits the simultaneous or not-simultaneous recording and characterization of solid and liquid particles and gaseous components of engine exhaust gases on various test supports, with only small or no modification of the test support. Methods are based on individual or combined usage of laser scattering techniques, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, laser-induced ionization spectroscopy, laser-induced atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, IR-/VIS-/UV-laser absorption spectroscopy and laser-induced incandescence. Use of individual or combined usage of such devices permits the analysis of raw exhaust gas, the conditioned and/or treated exhaust gases for monitoring and checking working pattern of engine, individual components of exhaust gas treatment and/or total system on test beds and on vehicle and can be used for control of motor and/or exhaust components, such as catalysts and particle filters, on test beds and in driven usage, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Esytec Energie—und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Leipertz
  • Patent number: 7480045
    Abstract: A method for imaging a sample is described. The sample is characterized by a limit on incident optical energy absorbed over a given time period. The method includes providing at least one input optical wave that includes pulses that each have a full-width half-maximum time duration of more than 100 picoseconds and a pulse energy sufficiently large such that a sufficient number of consecutive pulses absorbed by the sample would exceed the limit. The method also includes directing the input optical wave to focus on a first portion of the sample; detecting energy from an output optical wave generated from a nonlinear optical interaction in the first portion of the sample with the input optical wave; and generating a representation of the first portion of the sample based on the detected energy from the output optical wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Andy Kung, Tse-Luen Wee, Shu-Wei Huang
  • Publication number: 20090015830
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for profiling a beam of light that includes a wavelength ?. The beam of light is received. Secondary light is generated at a wavelength ?? different from wavelength ? by fluorescing a material with the received beam of light. The secondary light is separated from the received beam of light. The separated secondary light is optically directed to a sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy N. Thomas, Bruce Adams, Dean C. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7477379
    Abstract: Pulse laser light transmitted through a laser light transmission optical fiber to an optical system unit passes through a distribution reflecting mirror and is condensed by a condenser lens group. The condenser lens group irradiates the condensed laser light onto an analysis object. The fluorescence emitted as a result of the irradiation of the pulse laser light onto the analysis object is condensed by the condenser lens group and is reflected by the distribution reflecting mirror. The optical system unit transmits the fluorescence reflected by the distribution reflecting mirror through an fluorescence transmission optical fiber to a fluorescence measuring instrument. The fluorescence measuring instrument determines the quantity of elements included in the analysis object on the basis of the fluorescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Ootani, Makoto Ishibashi