US5104218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micropipette adaptor for spectrofluorimeters
Assignee: HELIX BIOMEDICAL ACCESSORIES Inc
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Filing: 1989-11-09
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Granted: 1992-04-14
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Expires: 2009-11-09
Abstract
Abstract An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter includes a base member for holding the micropipette and an optical system for linearly focusing visible or ultraviolet light onto a sample solution held in the micropipette. Specifically, the optical system includes a cylindrical lens which focuses collimated light from a light source into a line along the axis of the micropipette. The optical system also includes a cylindrical quartz lens which recollimates the light that emerges from the micropipette sample holder in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the incident light. A spectrometer is provided to receive the recollimated light for measuring the light absorption and light emission characteristics of the sample material held in the micropipette.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold R. Garner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N2021/0346; G01N21/17; G01N2021/1738; G01N2021/174; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N2021/6463; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N2035/1027; G01N2035/1048; G01N2035/1062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter and which comprises: a base adapted to hold said micropipette; and an elongated, substantially cylindrical focussing lens disposed on said base with said lens elongation substantially aligned with said micropipette elongation for collimating light emitted from said micropipette for measurement by said spectrofluorimeter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter and which comprises: a base adapted to hold said micropipette; and an elongated, substantially cylindrical focussing lens disposed on said base with said lens elongation substantially aligned with said micropipette elongation for collimating light emitted from said micropipette for measurement by said spectrofluorimeter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter as recited in claim 1 wherein said collimating means is a cylindrical quartz lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter as recited in claim 1 wherein said base is formed with a hole and a substantially conical well adjacent said hole, said conical well being aligned with said hole and cooperating with said hole to hold said micropipette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a bushing disposed in said hole to securely hold said micropipette on said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter as recited in claim 1 wherein said base is made of black, light absorbing material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter as recited in claim 1 wherein said base is made of thermal conducting material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An adaptor for holding in a spectrofluorimeter an elongated micropipette which contains chemiluminescent or bioluminescent matter as recited in claim 1 wherein said light is electromagnetic radiation substantially in the ultraviolet or visible spectrum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light which comprises: a base for holding said micropipette; a directing lens for linearly focussing the collimated light from said light source substantially along the longitudinal axis of said micropipette, said light having a first direction; and a receiving lens for recollimating light which is emitted from said micropipette in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction for measurement of said emitted light by said spectrofluorimeter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light which comprises: a base for holding said micropipette; a directing lens for linearly focussing the collimated light from said light source substantially along the longitudinal axis of said micropipette, said light having a first direction; and a receiving lens for recollimating light which is emitted from said micropipette in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction for measurement of said emitted light by said spectrofluorimeter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 8 wherein said lenses are substantially cylindrical quartz masses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 8 wherein said base is formed with a hole and a substantially conical well adjacent to said hole, said conical well being aligned with said hole and cooperating with said hole to hold said micropipette.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 8 further comprising a bushing disposed in said hole to securely hold said micropipette on said base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 8 wherein said base comprises a black, light-absorbing material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 8 wherein said base comprises a thermal conducting material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 8 wherein said light is electromagnetic radiation substantially in the ultraviolet or visible spectrum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 8 further comprising means for shielding said directing lens from said light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 9 wherein the position of said directing lens relative said light source defines a first lens focal axis, said first lens focal axis further defining said first direction; and said receiving lens defines a second lens focal axis, said receiving lens being disposed in said adaptor to establish said second lens focal axis to be disposed substantially in said second direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
An adaptor for holding an elongated micropipette in a spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 16 wherein said first and second lens focal axes define a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said micropipette.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
111 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light which comprises: a base for holding said micropipette; directing means for linearly focussing the collimated light from said light source along the longitudinal axis of said micropipette, said light having a first direction; spectrophotometric receiving means for recollimating light which emerges from said micropipette in a direction substantially parallel to said first direction, for measurement of said parallel emergent light by said spectrophotometer; and spectrofluorescent receiving means for recollimating light which emerges from said micropipette in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, for measurement of said perpendicular emergent light by said spectrofluorimeter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light which comprises: a base for holding said micropipette; directing means for linearly focussing the collimated light from said light source along the longitudinal axis of said micropipette, said light having a first direction; spectrophotometric receiving means for recollimating light which emerges from said micropipette in a direction substantially parallel to said first direction, for measurement of said parallel emergent light by said spectrophotometer; and spectrofluorescent receiving means for recollimating light which emerges from said micropipette in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, for measurement of said perpendicular emergent light by said spectrofluorimeter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 18 wherein said directing means, said spectrophotometric receiving means, and said spectrofluorescent receiving means are substantially cylindrical quartz lenses.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 18 wherein said base is formed with a hole and a substantially conical well adjacent to said hole, said conical well being aligned with said hole and cooperating with said hole to hold said micropipette.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 18 further comprising a bushing disposed in said hole to securely hold said micropipette on said base.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 19 wherein said base is made of black, light absorbing material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 19 wherein said base is made of thermal conducting material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 19 wherein said light is electromagnetic radiation substantially in the ultraviolet or visible spectrum.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 10 further comprising means for substantially shielding said directing means from said light source.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for substantially shielding said spectrophotometric receiving means from said light source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 18 further comprising means for substantially shielding said spectrofluorescent receiving means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
75 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 19 wherein said directing lens defines a first lens focal axis, said first lens focal axis further defining said first direction; and said receiving lens defines a second lens focal axis, said receiving lens being disposed in said adaptor to establish said second lens focal axis to be disposed substantially in said second direction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
An adaptor for holding a micropipette in a spectrophotometer or spectrofluorimeter having a source of collimated light as recited in claim 28 wherein said lenses are coplanar and said first and second lens focal axes intersect in a line that is substantially coincident with said longitudinal axis of said micropipette.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for determining the light emission characteristics of a substantially minute sample solution held in a micropipette which comprises the steps of: producing a beam of collimated light; positioning said micropipette in the path of said beam; linearly focussing said beam into axial alignment with said micropipette; recollimating light which emerges from said micropipette substantially perpendicular to said path of said beam; and measuring the recollimated light to determine the light emission characteristics of said sample.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for determining the light emission characteristics of a substantially minute sample solution held in a micropipette which comprises the steps of: producing a beam of collimated light; positioning said micropipette in the path of said beam; linearly focussing said beam into axial alignment with said micropipette; recollimating light which emerges from said micropipette substantially perpendicular to said path of said beam; and measuring the recollimated light to determine the light emission characteristics of said sample.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for simultaneously determining the light emission and light absorption characteristics of a sample solution held in a micropipette comprising: producing a beam of light; positioning said micropipette in the path of said beam; directing said beam into axial alignment with said micropipette; measuring the light to determine the light emission characteristics of said sample; and measuring the light which emerges from said micropipette substantially parallel to said path of said beam to determine the light absorption characteristics of said sample.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for simultaneously determining the light emission and light absorption characteristics of a sample solution held in a micropipette comprising: producing a beam of light; positioning said micropipette in the path of said beam; directing said beam into axial alignment with said micropipette; measuring the light to determine the light emission characteristics of said sample; and measuring the light which emerges from said micropipette substantially parallel to said path of said beam to determine the light absorption characteristics of said sample.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
105 words
A method for simultaneously determining the light emission and light absorption characteristics of a sample solution held in a container as recited in claim 31 wherein said producing step comprises producing a beam of collimated light, and said directing step comprises linearly focussing said collimated beam into axial alignment with said micropipette; and further comprising the steps of: collimating light which emerges from said micropipette substantially perpendicular to said path of said collimated beam to determine the light emission characteristics of said sample; and recollimating light which emerges from said micropipette substantially parallel to said path to determine the light absorption characteristics of the sample.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-14 | 1995-10-14 | 1996-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-14 | 1999-10-14 | 2000-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-14 | 2003-10-14 | 2004-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |