US 12,287,265 B2
Fluorescence scanning system for analytical ultracentrifugation
Peter W. Schuck, Bethesda, MD (US); John W. Kakareka, Bethesda, MD (US); Thomas J. Pohida, Bethesda, MD (US); George Patterson, Bethesda, MD (US); and Hauying Zhao, Bethesda, MD (US)
Assigned to THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed by THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/192,623.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/985,222, filed on Mar. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0278328 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 1/40 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/4077 (2013.01) [G01N 21/645 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6478 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0636 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluorescence scanning system comprising:
a centrifuge including a centrifuge chamber and a rotor extending laterally across the centrifuge chamber, wherein the rotor is operable for rotation about an axis of the centrifuge;
a sample holder engaged to the rotor for 360 degree rotation of the sample holder along a travel path, the sample holder including an inner sample holder chamber wherein a proximal plano-convex lens window is positioned at a first end of the sample holder and a distal plano-convex lens window is positioned at an opposite second end of the sample holder;
a sample disposed inside the inner sample holder chamber of the sample holder;
an illumination source for generating and transmitting a collimated excitation beam;
a galvanometer in operative association with the illumination source for scanning the collimated excitation beam at different angles along the sample disposed within the sample holder;
a stationary mirror in operative communication with the galvanometer for transmitting the collimated excitation beam into the sample holder through the proximal plano-convex lens window and illuminating the sample to generate fluorescence emissions; and
a stationary fluorescence detector in operative communication with the sample holder at a point along the travel path of rotation of the sample holder for detecting the fluorescence emissions and collimated excitation beam emitted from the sample holder.