US 12,422,356 B2
Variable path length absorption spectrometer having automated continuous slope measurement
Matthew Muller, Cranford, NJ (US); Richard Hall, III, Bernardsville, NJ (US); Yusheng Zhang, Stewartsville, NJ (US); and Peter Halatin, Howell, NJ (US)
Assigned to Repligen Corporation, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by Repligen Corporation, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/198,701.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/343,368, filed on May 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0375467 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 21/33 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/33 (2013.01) [G01N 2201/062 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An absorbance measurement system, comprising:
a light source, to generate a probe signal, comprising incident radiation;
an optical probe, arranged to direct the incident radiation through a fluid sample;
a motor, arranged to move the optical probe along a probe axis, to change a path length of the incident radiation through the fluid sample;
a detector, disposed to receive the incident radiation as attenuated radiation after passing through the fluid sample; and
a control system, arranged to:
initiate an absorbance measurement of the fluid sample by directing movement of the optical probe along the probe axis; and
direct the light source to emit the incident radiation; and
wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED), configured to receive a triggering signal from the control system and to generate the incident radiation at a characteristic wavelength upon receipt of the triggering signal,
wherein the detector is configured to detect an intensity of the attenuated radiation over a wavelength range spanning the characteristic wavelength, and over a detection interval of no more than 10 microseconds; and
wherein the control system is arranged to direct the motor to move the optical probe in a pair of opposite directions along the probe axis, wherein intensity of the attenuated radiation is recorded while the motor moves the probe along a first direction of the pair of opposite directions and while the motor moves the probe along a second direction of the pair of opposite directions.