Abstract:
A method and apparatus are described that permit an analyte concentration to be estimated from a measurement in the presence of compounds that interfere with the measurement. The method reduces the error in the analyte concentration in the presence of interferents. The method includes the use of a set of measurements obtained for a large population having a range of know analyte and interfering compound concentrations. From a sample measurement, which may or may not be one of the population, likely present interferents are identified, and a calibration vector is calculated.
Abstract:
The invention concerns measurements in which light interacts with matter giving rise to changes in light intensity, and preferred embodiment spectrophotometer devices of the invention provide for ultrasensitive measurements through a reflection interaction with matter. The level of light source noise in these measurements can be reduced in accordance with the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention use sealed housings (112, 600, 700) lacking an internal light source, and reflection based sample and reference cells. In some embodiments a substantially solid thermally conductive housing (600, 700) is used. Other features of preferred embodiments include particular reflection based sample and reference cells. A total internal reflection embodiment includes, for example, a prism (302, 322, 622a, 623 a) including an interaction surface, a detector, a lens that focuses a beam output from the prism onto the detector, and a closed interaction volume having an inlet and an outlet for delivering gas or liquid to the interaction surface. In a specular reflection embodiment, a reflective surface (402, 422) is used instead of a prism. In a diffuse reflection embodiment a matte surface (502, 522) is used instead of a prism and the matte surface produces scattering. Aspects of the invention include identification of noise-contributing components in spectrophotometry and the select set of preferred features in a given embodiment, and noise levels very near the shot noise limit may be realized with application of preferred embodiment devices.
Abstract:
A particle sensor has a gain control and an offset voltage adjustment so as to provide a consistent sensor output indicative of the particle density in match with a predetermined relationship between the sensor output and the particle density, while compensating for background noises. The gain control and the offset voltage adjustment are realized respectively by digitally controllable variable resistor networks each having a plurality of switches. A memory module is included in the sensor to store instruction data for control of the switches and therefore responsible for the gain control and the offset voltage adjustment. In particular, the particle sensor includes a memory interface which enables the selective use of two types of memory means, one is an intelligent memory module composed of EEPROM and a microcomputer, and the other is a normal memory module consisting of EEPROM.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an instrument and methods for a multispectral optical technique that can simultaneously classify individual biological cells within mixed populations. This invention, known as Multispectral Taxonomic Identification (MTID), shows that microscopy can be combined with a software analysis program to measure and categorize the fluorescence and other spectroscopically identifiable signals from complex populations of cells in situ , without cultivation. The invention thus enables high-throughput screening of cells for taxonomic classification.
Abstract:
A concentration measuring apparatus is provided having a reflective sensing media in a self-contained cassette (202), fiber optic line (302, 304) partially associated with a lamp (306) and a photocell (310). A signal is generated by the photocell (310) representative of the charge of reflectivity of the light from the reflective sensing media (600). The signal from the photocell (310) is accepted by a signal processor containing an amplifier (404), an analog to digital converter (430) and computer (480). An interface is associated with the signal processor and comprises a display (520) a 4-to-20 milliamp cord (530) and remote, explosion-proof switches (510) for operator interaction with the concentration measuring apparatus.
Abstract:
A gaz analyzer comprising a sample cell (21) for containing a gas mixture to be analyzed, a source (11) for producing and directing infrared energy through the sample cell, a rotary filter wheel (17) having at least one filter thereon for passing infrared energy limited to a wavelength band within the characteristic absorption band of a predetermined gas and having a dark level region substantially opaque to infrared energy, a drive (19, 20) for supporting and rotating the filter wheel to successively interpose the filter and the dark level region between the source and the sample cell in the path (13) of the infrared energy directed by the source, a detector (15) for detecting infrared energy passing through the sample cell and producing an electrical signal representative thereof, and a signal processor (24) connected to the detector means for producing an output indicating the concentration of the predetermined gas in the sample cell by comparing the electrical signals produced by the detector with the filter positioned in the infrared energy path and with the dark level region positioned in the infrared energy path. The dark level region has a substantially fully reflective surface oriented toward the sample cell (21) when positioned in the infrared energy path whereby infrared energy impinging thereon is reflected.