Uop Lcc

Dade Microscan Inc.

Brian K Masterson

Terry R Todd

Craig M Daniel

Randolph L Campbell

Robert J Sanger

Calvin E Reynolds

Stephen M Metro

A spectroscopic fluid sample cell for the transmission and detection of radiation with the key components being a housing; a centripetal acceleration chamber formed by the housing and extending through the housing for circulating a fluid through the housing over a curvilinear flow path about a rotational axis; a pair of windows aligned along a common axis intersecting a portion of the chamber and parallel to the rotational axis; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with the centripetal acceleration chamber; and a flow director positioned in the housing to induce centripetal acceleration on fluid passing through the chamber and establish a radial composition gradient across the fluid chamber has been developed.

Spectroscopic fluid sample cell

A probe for fiber optic spectroscopy, having a radiation transparent window for the emission of radiation and an optical fiber that extends through the interior of a hollow housing, surrounds the fiber with a cushioning sleeve to provide an optical cable that preserves optical fiber connections and dampen vibration of the optical cable. The sleeve provides a structure around the optical fiber that is more compressible than the optical fiber and has a significantly greater mass than the optical fiber. Excess cable length may be provided along its path through the housing to impinge the cable against the interior walls of the housing and thereby dampen vibration by providing additional node points through contact of the sleeve with the housing wall. Helical twisting of the cable along its path through the housing further stabilizes the shape of the fiber optic cable within the housing and maintains a regular spacing of contact points with the housing. Regular spacing of node points consistently controls vibration dampening by contact between the housing wall and the cable.

Radiation probe with flexible sleeve

A spectroscopic fluid sample apparatus for the transmission and detection of radiation with the key components being a housing; a helical bore formed by the housing and extending through the housing for conducting the sample fluid through the bore to induce centripetal acceleration on the sample fluid and establish a radial composition gradient across the sample fluid in the bore; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet each in fluid communication with the helical bore; and a spectroscopic sample interface in fluid communication with the fluid outlet has been developed.

Spectroscopic helical separator and fluid sample interface

A system for processing a specimen to which fluid must be added includes a fluid dispensing work station within a housing. The work station holds the fluids that are to be added to the specimen. A nozzle dispenses fluid at the work station. The system also includes a carrier that moves within the housing. The carrier operates in a first mode at the fluid dispensing work station. The carrier also operates in a second mode outside the work station to perform a different processing function. A coupling mechanism attaches the nozzle to the carrier when the carrier enters its first operational mode to transport the nozzle around the fluid dispensing station. The coupling mechanism releases the nozzle from the carrier when the carrier enters its second operational mode, thereby freeing the carrier for movement outside the work station out of association with the nozzle.

Specimen processing and analyzing systems with associated fluid

A flow cell for fiber optics spectroscopy having a radiation transparent window for the transmission of radiation uses a dual O-ring arrangement to prevent leakage of a medium undergoing evaluation around the window and a vent for indicating leakage between the O-rings. The arrangement also provides for the use of an O-ring to urge the window against a retainer that holds a lens to direct radiation into the window. Biasing of the window against the lens retainer and the use of a radial O-ring arrangement allows precise control of the separation between windows in the total path length for radiation travel across a fluid sample.

Growing community of inventors

Placerville, CA, United States of America

Brian K Masterson