Malvern Panalytical Inc.

Malvern Instruments Limited

The Perkin-elmer Corporation

John McCaffrey

Andrew Tipler

David Jerry Scott

Avinash Dalmia

E Neil Lewis

Paul L St Cyr

Kenneth Haber

James Botelho

Samiul Amin

John Vanderhoef

Vishal Patil

Paul E Schallis

Neal Green

Peter Bennett

Ken Haber

Guiseppe Coppola

Gerald Sando

Tomasz Sadowski

Kevin Dahl

Rohit Goswami

Peter Bennet

Alon Vaisman

Michael Rafa

Joel E Mccorkle

An apparatus () for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell () configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder () for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage () to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell () in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (), a detector () for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (), a Raman spectrometer () arranged to obtain a spectrum including the Raman spectral range from the illuminated particle, and characterizing logic operative to characterize the particle based on image processing operations performed on the acquired image and based on the Raman spectrum. The holder cell () comprises a first plate () and a second plate () that are separated by a predetermined distance defining the planar volume depth.

Suspended particle characterization system

The disclosure relates to methods and device for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. A probe may be inserted into a first of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the first sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the first sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the first sample may be acquired. The probe may be inserted into a second of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the second sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the second sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the second sample may be acquired.

Heterogeneous fluid sample characterization

Disclosed in one general aspect is a particle interaction characterization instrument that comprises a flow cell for a liquid sample that includes suspended particles and a light source positioned to illuminate the suspended particles in the liquid sample fluid in the sample vessel. A first scattering detector is positioned to receive light from the light source that has been scattered by the particles suspended in sample fluid in the sample vessel at at least one predetermined scattering angle. An ultraviolet transmittance detector is positioned to receive a portion of the light from the source that passes through the suspended particles without being absorbed or scattered. Interaction analysis logic is responsive to both the scattering detector and the ultraviolet detector, and is operative to derive at least one interaction property for the suspended particles.

Particle interaction characterization using overlapping scattering and concentration measurements

Viscometers and viscometry methods are disclosed. In one general aspect, a fluid is driven through capillary tubes with different inside volumes, and successive images of the fluid are acquired as it advances through the inside volume of the capillary tubes. A range of different viscosity values of the fluid are derived from the successive acquired images, and results of this step are reported in a manner that provides insight into non-Newtonian effects in the fluid. In another general aspect, a viscosity value is selected based on detected pressure levels.

Imaging microviscometer

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: providing a fluid containing suspended particles; causing at least a first subset of the suspended particles to flow past a first two-dimensional array detector (); illuminating the first subset of suspended particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector () in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the first subset of particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector () in the fluid; and automatically counting the particles in the images.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MD, United States of America

John McCaffrey