Ubiquitous transmissive raman spectroscopy for stand-off detection
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10436716-B2
Publication Date
2019-10-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A substance analysis system and method are provided, the system disposable a variable stand-off distance from a substance in situ, including an emitter disposed to emit radiation onto the substance in situ, and a detector disposed the variable stand-off distance from the substance in situ, the detector comprising a receiver defining a substantially collimated collection path over the variable stand-off distance.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides an in situ, stand-off transmission Raman spectroscopy system that uses an emitter disposed to emit radiation onto a first region of a substance in a container and a remotely positioned, disposable detector disposed at a variable stand-off distance. The detector defines a receiver with a substantially collimated collection path that is unfocused on any distinct substance region within the container, so the detector receives radiation from a second region larger than the first region, and the received radiation is representative of the entire substance.
To reduce angular dependence and container-background effects, radiation is directed into the container such that it becomes a diffusive light source within the substance and supports multi-path excitation without forming a distinct substance region. Raman radiation is collected through a collection path that is substantially collimated and unfocused on any distinct substance region within the container, and the Raman signal represents the sample composition indicative of the entire composition of the substance.
The invention further includes Raman signal processing in which a received Raman signal is compared, including by comparator and Raman-shift comparison to an emitted-radiation reference, and by using a library of component characteristics for identifying components of interest. An output can indicate whether the substance contains a component of interest, and optional warning output is described, with additional sensors optionally included to confirm container placement or configuration for analysis.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover multiple system and method variants with the main inventive features combining: variable stand-off geometry, substantially collimated and unfocused collection paths, emission and collection regions separated by an angular distance of at least 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, received signals representative of the entire substance, and comparator/library-based component determination with optional no-reference-beam container background subtraction.
Disposable variable stand-off transmission Raman collection from larger region
A disposable substance analysis system at a variable stand-off distance from a substance in situ including an emitter emitting radiation onto a first region in a container and a detector at the variable stand-off distance, wherein the detector receiver defines a substantially collimated collection path over the variable stand-off distance and is unfocused on any distinct substance region within the container so that the detector receives radiation from a second region larger than the first region, with an angular distance between the first region and the second region equal to or greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, and wherein the received radiation is representative of the entire substance.
Diffusive multi-path transmission Raman without distinct substance region
A method of transmission Raman analysis comprising emitting radiation towards a first wall portion of a container in situ onto a first region of a sample in the container such that emitted radiation becomes a diffusive light source within the sample without formation of a distinct substance region; and receiving a transmission Raman signal through a second wall portion, the received signal including Raman radiation reflected from multiple portions of the sample, the received signal including Raman radiation collected from a second region larger than the first region with an angular distance between the first region and the second region equal to or greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, the Raman signal being received through a collection path that is substantially collimated and unfocused on any distinct substance region, and being representative of the sample.
In situ analysis by directing beam through container and collecting Raman from larger region
A method of analyzing a substance in a container in situ at a variable stand-off distance comprising directing a beam of radiation at the container onto a first region such that at least a portion passes through the container and is scattered and at least a portion of the scattered radiation reflects off an interior surface so that emission of a Raman signal representative of the entire substance occurs; and detecting the Raman signal representative of the entire substance where the emitted Raman signal is collected from a second region larger than the first region with an angular distance between the first region and the second region equal to or greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, and the Raman signal is detected through a collection path that is substantially collimated and unfocused on any distinct substance region, and comparing the Raman signal to the radiation of the radiation source.
Liquid-substance transmission Raman across generally opaque and generally transparent containers with component library determination
A method of analyzing liquid substances in both generally opaque to visible light containers and generally transparent containers using a disposable substance analysis system at a variable stand-off distance, directing a beam at a first location on a container into a first region; configuring radiation and detector so that radiation passes through the container and into the substance to produce a transmission Raman signal including Raman radiation from a plurality of locations, collecting the transmission Raman signal from a second region larger than the first region with an angular distance between the first region and the second region equal to or greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, receiving through a collection path that is substantially collimated and unfocused on any distinct substance region, the transmission Raman signal being indicative of the entire composition of the substance; comparing the transmission Raman signal with the radiation emitted by the emitter; determining based on a library of characteristics of components of interest whether the transmission Raman signal indicates that the substance contains a component of interest; and outputting whether or not the substance contains a component of interest.
Disposable coaxial transmission Raman system with collimated unfocused collection representative of entire substance
A disposable substance analysis system at a variable stand-off distance from a container in situ comprising an emitter configured to emit radiation directed at a first location on the container such that at least a portion of the radiation passes through the container and into a substance and at least a portion of the radiation in the substance being reflected within the container; and a detector with a receiving portion directed at a second location receiving a transmission Raman signal including Raman radiation from multiple portions, collected from a second region larger than the first region with an angular distance between the first region and the second region equal to or greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, the Raman signal being representative of the entire substance and received through a collection path that is substantially collimated and unfocused on any distinct substance region, wherein the radiation directed at a first location on the container and the Raman radiation are substantially co-axial.
Disposable stand-off reflected Raman system using collimated aperture and unfocused beam representative of entire substance
A substance analysis system at a variable stand-off distance from a container in situ comprising a detector with a receiving portion directed at the container configured to receive a reflected radiation signal from multiple portions of a substance in the container, the reflected radiation signal being based on a beam of radiation signal directed onto a first region, the detector having a stand-off distance, wherein the receiving portion includes a collection aperture configured to receive a substantially collimated beam of radiation reflected from the substance in the container, the beam of radiation being unfocused on any distinct substance region, and wherein the reflected radiation signal is representative of the entire substance, collected from a second region larger than the first region with an angular distance between the first region and the second region equal to or greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, and wherein the angular distance is defined as an angle between the emission path having a first direction and the collection path having a second direction.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on disposable, variable stand-off Raman analysis in which a substantially collimated and unfocused collection path receives Raman radiation from a larger second region separated from the first emission region by an angular distance of at least 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, producing a Raman signal representative of the entire substance, with component determination supported by comparator and a library of component characteristics.
Stated Advantages
Reduced angular dependence by receiving Raman signal via a substantially collimated collection path unfocused on any distinct substance region.
Low container-background.
Reduced alignment sensitivity.
Potential low false alarm.
Representative of the entire substance composition.
Documented Applications
In situ, stand-off transmission Raman analysis of substances in containers, including support for generally opaque and generally transparent containers.
Component identification for components of interest based on transmission Raman signal and a library of component characteristics, including output indicating whether the substance contains a component of interest.
Use of additional sensors to confirm container placement and to support retrofitting of existing Raman analysis devices.
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