Methods and apparatus for spectroscopic identification and/or calibrated quantification of surface concentration of materials
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11525731-B1
Publication Date
2022-12-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for creating deposits of uniformly spaced or uniformly overlapping droplets of selected chemicals where each droplet has an a priori known amount of the selected chemical or chemicals is taught (including biological and microbial materials). In some embodiments the deposits may be used as samples of different but known concentrations that may be used to calibrate spectroscopic inspection instruments to enable such instruments to not only provide identification in situ of unknown materials but also to provide calibrated and traceable surface concentrations of such materials. In some embodiments, such calibrated instruments may be used in enhanced processes for validating the cleanliness of manufacturing surfaces such as surfaces of equipment used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, food, or semiconductor devices. Such instruments may be used to ensure adequate purity, or non-contamination, of surfaces of products themselves or packaging materials or of locations where such products will be used. Such calibrated instruments may also be useful in detecting cleanliness of non-manufacturing surfaces where contamination may be of concern, whether they be public or private spaces such as laboratories, restaurants, airports, satellites or other spacecraft. In some embodiments, such instruments may range from deep UV instruments to far infrared instruments or beyond.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a device for printing samples of known areal concentration of at least one material of interest. The device comprises a printhead and a joined syringe capable of horizontal (XY) and vertical (Z) movement relative to a substrate having at least one XY surface onto which printing can occur. The syringe dispenses at least one known volume and at least one known concentration (mass/volume) of the at least one material of interest.
A control system including at least one motor and sensor, a programmed processor, and electronics operates the printhead and the syringe to print a plurality of droplets of the material while in solution. The droplets are printed to a plurality of defined XY locations so that a precise amount of the material is deposited over a given horizontal area. After a fluid portion of the solution evaporates leaving a dried deposit of the material, the deposit provides a known uniform average areal concentration of the at least one material.
The control system relatively moves the syringe to specific surface locations and dispenses a known volume at each such location. The syringe is moved vertically toward the surface location before, during, or after dispensing one or more droplets at the location, and then moved vertically away so that the known volume is removed from a tip of the syringe and deposited at the location.
The invention also includes methods for creating calibration samples with controlled quantity and areal distribution by operating the printer to deposit dried deposits with known uniform average areal concentration. Further, the invention provides a method of validating effectiveness of a cleaning process using calibration samples with known uniform average areal concentration, quantifying the first material of interest on the calibration sample surface using a selected detection method, and producing a calibrated selected detection method for determining calibrated quantities and areal concentrations on test surfaces.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are 1, 6, and 12. Across these independent claims, the inventive features focus on printer-based deposition of dried deposits with known uniform average areal concentration, methods for creating calibration samples with controlled areal distribution using programmed printer motion, and using calibration samples to calibrate or verify a selected detection method for validating cleaning effectiveness and making determinations on test surfaces.
Known areal concentration dried deposits via coordinated XY and Z printing
Printing droplets while in solution to defined XY locations using a printhead and joined syringe capable of horizontal (XY) and vertical (Z) movement, dispensing a known volume and known concentration so that, after evaporation leaving a dried deposit, the deposit provides a known uniform average areal concentration over a given horizontal area.
Programmed syringe dispensing with vertical movement timing at specific locations
Relatively moving the syringe to specific surface locations and operating the syringe to dispense a known volume at each location, moving the syringe vertically toward the surface before, during, or after dispensing one or more droplets and then moving vertically away so the known volume is removed from a tip of the syringe and deposited at the specific location.
Creating calibration samples with controlled quantity and areal distribution
Operating a printer to move the syringe to specific horizontal print locations and dispense a known volume at each location, including vertical Z movement toward and away from the surface before, during, or after dispensing, so evaporation leaves a dried deposit with known uniform average areal concentration over the given area.
Validating cleaning effectiveness using calibration samples and a calibrated detection method
Providing calibration samples with known uniform average areal concentration, using a selected detection method to ascertain a quantitative amount of the material on an area of the calibration sample, using the area of detection and the known areal concentration with the quantitative amount to provide a calibrated selected detection method for calibrating detected amounts or areal concentrations and ascertaining continued acceptability, and using the calibrated detection method to determine calibrated quantities or concentrations on a test surface including indications above or below predefined levels.
The independent claims collectively require printing or dispensing dried deposits with known uniform average areal concentration using coordinated XY and Z printer motion with known per-droplet volume and concentration, using that controlled deposition to create calibration samples, and applying a calibrated selected detection method to validate cleaning effectiveness and to provide determinations on test surfaces based on calibrated quantity or concentration relative to predefined levels.
Stated Advantages
Provides a known uniform average areal concentration after a fluid portion of the solution evaporates leaving a dried deposit.
Enables calibration of a selected detection method so detecting an amount associated with a surface to be tested provides a calibrated quantity selected from detected amounts or areal concentrations.
Ascertains continued acceptability of any prior calibration of the selected detection method.
Provides indications of a calibrated quantity or concentration found on a test surface and whether the quantity or concentration is above or below predefined levels.
Documented Applications
Calibration of a selected detection method for determining calibrated quantities or areal concentrations on a test surface when validating effectiveness of a cleaning process.
Cleaning-validation determinations by providing calibrated indications on test surfaces, including above or below predefined level determinations of quantity or concentration of the material of interest.
Interested in licensing this patent?