Copper Silicate NIR Calibration Standard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current calibration methods for optical measuring systems in the near-infrared spectral range (800 nm to 1300 nm) rely on physical transfer standards, which are impractical and lack suitable chemical transfer standards with high quantum yields, limiting their applicability in biomedicine and other fields.
Innovation Solution
Development of a near-infrared spectral calibration standard using copper silicates (e.g., Egyptian blue, Han blue, and strontium copper silicate) as spherically shaped solid nanoparticles or microparticles, combined with organic dyes or rare earth ion-doped glasses, to provide a chemical transfer standard with high fluorescence quantum yield and photostability, suitable for calibrating devices like fluorescence microscopes and flow cytometers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical transfer standards (lamps) are used for calibration in the NIR range, then calibration can be performed, but the method is impractical and lacks applicability in biomedicine and other fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces chemical transfer standards (fluorescent substances with known quantum yields) as intermediaries between the physical lamp standard and the biomedical measurement applications. These chemical standards can be integrated into biological samples and provide a practical bridge for calibration in biomedical contexts where physical lamps cannot be used.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical lamp-based calibration system with a chemical/fluorescent substance-based system. This substitution enables calibration methods that are compatible with biomedical samples and imaging systems, making the calibration process practical and applicable in medical research and diagnostics.
2Reliability
If chemical transfer standards are used, then high quantum yields and photostability are achieved, but suitable standards with quantum yields >1% in the 900-1300 nm range were not previously available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite fluorescent materials combining organic dyes and inorganic components that exhibit high quantum yields and photostability in the 900-1300 nm NIR range. These composite standards overcome the limitations of previously available single-material standards and provide reliable calibration references for the specified spectral range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the spectral parameters of fluorescent standards by selecting and optimizing substances with emission spectra specifically in the 900-1300 nm range. This parameter optimization ensures that the standards provide high quantum yields (>1%) where they were previously unavailable, enabling reliable calibration in this important spectral window.
3Ease of manufacture
If copper silicates are used as calibration standards, then cost-effective and reliable calibration is achieved, but new material synthesis and characterization are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the synthesis parameters of copper silicate materials, including particle size control and compositional adjustments, to achieve the desired optical properties while simplifying the manufacturing process. By carefully controlling synthesis conditions, the patent makes the production of these calibration standards both cost-effective and reproducible.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The copper silicate-based calibration standards offer reliable, cost-effective calibration with high quantum yields, enabling precise calibration of optical measuring devices and extending the spectral range, improving the reliability and efficiency of luminescence measurements in biomedicine and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
the invention relates to a calibration standard, produced using copper silicates of the elements of the second main group of the periodic table of the elements, in particular Egyptian blue (CaCuSi 4 O 10 ), Han blue (BaCuSi 4 O 10 ) and/or strontium copper silicate (SrCuSi 4 O 10 )... as a spectral fluorescence standard or photoluminescence standard
Implementation Method 2
to determine the relative spectral sensitivity of photoluminescence measurement systems, to determine the spectral long-term device performance, as a standard to determine the luminescence quantum yield
Data Source
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AI summary
A spectral near-infrared calibration standard is proposed for calibrating an optical measuring device in a spectral range encompassing near-infrared from 800 to 1300 nm, wherein the calibration standard comprises a compound according to the general formula MCuSi4O10 (I), where M in formula (I) represents Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and/or Ba Ra, which optionally further comprises an organic dye, a rare-earth or transition metal ion-doped glass, and/or a broadband emitting phosphor and/or pigment.Furthermore, a kit for the traceable calibration of a photoluminescence measurement system, in particular a fluorescence measurement system, is proposed, which includes the NIR calibration standard according to formula (I) and optionally at least one of the aforementioned photoluminescence standards, as well as their spectrally corrected fluorescence spectra in tabular form, in computer-readable form and/or a reference to a website where the corrected fluorescence spectrum can be accessed.