Optical Fluorescence Measurement Calibration for Scattered Light Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical measurement technologies fail to effectively remove noise components caused by irradiation light itself, leading to inaccurate fluorescence measurements due to the inclusion of scattered light and fluorescence from non-target portions of the sample.

Innovation Solution

An optical measurement device utilizing a reference member that reflects and diffuses irradiation light to separate and remove scattered light components, allowing for accurate fluorescence measurement by detecting scattered light without fluorescence interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the actual sample is used for calibration process, then the calibration can be performed using the sample itself, but fluorescence from non-target portions contaminates the calibration signal and reduces measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration processVSAvoidfluorescence measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful fluorescence component from non-target portions of the sample during the calibration process. By using a reference member that reflects only scattered light without generating fluorescence, the system separates the calibration signal from the fluorescence signal, allowing accurate measurement of the actual sample's fluorescence without contamination from non-target areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a reference member as an intermediary element between the irradiation light and the detection system. This reference member reflects scattered light without generating fluorescence, serving as a mediator that allows the system to calibrate and remove scattered light components without being contaminated by fluorescence from the actual sample's non-target portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If scattered light is not removed, then the measurement system is simpler, but the fluorescence signal is contaminated and measurement accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement systemVSAvoidfluorescence measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by conducting a calibration process before the actual fluorescence measurement. During calibration, the system detects scattered light using the reference member and stores this information to be used later for removing scattered light components from the measurement signal, thereby preparing the system in advance for accurate fluorescence measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the calibration signal (detected scattered light from the reference member) to correct the measurement signal. The system feeds back the scattered light characteristics obtained during calibration to adjust and remove scattered light components from subsequent fluorescence measurements, ensuring high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If a reference member reflecting only scattered light is used, then fluorescence measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluorescence measurement accuracyVSAvoidoptical measurement device
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a reference member with simple reflective properties that can be easily manufactured and replaced. Rather than using a complex, expensive, or specialized reference standard, the system uses a simple reflective surface that accomplishes the calibration function, thereby minimizing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 device achieves high-accuracy fluorescence measurement by removing noise components caused by irradiation light, ensuring precise calibration and measurement results.

Implementation Method 1

a reference member for a calibration process different from the sample is used, such that there is no problematic variation in the result of the calibration process corresponding to characteristics of the measurement target object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The reference member includes a reflection member configured to reflect the irradiation light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4123291B1Optical measurement device and optical measurement method
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK
  • EP4123291B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4123291B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4123291B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an optical measurement device, in a first process, a reference member is irradiated with excitation light, light for a calibration process including scattered light associated with the excitation light from a reference member is detected as detection light, a calibration signal corresponding to the light for the calibration process is designated as a detection signal, and a calibration process for removing a signal component corresponding to the scattered light from the detection signal in a second process is performed. Also, in the optical measurement device, in the second process, a sample is irradiated with the excitation light, measurement target light including fluorescence generated from the sample and light scattered from the sample irradiated with the excitation light is detected as detection light, and a signal component corresponding to the scattered light in a result of performing the calibration process during the first process is removed from a measurement signal.