Lateral Sidewall Waveguide Fluorescence Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluorescence measurement devices are complex, expensive, and not suitable for clinical use, particularly for applications like periodontal disease diagnosis, and they face issues such as end face loss, joint loss, and material deterioration in the ultraviolet region, especially when using optical fibers for irradiation from the bottom.
Innovation Solution
A simpler and more cost-effective fluorescence measurement method and device that irradiates a microtube laterally with excitation light, using the sidewall as an excitation light waveguide, eliminating the need for optical fibers, collecting lenses, dichroic mirrors, and other components, and optimizing the setup for maximum light-reception efficiency and minimal background.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical fibers are used for excitation irradiation from the bottom portion of a microtube, then fluorescence measurement can be achieved, but the device becomes complex and expensive with issues such as end face loss, joint loss, and material deterioration in the ultraviolet region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the optical fiber component from the excitation light delivery system. Instead of using optical fibers to guide excitation light to the bottom of the microtube, the invention uses direct lateral irradiation through the sidewall, thereby removing the complexity and reliability issues associated with optical fiber end faces, joints, and UV material deterioration
Solution Approach 2:
The microtube sidewall is made to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the sample container wall and an optical waveguide for excitation light. The sidewall transmits excitation light laterally into the sample while containing the liquid sample, eliminating the need for separate optical fiber components
2Measurement precision
If conventional fluorescence measurement devices are used, then fluorescence detection is possible, but the devices are complex and expensive and not suitable for clinical use
Solution Approach 1:
The microtube itself serves as the optical waveguide, eliminating the need for separate complex optical components. The sidewall of the microtube directly transmits excitation light into the sample, making the system simpler and more suitable for clinical use while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the excitation light delivery parameter from bottom-up irradiation through optical fibers to lateral irradiation through the sidewall. This parameter change simplifies the optical path and eliminates the need for complex optical fiber-based delivery systems
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
Enables the detection of fluorescence from a very small sample amount non-invasively and safely, providing a cost-effective solution for rapid analysis, suitable for clinical applications like periodontal disease diagnosis.
Implementation Method 1
using a sidewall surface of the microtube as an excitation light waveguide and light leaking from the sidewall surface
Implementation Method 2
measuring an amount of fluorescence from the target liquid sample excited by light distributed to an entire region of the target liquid inside the tube
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a fluorescence measurement method and a fluorescence measurement device that are provided by a simpler structure, and are more inexpensive and capable of measuring an amount of fluorescence using a very small amount of sample, using a fluorescence measurement device including a light-blocking measurement box to which a microtube is loaded; a container support part disposed inside the measurement box, the container support part vertically supporting the microtube; an excitation light source part disposed inside the measurement box, the excitation light source part including a light source that horizontally irradiates excitation light a sidewall surface of the loaded microtube; and a fluorescence detection part provided at an upper portion of the measurement box and above the loaded microtube, the fluorescence detection part measuring an amount of fluorescence in a particular wavelength range from a target sample, a microtube charged with a target liquid sample is loaded into the measurement box, the microtube that is uncapped is irradiated laterally in a horizontal direction with excitation light having a particular peak wavelength, and an amount of fluorescence from the target liquid sample excited by light distributed to the entire region of the target liquid inside the tube using a sidewall surface of the microtube as an excitation light waveguide and light leaking from the sidewall surface is measured by a fluorescence detection part for a particular wavelength range.