Movable Reflector Luminescence Analyzer for Portable Photon Counting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current luminescence-based sample analyzers are large, have high power requirements, and low photon collection efficiency, making them unsuitable for portable or handheld applications, especially in low light photon counting scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A sample analyzer design featuring a reflector positioned between the illuminator and assay sample to reflect luminescence back towards the detector, combined with a shuttle mechanism for aligning the reflector perpendicular to the optical axis during measurement and moving it away during illumination, and an optional light diffuser to reduce optical path length and enhance light distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a reflector is added to increase photon collection efficiency, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned only when needed for photon collection. This dynamic configuration enables the system to achieve high measurement precision when the reflector is in place, while maintaining simpler operational states when it is retracted, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system is divided into separate functional components: the illuminator, the movable reflector, and the detector. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables the reflector to be added or removed from the optical path as needed, improving photon collection efficiency without permanently increasing device complexity
2Measurement precision
If the optical path is extended to improve photon collection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the optical path in a straight line, the reflector redirects photons along a different spatial dimension, bouncing them back through the sample toward the detector. This dimensional change in the optical path allows for improved photon collection without proportionally increasing the physical size or complexity of the device
3Ease of operation
If the analyzer is miniaturized for portability, then ease of operation is improved, but photon collection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable reflector allows the compact device to dynamically optimize its photon collection capability when needed, while maintaining its miniaturized form for portability during transport and storage. This resolves the contradiction by enabling high measurement precision in a portable package through dynamic configuration rather than permanent structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector mechanism is integrated into the compact housing in a space-efficient manner, with components nested within each other to minimize the overall device footprint. This nesting approach allows the portable device to include the photon-enhancing reflector without significantly increasing its size, thus maintaining both portability and measurement precision
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 solution significantly increases photon collection efficiency, reduces the size and power requirements of the analyzer, enabling a more portable and efficient luminescence-based analysis system, as demonstrated by improved photon count measurements compared to commercial systems.
Implementation Method 1
A reflector removably disposed between the illuminator and the positioned assay sample for reflecting a portion of the luminescence back through the positioned assay sample toward the detector
Implementation Method 2
An illuminator for illuminating an assay sample to cause luminescence
Implementation Method 3
The resulting photon emission, often very weak, is then detected and measured with a sensitive detector, converted to an electrical signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Disclosed is a sample analyzer, comprising: an illuminator; a support positioned to support a sample vessel containing an assay sample proximate the illuminator, such that the illuminator causes luminescence of the assay sample; a detector positioned along an optical axis extending from the illuminator, through the assay sample, to the detector, so as to detect luminescence of the assay sample; a shuttle disposed between the illuminator and the assay sample; and a reflector disposed on the shuttle. The apparatus is configured with an illumination mode and a measurement mode, wherein during the illumination mode the shuttle positions the reflector off the optical axis, and the illuminator is operated to illuminate the assay sample, wherein during the measurement mode the shuttle positions the reflector onto the optical axis such that luminescence from the assay sample is reflected off the reflector back through the assay sample towards the detector along the optical axis. Further disclosed is a method of analyzing an assay sample, using the sample analyzer.