Phosphorescence Oxygen Analyzer High-Speed LED Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current phosphorescence oxygen analyzers are limited in their ability to rapidly measure metabolic reactions and efficiently process serial samples, and they lack exploration of new applications such as studying cellular oxygen consumption in various biological processes and diseases.
Innovation Solution
The enhanced phosphorescence oxygen analyzer features a high-speed LED light source flashing at 1,000 times per second, a resonant acoustic mixer, and precise temperature control, enabling the measurement of metabolic processes on a submillisecond and microsecond scale, and expanding its applications to study cellular respiration in various biological events and diseases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the light source flashes at a higher frequency to measure faster metabolic reactions, then the measurement speed improves, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic light flashes from an LED array at frequencies up to 1000 Hz to excite the phosphorescent probe, enabling rapid measurement of metabolic reactions. This periodic excitation allows the system to capture fast cellular metabolic events while maintaining a relatively simple LED-based light source design, thus improving measurement speed without excessive complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the light flash frequency parameter to match the timescale of the metabolic process being measured. By changing the excitation frequency parameter, the analyzer can optimize measurements for different metabolic rates without requiring hardware modifications, thereby improving speed while controlling complexity
2Productivity
If multiple samples are measured in sequence using a carousel, then the productivity improves, but the measurement time per sample and overall system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sample measurement process into discrete segments by placing multiple samples (typically 8-12) in individual wells of a carousel plate. Each well contains a separate sample that can be measured independently. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple samples, improving overall productivity while keeping the measurement time per sample relatively short through rapid sequential scanning
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel is designed to rotate continuously or in continuous cycles, bringing different sample wells into the measurement position sequentially without stopping. This continuous action eliminates idle time between samples and maintains constant measurement throughput, improving productivity while minimizing time loss through efficient sample turnover
3Measurement precision
If the phosphorescence decay rate is measured to determine oxygen concentration, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and measurement time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical oxygen measurement systems with a photonic approach using phosphorescence decay measurement. An LED excites the phosphorescent probe, and the decay rate of emitted light is measured electronically to determine oxygen concentration. This substitution achieves high measurement precision while avoiding complex mechanical components, thus improving precision without excessive complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the wavelength-dependent properties of phosphorescence emission to measure oxygen concentration. The phosphorescent probe emits light at a specific wavelength (peak emission around 620-650 nm), and the decay rate of this colored light emission is measured. This optical approach provides precise oxygen measurement through simple photodetector electronics rather than complex instrumentation
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
This configuration allows for the rapid and precise assessment of cellular oxygen consumption, expanding the instrument's capabilities to study rapid metabolic processes, disease models, and compatibility with pharmaceuticals and nanoparticles, while maintaining reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a light source including an LED array that flashes light at 1,000 flashes per second
Implementation Method 2
Phosphorescent emissions are detected by a photomultiplier tube connected to a measurement 2020 board
Implementation Method 3
The analyzer has a high speed mixer using a technology similar to 'resonant acoustic mixing' (RAM) to assure a rate compatible with the LED flashes
Implementation Method 4
The temperature inside the test chamber will be controlled efficiently to ±0.1° C. by a precision incubator
Data Source
AI summary
The phosphorescence oxygen analyzer has a light source including an LED array that flashes light at 1,000 flashes per second. The light flashes are received in a test chamber containing a carousel having a plurality (preferably ten) of sample vials mounted thereon. The samples a phosphorescent probe (palladium(II) complex, namely, meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)tetrabenzoporphyrin; Pd phosphor) mixed with either a control sample of tissue or a sample of tissue and a suspected toxin or a pharmaceutical it is desired to test, the carousel being rotated to irradiate each vial in turn. The probe has an absorption maximum at 625 nm and emission maximum at 800 nm. Phosphorescent emissions are detected by a photomultiplier tube connected to a measurement 2020 board, which is connected to a processor that computes the lifetime and peak of the pulses, which determines the rate of phosphorescent decay due to oxygen metabolized by the tissue mitochondria.