Total Internal Reflection Illuminator with Fixed Prism Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing total internal reflection sample illuminating devices require skilled adjustment to maintain the angle of incidence for evanescent wave generation, leading to troublesome handling and reduced signal-to-noise ratio due to scattered light.
Innovation Solution
A device substrate with a constant angle of incidence for laser light, using a material with the same refractive index as the slide glass, featuring an incident reflecting surface and an exit reflecting surface to stabilize evanescent wave generation and minimize scattered light, allowing easy handling and high S/N ratio observation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the laser light source and incident prism are manually adjusted to achieve the correct angle of incidence, then evanescent wave generation is possible, but the device becomes difficult to operate and requires skilled adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The incident prism is pre-adjusted to the correct angle of incidence (45 degrees) relative to the slide glass during device assembly. This preliminary adjustment eliminates the need for skilled operators to perform complex angular adjustments during use, making the device easy to operate while ensuring reliable evanescent wave generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device structure itself provides the angular relationship between the incident prism and slide glass through fixed mounting geometry. The system serves itself by maintaining the correct angle of incidence through its structural design rather than requiring external adjustment mechanisms or skilled operation.
2Device complexity
If the radiation prism position is not optimally adjusted, then the device structure is simplified, but scattered light increases and reduces signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable positioning mechanism for the radiation prism is removed entirely. Instead, the radiation prism is fixed in position, extracting the complexity of the positioning mechanism while relying on the structural geometry to ensure the emitted laser beam is properly directed away from the objective lens, thus avoiding scattered light without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical adjustment system for positioning the radiation prism is replaced with a fixed structural arrangement. The correct positioning is achieved through the rigid geometric relationships built into the device structure rather than through mechanical positioning mechanisms, simplifying the device while maintaining measurement precision.
3Reliability
If both the incident prism and radiation prism positions are adjusted to optimize performance, then evanescent wave generation and scattered light control are improved, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming and troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
Both the incident prism and radiation prism are pre-positioned during device assembly to their optimal positions. The incident prism is fixed at 45 degrees to the slide glass for proper evanescent wave generation, and the radiation prism is fixed to emit the laser beam in the correct direction. This preliminary configuration eliminates time-consuming adjustments during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning of the incident prism and radiation prism is merged into a single integrated structural design. Both prisms are fixed in their respective positions through the device's rigid structure, allowing the system to achieve optimal performance without requiring separate adjustment operations for each component.
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
Stable and easy generation of evanescent waves with constant angle of incidence, reducing the need for complex adjustments and minimizing scattered light, facilitating high-quality fluorescence observation and measurement.
Implementation Method 1
The evanescent wave is light that seeps out, when light enters an interface between two substances having different refractive indices from the side of the substance having the larger refractive index at a critical angle or more, and is totally internally reflected by the interface
Implementation Method 2
an incident reflecting surface formed on a bottom surface side of the device substrate, to reflect the laser light that has entered the device substrate from the laser light source and to enter the slide glass
Implementation Method 3
an exit reflecting surface formed on the bottom surface side of the device substrate in an area opposed to the incident reflecting surface across the opening, to reflect the laser light that has entered the device substrate from the slide glass in a direction parallel to the top surface of the device main body and to emit the laser light to the outside of the device substrate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A total internal reflection sample illuminating device, which is capable of generating an evanescent wave easily only through inputting laser light without skill in the art, and which is easy to handle in performing fluorescence observation, non-invasive Raman imaging, or the like, includes: a device substrate (4), which is formed of a material having a refractive index at the same level as that of a slide glass (2) having a sample placed thereon, and which has a top surface on which the slide glass is placed; a light source holder (6) configured to allow laser light emitted by a laser light source (3) to enter the top surface of the device substrate (4) at a predetermined angle; an incident reflecting surface (7) configured to reflect the laser light that has entered the device substrate (4) such that the laser light enters the slide glass (2) and undergoes multiple total internal reflections in the slide glass (2); and an exit reflecting surface (8) configured to reflect the laser light that has entered the device substrate (4) from the slide glass (2) in a direction parallel to the top surface of the device substrate (4).