Infra-Red Spectroscopy System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022091023-A1
Application number	US-202117540080-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 1, 2021
Priority date	Mar 31, 2017
Publication date	Mar 24, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sample slide ( 100 ) for use in a spectrometer ( 501 ), wherein the sample slide comprises a plurality of sample-receiving portions ( 111 - 114 ) provided on a sample side ( 115 ) of the slide, and a plurality of beam-receiving portions ( 121 - 124 ) provided on a beam-receiving side ( 125 ) of the slide, each beam-receiving portion being arranged opposite a respective sample-receiving portion, and wherein each beam-receiving portion is configured to act as an internal reflection element (IRE). A device ( 300 ) for use with a spectrometer ( 501 ) comprises a stage ( 330 ) configured to receive a sample slide ( 100 ); and a moving mechanism ( 360 ) configured to move the sample slide relative to a sample-measuring location ( 320 ) of the device. Associated methods for preparing a sample and measuring a sample are also disclosed.

First claim

1 . A slide, comprising:
a) a sample-receiving portion provided on a sample side of a slide; b) a beam-receiving portion provided on a beam side of said slide, said beam-receiving portion being arranged opposite said sample-receiving portion, wherein said beam-receiving portion comprises an internal reflection element (IRE); and c) a thickness between said beam-receiving portion and said opposite sampleeceding portion selected from the group consisting of 380 μm, 525 μm and 675 μm.

2 . The slide according to claim 1 , wherein said sample-receiving portion comprises a recessed portion surrounded by a raised portion.

3 . The slide according to claim 1 , wherein said sample-receiving portion is configured to receive or support a dry sample.

4 . The slide according to claim 1 , wherein said internal reflection element comprises adjacent grooves that are aligned or parallel and adjacent prisms that are aligned or parallel.

5 . The slide according to claim 1 , wherein said slide has a thickness in the range of 300-700 μm.

6 . The slide according to claim 4 , wherein each of said adjacent groove has a width in the range of 50-500 μm.

7 . The slide according to claim 1 , wherein each of said adjacent grooves are spaced apart in the range of 0-200 μm.

8 . The slide according to claim 1 , wherein said slide further comprises silicon.

9 . The slide according to claim 1 , further comprising a slide holder, wherein said slide is on, within, or attached to said slide holder.

10 . The slide of claim 1 , wherein said slide is configured to interface with a FTIR spectrometer.

11 . The slide of claim 1 , wherein said slide is configured to interface with an ATR-FTIR spectrometer

12 . The slide of claim 1 , wherein said internal reflection element comprises an infra-red transmissible material.

13 . The slide of claim 15 , wherein said infra-red transmissible material is selected from the group consisting of diamond, germanium zine selenide and silicon.

14 . A method of preparing a sample for IR spectral analysis, the method comprising:
drying one or more samples on a slide at a temperature of approximately 30-36° C. and/or under a gas flow rate of at least 50 m 3 /h, wherein said slide comprises:
a) a sample-receiving portion provided on a sample side of said slide;
b) a beam-receiving portion provided on a beam side of said slide, said beam-receiving portion being arranged opposite said sample-receiving portion, wherein said beam-receiving portion comprises an internal reflection element (IRE), and
c) a thickness between said beam-receiving portion and said opposite sample-receiving portion selected from the group consisting of 380 μm, 525 μm and 675 μm.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said temperature ranges between 34.5 to 35.5° C.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said gas flow rate is at least 90 m 3 /h.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said internal reflection element comprises an infra-red transmissible material.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said infra-red transmissible material is selected from the group consisting of diamond, germanium, zinc selenide and silicon.

Assignees

• Univ Strathclyde

Inventors

• Baker Matthew
• Hegarty Mark
• Butler Holly Jean
• Paimer David

Classifications

• G01N21/01

  Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation · CPC title

• G01N21/552 Primary

  Attenuated total reflection · CPC title

• G01N2021/3595

  using FTIR · CPC title

• G01N21/253 Primary

  for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus (analytical automats G01N35/00) · CPC title

• G01N21/35

  using infrared light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) · CPC title