Preparing samples for optical measurement
We disclose an apparatus comprising: a hand-portable optical analysis unit including an optical interface; and a device configured to receive and releasably engage the hand-portable optical analysis unit. The device comprises: a housing; a sample unit in the housing; and a resilient member configured to bias the sample unit and the hand-portable analysis unit towards each other when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device to compress a sample disposed between the sample unit and the optical interface of the optical analysis unit. Methods of analyzing samples are also disclosed.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a hand-portable optical analysis unit including an optical interface; and
a device configured to receive and releasably engage the hand-portable optical analysis unit, the device comprising:
a housing;
a sample unit in the housing; and
a resilient member configured to bias the sample unit and the hand-portable analysis unit towards each other to compress a sample disposed between the sample unit and the optical interface of the optical analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample unit includes a projection extending outward from adjacent portions of the sample unit, the projection aligned with the optical interface of the hand-portable optical analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sample unit comprises a concave surface from which the projection extends.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the device is configured to apply a pressure of between about 1,000 and about 3,000 pounds per square inch to portions of a sample disposed between the projection of the sample unit and the optical interface of the optical analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sample unit is displaced between about 0.075 inches and about 0.105 inches from a rest position when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the projection of the sample unit comprises a substantially planar surface oriented towards the hand-portable analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the substantially planar surface has a total area of between about 5.0 and about 7.0 square millimeters.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the projection of the sample unit comprises a material with a hardness of at least 8 on the Mohs scale.
9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the projection of the sample unit comprises sapphire, diamond, or ruby.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an internal aperture and the sample unit is movably disposed in the internal aperture.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the resilient member biases the sample unit towards the hand-portable analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the resilient member is a spring with a spring rate between about 20 and about 25 pounds per inch.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical analysis unit weighs between about 2.5 and about 3.5 pounds and the device weighs between about 1 and about 2 pounds.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical interface is a prism.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sample unit is open to the atmosphere.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises retention members configured to engage and hold the hand-portable analysis unit in place against a force exerted by the resilient member.
17. An apparatus comprising:
a device configured to receive and releasably engage a handportable analysis unit, the device comprising:
a housing;
a sample unit movably disposed in the housing; and
a resilient member configured to bias the sample unit towards the hand-portable analysis unit when the hand-portable analysis unit is received in the device.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the sample unit includes a projection extending outward from adjacent portions of the sample unit, the projection aligned with an optical interface of a hand-portable optical analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the device is configured to apply a pressure of between about 1,000 and about 3,000 pounds per square inch to portions of a sample disposed between the projection of the sample unit and the optical interface of the optical analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the sample unit is displaced between about 0.075 inches and about 0.105 inches from a rest position when a hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the projection of the sample unit comprises a substantially planar surface oriented towards the hand-portable analysis unit when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the substantially planar surface has a total area of between about 5.0 and about 7.0 square millimeters.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the projection of the sample unit comprises sapphire, diamond, or ruby.
24. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the housing defines an internal aperture and the sample unit is movably disposed in the internal aperture.
25. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the resilient member is a spring with a spring rate between about 20 and about 25 pounds per inch.
26. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the device weighs between about 1 and about 2 pounds.
27. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises a substantially flat surface opposite the sample unit.
28. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the sample unit is open to the atmosphere.
29. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises retention members configured to engage and hold the hand-portable analysis unit in place against a force exerted by the resilient member.
30. A method of analyzing a sample, the method comprising:
placing the sample in a sample receptacle of a device;
pressing a hand-portable optical analysis unit into locking engagement with the device such that the sample is disposed between the sample receptacle and an optical interface of the optical analysis unit;
compressing the sample between a sample interface of the sample receptacle and an optical interface of the optical analysis unit;
directing radiation from the optical analysis unit towards the sample;
determining information about the sample by detecting radiation; and
removing the hand-portable optical analysis unit from the device.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein compressing the sample comprises displacing the sample receptacle from a rest position of the sample receptacle.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein compressing the sample comprises applying a force to the sample receptacle that is proportional to a distance that the sample receptacle is displaced from the rest position.
33. The method of claim 30 , wherein compressing the sample comprises automatically controlling force applied to the sample by the device and the optical analysis unit.
34. The method of claim 30 , wherein compressing the sample comprises displacing a portion of the sample from between the sample interface of the sample receptacle and the optical interface of the optical analysis unit.
35. The method of claim 30 , wherein determining information about the sample comprises measuring infrared absorption information about the sample.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein determining information about the sample comprises obtaining Raman scattering information about the sample.
37. The method of claim 36 , comprising determining an identity of the sample based on the infrared absorption information and the Raman scattering information about the sample.