The present disclosure relates to optical monitoring of fluids. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to determination of the concentration of one or more substances in a fluid being optically monitored.
It is known to employ an optical detection assembly to monitor the flow of blood, blood components, and other biological fluids through a fluid flow circuit to determine various characteristics of the flow. A typical optical detection assembly includes a light source (e.g., a laser or a light-emitting diode) configured to emit light into a fluid-containing vessel of the fluid flow circuit, with a light detector (e.g., a photodiode) configured to receive light exiting the vessel. The light detector transmits a signal to a controller based upon the light it has received, with the controller using the signal to determine one or more properties of the fluid.
A conventional optical detection assembly may have any of a number of possible shortcomings, depending on its exact configuration. For example, it is common for an optical detection assembly to monitor flow of a biological fluid through flexible plastic tubing of a fluid flow circuit. As shown in
Another possible shortcoming is the configuration of the light detector of a conventional optical detection assembly, which is frequently a single photodiode. By such a configuration, only the amplitude of light exiting the vessel at a single location is known, whereas light transmitted through turbid media (e.g., blood or a blood component) will be dispersed, rather than exiting along a single path that can be fully received by a single photodiode.
On account of these and other shortcomings, conventional optical detection assemblies may not be optimal for determination of the properties of interest of a fluid being optically monitored.
There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may be embodied separately or together in the devices and systems described and claimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in different combinations as set forth in the claims appended hereto.
In one aspect, an optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid in a vessel includes a light source, a light detector array, and a controller. The light source is configured and oriented to emit a light into a fluid in a vessel. The light detector array comprises a plurality of light detectors and is configured to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the vessel. The controller is configured to receive signals from the light detector array indicative of an intensity of said at least a portion of the light received by each one of said plurality of light detectors and determine a concentration of a substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on said signals.
In another aspect, an optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid in a vessel includes a light source, a light detector, a vessel attachment, and a controller. The light source is configured and oriented to emit a light into a fluid in a vessel, while the light detector is configured to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the vessel. The vessel attachment includes substantially parallel first and second faces, with the first face of the vessel attachment positioned facing the light source and oriented in a plane substantially orthogonal to a central axis of light emitted by the light source, and with the second face of the vessel attachment positioned facing the light detector. The vessel attachment defines a cavity positioned between the first and second faces and configured to receive at least a portion of the vessel, with an outer surface of said at least a portion of the vessel in contact with an adjacent surface of the cavity at locations in which the light emitted by the light source is configured to enter the vessel and exit the vessel. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the light detector indicative of an intensity of said at least a portion of the light received by the light detector and determine a concentration of a substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on said signal.
In yet another aspect, an optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid includes a light source, a light detector, a vessel connector, and a controller. The vessel connector includes substantially parallel first and second faces and defines a first cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a first vessel, a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a second vessel, and a conduit extending from the first cavity to the second cavity, with the conduit comprising substantially parallel first and second walls. The first face of the vessel connector is positioned facing the light source and oriented in a plane substantially orthogonal to a central axis of light emitted by the light source, while the second face of the vessel connector is positioned facing the light detector, with the first and second walls of the conduit being substantially parallel to the first and second faces of the vessel connector. The light detector is configured to receive at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source after that portion of the light has based through the first face of the vessel connector, through the first wall of the conduit, through a fluid in the conduit, through the second wall of the conduit, and through the second face of the vessel connector. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the light detector indicative of an intensity of the light received by the light detector and determine a concentration of a substance in the fluid in the conduit based at least in part on the signal.
These and other aspects of the present subject matter are set forth in the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments disclosed herein are for the purpose of providing a description of the present subject matter, and it is understood that the subject matter may be embodied in various other forms and combinations not shown in detail. Therefore, specific designs and features disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the subject matter as defined in the accompanying claims.
An optical detection assembly embodying aspects of the present disclosure and components thereof are shown in
The illustrated optical detection assembly 10 includes a light-transmissive vessel attachment or fixture or clip 12. The vessel attachment 12 includes substantially parallel first and second faces 14 and 16. The first face 14 is configured to face a light source 18 of the optical detection assembly 10 (
The vessel attachment 12 defines a cavity 22 positioned between the first and second faces 14 and 16. As shown in
As explained above, the refractive indices of air and plastic are significantly different, which leads to light L being transmitted into a conventional plastic tube T as shown in
The second characteristic of the vessel attachment 12 allowing for improved light transmission is the material composition of the vessel attachment 12. As explained above, the significant difference in the refractive indices of air and plastic causes light to bend or refract when moving from air into a plastic tube T at an angle θ1 to the outer surface of the tube T. However, the vessel attachment 12 is formed of a material having a refractive index n3 that is the same or at least substantially the same as the refractive index n2 of the vessel V, such that the light is not bent or refracted when moving from the vessel attachment 12 to the vessel V at an angle θ3 to the outer surface S of the vessel V and from the vessel V to the vessel attachment 12 at an angle to the surface of the cavity 22. This is true of both collimated light (
As the material composition and, thus, the refractive index n2 of the vessel V may vary without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the material composition of the vessel attachment 12 may similarly vary so as to have a refractive index n3 that is the same or at least substantially the same as the refractive index n2 of the vessel V. In an exemplary embodiment, the vessel V is formed of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”), with the vessel attachment 12 being formed of plastic or quartz or some other material having a refractive index n3 that is the same or at least substantially the same as the refractive index of plasticized PVC.
The third characteristic of the vessel attachment 12 allowing for improved light transmission is the configuration of the cavity 22, which places at least a portion of the surface of the cavity 22 into direct contact with the outer surface S of the vessel V. As explained above, the material composition of the vessel attachment 12 addresses the significant difference in the refractive indices of air and the material forming the vessel V (by providing a refractive index n3 more similar to the refractive index n2 of the material of the vessel V). However, the similar refractive indices of the materials forming the vessel attachment 12 and vessel V is most advantageous when the surface of the cavity 22 is in direct contact with the outer surface S of the vessel V. Direct contact may be achieved by any of a number of suitable approaches, including (for example): solvent bonding, adhesive bonding, and implementation of an interference fit. If the surfaces of the cavity 22 and the vessel V are not in direct contact, there will be air between the surfaces, such that light must pass through the vessel attachment 12 and then through the air (which has a refractive index n1 that may be significantly different from the refractive indices n2 and n3 of the materials forming the vessel V and the vessel attachment 12, respectively), with the light bending or refracting at an angled interface between adjacent media.
In the illustrated embodiment, the entire perimeter or outer surface S of the vessel V contacts the surface of the cavity 22, with no air therebetween, though it should be understood that such a configuration is not necessary. Indeed, light may be properly transmitted between the vessel attachment 12 and the vessel V provided that there is direct contact between the surface of the cavity 22 and the outer surface S of the vessel V at the locations in which light is transitioning from one of the structures to the other (i.e., where light exits the vessel attachment 12 and enters the vessel V and where light exits the vessel V and reenters the vessel attachment 12). For example, in the configuration shown in
It will, thus, be seen that the configuration of the vessel attachment 12 will eliminate the inconsistent light transport to a fluid of interest within the vessel V as occurs in conventional optical detection assemblies (
The vessel attachment 12 may be formed as a unit or single piece or may be defined by two or more pieces, as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the two pieces 24 and 26 of the vessel attachment 12 are separate (
The light detector 20 is incorporated into or associated with the second sensor housing 32. To allow light exiting the vessel V and the second face 16 of the second vessel attachment piece 26 to reach the light detector 20, the second sensor housing 32 may define an aperture to accommodate the light. Alternatively, at least a portion of the second sensor housing 32 positioned between the second vessel attachment piece 26 and the light detector 20 may be formed of a light-transmissive material.
As shown in
When the vessel attachment 12 is assembled and a fluid of interest is present in the portion of the vessel V received by the vessel attachment 12, the light source 18 may emit light into and through the first face 14 of the vessel attachment 12 and into the vessel V, as shown in
Regardless of the particular configuration of the light detector 20, it transmits one or more signals to a controller 34, which determines one or more properties of the fluid in the vessel V (e.g., the concentration of a substance, such as platelets, in the fluid) based at least in part on the signal(s). The controller 34 may be variously configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the controller 34 may include a microprocessor (which, in fact may include multiple physical and/or virtual processors). According to other embodiments, the controller 34 may include one or more electrical circuits designed to carry out the actions described herein. In fact, the controller 34 may include a microprocessor and other circuits or circuitry. In addition, the controller 34 may include one or more memories. The instructions by which the microprocessor is programmed may be stored on the memory associated with the microprocessor, which memory/memories may include one or more tangible non-transitory computer readable memories, having computer executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the microprocessor, may cause the microprocessor to carry out one or more actions as described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the controller 34 comprises a main processing unit (MPU), which can comprise, e.g., a PENTIUM® type microprocessor made by Intel Corporation, although other types of conventional microprocessors can be used.
It will be seen that, in the optical detection assembly 10 of
It should be understood that the vessel attachment 12 of
While the vessel attachment 12 of
The cavity 46 retains the received portion of the vessel V in its deformed state, which forces that portion of the vessel V to have a shape that is more advantageous for optical monitoring of a fluid within the vessel V. More particularly, as best shown in
As in the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, the facing surfaces of the two pieces 54 and 56 of the vessel attachment 52 provide protrusions 60 and 62, with the protrusion 60 of the first piece 54 providing a first cavity wall 64 and the protrusion 62 of the second piece 56 providing a second cavity wall 66. When the two pieces 54 and 56 are joined or connected (as shown in
The protrusions are configured such that, when the two pieces 72 and 74 of the vessel attachment 76 are attached or connected or otherwise associated together, each pair of protrusions are separated by a different distance, each of which is less than an outer dimension or diameter D of the portion of the vessel V received within the cavity 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the first section 86a of the cavity 86 has first and second walls 82 and 84 separated by a relatively great distance “d1” (to present a “wide” optical pathlength), the second section 86b of the cavity 86 has first and second walls 82 and 84 separated by a smaller distance “d2” (to present an “intermediate” optical pathlength), and the third section 86c of the cavity 86 has first and second walls 82 and 84 separated by an even smaller distance “d3” (to present a “narrow” optical pathlength).
The vessel attachment 76 may be positioned so as to selectively align one of the pairs of protrusions with an associated light source and light detector, effectively selecting an optical pathlength for light being transmitted through fluid within the vessel V. In yet another embodiment, an optical detection assembly may be provided with a plurality of pairs of light source and light detectors, with each pair aligned with a different section of the cavity 86 to monitor fluid in the vessel V at different optical pathlengths. In either case, this may render the vessel attachment 76 more versatile and suitable for use with fluids and/or vessels that are best monitored at different optical pathlengths. For example, when monitoring a high concentration fluid, it may be advantageous to employ a relatively short optical pathlength because the large number of particles in the fluid may inhibit successful light transmission measurement. On the other hand, when a particle of interest is present in a smaller concentration, a longer optical pathlength may be advantageous in order to better ensure that a detectable transmission measurement is achieved.
More particularly, the vessel connector 88 defines a first cavity 92a configured to receive an end of a first vessel V1 and a second cavity 92b configured to receive an end of a second vessel V2.
A conduit 90 is defined between the first and second cavities 92a and 92b to place the cavities 92a and 92b into fluid communication with each other. Similar to the cavities defined by the vessel attachments of
In use, light from the light source strikes the first face 98 of the vessel connector 88 and is transmitted through the body of the vessel connector 88 (which may be formed of any suitable light-transmissive material) until it at least a portion of the light reaches the first wall 94 of the conduit 90. The light passes through the first wall 92 and through fluid within the conduit 90, which will typically be flowing from one vessel to the other. The light exiting the fluid will pass through the second wall 96 of the conduit 90, through the body of the vessel connector 88, and then out through the second face 99 of the vessel connector 88 to be received by the light detector. As is the case with the vessel attachments of
Turning back now to the light detector 20, as noted above, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for it to be configured as a light detector array, as shown in
In the optical detection assembly 100 of
Regardless of the particular position and orientation of the light detector array 20, it is comprised of a plurality of light detectors or light-sensing elements (e.g., 256 photodiodes in a linear array). As explained above, light exiting a turbid media (such as blood or a blood component) will be dispersed, such that the light may be detected at multiple positions, rather than at a single location by a single light detector (e.g., an individual photodiode). It has been found that different fluids (e.g., ones having different concentrations of a target substance) may result in emerging light beams having different dispersion patterns. For example,
A controller (not illustrated) associated with the light detector array 20 receives signals from each of the individual light detectors of the light detector array 20, with each signal being indicative of the intensity of light received by the individual light detector that transmitted the signal to the controller.
In the illustrated embodiment, the platelets cause light to scatter, rather than being transmitted straight through the fluid and vessel V (along its initial path). As there are more platelets in the fluid F of
I
A(p)=IR(p)−IR(N+1)N<p<(500−N), [1]
This adjusted intensity scan may be filtered to remove random spikes and smooth the intensity output. Different filtering techniques may be employed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In an exemplary approach illustrated in
In addition to or instead of applying any of a number of possible filtering techniques, the data may also be smoothed by averaging multiple scans taken over a timeframe that is small compared to other system changes (notably, the composition of the fluid).
The fact that the smoothness of the light detector responses for the low concentration fluid f are not dramatically improved by averaging 1,000 scans suggests that the signal variability is due largely to the variability from detector to detector within the light detector array 20 rather than variability within an individual light detector from scan to scan. Such variability may be diminished by instituting a normalization procedure in which the entire light detector array 20 is exposed to a uniform light intensity IN and an intensity adjustment factor Z is assigned to each array element i, which may be calculated using Equation [2]:
A corrected response RC,i is then calculated according to Equation [3]:
R
C,i
=Z
i
R
i, [3]
in which Ri is the uncorrected response.
Another approach to scan smoothing is to fit a function by non-linear regression to the scan data. Different approaches may be applied without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, though it has been found that the superposition of two normal distribution functions as shown in Equation [4] fits the data quite well in most cases:
in which A1, A2, S1, S2, and p0 are fitting parameters. The results for the two datasets shown in
Once a dataset has been processed, as desired, it may be used by the controller to analyze the subject fluid, though a relationship between the data and the characteristic(s) of interest must first be established. By way of example, let M be some property of the processed scan which is hypothesized to be a function ƒ of platelet concentration C. Thus:
M=ƒ(C), [5].
The appropriateness of Mas an indicator of C through the function ƒ is assessed experimentally by obtaining scans at various platelet concentrations, then fitting M to ƒ by regression, which yields values for various fitting parameters (p1, p2, . . . pn). Those parameters are then used to calculate a predicted value of C:
C
p
=g(p1,p2, . . . pn,M), [6].
As a simple example, suppose M is the maximum intensity and ƒ(C)=p1C+p2, which represents a linear relationship with a non-zero intercept. Then, given these fitted values of p1 and p2:
Table 1 presents various exemplary equations defining M and ƒ(C):
In Table 1, absorbance A is defined as
where S is either IMAX or IINT and SREF refers to a reference scan at low (preferably zero) platelet concentration.
Methods 1-4 of Table 1 fit the data to a function which produces an initial exponential fall in M in the low concentration region followed by a linear decline at higher concentrations.
It will be seen that there is no closed form for the corresponding g function for Methods 1-6. Given the fitted parameters, a value of M, and an initial guess for concentration, C can be obtained iteratively. For example, it has been found that the Newton-Raphson method works very well for these functions, in which:
F=ƒ(p1,p2,p3,p4,)−M, [8].
Then:
Methods 7, 8, and 9 are used to determine a fluid property (e.g., concentration of a substance, such as platelets) from the width W50 of the scan curves at an intensity value equal to one half that of the maximum value IMAX,1/2. A first order estimate of this value is obtained be traversing the intensity/data array from left to right (Positions 1 to 500 for a light detector array 20 having 500 individual light detectors) and identifying the first point on the left PL,i at which the intensity is greater than IMAX,1/2 and the first point on the right PR,i at which the intensity is less than IMAX,1/2:
W
50
=P
R,i
−P
L,i, [10].
An improved estimation may be obtained by linear interpolation between the points PL,i and PL,i-1 and between the points PR,i and PR,i+1. Still a further improvement may be achieved by performing a linear regression using points above and below PL,i and PR,i and then interpolating using the resulting slope and intercept. These techniques are illustrated in
Table 2 summarizes the results for prediction of platelet concentration based on the various methods:
It should be understood that these approaches to correlating light intensity to platelet concentration are merely exemplary and that other approaches may be employed (including being employed for determination of fluid characteristics other than platelet concentration) without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Regardless of the particular approach that is determined to be the most appropriate based on the available data and the characteristic to be determined, the preferred approach may subsequently be employed by the controller when analyzing a subject fluid in a vessel V or conduit to determine the characteristic of interest of the fluid. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure for multiple methods to be employed to analyze a particular dataset, with the results of two or more of the methods being averaged or otherwise used in conjunction to determine a fluid property.
As noted above, the principles illustrated in
The channel 108 is configured to secure the vessel V in a desired orientation with respect to the light source 18 and the sensors 20 and 104. As best shown in
A controller 118 is coupled to the sensors 20 and 104 to receive signals from the individual light detectors of the sensors 20 and 104. The controller 118 is configured to receive signals from the sensors 20 and 104 and determine one or more properties of the subject fluid (e.g., the concentration of a substance in the fluid, such as platelet concentration) based on the signals from at least one of the sensors 20 and 104. In one embodiment, the controller 118 may be configured to determine one or more properties of the subject fluid based on signals from both of the sensors 20 and 104. The signals from the two sensors 20 and 104 may be used by the controller 118 to determine a single fluid characteristic or the signals from the transmission sensor 20 may be used by the controller 118 to determine a first fluid characteristic, while signals from the side-scatter sensor 104 may be used by the controller 118 to determine a second fluid characteristic. While a single controller 118 is shown as being associated with the two sensors 20 and 104, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for two controllers to be provided, with each controller configured to receive signals from a different one of the sensors 20 and 104.
Aspect 1. An optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid in a vessel, comprising: a light source configured and oriented to emit a light into a fluid in a vessel; a light detector array comprising a plurality of light detectors and configured to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the vessel; and a controller configured to receive signals from the light detector array indicative of an intensity of said at least a portion of the light received by each one of said plurality of light detectors, and determine a concentration of a substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on said signals.
Aspect 2. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 1, further comprising a second light detector array, wherein one of said light detector arrays comprises a transmission sensor positioned and configured to receive at least a portion of transmitted light exiting the vessel, the other one of said light detector arrays comprises a side-scatter sensor positioned and configured to receive at least a portion of scattered light exiting the vessel, and the controller is configured to determine the concentration of said substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on signals from at least one of the light detector arrays.
Aspect 3. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 2, wherein the controller is configured to determine the concentration of said substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on signals from both of the light detector arrays.
Aspect 4. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 2-3, wherein the transmission sensor is positioned in-line with an axis of the light emitted by the light source, and the side-scatter sensor is positioned and oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of the light emitted by the light source.
Aspect 5. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 4, wherein the side-scatter sensor is positioned and oriented approximately 90° with respect to the axis of the light emitted by the light source.
Aspect 6. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 2-5, further comprising a channel configured to receive at least a portion of the vessel and defining a first aperture associated with the light source and configured to accommodate at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source, a second aperture associated with the transmission sensor and configured to accommodate transmitted light exiting the vessel, and a third aperture associated with the side-scatter sensor and configured to accommodate scattered light exiting the vessel.
Aspect 7. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 1, further comprising a vessel attachment including substantially parallel first and second faces, wherein the first face of the vessel attachment is positioned facing the light source and oriented in a plane substantially orthogonal to a central axis of light emitted by the light source, the second face of the vessel attachment is positioned facing the light detector array, and the vessel attachment defines a cavity positioned between the first and second faces and configured to receive at least a portion of the vessel, with an outer surface of said at least a portion of the vessel in contact with an adjacent surface of the cavity at locations in which the light emitted by the light source is configured to enter the vessel and exit the vessel.
Aspect 8. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 7, wherein the vessel attachment is formed of a material having a refractive index substantially the same as a refractive index of a material forming the vessel.
Aspect 9. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 7-8, wherein the vessel attachment is fixedly secured to the vessel.
Aspect 10. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 7-9, wherein the vessel attachment is bonded to the vessel.
Aspect 11. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 7-8, wherein the vessel attachment comprises first and second pieces each defining a portion of the cavity, and the first piece of the vessel attachment is at least partially movable with respect to the second piece of the vessel attachment.
Aspect 12. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 11, further comprising a first sensor housing associated with the light source and the first piece of the vessel attachment, and a second sensor housing movable associated with the light detector array and the second piece of the vessel attachment, wherein at least a portion of one of the sensor housings is movable with respect to at least a portion of the other one of the sensor housings.
Aspect 13. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 7-12, wherein the cavity is substantially cylindrical.
Aspect 14. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 7-12, wherein the cavity is defined by substantially parallel first and second cavity walls, and at least a portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a distance less than an outer dimension of said at least a portion of the vessel received by the cavity.
Aspect 15. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 14, wherein a first portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a first distance, a second portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a second distance, the first distance is different from the second distance, and each of the first and second distances is less than the outer dimension of said at least a portion of the vessel received by the cavity.
Aspect 16. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 15, wherein a third portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a third distance, the third distance is different from the first and second distances, and the third distance is less than the outer dimension of said at least a portion of the vessel received by the cavity.
Aspect 17. The optical detection assembly of any one of the preceding Aspects, wherein the light source is configured to emit collimated light.
Aspect 18. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 1-16, wherein the light source is configured to emit diffuse light.
Aspect 19. The optical detection assembly of any one of the preceding Aspects, wherein the controller is configured to determine the concentration of the substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on a maximum intensity of light received by one of said plurality of light detectors.
Aspect 20. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 1-18, wherein the controller is configured to determine the concentration of the substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on a summation of the intensity of light received by at least two of said plurality of light detectors.
Aspect 21. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 1-18, wherein the controller is configured to determine the concentration of the substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on the number of light detectors receiving light having an intensity of at least a minimum percentage of a maximum intensity of light received by one of said plurality of light detectors.
Aspect 22. The optical detection assembly of any one of the preceding Aspects, wherein the controller is configured to omit signals from selected light detectors when determining the concentration of the substance in the fluid in the vessel.
Aspect 23. The optical detection assembly of any one of the preceding Aspects, wherein the controller is configured to calculate an average of a plurality of signals from at least one of said light detectors when determining the concentration of the substance in the fluid in the vessel.
Aspect 24. An optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid in a vessel, comprising: a light source configured and oriented to emit a light into a fluid in a vessel; a light detector configured to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the vessel; a vessel attachment including substantially parallel first and second faces, wherein the first face of the vessel attachment is positioned facing the light source and oriented in a plane substantially orthogonal to a central axis of light emitted by the light source, the second face of the vessel attachment is positioned facing the light detector, and the vessel attachment defines a cavity positioned between the first and second faces and configured to receive at least a portion of the vessel, with an outer surface of said at least a portion of the vessel in contact with an adjacent surface of the cavity at locations in which the light emitted by the light source is configured to enter the vessel and exit the vessel; and a controller configured to receive a signal from the light detector indicative of an intensity of said at least a portion of the light received by the light detector, and determine a concentration of a substance in the fluid in the vessel based at least in part on said signal.
Aspect 25. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 24, wherein the vessel attachment is formed of a material having a refractive index substantially the same as a refractive index of a material forming the vessel.
Aspect 26. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 24-25, wherein the vessel attachment is fixedly secured to the vessel.
Aspect 27. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 24-26, wherein the vessel attachment is bonded to the vessel.
Aspect 28. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 24-25, wherein the vessel attachment comprises first and second pieces each defining a portion of the cavity, and the first piece of the vessel attachment is at least partially movable with respect to the second piece of the vessel attachment.
Aspect 29. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 28, further comprising a first sensor housing associated with the light source and the first piece of the vessel attachment, and a second sensor housing movable associated with the light detector array and the second piece of the vessel attachment, wherein at least a portion of one of the sensor housings is movable with respect to at least a portion of the other one of the sensor housings.
Aspect 30. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 24-29, wherein the cavity is substantially cylindrical.
Aspect 31. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 24-29, wherein the cavity is defined by substantially parallel first and second cavity walls, and at least a portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a distance less than an outer dimension of said at least a portion of the vessel received by the cavity.
Aspect 32. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 31, wherein a first portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a first distance, a second portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a second distance, the first distance is different from the second distance, and each of the first and second distances is less than the outer dimension of said at least a portion of the vessel received by the cavity.
Aspect 33. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 32, wherein a third portion of the first and second cavity walls are separated by a third distance, the third distance is different from the first and second distances, and the third distance is less than the outer dimension of said at least a portion of the vessel received by the cavity.
Aspect 34. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 24-33, wherein the light source is configured to emit collimated light.
Aspect 35. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 24-33, wherein the light source is configured to emit diffuse light.
Aspect 36. An optical detection assembly for monitoring a fluid, comprising: a light source; a light detector; a vessel connector including substantially parallel first and second faces and defining a first cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a first vessel, a second cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a second vessel, and a conduit extending from the first cavity to the second cavity and comprising substantially parallel first and second walls, wherein the first face of the vessel connector is positioned facing the light source and oriented in a plane substantially orthogonal to a central axis of light emitted by the light source, the second face of the vessel connector is positioned facing the light detector, the first and second walls of the conduit are substantially parallel to the first and second faces of the vessel connector, and the light detector is configured to receive at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source after said at least a portion of the light has based through the first face of the vessel connector, through the first wall of the conduit, through a fluid in the conduit, through the second wall of the conduit, and through the second face of the vessel connector; and a controller configured to receive a signal from the light detector indicative of an intensity of said at least a portion of the light received by the light detector, and determine a concentration of a substance in the fluid in the conduit based at least in part on said signal.
Aspect 37. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 36, wherein the first and second walls of the conduit are separated by a distance less than a diameter of at least one of the first and second cavities.
Aspect 38. The optical detection assembly of Aspect 36, wherein the first and second walls of the conduit are separated by a distance less than a diameter of each of the first and second cavities.
Aspect 39. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 36-38, wherein the light source is configured to emit collimated light.
Aspect 40. The optical detection assembly of any one of Aspects 36-38, wherein the light source is configured to emit diffuse light.
It will be understood that the embodiments and examples described above are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present subject matter. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter, including those combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein. For these reasons, the scope hereof is not limited to the above description but is as set forth in the following claims, and it is understood that claims may be directed to the features hereof, including as combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein.
This application claims the benefit of and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/305,395, filed Feb. 1, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63305395 | Feb 2022 | US |