MXPA06010496A

MXPA06010496A - Improved detection device

Info

Publication number: MXPA06010496A
Application number: MXPA/A/2006/010496A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Chatterjee Jaideep; Pal Sukdeb
Original assignee: Chatterjee Jaideep; Hindustan Lever Limited; Pal Sukheb; Unilever Nv; Unilever Plc
Priority date: 2004-03-16
Filing date: 2006-09-14
Publication date: 2007-04-20

Abstract

The invention provides an optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities in stationary fluid samples comprising:a housing;means for placing a substantially transparent receptacle containing the fluid sample;means for directing a beam of light from the light emitting source through the fluid sample in the receptacle and a light emitting source to generate a beam of light wherein the intensity of the light beam is such that the intensity difference between the point of detection and the surrounding is at least 5,000 LUX. Preferably the device is provided with a means for observing the light that leaves the receptacle at the point of detection, such as a camera provided with a magnifying lens.

Description

IMPROVED DETECTION DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities in fluid samples not otherwise detectable by the eye. The present invention relates in particular to an optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities including microorganisms greater than 0.2 μm in water samples obtained from various sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common knowledge that most fluid samples, especially water samples, although sometimes appear pure to the naked eye, are usually heavily contaminated with colloidal matter. The colloidal material herein refers to any foreign organic or inorganic matter present in the liquid medium of particle size of 0.2 μm or more, whose size and density difference with the surrounding medium, which is usually water, is such that These entities do not settle under gravity, even when they are left unchanged for a prolonged period. These materials are not a constituent of the medium, but are the result of invariable contamination of the medium. This includes, but is not limited to, such as, powder, pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, cysts, fibrous material, microorganisms, dead cells, pollen and the like. The instruments capable of detecting and monitoring this particulate matter use chemical, microbiological and spectroscopic analysis methods and have found applications in various industries such as the medical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological and food industries. These methods generally involve the use of spotting the particles with dyes and additionally performing spectroscopic analysis of these samples to determine the purity. Microbial methods generally make use of membrane filtration techniques, where the particles are collected in the membrane filter, which can be cultivated and measured or alternatively counted by microscopic observation. However, both methods require specialized skills and adequate installation requirements and in combination with the time consumed to sample and analyze the samples, they are found to be impracticable especially in water filtration applications, where results indicating water purity are desirable. online. Optical methods are attractive for this end use and several attempts have been made in this direction to arrive at a device that satisfies the need for a simpler and cheaper method to detect colloidal matter in fluid samples. US 2004/0009473 A1 shows a set and process for detecting microbes in a liquid sample. The assembly has a filtering device and the microbes are stopped in the filter when the fluid containing them is passed through the filter. The filter is coated with chemicals that lyse the microbial cells. Another coating is provided, which provides detection of such microbes by emission of signal in the form of radiant energy, such as luminescent light. The apparatus is then placed in a radiant energy measuring apparatus to measure the radiant energy of the Used cells. This is then compared to a standard that provides a measure of radiant energy as a function of concentration of microbes to determine the concentration of microbes in a liquid. Thus, the application relates to a filtering device equipped with a chemical-coated filter for lysing microbes and another coating for emitting the signal from lysed microbes and does not resolve the presence or detection of non-microbial particulate matter present in the sample of microbes. fluid, which is also a major source of contamination of such fluid samples. US 6,522,405 B2 shows the method and apparatus for detecting sub-micron particles in the fluid flowing stream. The apratus comprises a coherent light source, the light from which it converges by lens or otherwise in a cell with fluid current which contains particles. The converging light falling on the particles in motion is diffracted in a detector photo placed on an optical axis of the light beam on the opposite side of the light source. The detector photo produces electrical signals, which are treated by electrical circuits to count the number of particles in the current. The cell through which the fluid stream flows is located near the focus of the converging beam. The length of the passage of particles near the focus is smaller than those farther away, although the particles move at the same speed. In this way, the detector photo emits a short signal corresponding to particles passing near the focal point and a long signal for particles farther from the focus. The signal frequency corresponds to the distance between the passage of particles and focus, as well as the particle size. The apparatus is such that the appropriate electrical signal representing particle characteristics is produced when any change in intensity caused by a diffraction image of a converged light appears in the detector photo. However, this system requires extreme sophistication and experience in spot management to detect and count the number of particles in fluid that flows using photoelectric detectors and circuits, and gives no indication of visual detection of particulate matter. US 2002/0139865 A1 shows a system that exhibits odor-reducing water comprising a reservoir, pump and conduit in fluid communication with pump to return water to the reservoir and a germicidal light source in a defined position. The light source projects UV light to eliminate microbes and bad odor. This application thus describes a microbicidal system that uses UV light for this purpose and does not deal with the visual detection of the organic or inorganic particulate matter present in fluid samples. EP 098095 A2 shows a process and apparatus for characterizing or identifying physical parameters of microparticles, such as size, average refractive index and shape when a polarized light beam passing through a spherical array of detectors is intercepted by a stream of particles in the spherical array center and the selected observables are used to map the particle parameters. This system is complex and intense in terms of cost and involves complicated computerized systems for particle mapping and identification. However, it does not show visual detection of the organic and inorganic particulate matter present in the fluid sample. None of the prior art described above shows a device for visual detection of colloidal matter, especially of particles as small as 1 μm and specifically a device by which a light column is passed through a stationary fluid sample in a container for detecting particles above the size defined by the naked eye. The prior art does not describe devices capable of rapid visual detection of particulate matter normally not detected by the eye, despite the existing need thereof.

OBJECTIVE AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for visual detection of colloidal matter normally not detected by the eye. The device is simple to use and economical and does not require special installation skills or requirements.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for visual detection of colloidal matter, which produces a difference in light intensity for detection of particles above 0.2 μm in size with the naked eye in a sample of stationary fluid in a container. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for visual detection of particulate matter, which has a simple construction and is easy to handle. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for visual detection of particulate matter that is economical and does not use complicated analysis methods and does not require skills or specialized installation. A further objective of the present invention is to provide an optical device for visual detection of particulate matter that easily indicates the presence of colloidal matter having a size of 0.2 μm. A further objective of the present invention is to provide an optical device for visual detection of colloidal matter that can be used to calibrate the efficiency of water purification systems, where the quality of raw feed and finished production can be assessed. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for visual detection of colloidal matter that can be used to provide a rapid quality control check on continuous samples of purified water in water purification systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities in fluid samples comprising - A housing. - A light emitting source sufficient to generate light of such intensity that the difference in intensity between the detection point and the support is at least 5,000 LUX. - Means for placing a substantially transparent receptacle containing the fluid sample passing a beam of light from the light emitting source through the fluid sample. The present invention provides an optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities in fluid samples, comprising - A housing. - A light emitting source sufficient to generate light of such intensity that the difference in intensity between the detection point and the support is at least 5,000 LUX. - Means for placing a substantially transparent receptacle containing the fluid sample and passing a beam of light from the light emitting source through the fluid sample. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities in fluid samples, comprising - an opaque housing that does not reflect. - A light emitting source sufficient to generate light of such intensity that the difference in intensity between the detection point and the support is at least 5,000 LUX. - A platform disposed within the housing for positioning a substantially transparent receptacle containing the fluid sample. - A means arranged to direct a beam of light from the light emitting source through the fluid sample in the receptacle. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is provided with a means for observing the light emerging from the receptacle at the point of detection. In a further preferred embodiment observing means is provided with a magnifying means, preferably a magnifying lens. Most preferably, the observation means is a photo-image device, such as a camera, preferably a ccd camera. The camera can be connected to a graphic display device, such as a television or computer to allow to see the image of the fluid sample, and thus of the particles in the sample, on a monitor. The observation means is preferably positioned, so that the direction of observation makes an angle with the optical axis of the light beam. More preferably, the direction of observation is perpendicular to the optical axis of the light beam. The fluid samples can be any sample for which the purity needs to be evaluated in terms of colloidal matter present therein. The fluid samples are preferably samples of water from several sources. The colloidal material herein refers to any foreign organic or inorganic matter present in the liquid medium of particle size of 0.2 μm or more, which is not a constituent of the medium, but a result of invariable contamination of the medium. This includes, but is not limited to, material such as powder, pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, fibrous material, microorganisms, dead cells, pollen and the like. The present invention more preferably detects microspheres that simulate bacteria. The microspheres can be dyed preferably for better visual detection. The housing can be a camera, which eliminates the entry of ambient light into the camera and optionally can be in the form of a cabinet or a cover, which helps in the elimination of ambient light.

The light source can be any suitable light source sufficient to generate light of such intensity that the difference in intensity between the detection point and the support is at least 5,000 LUX, preferably 15,000 LUX, more preferably 25,000 LUX, most preferably 50,000. LUX. The preferred light sources are halogen photo-optic lamps. Suitable lamps are known in the art, such as lamps used for optical projection apparatus. An example is commercially available from Osram, Model G5.3, operating at 12V. The light source is optionally provided with a reflector dome to create a convergent beam of light produced from the light source and passing the beam through the medium to place the substantially transparent receptacle containing the fluid sample. The optical device preferably has a heat sink or filter in the vicinity of the light source to absorb some of the heat generated. Additionally, a cooling means, such as a fan, may also be provided in the vicinity of the light source to transfer heat away from the device. The means for directing the light beam through the fluid sample in the receptacle is constructed through an opaque platform and is preferably in the form of a slit or an aperture. Said means is optionally provided with a lens to align the light beam in a parallel beam to obtain a maximum contrast. When the medium is designed to give a conical effect to the beam of light it traverses or to obtain a cone of Tyndall, the platform is designated as a Cone Controller, since the dimension of the medium constructed through the cone controller will define the nature of the cone. shaped cone. The receptacle can be any suitable container that is substantially transparent to the light beams. It is suitably configured to be placed on the platform and preferably a glass or a plastic bottle. In a preferred embodiment, the light source is operated by placing the receptacle in position on the platform. According to a typical embodiment, a photo-imaging device, such as a camera, preferably a CCD camera, optionally with a magnifying means, is positioned in the same horizontal plane of the fluid container, so that the camera will take images of the flue sample when the column of light passes through. In another typical embodiment, the guiding means for directing the light beam of the light emitting source is disposed below the platform in which the receptacle is to be positioned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be further described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures, wherein FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical device of the invention for visual detection of colloidal matter. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical device for visual detection of colloidal matter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the optical device 1 comprises a light emitting source 2, positioned in the base 4 of the housing 3. The base portion also has a heat sink or filter 5 and a cooling fan 6. The light emitting source 2 has a reflector dome 7. The convergent light beam 8 generated from the light-emitting source 2 is directed to a slit 9 to direct said light beam 8 from the light-emitting source 2 through the fluid sample in the receptacle. A Tyndall cone 1 1 is defined in the fluid body in the receptacle 10. The slit 9 is provided in an opaque platform, which is a cone controller 12. In FIG. 2, the housing 3 is provided with a photo-image device, preferably a CCD camera 13. The camera has a magnifying means 14; such a camera 13 may be connected to a graphic display device 15, such as television or computer to allow the particles to be seen on the monitor. The figures are merely illustrative of the invention and it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments. Various modifications or changes in the construction of the device are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention and consequently should be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . An optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities in samples of stationary fluid, comprising - a non-reflective opaque housing that eliminates the entry of ambient light; - a platform disposed within the housing for placing a substantially transparent receptacle containing the fluid sample; - a light emitting source for generating a light beam; means for directing a light beam from the light emitting source through the fluid sample in the receptacle; - means for observing light emerging from the receptacle, the medium being positioned so that the direction of observation makes an angle with the optical axis of the light beam; where the intensity of the light beam is such that the difference in intensity between the detection point and the environment is at least 5,000 LUX.

2. An optical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the difference in intensity between the detection point and the environment is at least 15,000 LUX.

3. An optical device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for observation light exiting the receptacle is a photo-image device.

4. An optical device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the photo-image device is a CCD camera.

5. An optical device as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein the direction of observation is perpendicular to the optical axis of the light beam.

6. An optical device as claimed in any of claims 1-5, wherein the light source is positioned in an enclosure provided at the base of the housing.

7. An optical device as claimed in any of claims 1-6, wherein the light source is a halogen photo-optic lamp equipped with a reflector dome. An optical device as claimed in any of claims 1-7, wherein the means for directing a light beam from the light emitting source through the fluid sample in the receptacle comprises a guiding means being a opening or slit. An optical device as claimed in any of claims 1 - 8, wherein the guiding means for directing a light beam from the light emitting source is disposed below the platform in which the receptacle is to be positioned. 10. An optical device as claimed in any of claims 1-9, wherein the fluid sample is a water sample. eleven . an optical device as claimed in any of claims 1-10, wherein said device is provided with a heat sink or filter or a cooling device or combinations thereof, to counteract the heat generated by the light source. 12. An optical device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the photo-image device is further connected to a graphic display device. 13. An optical device for the visual detection of colloidal entities in stationary fluid samples substantially as described herein and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.