Patent ID: 6205272
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
A fiber optic probe for use in attenuated total internal reflection spectrophotometry, said probe comprising:a probe body having an interior;at least one light-transmitting fiber in said interior, said transmitting fiber having a distal end;at least one light-receiving fiber in said interior, said receiving fiber spaced apart from said transmitting fiber, said receiving fiber having a distal end;a hemispherical lens adjacent said distal ends of said transmitting fiber and said receiving fiber, said lens dimensioned and positioned to receive light from said transmitting fiber, internally reflect at least a portion of said light a desired number of times at an interface between said lens and an external medium, and direct at least a portion of said reflected light to said receiving fiber, said transmitting and receiving fibers positioned so that said light is reflected said desired number of times at said interface before entering said receiving fiber, wherein the desired number of reflections is changed by changing the spacing between said light-transmitting fiber and said light-receiving fiber or by changing the composition of said lens; andcoupling means in said interior for holding said transmitting fiber, said receiving fiber, and said lens in a fixed position with respect to each other within said interior of said housing.