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Multiple-channel uv spectrometer assemblyMultiple-channel uv spectrometer assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060082769, Multiple-channel uv spectrometer assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for spectral analysis, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for ultraviolet and visible light spectral analysis. BACKGROUND [0002] Collection of thousands, and in some cases millions, of chemical compounds are referred to in the pharmaceutical industry as chemical libraries. Methods have been developed for screening the compounds from a chemical library in an effort to identify, as an example, novel ligands or other the like that can be the basis for a new and effective pharmaceutical drug or the like. [0003] Recently developed synthesis techniques are capable of generating large chemical libraries in a relatively short period of time as compared to previous synthesis techniques. As an example, automated synthesis techniques for sample generation allows for the generation of up to 4,000 or more compounds per week. These samples can include impurities in addition to the desired compound. When samples having these impurities are screened against selected targets, such as a novel ligand or a biological receptor, the impurities can produce erroneous screening results. As a result, samples that receive a positive result from initial screening must be further analyzed and screened to verify the accuracy of the initial screening result. This verification process requires that additional samples be available. The verification process also increases the cost and time required to accurately verify that the targeted compound has been located. Samples can be purified in an effort to achieve an 85% purity or better. Screening of the purified samples provides more accurate and meaningful biological results. Conventional purification techniques, however, are slow and expensive. Conventional purification techniques using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) take approximately 30 minutes to purify each sample. Therefore, purification of the 4,000 samples generated in one week would take at least 2,000 hours (i.e., 83.3 days or 2.77 months). [0004] There are many different configurations of purification instruments. They typically share commonality in the concept wherein the samples are delivered to a chromatography instrument. The chromatography instrument separates the compounds in time and a fraction collector collects the target compound. A substantial improvement in high throughput purification of samples was developed by Ontogen Corporation of Carlsbad, Calif., U.S.A., which developed a multiple-channel, high throughput supercritical fluid chromatographic purification system. The system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,541, issued Oct. 30, 2001, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. [0005] The Ontogen purification system simultaneously handles multiple sample flows through the system's multiple purification channels. Each channel uses a stand-alone detector capable of identifying in real time a peak within the sample flow if the peak has selected characteristics. The conventional detectors are UV detectors that identify when a sample with certain absorption characteristics (e.g., a set level of absorption units at selected wavelengths) flowing through the detector. An UV absorption profile for a compound can, however, vary over a range of wavelengths, so some conventional detectors may not detect desired samples with peaks at different absorption wavelengths within the spectrum. SUMMARY [0006] The present invention provides a multiple-channel spectrometer assembly for simultaneously analyzing a plurality of sample flows. In one embodiment, the single multiple-channel spectrometer assembly can be used for a multiple-channel, high throughput sample handling system, such as a SFC purification system. The multiple-channel spectrometer assembly and related methods overcomes limitations experienced in the prior art and provides additional benefits. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a multiple-channel UV spectrometer assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention having a master spectrometer channel and three slave spectrometer channels contained in a first housing. [0008] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a multiple-channel spectrometer assembly with four slave spectrometer channels contained in a second housing and operatively coupled to the master spectrometer channel in the housing of FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a high-throughput sample purification system incorporating the multiple-channel spectrometer assembly at two locations within the system. [0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the master channel and one of the slave spectrometer channels shown removed from the first housing of FIG. 1. [0011] FIG. 5 is a partially exploded isometric view of the first housing of the assembly of FIG. 1, with the master and slave spectrometer channels not shown for purposes of illustration. [0012] FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the light source, flow cell assembly, and spectrometer module shown removed from one of the master or slave spectrometer channels. [0013] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, exploded isometric view of the flow cell of FIG. 6 shown removed from the channel for purposes of illustration. [0014] FIG. 8 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] The present invention is directed to method and apparatus relating to light-based spectrometer assemblies. In one embodiment, the spectrometer assembly is a multiple-channel assembly for simultaneously analyzing multiple, high-pressure sample flows. The multiple-channel spectrometer assembly has a plurality of spectrometer channels, each fluidly connectable to one of the plurality of sample flows. Each spectrometer channel has a chassis and a light source mounted to the chassis. A spectrometer module is mounted to the chassis and optically coupled to a light outlet portion of the light source. The spectrometer module has an optical inlet optically coupled to the light outlet portion to receive light generated by the light source. A flow cell assembly is adjacent to the chassis between the light source and the spectrometer module to provide a close-coupled light path from the light source to the spectrometer module. The flow cell assembly is configured to emulate a fiber optic cable between the light source and the spectrometer module. The flow cell assembly receives one of the plurality of sample flows through a flow passageway between the light source and spectrometer module, so the light generated from the light source is directed through the sample flow before reaching the spectrometer module. The spectrometer module in each channel is configured to analyze the spectrum of light received from the flow cell assembly and to provide selected data regarding a light absorption profile for compounds in the respective sample flow. A master signal processor is mounted on one of the spectrometer channels and coupled to all of the spectrometer modules and is configured to handle the data from each spectrometer module for all of the sample channels. [0016] In another embodiment, the spectrometer assembly has a spectrometer channel with a light source connected to a spectrometer module by a high-pressure flow cell. The high-pressure flow cell assembly is optically coupled between the light source and the spectrometer module, which are mounted on a channel chassis. The flow cell assembly has a flow cell body that receives a sample flow into a flow passageway through a flow inlet, and the sample flow exits a flow passageway through a flow outlet. The flow cell assembly has first and second optical couplers connected to the flow cell body. The first optical coupler is connected to the light source and directs light from the light source to the second optical coupler. The second optic coupler is connected to the spectrometer module. [0017] The first and second optic couplers have axially aligned portions in the flow cell body with flow-facing ends spaced apart from each other by a selected distance to define a portion of the fluid passageway through the flow cell body. The fluid passageway is free of any unswept dead space as the sample flow moves therethrough. The first optic coupler is configured to direct light across the flow passageway when the high-pressure sample flow passes through the flow passageway. The second optical coupler is configured to receive the spectrum of light from the flow passageway not absorbed by the sample flow and to direct the received light toward the spectrometer module for analysis. [0018] The present invention will be described in detail below with respect to various embodiments and with reference to the Figures. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and an enabling description for, these embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that some embodiments of the invention may be practiced without all of these details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the invention. The structure and function of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention can best be understood by reference to the figures. The same reference numbers may appear in multiple figures. The reference numbers refer to the same or corresponding structure in those figures. [0019] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a multiple-channel spectrometer assembly 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The spectrometer assembly 10 of the illustrated embodiment is an Ultra Violet (UV) light spectrometer assembly having a first housing 12 that contains a master spectrometer channel 14 and three slave spectrometer channels 16. Each of the slave channels 16 is operatively coupled to the master channel 14, as discussed in greater detail below, for simultaneous analysis of multiple sample flows. FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a second housing 20 of one embodiment of the multiple-channel spectrometer assembly 10, and the second housing contains four additional slave spectrometer channels 16. Each of the slave channels 16 is operatively connected to the master channel 14 (FIG. 1) by a conventional data bus 22 (FIG. 2). Continue reading about Multiple-channel uv spectrometer assembly... Full patent description for Multiple-channel uv spectrometer assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multiple-channel uv spectrometer assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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