Variable path length probe

摘要

A probe having a probe head in which is formed an opening for receiving a sample to be analyzed, the head comprising a pair of optical interfaces disposed at an opposing inner surface of the opening to delimit a path for optical radiation through the opening, wherein one of the pair of optical interfaces comprises a transparent element adapted to permit optical radiation in one or more wavelength regions of interest to travel between the probe head and the opening, the optical probe comprising a movable diaphragm in which one of the pair of optical interfaces is located for movement therewith and an actuator operably connected to the diaphragm to control its movement so as to vary the path length wherein the probe head comprises a hinge system cooperable with the actuator to move the optical interface in the movable diaphragm in an arc to vary the path length.

主权项

1. A probe, comprising:
a probe head including,
an opening for receiving a sample to be analysed,a pair of optical interfaces each disposed at an opposing inner surface of the opening to delimit a path for optical radiation through the opening, wherein at least one of the pair of optical interfaces comprises an optically transparent element adapted to permit optical radiation in one or more wavelength regions of interest to travel between an internal section of the probe head and the opening,a movable diaphragm in which one of the pair of optical interfaces is located for movement therewith,an actuator operably connected to the diaphragm and configured to control a movement of the diaphragm so as to vary a length of the path, anda hinge system configured to, in cooperation with the actuator, move the optical interface located in the movable diaphragm in an arc to vary the path length and to create a non-parallelism between the optical interfaces.