1. A scanning optical microscope, comprising:
a light source to generate a beam of probe light;
collimation optics disposed in an optical path of the beam of probe light to substantially collimate the beam of probe light;
a probe-result beamsplitter arranged:
in the optical path of the beam of probe light to reflect at least a portion of the substantially collimated beam of probe light into a long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective; and
in an optical path of resultant light from a sample illuminated by the probe light to transmit at least a portion of the resultant light, the probe-result beamsplitter substantially reflects a reflected portion of the resultant light substantially collimated by the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective and transmits a transmitted portion of the resultant light substantially collimated by the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective;
the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective arranged:
in the optical path of the beam of probe light to focus the reflected portion of the beam of probe light onto the sample; and
in the optical path of resultant light from the sample to collect and substantially collimate the resultant light;
scanning means to scan a beam spot of the focused beam of probe light on or within the sample;
relay optics arranged in the optical path of resultant light from the sample to relay the transmitted portion of the resultant light from the beamsplitter to a detector including a first detection element and a second detection element, the relay optics include optical elements arranged in the optical path of the transmitted portion of the resultant light such that the transmitted portion of the resultant light is incident on the first detection element and the relay optics include a relay beamsplitter arranged in the optical path of the reflected portion of the resultant light such that at least a portion of the reflected portion of the resultant light is reflected by the relay beamsplitter and is incident on the second detection element; and
the detector.
2. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a laser source.
3. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 2, wherein the probe-result beamsplitter is a dichroic beamsplitter adapted to substantially reflect a band of wavelengths that includes a peak wavelength of the beam of probe light.
4. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 1, wherein the collimation optics include:
a pinhole;
a first lens to focus the probe light on the pinhole; and
a second lens to substantially collimate probe light that passes through the pinhole.
5. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 4, wherein:
the scanning optical microscope is a confocal scanning optical microscope; and
the relay optics include:
another pinhole;
a third lens to focus the portion of the resultant light transmitted by the probe-result beamsplitter on the other pinhole; and
a fourth lens to focus the resultant light that passes through the other pinhole on the detector.
6. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 1, wherein the scanning means includes an X-Y translation stage coupled to the sample.
7. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 6, wherein the scanning means further includes a Z translation stage coupled to the sample.
8. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 6, wherein the scanning means further includes a Z translation stage coupled to the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective.
9. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 1, wherein the relay optics include at least one of a lens, a filter, a reflector, a diffractive optical element, a beamsplitter, an optical fiber, or a planar waveguide.
10. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 1, wherein:
the detector includes a first detection element and a second detection element; and
the relay optics include a relay beamsplitter arranged in the optical path of the resultant light such that:
a first sub-portion of the resultant light transmitted by the probe-result beamsplitter is transmitted by the relay beamsplitter and is incident on the first detection element; and
a second sub-portion of the resultant light transmitted by the probe-result beamsplitter is reflected by the relay beamsplitter and is incident on the second detection element.
11. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 1, wherein the detector includes at least one of: a photodetector; a spectrometer; a bolometer; or a focal plane array.
12. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 1, further comprising an environmental chamber surrounding the sample, the environmental chamber including a window which is substantially transmissive to:
the focused beam of probe light; and
the resultant light to be collected by the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective.
13. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 12, wherein the environmental chamber further surrounds at least one of:
an X-Y translation stage of the scanning means, the X-Y translation stage being coupled to the sample; or
a Z translation stage of the scanning means, the Z translation stage being coupled to the sample.
14. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 13, wherein the environmental chamber is coupled to at least one of:
an X-Y translation stage of the scanning means; or
a Z translation stage of the scanning means.
15. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 12, wherein the environmental chamber is at least one of:
a high temperature environmental chamber;
a cryogenic environmental chamber;
a barometric chamber;
a fluidic chamber;
a gas discharge chamber;
a blast chamber; or
an electrochemistry chamber.
16. A scanning optical microscope, comprising:
a light source to generate a beam of probe light;
collimation optics disposed in an optical path of the beam of probe light to substantially collimate the beam of probe light;
a probe-result beamsplitter arranged:
in the optical path of the beam of probe light to transmit at least a portion of the substantially collimated beam of probe light into a long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective; and
in an optical path of resultant light from a sample illuminated by the probe light to reflect at least a portion of the resultant light;
the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective arranged:
in the optical path of the beam of probe light to focus the transmitted portion of the beam of probe light onto the sample; and
in the optical path of resultant light from the sample to collect and substantially collimate the resultant light;
scanning means to scan a beam spot of the focused beam of probe light on or within the sample;
relay optics arranged in the optical path of resultant light from the sample to relay the reflected portion of the resultant light from the beamsplitter to a detector including a first detection element and a second detection element, the relay optics include a relay beamsplitter arranged in the optical path of the resultant light such that a first sub-portion of the resultant light reflected by the probe-result beamsplitter is transmitted by the relay beamsplitter and is incident on the first detection element and a second sub-portion of the resultant light reflected by the probe-result beamsplitter is reflected by the relay beamsplitter and is incident on the second detection element; and
the detector.
17. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 16, wherein the light source is a laser source.
18. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 17, wherein the probe-result beamsplitter is a dichroic beamsplitter adapted to substantially reflect a band of wavelengths that includes a peak wavelength of the beam of probe light.
19. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 16, wherein the collimation optics include:
a pinhole;
a first lens to focus the probe light on the pinhole; and
a second lens to substantially collimate probe light that passes through the pinhole.
20. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 19, wherein:
the scanning optical microscope is a confocal scanning optical microscope; and
the relay optics include:
another pinhole;
a third lens to focus the portion of the resultant light reflected by the probe-result beamsplitter on the other pinhole; and
a fourth lens to focus the resultant light that passes through the other pinhole on the detector.
21. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 16, wherein the scanning means includes an X-Y translation stage coupled to the sample.
22. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 21, wherein the scanning means further includes a Z translation stage coupled to the sample.
23. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 21, wherein the scanning means further includes a Z translation stage coupled to the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective.
24. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 16, wherein the relay optics include at least one of a free-space optical element, an optical fiber, or a planar waveguide.
25. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 16, wherein the detector includes at least one of: a photodetector; a spectrometer; a bolometer; or a focal plane array.
26. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 16, further comprising an environmental chamber surrounding the sample, the environmental chamber including a window which is substantially transmissive to:
the focused beam of probe light; and
the resultant light to be collected by the long working-distance, infinity-corrected objective.
27. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 26, wherein the environmental chamber further surrounds at least one of:
an X-Y translation stage of the scanning means, the X-Y translation stage being coupled to the sample; or
a Z translation stage of the scanning means, the Z translation stage being coupled to the sample.
28. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 26, wherein the environmental chamber is coupled to at least one of:
an X-Y translation stage of the scanning means; or
a Z translation stage of the scanning means.
29. A scanning optical microscope according to claim 26, wherein the environmental chamber is at least one of:
a high temperature environmental chamber;
a cryogenic environmental chamber;
a barometric chamber;
a fluidic chamber;
a gas discharge chamber;
a blast chamber; or
an electrochemistry chamber.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A composition of matter comprised of a comprised of a mixture of at least one Free-B-ring flavonoid and at least one flavan.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of Free-B-ring flavonoid to flavan in said composition is selected from the range of 99:1 Free-B-ring flavonoid:flavan to 1:99 of Free-B-ring flavonoid:flavan.
3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the ratio of Free-B-ring flavonoid:flavan in the composition of matter is about 85:15.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said Free-B-ring flavonoid is selected from the group of compounds having the following structure:
wherein
R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of \u2014H, \u2014OH, \u2014SH, \u2014OR, \u2014SR, \u2014NH2, \u2014NHR, \u2014NR2, \u2014NR3+X\u2014, a carbon, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur, glycoside of a single or a combination of multiple sugars including, aldopentoses, methyl-aldopentose, aldohexoses, ketohexose and their chemical derivatives thereof;
wherein
R is an alkyl group having between 1-10 carbon atoms; and
X is selected from the group of pharmaceutically acceptable counter anions including, hydroxyl, chloride, iodide, sulfate, phosphate, acetate, fluoride and carbonate.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said flavan is selected from the group of compounds having the following structure:
wherein
R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, \u2014OH, \u2014SH, \u2014OCH3, \u2014SCH3, \u2014OR, \u2014SR, \u2014NH2, \u2014NRH, \u2014NR2, \u2014NR3+X\u2014, esters of substitution groups, independently selected from the group consisting of gallate, acetate, cinnamoyl and hydroxyl-cinnamoyl esters, trihydroxybenzoyl esters and caffeoyl esters; a carbon, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur glycoside of a single or a combination of multiple sugars including, aldopentoses, methyl aldopentose, aldohexoses, ketohexose and their chemical derivatives thereof; dimer, trimer and other polymerized flavans;
wherein
R is an alkyl group having between 1-10 carbon atoms ; and
X is selected from the group of pharmaceutically acceptable counter anions including, but not limited to hydroxyl, chloride, iodide, sulfate, phosphate, acetate, fluoride, carbonate.
6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said Free-B-ring flavonoid and said flavan are obtained by organic synthesis or are isolated from a plant.
7. The composition of claim 6 wherein said Free-B-ring flavonoid and said flavan are isolated from a plant part selected from the group consisting of stems, stem barks, trunks, trunk barks, twigs, tubers, roots, root barks, young shoots, seeds, rhizomes, flowers and other reproductive organs, leaves and other aerial parts.
8. The composition of claim 6 wherein said Free-B-ring flavonoid is isolated from a plant family selected from the group consisting of Annonaceae, Asteraceae, Bignoniaceae, Combretaceae, Compositae, Euphorbiaceae, Labiatae, Lauranceae, Leguminosae, Moraceae, Pinaceae, Pteridaceae, Sinopteridaceae, Ulmaceae and Zingiberacea.
9. The composition of claim 6 wherein said Free-B-ring flavonoid is isolated from a plant genus selected from the group consisting of Desmos, Achyrocline, Oroxylum, Buchenavia, Anaphalis, Cotula, Gnaphalium, Helichrysum, Centaurea, Eupatorium, Baccharis, Sapium, Scutellaria, Molsa, Colebrookea, Stachys, Origanum, Ziziphora, Lindera, Actinodaphne, Acacia, Derris, Glycyrrhiza, Millettia, Pongamia, Tephrosia, Artocarpus, Ficus, Pityrogramma, Notholaena, Pinus, Ulmus and Alpinia.
10. The composition claim 6 wherein said flavan is are isolated from a plant species selected from the group consisting of the Acacia catechu, Acacia concinna, Acacia farnesiana, Acacia Senegal, Acacia speciosa, Acacia arabica, A. caesia, A. pennata, A. sinuata. A. mearnsii, A. picnantha, A. dealbata, A. auriculiformis, A. holoserecia and A. mangium.
11. The composition of claim 6 wherein said Free-B-ring flavonoid is isolated from a plant or plants in the Scutellaria genus of plants and said flavan is isolated from a plant or plants in the Acacia genus of plants.