# US 2014/0191134 A1 · Ion induced impact ionization detector and uses thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191134 A1 - Document ID: US20140191134A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/203,124 - Filed: 2014-03-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-01 - Assignees: Loma Linda University Medical Center - Applicants: Loma Linda University Medical Center - Inventors: Vladimir Bashkirov; Reinhard W. Schulte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191134A1 ## CPC - G01T 1/185: with ionisation chamber arrangements - G01T 1/16: Measuring radiation intensity (G01T1/29 takes precedence {; self-powered detectors G01T3/006; using an ionisation chamber filled with a liquid or solid, e.g. frozen liquid, dielectric G01T3/008}) - G06F 30/20: Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30) - G16B 5/00: ICT specially adapted for modelling or simulations in systems biology, e.g. gene-regulatory networks, protein interaction networks or metabolic networks - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G16B: BIOINFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR GENETIC OR PROTEIN-RELATED DATA PROCESSING IN COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY ## Abstract Disclosed are systems, devices and methodologies relating to an ion induced impact ionization detector and uses thereof. In certain implementations, the detector can include a dielectric layer having one or more wells. An anode layer defining apertures to accommodate the openings of the wells can be disposed on one side of the dielectric layer, and a cathode such as a solid resistive cathode can be disposed on the other side so as to provide an electric field in each of the wells. Various design parameters such as well dimensions and operating parameters such as pressure and high voltage are disclosed. In certain implementations, such an ion detector can be coupled to a low pressure gas volume to detect ionization products such as positive ions. Such a system can be configured to provide single ion counting capability. Various example applications where the ion detector can be implemented are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for modeling a sample of condensed matter, the method comprising: identifying ionization clusters responsible for local damage to said condensed matter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the condensed matter is selected from the group consisting of cells, polymers, nanoelectronics and nucleic acid molecules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subjecting the condensed matter to ionizing radiation produced by an ion induced impact ionization detector comprising: an anode having a first side and a second side, and defining a plurality of apertures; a dielectric layer having a first side and second side, wherein the first side of the dielectric layer is positioned adjacent the first side of anode, and wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness of approximately 1-50 mm; a plurality of wells extending through the dielectric layer, the plurality of apertures of the anode positioned relative to the plurality of wells so as to define openings between the plurality of wells and the second side of the anode; and a cathode positioned adjacent the second side of the dielectric layer forming a bottom of each of the plurality of wells, wherein said subjecting step induces an aberration in said condensed matter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 further comprising: assessing effects of said ionizing radiation on said condensed matter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said effects are selected from a DNA double strand break, a central nervous system effect, and cancer induction. ### Claim 6 A method of track ion detection, the method comprising: imaging a spatial distribution of initial energy deposits in condensed matter by detecting positive ions using an ion induced impact ionization detector comprising: an anode having a first side and a second side, and defining a plurality of apertures; a dielectric layer having a first side and second side, wherein the first side of the dielectric layer is positioned adjacent the first side of anode, and wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness of approximately 1-50 mm; a plurality of wells extending through the dielectric layer, the plurality of apertures of the anode positioned relative to the plurality of wells so as to define openings between the plurality of wells and the second side of the anode; and a cathode positioned adjacent the second side of the dielectric layer forming a bottom of each of the plurality of wells. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: correlating measurements from said imaging step with radiation effects in said condensed matter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the ion induced impact ionization detector provides a substantially full topology of the ionization pattern of track segments and resolves single and clustered ionization events along the radiation track over a length in condensed matter.