System and method for detecting and identifying an analyte
AssigneeQuantaSpec, Inc.
InventorKenneth A. Puzey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor (200, 900) comprising an illuminator (212, 500, 804, 832, 858, 904), a receiver (216, 400, 420, 460, 480, 808, 836, 862, 924) and an analyzer (240) for detecting and identifying an analyte having a characteristic absorption band that is present in a sample region (208, 812, 824, 874, 922). The illuminator includes an illumination source (220) for illuminating the sample region with spectral energy across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band. The receiver includes a detector (228, 404, 424, 460, 484, 866, 928) for sensing predetermined portions of the spectral energy band and for creating a sample spectral data vector (236). The analyzer uses the spectral data vector and known characteristic data to detect and identify the analyte.
Claims23
A system for detecting an analyte having a characteristic absorption band, comprising:
- a) an illuminator operatively configured to emit a spectral energy band across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band of the analyte, said illuminator consisting essentially of one or more broadband quantum-cascade lasers for providing said spectral energy band across a broadband of wavelengths;
- and
- b) a receiver operatively configured to selectively sense a plurality of predetermined sub-bands of said spectral energy band simultaneously.
A method of detecting and identifying an analyte having a characteristic absorption band, comprising the steps of:
- a) illuminating a region suspected of containing the analyte with a spectral energy band across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band of the analyte using an illuminator consisting essentially of one or more broadband quantum cascade lasers so as to provide said spectral energy band across a broadband of wavelengths;
- and
- b) selectively sensing a plurality of predetermined portions of said spectral energy band simultaneously so as to create sample data.
A method of identifying a biological classification of bacteria present in a sample, comprising:
- a) illuminating a sample with a spectral energy band across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band of the analyte using an illuminator consisting essentially of one or more broadband quantum cascade (QC) lasers so as to provide said spectral energy band across a broadband of wavelengths;
- b) collecting spectral data regarding said sample using a detector at a range of greater than two meters;
- and
- c) determining the biological classification of the bacteria as a function of said spectral data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.