System and method for detecting and classifying biological particles
First Claim
1. A system for detecting and classifying an airborne biological particle, comprising;
- a single laser to illuminate an individual biological particle wherein the particle is dimensioned to be an inhalable particle;
a first detector to detect light scattered due to illumination of the airborne biological particle by the laser;
a second detector to detect fluorescence emission from the airborne biological particle due to illumination of the airborne biological particle by the laser;
a processor to determine a first peak or integrated pulse amount of light detected by the first detector, a second peak or integrated pulse amount of light detected by the second detector, and to calculate a ratio of the first and second peak or integrated pulse and to compare to a library comprising a plurality of ratios of scattering peaks to auto-fluorescence peaks; and
wherein the processor compares the calculated ratio with the plurality of ratios stored in the library to classify the airborne biological particle in substantially real-time.
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Abstract
A continuous wave laser excites a biological particle. Detection channels are created to detect light scattered by the biological particle, and to detect any auto-fluorescence emitted by the biological particle. Additional channels can also detect light emitted by auto-fluorescence of the biological particle when simultaneously excited by light at harmonics of the laser'"'"'s fundamental wavelength. The biological particle is identified using Mie scattering and auto-fluorescence. Ratio-metric calculations generated by calculating ratios of detected peak heights or integrated pulse values in the channels provides additional information for identifying and classifying the biological particle. A warning or alert can be provided if the identified biological particle is a particle of interest.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for detecting and classifying an airborne biological particle, comprising;
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a single laser to illuminate an individual biological particle wherein the particle is dimensioned to be an inhalable particle;
a first detector to detect light scattered due to illumination of the airborne biological particle by the laser;
a second detector to detect fluorescence emission from the airborne biological particle due to illumination of the airborne biological particle by the laser;
a processor to determine a first peak or integrated pulse amount of light detected by the first detector, a second peak or integrated pulse amount of light detected by the second detector, and to calculate a ratio of the first and second peak or integrated pulse and to compare to a library comprising a plurality of ratios of scattering peaks to auto-fluorescence peaks; and
wherein the processor compares the calculated ratio with the plurality of ratios stored in the library to classify the airborne biological particle in substantially real-time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting and classifying an individual airborne biological particle dimensioned to be an inhalable particle, comprising the steps of:
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illuminating the airborne biological particle with a laser beam;
detecting, with a first detector, light scattered due to illumination of the airborne biological particle by the laser;
detecting, with a second detector, emitted fluorescence from the biological particle due to illumination of the airborne biological particle by the laser;
determining a first peak amount of light corresponding to the light detected due to scattering;
determining a second peak amount of light corresponding to the light detected due to auto-fluorescence;
calculating a ratio of the first peak to the second peak and;
comparing the calculated ratio with the plurality of ratios stored in a library to classify the airborne biological particle in substantially real-time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for detecting and classifying an individual airborne biological particle dimensioned to be an inhalable particle, comprising:
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means for illuminating the airborne biological particle with a laser beam;
a first means for detecting light scattered due to illumination of the airborne biological particle by the laser;
a second means for detecting emitted fluorescence from the airborne biological particle due to illumination of the biological particle by the laser;
means for determining a first peak amount of light corresponding to the light detected due to scattering;
means for determining a second peak amount of light corresponding to the light detected due to auto-fluorescence;
means for calculating a ratio of the first peak to the second peak and;
means for comparing the calculated ratio with the plurality of ratios stored in a library to classify the airborne biological particle in substantially real-time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification