Advanced calorimetric spectroscopy for commercial applications of chemical and biological sensors
First Claim
1. A combined chemical and biological sensor system, comprising:
- at least one micro-cantilever sensing element;
means for collecting at least one of aerosol, liquid, and solid particles, and depositing by adsorption the particles onto the at least one micro-cantilever and forming a stack including a film layer with the deposited particles on the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element, the deposited particles including one or more chemical or biological species to be analyzed;
at least one source of plane polarized light adapted to;
illuminate with plane polarized light the particles on the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light, the plane polarized light being polarized substantially in a plane parallel to the stack; and
radiate and thereby heat the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element with different wavelengths of the plane polarized light spectrum; and
readout electronics, communicatively coupled with the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element, for detecting movement of the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element as a result of heat transfer to the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element from the light on the stack including the one or more chemical or biological species present, and the readout electronics further for providing photothermal spectral data signals corresponding to the detected movement of the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element;
a data collection system, communicatively coupled with the readout electronics, for collecting the photothermal spectral data signals from the readout electronics; and
a spectral analyzer, communicatively coupled with the data collection system, for spectrally analyzing the collected photothermal spectral data signals representing at least one photothermal signature of sensed chemical or biological species, and further for identifying one or more chemical or biological species present.
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Abstract
A chemical and biological sensor system (200) includes at least one micro-cantilever sensing element (202) and a mechanism for collecting aerosol, liquid, and solid particles, and depositing the particles as a film layer (146) on a stack (140) formed with the cantilever. The deposited particles include chemical or biological species to be analyzed. A polarized light (242) illuminates the stack (140) at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light. The light is polarized in a plane parallel to the stack (140). The polarized light (242) heats the cantilever with different wavelengths of the light spectrum. Readout electronics detect movement of the cantilever (202) as a result of heat transfer from the light and provide spectral data signals corresponding to the detected movement. A spectral analyzer (840) analyzes the spectral data signals, compares spectral images of the materials present to spectral images of known materials, and identifies one or more chemical or biological species present.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A combined chemical and biological sensor system, comprising:
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at least one micro-cantilever sensing element; means for collecting at least one of aerosol, liquid, and solid particles, and depositing by adsorption the particles onto the at least one micro-cantilever and forming a stack including a film layer with the deposited particles on the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element, the deposited particles including one or more chemical or biological species to be analyzed; at least one source of plane polarized light adapted to; illuminate with plane polarized light the particles on the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light, the plane polarized light being polarized substantially in a plane parallel to the stack; and radiate and thereby heat the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element with different wavelengths of the plane polarized light spectrum; and readout electronics, communicatively coupled with the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element, for detecting movement of the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element as a result of heat transfer to the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element from the light on the stack including the one or more chemical or biological species present, and the readout electronics further for providing photothermal spectral data signals corresponding to the detected movement of the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element; a data collection system, communicatively coupled with the readout electronics, for collecting the photothermal spectral data signals from the readout electronics; and a spectral analyzer, communicatively coupled with the data collection system, for spectrally analyzing the collected photothermal spectral data signals representing at least one photothermal signature of sensed chemical or biological species, and further for identifying one or more chemical or biological species present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for sensing chemical and biological materials, the method comprising:
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collecting particles from an aerosol, liquid, or solids including one or more chemical or biological species to be analyzed; depositing the collected particles on at least one micro-cantilever sensing element forming a stack including a film layer with the deposited particles on the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element; illuminating with plane polarized light the particles on the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light, the illuminating light being polarized substantially in a plane parallel to the stack; heating the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element by radiating the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element with different wavelengths of the plane polarized IR light provided at a grazing incidence to a specific wavelength; and detecting movement of the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element as a result of heat transfer to the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element from the illuminating light on the stack; providing a photothermal signature of a sensed chemical or biological material corresponding to the detected movement of the at least one micro-cantilever sensing element; and spectrally analyzing the photothermal signature of sensed chemical or biological species present. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification