Analyte detection with infrared light
First Claim
1. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising:
- (a) selectively exciting one or more condensed phase analytes of interest on a substrate using an IR source that is optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific absorption band without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes; and
(b) determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons from the analyte present on the substrate with an IR detector signal collected one or more times before, during, after, or any combination thereof exciting the analyte.
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Abstract
A method for non-contact analyte detection by selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing organic analytes and determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected one or more times before, during, or after, exciting the analyte. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for non-contact analyte detection by selectively exciting analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without significantly decomposing organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte.
15 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising:
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(a) selectively exciting one or more condensed phase analytes of interest on a substrate using an IR source that is optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific absorption band without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes; and (b) determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons from the analyte present on the substrate with an IR detector signal collected one or more times before, during, after, or any combination thereof exciting the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 40)
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21. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising:
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(a) selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source that is optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific absorption band without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes; and (b) determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected one or more times before, during, after, or any combination thereof exciting the analyte; and additionally comprising applying a prior cuing technique, surveying technique, or both. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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26. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising:
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(a) selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source that is optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific absorption band without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes; and (b) determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected one or more times before, during, after, or any combination thereof exciting the analyte; and wherein individual pixels in the same spatially resolved image are compared to determine inhomogeneous responses.
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- 27. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more condensed phase ionically bonded analytes of interest on a substrate using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the concentration of analyte for gas phase analysis, and wherein the content of the gas phase is examined to determine the presence of the analyte.
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35. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, wherein one or more excitation sources are applied in two or more steps, and wherein the initial pulses are used to remove a surface layer of water or other volatile chemicals to leave behind a surface with the analyte of interest which is then targeted with subsequent pulses of light.
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36. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, wherein the gas is sampled and directed to a gas chromatography (GC) column, and wherein the analyte is trapped in a sorbent coated inlet region of the GC column and released by heating with infrared light that enters the GC column and is incident on the sorbent coated trapping region.
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37. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, wherein the gas is sampled and directed to a gas chromatography (GC) column, and wherein the analyte is trapped in a sorbent coated inlet region of the GC column and released by heating with infrared light that passes through an IR transparent column material or window and onto the sorbent coated trapping region.
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38. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, and wherein the gas is collected for subsequent analysis.
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39. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, and wherein the gas is collected to a preconcentrator and subsequently desorbed into an analytical system.
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41. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, and wherein the gas is collected to a Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) substrate and analyzed.
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42. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, and wherein the gas is collected to a surface suitable for spectroscopic identification.
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43. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, and wherein gaseous analyte is drawn into a cone or funnel that is optionally heated then directed into a preconcentrator.
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44. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, and
wherein an analyte on a solid surface is released into the air by heating with an infrared source, the released analyte is drawn to a preconcentrator to collect analytes of interest, the preconcentrator is subsequently heated to direct the released analyte into an analytical system which optionally comprises a gas chromatograph, and the released analyte exiting the analytical system may enter a gas cell where the analyte is monitored and detected by using an infrared laser to excite the analyte and examining if light is produced.
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45. A method for non-contact analyte detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using one or more IR sources that are optionally operated to produce pulses of light and tuned to at least one specific wavelength without decomposing more than five percent of organic analytes, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to increase the amount of analyte in the gas phase, and wherein the content of the gas is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, wherein the IR source delivers a finite number of pulses and wherein the substrate temperature is optionally monitored.
Specification