Optech Ventures, LLC

Indu Saxena

Lothar U Kempen

Chai Tea

Herbert Shapiro

Harold Mukamal

An apparatus and method for testing composite structures in which ultrasonic waves are used to detect disbonds in the structures are described. The apparatus comprises a flexible structure carrying acousto-optical transducers such as fiber Bragg gratings. During use, the apparatus is mechanically and conformally coupled to the structure under test.

Apparatus and method for damage location and identification in structures

Bacteria accumulations on the interior walls of a fluid conduit are detected by placing a bacterial target substrate in the conduit. The substrate is structured to allow bacteria to colonize it at at least the rate of accumulation expected on the conduit walls or at an accelerated rate in order to preempt normal bacteria accumulation on the walls. A bacteria getter may be used to accelerate bacterial colonization of the substrate. An excitation signal interrogating the substrate causes autofluorescence in the presence of bacteria, specifically from NADH and/or NADPH present. The autofluorescent emission is transmitted to a detector and processor. In one system when the presence of bacteria at a preset level is detected there is initiated a diversion of the fluid into an auxiliary subsystem during which the primary subsystem is remediated. In one configuration, a wall portion is transparent and the biofilm target substrate is integral with the transparent wall portion and the sensor head is attached to the outside of the transparent wall portion. It can be made as a removable and/or disposable cell in which the transparent wall portion is a glass plug that fits into a hole in the conduit. The biofilm target substrate can be a getter affinity surface formed on the inside surface of the glass plug. Various means are used for obtaining accelerated biofilm growth.

Bacteria sensor and method

An apparatus and method for increasing the resolution of a linear array of fiber Bragg gratings by applying a plastic coating having a high CTE over the optical fiber. Apparatus and method for determining the temperature of each of a succession of points along a tissue portion during hyperthermia treatment includes an optical fiber with a succession of closely spaced fiber Bragg gratings. Each grating is responsive to a different wavelength and is sensitive to ambient temperature to change that wavelength as a function of temperature. A tunable laser operative continuously over a range of wavelengths including those to which the gratings respond is used to interrogate the gratings. Sensitivity-enhancing coatings are used on the fibers and the lasers are tuned over very short time cycles.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Indu Saxena