University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC

Michael J Sepaniak

David K Mee

Vincent E Lamberti

Layton N Howell, Jr

Tuan Vo-Dinh

Jerry T Coleman

Disclosed is a sensor for detecting a target material. The sensor includes a ferromagnetic metal and a molecular recognition reagent coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The molecular recognition reagent is operable to expand upon exposure to vapor or liquid from the target material such that the molecular recognition reagent changes a tensile stress upon the ferromagnetic metal. The target material is detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the changes in the tensile stress.

Wireless sensor

Disclosed is a sensor for detecting explosive devices. The sensor includes a ferromagnetic metal and a molecular recognition reagent coupled to the ferromagnetic metal. The molecular recognition reagent is operable to expand upon absorption of vapor from an explosive material such that the molecular recognition reagent changes a tensile stress upon the ferromagnetic metal. The explosive device is detected based on changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the ferromagnetic metal caused by the tensile stress.

Wireless sensor for detecting explosive material

A fiber optic-based regenerable biosensor. The biosensor is particularly suitable for use in microscale work in situ. In one embodiment, the biosensor comprises a reaction chamber disposed adjacent the distal end of a waveguide and adapted to receive therein a quantity of a sample containing an analyte. Leading into the chamber is a plurality of capillary conduits suitable for introducing into the chamber antibodies or other reagents suitable for selective interaction with a predetermined analyte. Following such interaction, the contents of the chamber may be subjected to an incident energy signal for developing fluorescence within the chamber that is detectable via the optical fiber and which is representative of the presence, i.e. concentration, of the selected analyte. Regeneration of the biosensor is accomplished by replacement of the reagents and/or the analyte, or a combination of these, at least in part via one or more of the capillary conduits. The capillary conduits extend from their respective terminal ends that are in fluid communication with the chamber, away from the chamber to respective location(s) remote from the chamber thereby permitting in situ location of the chamber and remote manipulation and/or analysis of the activity with the chamber.

Fiber optic-based regenerable biosensor

A method and apparatus in which a blunt interior needle is positioned within a larger external needle and a sample cavity is formed at the blunt end of the interior needle. An optical fiber extends from the sample cavity up the interior needle and to a light source and light detector. A reflective surface is placed at the end of the sample cavity reflects light back to the optical fiber. A beam splitter separates the incident and reflected light. To make an in-vivo measurement of chemical concentrations in a body, the needle is inserted into the body and fluids are aspirated into the sample cavity. Light is then transmitted to the cavity by the optical fiber and is transmitted from the cavity to a detector by the same fiber. By measuring the amount of light reflected, one can determine the amount of light absorbed in the cavity and may thus determine concentrations of selected chemicals.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Michael J Sepaniak