Cogent Limited

British Technology Group Limited

Aromascan Plc

Peter A Payne

Richard J Dewhurst

Krishna Chandra Persaud

Qing Xin Chen

Mark Nicholls

Kok Fu Pang

Jon G Bartlett

Natalie K Harris

Method and apparatus for detecting microorganisms

Laser ultrasound probe and ablator

An apparatus for investigating a sample with ultrasound has a probe head formed by a casing, a transducer element of piezoelectric plastics material, and a source for applying a high frequency pulse to the sample. The source is preferably one end of an optical fibre, which fibre extends to a laser remote from the probe head. The transducer element is connected to the sample by an acoustic coupling medium, e.g. water. Thus, the probe head can be moved relative to the sample, and a compact, but efficient, structure is achieved.

Apparatus for investigating a sample with ultrasound

A piezoelectric transducer of piezoelectric plastic material comprises a body and activated transducer film formed integrally. Electrodes are formed on opposite sides of the film, and a backing material supports the film on one side. The transducer may be formed by molding, applying the electrodes and activating the film by means of a corona discharge.

Method for manufacturing piezoelectric polymer transducers

A gas sensor has a layer of a semiconductor organic polymer, such as polypyrrole which is exposed to a gas to be detected. An alternating electric signal of varying frequency is applied to the sensor by an analyser, which detects the change in impedance characteristics of the sensor. The characteristics obtained are compared by microcomputer with reference characterisitcs stored in a memory. The resulting difference spectra depend on the gas in contact with the sensor and so the gas can be detected.

Gas sensor

Growing community of inventors

Manchester, United Kingdom

Peter A Payne