Queen's University at Kingston

Pathogen Detection Systems, Inc.

Other

Greencentre Canada

R Stephen Brown

Doug Wilton

Eric Marcotte

Lee Underwood

Peter Gallant

Les Stokes

Michael Miron

Peter Holdcroft

David Dolphin

Igor S Kozin

Samir P Tabash

Hans-Peter Loock

Matthew Miles

Arthur N Ley

Raymond J Bowers

Michelle Douma

David (Geoffrey) Robinson

Eric J P Marcotte

Kevin R Hall

Moe Hussain

Peter V Hodson

Robin A Wynne-Edwards

John G St Marseille

Philip G Jessop

Sean M Mercer

Tobias Robert

Simon Wilkinson

Rui Resendes

Timothy James Clark

Brian Ernest Mariampillai

Richard Oleschuk

Cathleen M Crudden

Dominik Wechsler

Krista Lynn Laugesen

Matthew Brown

Zhaoguo Tong

Jenny Du

David Robinson

Larbi M S Benhabib

Parveen Akhtar

John A Barnes

Nicholas R Trefiak

Galina Nemova

Tom Radcliffe

Steven E Dickson

John G Stmarseille

Eric J-P Marcotte

A method and system for reversibly converting water between an initial ionic strength and an increased ionic strength, using a switchable additive, is described. The disclosed method and system can be used, for example, in distillation-free removal of water from solvents, solutes, or solutions. Following extraction of a solute from a medium by dissolving it in water, the solute can then be isolated from the aqueous solution or 'salted-out' by converting the water to a solution having an increased ionic strength. The solute then separates from the increased ionic strength solution as a separate phase. Once the solute is, for example, decanted off, the increased ionic strength aqueous solution can be converted back to water having its original ionic strength and reused. Switching from lower to higher ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with CO, CSor COS. Switching from higher to lower ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with air, heating, agitating, introducing a vacuum or partial vacuum, or any combination or thereof.

Water with switchable ionic strength

Methods and systems for use of switchable water, which is capable of reversibly switching between an initial ionic strength and an increased ionic strength, is described. The disclosed methods and systems can be used, for example, in distillation-free removal of water from solvents, solutes, or solutions, desalination, clay settling, viscosity switching, etc. Switching from lower to higher ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with C0, CSor COS or treatment with Bronsted acids. Switching from higher to lower ionic strength is readily achieved using low energy methods such as bubbling with air, inert gas, heating, agitating, introducing a vacuum or partial vacuum, or any combination or thereof.

Systems and methods for use of water with switchable ionic strength

A system for detecting presence of an organism having an enzyme in a sample, comprising: a cartridge for containing the sample and a substrate such that the enzyme can react with the substrate to produce a biological molecule; a partitioning element mounted in a recess in a base of the cartridge, the partitioning element allowing partitioning of the biological molecule thereinto; a light source for irradiating the biological molecule partitioned into the partitioning element; and, a detector for detecting fluorescence of the biological molecule partitioned into the partitioning element, the detected fluorescence being indicative of presence of the organism in the sample; wherein the light source is in a raised cartridge mount of the system that mates with the recess in the base of the cartridge.

Method and system for detecting biological molecules in samples

A container, comprising: a body; and, a closure; wherein the closure has a lid hinged to a ring mounted on the body, the lid moveable from an open position to a closed position; wherein the lid has a tab hinged thereto for: inserting into and engaging a slot formed in the ring as the lid is moved to the closed position from the open position to thereby lock the lid in the closed position; or, receiving and engaging a pin head of a pin mounted on the ring in a hole formed in the tab to thereby hold the lid in the closed position, the pin configured to detach from the ring when the tab and lid are returned to the opened position.

Container, a closure for a container, and a base for a container

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting a biological molecule associated with enzyme activity in a sample. The invention is applicable to detecting a microorganism associated with an enzyme in a sample such as water, food, soil, or a biological sample. According to a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, a sample containing an enzyme of interest or a microorganism associated with the enzyme is combined with a suitable substrate, and a fluorescent product of the enzyme-substrate reaction is selectively detected. The fluorescent product is detected with a partitioning element or optical probe/partitioning element of the invention. In one embodiment the partitioning element provides for partitioning of only the fluorescent product molecule into the probe. The invention also provides an automated system for monitoring for biological contamination of water or other samples.

Detection of biological molecules by differential partitioning of enzyme substrates and products

Plug for a container

Display screen with graphical user interface

Container

Optical detection system

Container lid

The invention relates to a method for sensing the presence of at least one analyte in a medium, comprising disposing in the medium a functionalized composite material such that the at least one analyte is absorbed by the functionalized composite material, the functionalized composite material having at least one optical property that is modulated by absorption of the at least one analyte; and measuring modulation of the at least one optical property of the functionalized composite material; wherein modulation of the at least one optical property of the functionalized composite material is indicative of the presence of the analyte in the medium. The invention also relates to an optical sensor for sensing the presence of at least one analyte in a medium, and a functionalized composite material having at least one optical property that is modulated upon absorption of one or more analyte.

Optical sensor using functionalized composite materials

The invention relates to optical sensors and systems and methods employing the sensors for detecting one or more compounds of interest in a test medium. In one embodiment an optical sensor comprising a long period grating and a solid phase microextraction (SPME) film is exposed to a test medium such that one or more compounds of interest are selectively partitioned into the solid phase microextraction film. At least one optical property of the sensor exposed to the test medium is compared with at least one corresponding optical property of the sensor in absence of the test medium; wherein a difference in the optical property is indicative of one or more compounds of interest in the test medium. The methods and systems may employ long period grating sensors with or without SPME films, and fiber loop ring-down spectroscopy to measure optical properties of the sensor.

Long period grating sensor methods and apparatus

The invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring one or more optical properties of a test medium, comprising providing an optical waveguide loop comprising a test medium, illuminating the optical waveguide loop with a plurality of light pulses, and detecting roundtrips of the light pulses at one or more locations along the loop, wherein the detected light pulses are indicative of one or more optical properties of the test medium. Preferably, ring-down time of said light pulses is determined. The invention provides measures of optical properties such as absorbance and refractive index of a test medium such as a gas, a liquid, and a solid material.

Optical loop ring-down

Growing community of inventors

Kingston, Canada

R Stephen Brown