Johns Hopkins University

United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Richard C Benson

Terry E Phillips

Harvey Wayne Ko

Richard S Potember

Theodore O Poehler

Micah A Carlson

Charles W Anderson

Allan B Fraser

David R Kohler

C Brent Bargeron

John D Groopman

Paul T Strickland

Jay C Poret

Joseph A Miragliotta

Robert Osiander

Joseph J Suter

Thomas R Sanderson

A hand held, self-contained, automatic, low power and rapid sensor platform for detecting and quantifying a plurality of analytes. A sample solution potentially containing an unknown amount of an analyte is passed through an affinity column which contains antibodies to which the analyte binds thereby extracting the analyte. The affinity column is then rinsed to remove any other chemicals that may fluoresce. The rinsed affinity column is then eluted with a known volume of elution fluid causing the analyte to release from the antibody and dissolve in the fluid (eluant). The eluant is then placed in the quartz cuvette of a fluorometer. The analyte suspended in the eluant fluoresces at a waveband which is different than that of the light source that excites it. The amount of fluorescence is measured and the level of analyte determined. The rinsing and elution fluids, and/or the affinity column can be placed in a module for easy insertion and removal from the sensor when depleted or when the sensor is to be used against a different analyte.

Miniature immuno-optical rapid analyte sensor platform

Sensors and/or taggants feature high optical gain materials which are disposed in a high scattering environment. These materials, when adequately excited, emit intense and spectrally narrow light that is dependent on the chemical environment in which high gain materials are dispersed. When two materials are placed in the same high scattering environment, the spectal emission properties of each emitter will depend on the chemical composition of the surrounding medium. The switching or transferring of energy from one emitter to the other when the chemical environment is changed in a specific manner is enabled and a shift in the spectral emissions can be detected and/or predicted.

Scatter controlled emission for optical taggants and chemical sensors

A pair of interleaved finger-like electrodes are positioned over a pyro-electric sheet of polyvinylidine fluoride and a pair of coatings are formed upon the electrodes having different optical reflectance, and as a result, a light beam energy absorption differential will be produced between the coatings and the resulting change in temperature in the sheet material under the electrodes will cause a voltage to be generated. A differential amplifier is connected across the electrodes to sense this voltage, indicative of the detection of an incoming laser light beam. A light chopper is positioned to interrupt the light beam directed at a portion of the pyro-electric sheet.

Narrow band optical radiation sensor using pyroelectric material

Optical devices using an organic charge transfer salt as the switching and storage media are disclosed. Generally, a light beam of a given intensity directed to a film of certain organic charge transfer salts causes the illuminated area to change from a first to a second state. This electrochemical process is reversible with heat energy transforming the illuminated area back into the first state. The first and second states have identifiably different optical and electrical properties. The organic charge transfer salt is used to fabricate an erasable or permanent optical memory and a threshold on bistable optoelectronic switch.

Optical storage and switching devices using organic charge transfer salts

Growing community of inventors

Highland, MD, United States of America

Richard C Benson