Auburn University

Petram Technologies, Inc

Stevie R Best

Bryan A Chin

Zhongyang Cheng

Shin Horikawa

Frank A Magnotti, Ii

I-Hsuan Chen

Martin E Baltazar-Lopez

Howard C Wikle

Yating Chai

Kanchana Weerakoon

Brian Wells

Suiqiong Li

Mi-Kyung Park

Song Tao Du

A system and apparatus for plasma blasting comprises a borehole, with a novel blast probe, the probe comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground casing tube separated by a dielectric separator except for an evacuated area where the plasma blast occurs, wherein the opening in the ground casing and the dielectric separator constitute a sliced and elliptical probe shape. The sliced and elliptical shape of the opening focuses a plasma blast in a specific direction and contours, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The blasting media comprises water alone or in combination with other materials. The sliced and elliptical blast probe permit directional aiming of the blast.

Sliced and elliptical head probe for plasma blast applications

In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method for in-situ pathogen detection may comprise distributing one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors on a surface of a test object, wherein each of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors includes a biorecognition element configured to bind with a pathogen to cause a shift in a characteristic frequency of the associated measurement sensor; applying a varying magnetic field, using a test coil, to the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors distributed on the surface of the test object, wherein the test object is positioned outside of an inner volume defined by the test coil; detecting a frequency response of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors using the test coil, while applying the varying magnetic field; and determining whether the pathogen is present based on the detected frequency response of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors.

In-situ pathogen detection using magnetoelastic sensors

Growing community of inventors

Montgomery, AL, United States of America

Stevie R Best