Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc.

Ahura Corporation

Panametrics, Inc.

Ahura Scientific Inc.

Ge Infrastructure Sensing, Inc.

Yu Shen

Peidong Wang

Daryoosh Vakhshoori

Masud Azimi

Kevin J Knopp

Craig Morris Gardner

Michael Derek Hargreaves

Michael E Dugas

Yuzef Gokhfeld

Robert H Hammond

Rong Sun

Haowen Li

Brendan Falvey

Gary Parece

An embodiment of a laser induced breakdown system is described that comprises a portable device that includes: a laser configured to produce a beam comprising a plurality of repeating pulses; a processor configured to open a data acquisition window after a delay period, wherein the delay period begins upon production of one of the pulses; one or more optical elements configured to direct the beam at a sample and collect emitted light from a plasma continuum; and an optical detector configured to produce a plurality of signal values from the emitted light from the plasma continuum collected during the data acquisition window, wherein the processor is configured to identify an element from the signal values.

Portable laser induced breakdown spectroscopy systems

A method of identifying the presence of heroin in an impure heroin composition which contains heroin and at least one fluorescent contaminant which interferes with a Raman signal from the heroin. The method may include contacting the mixture with a solvent such as an alcohol, then contacting the resulting alcohol composition with a SERS surface. The surface may then be exposed to laser light from a hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect a Raman signal from the heroin. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Heroin detection by Raman spectroscopy from impure compositions comprising an interfering fluorescent contaminant

Heroin detection by raman spectroscopy from impure compositions comprising an interfering fluorescent contaminant

The apparatus disclosed herein features: (a) a handheld, portable spectrometer that includes a radiation source configured to direct incident radiation to a sample, a detector configured to receive signal radiation from the sample, and a housing enclosing the radiation source and the detector; (b) an extended member attachable to the housing and having an interior channel to define a path for directing radiation from the source to the sample and for receiving radiation from the sample at the detector; (c) and a vial receptacle configured to hold a different sample and positioned to receive radiation from the source, where the detector is positioned to receive radiation from the different sample and the housing is configured to support the vial receptacle and attach to the extended member at the same time.

Method and apparatus for conducting Raman spectroscopy

Disclosed herein are Raman probes that include: (a) a first optical fiber for receiving laser excitation light from a light source and transmitting the same; (b) a first filter for receiving light from the first optical fiber and adapted to pass the laser excitation light and to block spurious signals associated with the light; (c) a second filter for receiving light from the first filter and adapted to direct the light toward a specimen; and (d) focusing apparatus for receiving the light from the second filter, focusing the light on the specimen so as to generate the Raman signal, and returning the Raman signal to the second filter. The second filter is further configured so that when the second filter receives the Raman signal from the focusing apparatus, the second filter filters out unwanted laser excitation light before directing the Raman signal to a second optical fiber.

An oxygen sensor has a sensor body formed of a crystalline material, such as zirconia, with first and second electrodes disposed on a single surface thereof. The electrodes are arranged to induce superionic oxygen transport in the body along current paths extending at a shallow depth in the crystalline material at the electrode surface. The electrodes may be interdigitated or juxtaposed porous electrodes that define an exposed surface pattern of ionic conduction for sensing, and the electrodes are preferably poisoned to inhibit cross sensitivity to reactive components, such as hydrogen, that may be present in the environment. The electrodes may effect electrode-limited superionic conduction in a thin slice of single crystal material, or a polycrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia film sensing body, and operate at a relatively low temperature in the range of 250-400&deg; C., preferably about 300-350&deg; C., with negligible leakage current or cross sensitivity, allowing reliable measurement of oxygen concentrations in the ppb range. The oxygen sensor may be fabricated together with a heater, such as a resistive heating element, deposited on the back face of the sensor body, or the sensor body may be attached to a heater chip. One such heater chip includes both a heating electrode, and a resistive thermal device that may, for example, provide a feedback or control signal for controlling heater temperature in the desired range. The sensors may be lithographically formed in arrays with suitable lead pads, then scored and separated, and mounted on heater chips, providing a self-contained integrated unit of versatile application.

Thin film ppb oxygen sensor

Growing community of inventors

Waltham, MA, United States of America

Yu Shen