The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2003
Joel Miller, Cheverly, MD (US);
Allen Garroway, Fort Washington, MD (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An NQR apparatus for irradiating a sample with an RF magnetic field and for determining the presence of a target material by detecting an NQR signal includes a transmitter for generating an output signal at a selected frequency, a receiver for detecting the NQR signal, a probe, and a switch coupling the receiver and the transmitter with the probe for alternately connecting and disconnecting the receiver and the transmitter to the probe, thereby switching the NQR apparatus between a transmitting mode and a receiving mode. The probe consists of a resonant circuit that includes a coil array. The coil array includes a first figure-8 coil and a partially overlapping, second figure-8 coil for generating an RF magnetic field in a detecting region outside the probe. The first and second coils together alternate between a transmitting mode for irradiating a sample in the detecting region with an RF magnetic field, and a receiving mode for detecting an NQR signal indicative of the presence of a target material in the sample. The coil array produces a highly uniform rotating RF magnetic field, increasing its detection sensitivity and enhancing its ability to separate magnetic resonance signals from piezoelectric and acoustic ringing.