Abstract: A high intensity, ultra-short LED pulsing driver circuit is developed for use with a system designed to perform real-time time-resolved, transient recording of fluorescence. Details of the timing circuitry used to pulse the LED and to provide synchronized PMT gating and ADC trigger pulses are also developed. The LED pulses are intended for fluorophores with lifetimes on the order of about 1.6 ns or longer and gating is used to maintain the detector off or partially off during excitation, thereby maximizing the available detector gain without saturation of the detector by the excitation light.

Abstract: A system to transform an input signal presented from a sensor into a spatial sequence characteristic of the signal. An input module of the system is configured to divide the input signal into a sequence of signal values and present them in order of production to the following stage. A comparator module coupled to the input module configured to accept each element value of the sequence of signal values. The comparator module has a multiplicity of individual comparators that generate binary values assembled into a word of bits. The word value correlates the input sequence element value with a vector of reference values to effect a level crossing sampler. The assembled word value is utilized to encode a memory address. The system effects the conversion of a signal into an ordered collection of spatial values, which are the addresses of memory locations.

Abstract: A high intensity, ultra-short LED pulsing driver circuit is developed for use with a system designed to perform real-time time-resolved, transient recording of fluorescence. Details of the timing circuitry used to pulse the LED and to provide synchronized PMT gating and ADC trigger pulses are also developed. The LED pulses are intended for fluorophores with lifetimes on the order of about 1.6 ns or longer and gating is used to maintain the detector off or partially off during excitation, thereby maximizing the available detector gain without saturation of the detector by the excitation light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge-based detection system to prepare an injected sample to be investigated for determination of a microbial pathogen or another analyte of interest using a detector features a field-safe cartridge. The system features a plurality of reagent chambers located within the cartridge. The system features a rotating cylindrical dial that facilitates a sequential introduction of various fluids contained in each reagent chamber into the dial whereby the fluid washes internally for contact therein. A dial channel is located through the dial. A dual window region of interrogation is centrally located in the dial. The dial is pivoted into position to fluidly connect each mated anterior and posterior reagent chamber via the dial channel. Methods of used are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high intensity, ultra-short LED pulsing driver circuit is developed for use with a system designed to perform real-time time-resolved, transient recording of a fluorescence. Details of the timing circuitry used to pulse the LED and to provide synchronized PMT gating and ADC trigger pulses are also developed. The LED pulses are intended for fluorophores with lifetimes on the order of about 1.6 ns or longer and gating is used to maintain the detector off or partially off during excitation, thereby maximizing the available detector gain without saturation of the detector by the excitation light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge-based detection system to prepare an injected sample to be investigated for determination of a microbial pathogen or another analyte of interest using a detector features a field-safe cartridge. The system features a plurality of reagent chambers located within the cartridge. The system features a rotating cylindrical dial that facilitates a sequential introduction of various fluids contained in each reagent chamber into the dial whereby the fluid washes internally for contact therein. A dial channel is located through the dial. A dual window region of interrogation is centrally located in the dial. The dial is pivoted into position to fluidly connect each mated anterior and posterior reagent chamber via the dial channel. Methods of used are also disclosed.

Abstract: A layered construction for use in decontaminating a surface or enclosed space is described. The construction is an electrochemical cell which includes a cathode, an electrolyte layer, an anode and a protective surface layer. A precursor compound that can be electrically decomposed to release an oxidant, on demand and over an extended period of time, is included in the layered structure, preferably in the electrolyte layer. The oxidant compounds react with various different chemical or biological contaminants in contact the protective layer, thereby deactivating, destroying or devitalizing the contaminants. The layered construction is suitable for application to a device or substrate, or placement in an enclosed space, and can be used on sensitive surfaces such as electronic components and human skin.

Abstract: A layered construction for use in decontaminating a surface or enclosed space is described. The construction is an electrochemical cell which includes a cathode, an electrolyte layer, an anode and a protective surface layer. A precursor compound that can be electrically decomposed to release an oxidant, on demand and over an extended period of time, is included in the layered structure, preferably in the electrolyte layer. The oxidant compounds react with various different chemical or biological contaminants in contact the protective layer, thereby deactivating, destroying or devitalizing the contaminants. The layered construction is suitable for application to a device or substrate, or placement in an enclosed space, and can be used on sensitive surfaces such as electronic components and human skin.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the detection of microbes in liquids, in air and on non-living surfaces in which samples are exposed to frequency-modulated electromagnetic radiation of specific energies capable of exciting various metabolites, cofactors and cellular and spore components, with the microbial cells to be sampled (and more specifically the excited metabolites, cofactors and/or other cellular components) contained therein emit fluorescence that can be measured that is similarly frequency-modulated provided that the excitation frequencies are longer than the fluorescence lifetime of the excited intrinsic microbial fluorophore.

Abstract: Method for the detection of dormant cryptobiotic microbes by detection of electromagnetic radiation emitted from intrinsic alkali earth metal pyridine dicarboxylic acid salts in the 710 nm to 860 nm region when excited with electromagnetic energy in the 610 nm to 680 nm region. Utilizing the novel lower energy emission of intrinsic calcium dipicolinic acid salts makes it possible to quickly detect bacterial spores, fungal spores and oocysts without the need for any added reagents, sample processing, or contact with the sample.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the detection of biological material on non-living surfaces in which samples are exposed to electromagnetic radiation of specific energies capable of exciting various intrinsic fluorophores, and these fluorophores emit fluorescence that can be measured. The signal from the background, scattered excitation light and reflected excitation light is removed from the fluorescence signals due to the intrinsic fluorophores from the biological material and the intensities of the signals from the intrinsic fluorophores are required to lie within expected ranges.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the detection of biological material on non-living surfaces in which samples are exposed to electromagnetic radiation of specific energies capable of exciting various intrinsic fluorophores, and these fluorophores emit fluorescence that can be measured. The signal from the background, scattered excitation light and reflected excitation light is removed from the fluorescence signals due to the intrinsic fluorophores from the biological material and the intensities of the signals from the intrinsic fluorophores are required to lie within expected ranges.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the detection of microbes in liquids, in air and on non-living surfaces in which samples are exposed to electromagnetic radiation of specific energies capable of exciting various metabolites, cofactors and cellular and spore components, with the microbial cells to be sampled (and more specifically the excited metabolites, cofactors and/or other cellular components) contained therein emit fluorescence that can be measured. The signal from the background and scattered excitation signals is removed from the fluorescence signals of the microbial components, the relative fluorescent signals of the intrinsic microbial components are required to lie within physiological ranges, and the amplitude of the background-corrected fluorescence signals used to enumerate the microbe content in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for the binding of pathogenic microorganisms and their toxic proteins with ligands that have been covalently tethered at some distance from the surface of a substrate: distances of at least fifteen Å are required for microorganism binding ligand tethers and at least six Å are required for protein binding ligand tethers. The ligands described herein include heme compounds, siderophores, polysaccharides, and peptides specific for toxic proteins, outer membrane proteins and conjugated lipids. Non-binding components of the solution to be analyzed are separated from the bound fraction and binding is confirmed by detection of the analyte via microscopy, fluorescence, epifluorescence, luminescence, phosphorescence, radioactivity, or optical absorbance. By patterning numerous ligands in an array on a substrate surface it is possible to taxonomically identify the microorganism by analysis of the binding pattern of the sample to the array.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the detection of microbes in liquids, in air and on non-living surfaces in which samples are exposed to electromagnetic radiation of specific energies capable of exciting various metabolites, cofactors and cellular and spore components, with the microbial cells to be sampled (and more specifically the excited metabolites, cofactors and or other cellular components) contained therein emit fluorescence that can be measured. The signal from the background and scattered excitation signals is removed from the fluorescence signals of the microbial components, the relative fluorescent signals of the intrinsic microbial components are required to lie within physiological ranges, and the amplitude of the background-corrected fluorescence signals used to enumerate the microbe content in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for the binding of pathogenic microorganisms and their toxic proteins with ligands that have been covalently tethered at some distance from the surface of a substrate: distances of at least fifteen Å are required for microorganism binding ligand tethers and at least six Å are required for protein binding ligand tethers. The ligands described herein include heme compounds, siderophores, polysaccharides, and peptides specific for toxic proteins, outer membrane proteins and conjugated lipids. Non-binding components of the solution to be analyzed are separated from the bound fraction and binding is confirmed by detection of the analyte via microscopy, fluorescence, epifluorescence, luminescence, phosphorescence, radioactivity, or optical absorbance. By patterning numerous ligands in an array on a substrate surface it is possible to taxonomically identify the microorganism by analysis of the binding pattern of the sample to the array.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the detection of microbes in liquids, in air and on non-living surfaces in which samples are exposed to electromagnetic radiation of specific energies capable of exciting various metabolites, cofactors and cellular and spore components, with the microbial cells to be sampled (and more specifically the excited metabolites, cofactors and/or other cellular components) contained therein emit fluorescence that can be measured. The signal from the background and scattered excitation signals is removed from the fluorescence signals of the microbial components, the relative fluorescent signals of the intrinsic microbial components are required to lie within physiological ranges, and the amplitude of the background-corrected fluorescence signals used to enumerate the microbe content in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for the binding of pathogenic microorganisms and their toxic proteins with ligands that have been covalently tethered at some distance from the surface of a substrate: distances of at least fifteen Å are required for microorganism binding ligand tethers and at least six Å are required for protein binding ligand tethers. The ligands described herein include heme compounds, siderophores, polysaccharides, and peptides specific for toxic proteins, outer membrane proteins and conjugated lipids. Non-binding components of the solution to be analyzed are separated from the bound fraction and binding is confirmed by detection of the analyte via microscopy, fluorescence, epifluorescence, luminescence, phosphorescence, radioactivity, or optical absorbance. By patterning numerous ligands in an array on a substrate surface it is possible to taxonomically identify the microorganism by analysis of the binding pattern of the sample to the array.