Synchronous Monochromator

About

  Overview An important aspect of disease control/acquired infections is the detection and identification of organisms responsible for causing an outbreak. Currently available methods include conventional approaches of plating and culturing, enumeration methods, microscopy, flow cytometry, biochemical testing, immunoassays, nucleic acid probe-based methods, mass spectrometry, etc. Many of these methods are time consuming, expensive, and require off-site measuring devices, There is a need for a portable, rapid, reliable and sensitive detection protocol with fast response times. Technology This hand-held synchronous monochromator is capable of immediate in situ detection and identification of pathogens. Fluorescence is induced by light emitted through a laser diode or LED and transmitted through a fiber to an infected area. A fiber transmits the fluorescence of the pathogens onto the spectrometer for dispersion and then to the CCD for recording the spectrum and analysis. The recorded synchronous fluorescence spectrum of the pathogen is compared with known spectra stored on a chip and compared and identified using a goodness-of-fit test. Optionally, the fibers used in the spectrometer could be coupled with a catheter or drug delivery device to measure the effects of therapeutics in real time. Advantages Field use friendly design – In progress Detection and identification of pathogens Quantification of live and dead bacteria Applications Swift (<5 minute) determination of pathogens in a field or clinical setting Detection of pathogens in water Stage of Development Lab-scale prototype system developed and tested to discern in situ differentiation of living and dead pathogens. Experiments confirm that this device can provide the synchronous spectra necessary for the in situ identification of pathogens within 5 minutes. Patent Status Patent Pending