ADVANCED MID-IR LASER SENSORS FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

微量反应气体在调节血管松弛和神经传递等复杂生物过程中的作用已引起生物医学研究界的极大关注，包括1998年诺贝尔医学奖对NO在生物过程中的生理意义的研究。对NO和CO等气体的作用的研究需要改进可靠、快速和连续的产气量监测，监测范围在pmol/min范围内。在拟议的工作中，物理科学公司(PSI)和莱斯大学将结合他们在痕量气体检测方面的广泛背景，开发第一个这样的传感器，用于连续监测生物产生的微量气体。该传感器将基于室温、量子级联中红外激光光源和超灵敏平衡检测技术，预计对NO和CO的检测极限在ppb范围内。该计划的第一阶段将展示在典型的生物医学应用中对这两种气体的超灵敏检测。在该计划的第二阶段，这些数据将用于设计原型仪器。与生物医学研究实验室的广泛合作将允许对商业单位进行Beta测试和优化。拟议的商业应用：在生物医学研究应用中，用于快速和连续测量痕量气体的多功能气体分析仪预计将产生50至100个单位/年的市场。监测呼气中的微量气体存在潜在的更大市场。除了这些医疗市场外，预计中红外激光传感器还将有广泛的工业市场。PSI之前已经开发和剥离了商业子公司，用于解决医疗和化学过程监控应用。这些经验将在仪器设计、可制造性工程、软件和为建议的传感器制定的营销策略中得到借鉴。

The role of trace reactive gases in regulating complex biological processes such as vasorelaxation and neurotransmission has received considerable attention in the biomedical research community, including the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine for research on the physiological significance of NO in biological processes. Research on the role of gases such as NO and CO requires improvements in reliable, rapid, and continuous monitors of gas production in the pmol/min range. In the proposed effort, Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and Rice University will combine their extensive background in trace gas detection to develop the first such sensor for continuous monitoring of biologically-produced trace gases. The sensor will be based on room-temperature, Quantum Cascade mid-IR laser sources and an ultra-sensitive balanced detection technique with projected detection limits for NO and CO in the ppb range. The Phase I portion of the program will demonstrate ultra- sensitive detection of both gases in representative biomedical applications. In the Phase II portion of the program, this data will be used to design prototype instruments. Extensive collaboration with biomedical research laboratories will allow beta testing and optimization of commercial units. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: A versatile gas analyzer for rapid and continuous measurements of trace gases in biomedical research applications is expected to generate markets of 50 to 100 units/year. Potentially larger markets exist for monitoring trace gases in breath. Beyond these medical markets, extensive industrial markets are projected for mid-IR laser-based sensors. PSI has previously developed and spun-off commercial subsidiaries for addressing medical and chemical process monitoring applications. This experience will be drawn upon in the instrument design, engineering for manufacturability, software, and marketing strategies developed for the proposed sensor.