Mid-IR Biogenic Trace Gas Sensor

描述（由申请人提供）：微量反应性气体在调节血管松弛、神经传递和炎症等复杂生物功能中的作用在生物医学研究界受到了相当大的关注，包括因NO的生理意义研究而获得诺贝尔医学奖。目前，由于缺乏可靠、通用的ppb级生物气体测量仪器，对这种气体和其他微量气体作用的实验室研究受到了限制。在一个成功的第一阶段项目中，物理科学公司（PSI）、莱斯大学和贝勒医学院表明，使用室温、量子级联激光吸收传感技术，可以在与培养细胞相关的大气中测量内源性CO和NO的产生。目前还没有仪器能够对这些气体进行多种类、时间分辨的测量。在拟议的第二阶段计划中，该团队将开发用于生物医学实验室中相互关联的内源性气体的常规、自动化和同步检测的原型实验室仪器。这些仪器将完全集成和自动传感器，包括热稳定培养细胞容器，紧凑的光学吸收配置，以及软件控制的数据采集和还原。参与机构生物医学实验室的技术人员将进行广泛的测试和评价，以完善仪器概念，以便随后进行营销和销售。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The role of trace reactive gases in regulating complex biological functions such as vasorelaxation, neurotransmission, and inflammation has received considerable attention in the biomedical research community, including the Nobel Prize in Medicine for research on the physiological significance of NO. Laboratory research into the role of this and other trace gases is presently constrained by the lack of reliable, versatile instrumentation for ppb-levels of biogenic gases. In a successful Phase I program, Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), Rice University, and the Baylor College of Medicine showed that endogenous CO and NO production could be measured in atmospheres associated with cultured cells using room-temperature, quantum cascade laser-based absorption sensing. No presently available instrumentation is capable of multi-species, time-resolved measurements of these gases. In the proposed Phase II program, the team will develop prototype laboratory instruments for routine, automated and simultaneous detection of interrelated endogenous gases in biomedical laboratories. These instruments will be fully integrated and automatic sensors, including thermally-stabilized cultured cell vessels, compact optical absorption configurations, and software controlled data acquisition and reduction. Extensive test and evaluation by technicians in biomedical laboratories of participating institutions will be used to refine the instrument concept for subsequent marketing and sales.