SBIR Phase II: Multi-Channel Fluorescence Lifetime Measuring Instrument Using a Novel Low-Cost Digitizer

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目将提供一种低成本的多通道数字化仪，它能够在每个通道每秒精确捕获超过10,000个完整的荧光衰减曲线（波形），从而彻底改变荧光传感的应用。这种新颖的低成本数字化仪利用独特的“闪光捕捉”方法进行模数（a /D）转换，以实现速度（1GS/s），分辨率（10位）和低功耗的特殊组合。荧光传感测量是一系列尖端应用的基础，因为它提供了一种敏感和通用的纳米级行为和特性探针。该项目将开发一个全功能的仪器级工程原型，并将其集成到便携式演示仪器中，以展示通过光谱和时间特征区分生物或化学制剂等能力。这种定制数字化仪将匹配激光诱导荧光（LIF）的能力，以提供准确、经济有效和完整的数据收集。该数字化仪将是第一个低成本紧凑型数字化仪，适用于生物制剂的特定前端LIF分析。在威胁全世界人民的大规模毁灭性武器中，生物制剂被认为是我们今天面临的主要危害。该系统能够更快、更准确地捕获更多信息，这将减少当今系统所遭受的高虚警发生率，从而形成一个更可靠的系统，具有挽救生命的潜力。当与生物医学仪器集成时，数字化仪将通过在学术机构的研究和发现中使用而具有科学和教育效益。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will deliver a low-cost, multi-channel digitizer that can revolutionize applications of fluorescence sensing with its ability to accurately capture over 10,000 complete fluorescence decay curves (waveforms) per second per channel. This novel low-cost digitizer exploits a unique 'flash capture' approach to analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion to achieve an exceptional combination of speed (1GS/s), resolution (10 bits), and low power. Fluorescence sensing measurement underlies an immense array of cutting-edge applications because it provides a sensitive and versatile probe into nano-scale behavior and properties. The project will develop a full-featured instrument-grade engineering prototype of the digitizer and integrate it into a portable demonstration instrument to showcase capabilities such as distinguishing biological or chemical agents by their spectral and temporal signatures. This custom digitizer will match the capabilities of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to deliver accurate, cost effective, and complete data collection. The digitizer will be the first low-cost compact digitizer suitable for the specific front-end LIF analysis of biological agents. Among the weapons of mass destruction that threaten people around the world, biological agents are perceived to be the main hazard facing us today. The system's ability to capture more information, faster and more accurately will reduce the high occurrence of false alarms suffered by today's systems, resulting in a more reliable system with the potential to save lives. When integrated with biomedical instrumentation, the digitizer will have scientific and educational benefits through the use at academic institutions for research and discovery.