STTR Phase I: Quantum Cascade Laser Spectrometer for Bio-medical Applications

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目将涉及中红外多光谱成像的研究和开发，从而产生第一个能够对生物医学样品进行化学成像的商用仪器。我们将开发和演示关键技术，以显着提高活体组织和其他生物样品的原位灵敏度和图像对比度。传统的中红外光谱成像是基于傅立叶变换光谱仪，要么利用白炽灯光源，要么利用同步加速器源的中红外光束线。然而，由于白炽光源亮度低，严重限制了生物样品原位研究的应用。同步加速器源由于其高昂的成本，在被广泛接受方面有明显的局限性。我们的创新方法是基于采用最近开发的量子级联激光器，结合了高选择性的宽调谐范围，高灵敏度的高输出功率，以及衍射有限空间分辨率的高斯光束。这将大大提高中红外光谱在生物医学应用中的实用性。这个项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力，如果成功，将为研究人员提供一种新的工具，以利用中红外光谱在生物样品化学制图中的力量。中红外光谱可以说是化学指纹识别中应用最广泛的技术。中红外激光光谱的分辨能力和灵敏度与激光显微镜的衍射极限分辨率相结合，将在生物成像领域产生新的能力和质的飞跃。提出的激光微分光光度计解决了大约4.5亿美元的中红外光谱设备市场。该技术的成功开发将对现代生物学和医学面临的挑战产生广泛的影响：从单个细胞的分析到复杂组织，从样品生理状态的表征到复杂的疾病模式识别方法。除了推进这些领域的科学理解外，拟议的微型分光光度计将在爆炸物和化学战探测，制药和石油化工工业以及污染控制中得到应用。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will involve research and development of mid-infrared multi-spectral imaging, leading to the first commercial instrument capable of chemical imaging of bio-medical samples. We will develop and demonstrate key technologies to dramatically improve the sensitivity and image contrast of live tissue and other biological samples in-situ. Conventional mid-infrared spectroscopic imaging is based on Fourier Transform Spectrometers that either utilize incandescent light sources, or mid-IR beamlines of synchrotron sources. The applications of the incandescent light sources, however, are severely limited for in-situ studies of biological samples due to low brightness. The synchrotron sources have obvious limitations for the widespread acceptance because of their high cost. Our innovative approach is based on employing recently developed Quantum Cascade lasers that combine a broad tuning range for high selectivity, high output power for high sensitivity, and a Gaussian beam for diffraction limited spatial resolution. This will significantly enhance the utility of mid-IR spectroscopy for biomedical applications.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project, if successful, will be to give researchers a novel tool to leverage the power of mid-infrared spectroscopy in chemical mapping of biological samples. Mid-infrared spectroscopy is arguably the most widely used technique for chemical fingerprinting. The combination of the discriminating power and sensitivity of mid-infrared laser spectroscopy with diffraction limited resolution of laser microscopy will produce new capabilities and a qualitative leap forward in the field of bio-imaging. The proposed laser micro-spectrophotometer addresses an approximately $450M market of mid-IR spectroscopic equipment. Successful development of the technology will have broad implications for the challenges facing modern-day biology and medicine: from the analysis of individual cells to complex tissues, and from the characterization of the physiological status of a sample to sophisticated disease pattern recognition methods. In addition to advancing scientific understanding in these fields, the proposed micro-spectrophotometer will find applications in explosives and chemical warfare detection, pharmaceutical and petro-chemical industries, as well as in pollution control.