TY - GEN
T1 - Real time detection of exhaled human breath using quantum cascade laser based sensor technology
AU - Tittel, Frank K.
AU - Lewicki, Rafał
AU - Dong, Lei
AU - Liu, Kun
AU - Risby, Terence H.
AU - Solga, Steven
AU - Schwartz, Tim
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The development and performance of a cw, TE-cooled DFB quantum cascade laser based sensor for quantitative measurements of ammonia (NH 3) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations present in exhaled breath will be reported. Human breath contains ∼ 500 different chemical species, usually at ultra low concentration levels, which can serve as biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of human diseases or wellness states. By monitoring NH 3 concentration levels in exhaled breath a fast, non-invasive diagnostic method for treatment of patients with liver and kidney disorders, is feasible. The NH 3 concentration measurements were performed with a 2f wavelength modulation quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) technique, which is suitable for real time breath measurements, due to the fast gas exchange inside a compact QEPAS gas cell. A Hamamatsu air-cooled high heat load (HHL) packaged CW DFB-QCL is operated at 17.5°C, targeting the optimum interference free NH 3 absorption line at 967.35 cm -1 (λ∼10.34 μm), with ∼ 20 mW of optical power. The sensor architecture includes a reference cell, filled with a 2000 ppmv NH 3 :N 2 mixture at 130 Torr, which is used for absorption line-locking. A minimum detection limit (1σ) for the line locked NH 3 sensor is ∼ 6 ppbv (with a 1σ; 1 sec time resolution of the control electronics). This NH 3 sensor was installed in late 2010 and is being clinically tested at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, PA.
AB - The development and performance of a cw, TE-cooled DFB quantum cascade laser based sensor for quantitative measurements of ammonia (NH 3) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations present in exhaled breath will be reported. Human breath contains ∼ 500 different chemical species, usually at ultra low concentration levels, which can serve as biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of human diseases or wellness states. By monitoring NH 3 concentration levels in exhaled breath a fast, non-invasive diagnostic method for treatment of patients with liver and kidney disorders, is feasible. The NH 3 concentration measurements were performed with a 2f wavelength modulation quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) technique, which is suitable for real time breath measurements, due to the fast gas exchange inside a compact QEPAS gas cell. A Hamamatsu air-cooled high heat load (HHL) packaged CW DFB-QCL is operated at 17.5°C, targeting the optimum interference free NH 3 absorption line at 967.35 cm -1 (λ∼10.34 μm), with ∼ 20 mW of optical power. The sensor architecture includes a reference cell, filled with a 2000 ppmv NH 3 :N 2 mixture at 130 Torr, which is used for absorption line-locking. A minimum detection limit (1σ) for the line locked NH 3 sensor is ∼ 6 ppbv (with a 1σ; 1 sec time resolution of the control electronics). This NH 3 sensor was installed in late 2010 and is being clinically tested at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, PA.
KW - Ammonia
KW - Exhaled breath analysis
KW - Nitric oxide
KW - Quantum cascade lasers
KW - Quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy
KW - Trace gas detection
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84859333009&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.912273
DO - 10.1117/12.912273
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84859333009
SN - 9780819488664
T3 - Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
BT - Photons Plus Ultrasound
T2 - Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing 2012
Y2 - 22 January 2012 through 24 January 2012
ER -