Quantum-cascade-laser-based optoacoustic detection for breath sensor applications

Author

Spagnolo, V. ; Lewicki, R. ; Dong, L. ; Tittel, F.K.

Author_Institution

Dipt. Interateneo di Fis. M. Merlin, Politec. di Bari, Bari, Italy

fYear

2011

fDate

30-31 May 2011

Firstpage

332

Lastpage

335

Abstract

Continuous wave, thermoelectrically cooled, quantum cascade laser based sensor platform for the quantitative detection of exhaled human breath is reported. The sensor is based on a 2f wavelength modulation quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) technique, which is very well suited for real time breath analysis, due to the fast gas exchange inside a compact QEPAS gas cell. The quantum cascade laser has be designed to target the interference-free NO absorption line at 1900.075 cm^-1. A 1s minimum detectable concentration of ~ 8 parts per billion in volume with 1 sec time resolution was obtained. Preliminary breath test demonstrated extremely fast response and fast signal decay.

Keywords

biomedical equipment; biomedical measurement; biosensors; laser applications in medicine; measurement by laser beam; photoacoustic spectra; pneumodynamics; quantum cascade lasers; breath sensor applications; compact QEPAS gas cell; continuous wave sensor platform; exhaled human breath; gas exchange; interference-free absorption line; preliminary breath test; quantum cascade laser based sensor platform; quantum-cascade-laser-based optoacoustic detection; real time breath analysis; signal decay; thermoelectrically cooled sensor platform; wavelength modulation quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy; Absorption; Electron tubes; Gas lasers; Humans; Optical sensors; Quantum cascade lasers; Spectroscopy; Breath sensor; Quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy; trace gas detection; wavelength modulation;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Medical Measurements and Applications Proceedings (MeMeA), 2011 IEEE International Workshop on

Conference_Location

Bari

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-9336-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MeMeA.2011.5966773

Filename

5966773