Design considerations and performance characteristics of AirSentinel: a new UV-LIF bio-aerosol threat detection trigger

Richard DeFreez; Ezra Merrill; Sam Albanna; Bert Davis; Charles Call

doi:10.1117/12.634389

28 October 2005 Design considerations and performance characteristics of AirSentinel: a new UV-LIF bio-aerosol threat detection trigger

Richard DeFreez, Ezra Merrill, Sam Albanna, Bert Davis, Charles Call

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5990, Optically Based Materials and Optically Based Biological and Chemical Sensing for Defence II; 59900O (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.634389
Event: European Symposium on Optics and Photonics for Defence and Security, 2005, Bruges, Belgium

Abstract

AirSentinel^® is a new low cost, compact ultraviolet-based light induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) bio-aerosol threat detection trigger. Earlier UV-LIF triggers, for example, FLAPS, BARTS, BAWS, Bioni, and BioLert, have used UV laser sources to induce fluorescence of biological aerosols. Two recent developments from the DARPA MTO SUVOS program, BAST and TAC-BIO, use UV LEDs for the same purpose, thereby broadening the term UV-LIF to mean laser or LED induced autofluorescence. All of these earlier triggers interrogate aerosols on a particle-by-particle basis on- the-fly. The major trade-off for these instruments is cost, size, and complexity versus counting efficiency (probability of detection) with the lower size end of the respirable range being most difficult to detect. AirSentinel^® employs a different approach to UV-LIF detection: aerosol concentration by collection on a surface, surface interrogation, and surface rejuvenation prior to repeated concentration and interrogation cycles. Aerosol particle concentration via impaction on a surface addresses the issue of small particle counting efficiency since the fluorescence from the sum of the particles is the sum of the fluorescence signals from the collected particles, typically hundreds or thousands in number. Surface interrogation for a LIF signal is accomplished by illumination with a 280 nm and/or a 365 nm LED. As expected, test results show better relative detection performance using 280 nm excitation LEDs for bio-toxin simulants and somewhat better performance at 365 nm for standard Bacillus globigii spore targets. AirSentinel^® beta technology is currently in long term testing in a number of public and other government buildings.

Citation Download Citation

Richard DeFreez, Ezra Merrill, Sam Albanna, Bert Davis, and Charles Call "Design considerations and performance characteristics of AirSentinel: a new UV-LIF bio-aerosol threat detection trigger", Proc. SPIE 5990, Optically Based Materials and Optically Based Biological and Chemical Sensing for Defence II, 59900O (28 October 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.634389

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available