Stuart P Farquharson

US Patent:

6623977, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Nov 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/704818

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT
Chad Nelson - Windsor CT
Yuan-Hsiang Lee - Holyoke MA

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - East Hartford CT

International Classification:

G01N 2165

US Classification:

436164, 436171, 422 8205, 356301

Abstract:

Metal-doped sol-gel materials, suitable for use as sensors for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic analysis for trace chemical detection, are produced by effecting gelation and solvent removal of a doped sol-gel under mild temperature conditions. At least in certain instances reaction and drying will desirably be effected in an oxygen-starved environment. The metal of the sol-gel material functions, when irradiated, to produce a plasmon field for interaction with molecules of an analyte in contact therewith, increasing by orders of magnitude Raman photons that are generate by excitation radiation, and the method allows matching of the metal and metal particle size to a wavelength of light (or incident radiation, e. g. , laser radiation) to generate surface plasmons. The porosity of the sol-gel material dramatically increases the surface area, and thereby the amount of metal exposed for analyte interaction.

US Patent:

6943031, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Feb 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/372621

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT, US
Paul Maksymiuk - South Windsor CT, US

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

G01N021/77

US Classification:

436169, 436164, 436166, 436161, 204455, 356344

Abstract:

Sol-gel beds and deposits are utilized for SERS analysis of liquid analytes. The use of the same medium to both separate the chemicals and also for SERS greatly reduces the complexity of such apparatus and enhances the efficiency of the method.

US Patent:

6943032, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Feb 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/372622

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT, US
Paul Maksymiuk - South Windsor CT, US

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

G01N021/77

US Classification:

436169, 436164, 436166, 436161

Abstract:

Sol-gel beds and deposits are utilized for SERS analysis of liquid analytes. Measurements are made at multiple points along the length of a column or channel to increase, very significantly, the speed of analysis, and use of the same medium to both separate the chemicals and also for SERS greatly reduces the complexity of such apparatus and enhances the efficiency of the method.

US Patent:

7312088, Dec 25, 2007

Filed:

Jul 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/902511

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT, US

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - East Hartford CT

International Classification:

G01N 21/77

US Classification:

436169, 436164, 436166, 422 56, 422 57, 422 58, 422 8205

Abstract:

Apparatus for use in effecting surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy comprises first and second containment means, the first containment means containing a known quantity of a reference chemical having an effective surface-enhanced Raman factor, and the second containment means containing a surface-enhanced Raman-active medium and being sufficiently transparent, at least at one optical access location, to permit both the excitation irradiation of, and also the collection of surface-enhanced Raman scattered radiation from, a common field of view of the surface-enhanced Raman-active medium. The apparatus is constructed for carrying out the method of the invention; i. e. , for effecting intimate mixing, substantially prior to introduction to the surface-enhanced Raman-active medium contained in the second containment means, of the reference chemical with an analyte chemical-containing solution introduced through an entrance into the first containment means. The homogeneous test solution so formed permeates the SER-active material in the second containment means, which is irradiated at the common field of view so as to produce SER scattered radiation for collection and quantitative analysis.

US Patent:

7393691, Jul 1, 2008

Filed:

Oct 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/967486

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT, US
Alan D. Gift - Wallingford CT, US
Frank E. Inscore - Bristol CT, US
Chetan S. Shende - Vernon CT, US

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

G01N 21/65
G01N 30/14
G01N 33/15
G01N 30/88

US Classification:

436171, 422 61, 422 69, 422 70, 422 8205, 422 8209, 422101, 436 86, 436 92, 436 98, 436104, 436161, 436177, 436178

Abstract:

The method and apparatus rapidly separate drugs and their metabolites from saliva and, in a continuous sequence of steps, rapidly detect, identify and quantify them through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

US Patent:

7393692, Jul 1, 2008

Filed:

Apr 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/098844

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT, US
Frank E. Inscore - Bristol CT, US
Alan D. Gift - Lafayette IN, US
Chetan S. Shende - Vernon CT, US

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

G01N 21/65
G01N 30/14
G01N 33/15
G01N 30/88

US Classification:

436171, 422 61, 422 69, 422 70, 422 8205, 422 8209, 422101, 436 86, 436 92, 436 98, 436104, 436161, 436177, 436178

Abstract:

The method and apparatus rapidly separate drugs and their metabolites from saliva and, in a continuous sequence of steps, rapidly detect, identify and quantify them through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

US Patent:

7462492, Dec 9, 2008

Filed:

Jul 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/193894

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT, US
Paul Maksymiuk - South Windsor CT, US

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

G01N 21/76

US Classification:

436172, 436164

Abstract:

Sol-gel beds and deposits are utilized for SERS analysis of liquid analytes. Measurements are made at multiple points along the length of a column or channel to increase, very significantly, the speed of analysis, and use of the same medium to both separate the chemicals and also for SERS greatly reduces the complexity of such apparatus and enhances the efficiency of the method.

US Patent:

7462493, Dec 9, 2008

Filed:

Jul 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/193895

Inventors:

Stuart Farquharson - Meriden CT, US
Paul Maksymiuk - South Windsor CT, US

Assignee:

Real-Time Analyzers, Inc. - Middletown CT

International Classification:

G01N 21/76

US Classification:

436172, 436164

Abstract:

Sol-gel beds and deposits are utilized for SERS analysis of liquid analytes. The use of the same medium to both separate the chemicals and also for SERS greatly reduces the complexity of such apparatus and enhances the efficiency of the method.