This invention discloses an improved laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus and method for the detection of mineral and metal contamination in liquid samples. The mineral and metal contaminant is first collected by filtering the liquid sample with a membrane filter. The membrane filter with the mineral and metal contaminant is then measured by a LIBS apparatus. The LIBS apparatus is based on a high repetition rate pulsed laser. The laser produces a train of laser pulses at a high repetition rate in the kHz (or even higher) range. When the laser beam hits the surface of the membrane filter, it generates several thousands of micro-plasma emissions per second. Synchronized miniature CCD array optical spectrometer modules collect the LIBS signal from these micro-plasma emissions. By adjusting the integration time of the spectrometer to cover a plurality of periods of the laser pulse train, the spectrometer integrates the LIBS signal produced by this plurality of laser pulses. Hence the intensity of the obtained LIBS spectrum can be greatly improved to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and lower the level of detection (LOD).

The invention relates to a smoke analysis characterization cell employing optical spectroscopy, which comprises: a reaction chamber, an inlet orifice for injecting smoke into the reaction chamber; an outlet orifice for discharging the smoke from the reaction chamber; and an analysis window for the entry of a laser beam intended to form the plasma inside the reaction chamber, which cell is characterized in that the system further includes a blower for blowing an inert gas close to the analysis window; and a shielding gas injector for the shielded injection of the smoke into the reaction chamber, the shielding being provided by a jet of inert gas around the smoke.

A sensor for determining an air ratio of a fuel gas/air mixture, wherein a housing is formed, which delimitates a measuring space. The housing has on one side a diffusion passage for coupling with a fuel gas/air mixture flow, wherein the diffusion passage is formed by a gas-permeable separating agent. An electrically operated excitation element is arranged for energy supply into the measuring space in order to induce a chemical reaction of a fuel gas/air mixture in the measuring space. At least one optical detection device is directed into the measuring space with its detection area, wherein the at least one optical detection device detects the intensity of radiation from the reaction position in at least a first wavelength range and produces a signal being allocated to the detected intensity, from which the air ratio is inferable.

A sensor for determining an air ratio of a fuel gas/air mixture, wherein a housing is formed, which delimitates a measuring space. The housing has on one side a diffusion passage for coupling with a fuel gas/air mixture flow, wherein the diffusion passage is formed by a gas-permeable separating agent. An electrically operated excitation element is arranged for energy supply into the measuring space in order to induce a chemical reaction of a fuel gas/air mixture in the measuring space. At least one optical detection device is directed into the measuring space with its detection area, wherein the at least one optical detection device detects the intensity of radiation from the reaction position in at least a first wavelength range and produces a signal being allocated to the detected intensity, from which the air ratio is inferable.

An analysis (e.g., LIBS) system includes a source of radiation, an optical emission path for the radiation from the source of radiation to a sample, and an optical detection path for photons emitted by the sample. A detector fiber bundle transmits photons to the spectrometer subsystem. At least one fiber of the fiber bundle is connected to an illumination source (e.g., an LED) for directing light via at least a portion of the detection path in a reverse direction to the sample for aligning, sample presence detection, localizing, and/or focusing based on analysis of the resulting illumination spot on the sample.

A cable identification system is provided. The cable identification system includes a cable sleeve with some predetermined unique properties. The cable sleeve is adapted to receive a cable therein. The cable includes one or more electrical conductors therein. The cable identification system further includes a portable measuring device configured to detect the predetermined unique properties of the cable sleeve when positioned adjacent the cable at any point along the cable.

The present invention relates to a device for the discrimination of biological tissues, such that it is capable of carrying out the discrimination of tissue under complicated operating conditions, for example due to the presence of contaminating elements given off by a cutting operation, due to the presence of moisture in the biological tissue, or due to the presence of a non-controlled atmosphere that interferes with the results of the readings. The invention allows building more complex devices, including cutting instruments, such that it is possible to carry out a surgical intervention in a safe manner by preventing cutting into tissues that are to be avoided during said cutting operation.

This invention discloses a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus with automatic wavelength calibration. The LIBS apparatus comprises a database of pre-obtained LIBS spectra of standard calibration samples. When the LIBS spectrum of a target sample is acquired, a processor unit calculates a cross correlation between the LIBS spectrum of the calibration sample and the spectrum of the target sample in reference to a possible wavelength shift between the two spectra. The exact wavelength shift between the two spectra is found where the cross correlation reaches a maximum value. The wavelength shift of the target spectrum is then corrected through an interpolation procedure and the wavelength shift corrected spectrum is analyzed to obtain the composition information of the target sample.

The disclosure features methods for analyzing a sample, the methods including exposing the sample to plurality of pulses of electromagnetic radiation to convert a portion of the sample into a plasma, recording a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted in response to each of the plurality of pulses to define a sequence of spectra for the sample, and using an electronic processor to determine information about the sample based on the spectra, where exposing the sample to the plurality of pulses of electromagnetic radiation includes directing the pulses to be incident on different spatial regions of the sample, and where a temporal delay between exposing the sample to each successive radiation pulse is constant.

A plasma spectrometry method with high reproducibility of plasma light emission is described, wherein the method comprises: a detection step of applying a voltage, thereby detecting the resulting plasma light emission; and non-detection step of detecting no plasma light emission.