Claims
- 1. A fiber optic sensor device for detecting the presence of a narcotic in a fluid, the sensor comprising:
at least one optical fiber means having a proximal end and a distal end for transmitting light energy, the proximal end being disposed within a probe housing; a molecularly imprinted polymer containing a lanthanide-complex disposed on the distal end of the optical fiber means, wherein the lanthanide-complex is capable of chemically binding with said narcotic; light source means for generating excitation energy, said light source means operatively associated with said optical fiber means such that said excitation light passes through said optical fiber means; and detection means operatively associated with said optical fiber means, for detecting an emission signal generated by said lanthanide complex.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the light source means is selected from the group consisting of an argon laser, blue laser, tunable laser, and light emitting diode.
- 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the detection means is selected from the group consisting of a spectrophotometer, spectrometer (gas or mass), photomultiplier tube, monochromator equipped with a CCD camera, filters, and the naked eye.
- 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
- 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the lanthanide is europium or terbium.
- 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the sensor is enclosed within a semi-permeable membrane.
- 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the narcotic is selected from the group consisting of amphetamines/methamphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepine, buprenorphine, cannabinoids, cocaine, fentanyl, LSD, methadone, nicotine, opiates, morphine, heroin, phencyclidine, metabolites, salts, degradants and pro-drugs thereof.
- 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a vapor.
- 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
- 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of semen, blood, urine and perspiration.
- 11. A surface acoustic wave sensor device for detecting the presence of a narcotic in a fluid comprising:
a film of a molecularly imprinted polymer containing a lanthanide-complex disposed on a substrate selected from the group consisting of alumina and quartz crystal; input and output transducers disposed on the film or substrate; and a function generator operatively associated with the input transducer for generating a surface acoustic wave along a delay line.
- 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samnarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
- 13. The device of claim 11 wherein the narcotic is selected from the group consisting of amphetamines/methamphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepine, buprenorphine, cannabinoids, cocaine, fentanyl, LSD, methadone, nicotine, opiates morphine, heroin, phencyclidine, and metabolites, salts, degradants and pro-drugs thereof.
- 14. The device of claim 11 wherein the fluid is a vapor.
- 15. The device of claim 11 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
- 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of semen, blood, urine and perspiration.
- 17. A method for detecting the presence of a narcotic in a fluid comprising the steps of:
providing a fiber optic sensor device comprising:
at least one optical fiber means having a proximal end and a distal end for transmitting light energy, the proximal end being disposed within a probe housing; a molecularly imprinted polymer containing a lanthanide-complex disposed on the distal end of the optical fiber means, wherein the lanthanide-complex is capable of chemically binding with said narcotic; light source means for generating excitation energy, said light source means operatively associated with said optical fiber means such that said excitation light passes through said optical fiber means; and detection means operatively associated with said optical fiber means, for detecting an emission signal generated by said lanthanide complex; and exposing at least a portion of said sensor device to an environment containing the fluid such that said narcotic in the fluid binds to the lanthanide-complex in the molecularly imprinted polymer thereby causing the lanthanide-complex to luminesce.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
- 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the lanthanide is europium or terbium.
- 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the narcotic is selected from the group consisting of amphetamines/methampphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepine, buprenorphine, cannabinoids, cocaine, fentanyl, LSD, methadone, nicotine, opiates, morphine, heroin, phencyclidine, metabolites, salts, degradants and pro-drugs thereof.
- 21. The method of claim 17 wherein the fluid is a vapor.
- 22. The method of claim 17 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
- 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of semen, blood, urine and perspiration.
- 24. A method for detecting the presence of a narcotic in a fluid comprising the steps of:
providing a surface acoustic wave sensor device comprising:
a film of a molecularly imprinted polymer containing a lanthanide-complex disposed on a substrate selected from the group consisting of alumina and quartz crystal; input and output transducers disposed on the film or substrate; and a function generator operatively associated with the input transducer for generating a surface acoustic wave along a delay line; and exposing at least a portion of said sensor device to an environment containing the fluid such that said narcotic in the fluid binds to the lanthanide-complex in the molecularly imprinted polymer thereby causing the lanthanide-complex to luminesce.
- 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
- 26. The method of claim 24 wherein the narcotic is selected from the group consisting of amphetamines/methamphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepine, buprenorphine, cannabinoids, cocaine, fentanyl, LSD, methadone, nicotine, opiates morphine, heroin, phencyclidine, and metabolites, salts, degradants and pro-drugs thereof.
- 27. The method of claim 24 wherein the fluid is a vapor.
- 28. The method of claim 24 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
- 29. The device of claim 28 wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of semen, blood, urine and perspiration.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of prior filed co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 60/195,934, filed on Apr. 10, 2000.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/11694 |
4/10/2001 |
WO |
|