Claims
- 1. A tissue-based, deployable, standoff air quality sensor for detecting the presence of at least one chemical or biological warfare agent comprising: a cell containing entrapped photosynthetic tissue, said cell adapted for analyzing photosynthetic activity of said entrapped photosynthetic tissue; means for introducing an air sample into said cell and contacting said air sample with said entrapped photosynthetic tissue; a fluorometer in operable relationship with said cell for measuring photosynthetic activity of said entrapped photosynthetic tissue; and transmitting means for transmitting analytical data generated by said fluorometer relating to the presence of at least one chemical or biological warfare agent in said air sample, said sensor adapted for deployment into a selected area.
- 2. A sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sensor is adapted for deployment by dropping from an aircraft.
- 3. A sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sensor is adapted for deployment by a projectile.
- 4. A sensor in accordance with claim 3 wherein said projectile comprises an artillery projectile.
- 5. A method of testing air to detect the presence of at least one chemical or biological warfare agent comprising the steps of:
a. deploying a tissue-based, deployable, standoff air quality sensor into an area of suspected presence of at least one chemical or biological warfare agent, so that said sensor, upon deployment tests the air for the presence of at least one chemical or biological warfare agent by:
(1) contacting an air sample with photosynthetic organisms entrapped in said sensor; (2) analyzing photosynthetic activity of said entrapped photosynthetic organisms; and (3) transmitting analytical data relating to the presence of at least one chemical or biological warfare agent in said air sample; and b. receiving said data.
- 6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said sensor is deployed by dropping from an aircraft.
- 7. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherin said sensor is deployed by delivering a projectile.
- 8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said projectile comprises an artillery projectile.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/226,646, filed on Aug. 21, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Government Interests
[0002] The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to contract no. DE-AC05-00OR22725 between the United States Department of Energy and UT-Battelle, LLC.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60226646 |
Aug 2000 |
US |