Abstract
A compact, cost-effective sensor is developed for detection of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in exhaled breath within seconds. For this, an off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy setup is combined with a widely tunable compact near-infrared laser (tunability 1527–1564 nm). For HCN a detection sensitivity has been obtained of 8 ppbv in nitrogen (within 1 s), equal to a noise equivalent absorption sensitivity of 1.9 × 10−9 cm−1 Hz−1/2. With this sensor we demonstrated the presence of HCN in exhaled breath; its detection could be a good indicator for bacterial lung infection. Due to its compact, cost-effective and user-friendly design, this laser-based sensor has the potential to be implemented in future clinical applications.
Highlights
Trace gas sensing has become a highly valuable tool for applications such as atmospheric research [1, 2], industrial processes [3], agriculture emissions [4, 5] and biomedical diagnostics [6,7,8]
An advance and sensitive optical spectrometer based on a near-infrared laser and cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) has been successfully developed and used to measure hydrogen cyanide (HCN) below the ppbv level [18, 19]
A widely tunable telecommunication laser is used in combination with off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) for trace gas detection
Summary
Trace gas sensing has become a highly valuable tool for applications such as atmospheric research [1, 2], industrial processes [3], agriculture emissions [4, 5] and biomedical diagnostics [6,7,8]. An advance and sensitive optical spectrometer based on a near-infrared laser and cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) has been successfully developed and used to measure HCN below the ppbv (part per billion volume, 1:109) level [18, 19]. A widely tunable telecommunication laser is used in combination with off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) for trace gas detection. Off-axis-ICOS offers a compact, robust setup with fast detection and lower costs, but at similar sensitivity performance levels as compared to CRDS. As such, these features allow this to be considered as an easy-to-implement solution for real-world applications
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