Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Integrated cavity output spectroscopy measurements of NO levels in breath with a pulsed room-temperature QCL

  • Regular Paper
  • Published:
Applied Physics B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A cavity-enhanced spectrometer is developed for detection of exhaled nitric oxide in human breath. A thermoelectrically cooled, pulsed, quantum cascade laser, coupled to a high-finesse cavity, is used for trace-gas measurements. The trace-gas analyzer operates at 5.2 microns and utilizes integrated cavity output spectroscopy. Effective optical path lengths of 1.5 km are achieved in a 50-cm-length cell with a sample volume of 60 mL. The instrument is also capable of simultaneously measuringCO2 concentration in exhaled breath. Measurements were performed on human breath samples as well as simulated breath samples. Here we report a detection limit of ≤ 1 ppbv in 4 s for NO in human breath samples.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D.M. Sonnenfroh, W.T. Rawlins, M.G. Allen, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, A.L. Hutchinson, D.L. Sivco, J.N. Baillargeon, A.Y. Cho, Appl. Opt. 40, 812 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. A.A. Kosterev, F.K. Tittel, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, D.L. Sivco, J.N. Baillargeon, A.L. Hutchinson, A.Y. Cho, Appl. Opt. 40, 5522 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Y.A. Bakhirkin, A.A. Kosterev, C. Roller, R.F. Curl, F.K. Tittel, Appl. Opt. 43, 2257 (2004)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. D.H. Yates, Immunol. Cell Biol. 79, 178 (2001)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. L. Preto, Alergol. Immunol. Clin. 17, 72 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  6. C. Roller, K. Namjou, J.D. Jeffers, M. Camp, A. Mock, P.J. McCann, J. Grego, Appl. Opt. 41, 6018 (2002)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. D.D. Nelson, J.H. Shorter, J.B. McManus, M.S. Zahniser, Appl. Phys. B 75, 343 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. A.A. Kosterov, F.K. Tittel, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 38, 582 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. O’Keefe, D.A.G. Deacon, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 59, 2544 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. J.J. Scherer, D. Voelkel, D.J. Rakestraw, Appl. Phys. B 64, 699 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R.D. van Zee, J.T. Hodges, J.P. Looney, Appl. Opt. 38, 3951 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  12. J.B. Paul, J.J. Scherer, A. O’Keefe, L. Lapson, J.G. Anderson, C. Gmachl, F. Capasso, A.Y. Cho, SPIE 4577, 1 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. A. O’Keefe, Chem. Phys. Lett. 293, 331 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. K. Alving, E. Weitzberg, J.M. Lundberg, Eur. Respir. J. 6, 1368 (1993)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. S.A. Kharitonov, D. Yates, R.A. Robbins, R. Logan-Sinclair, E.A. Shinebourne, P.J. Barnes, Lancet 343, 133 (1994)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. M.G. Persson, O. Zetterstrom, V. Agrenius, E. Ihre, L.E. Gustafsson, Lancet 343, 146 (1994)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. A. Massaro, C.H. Fanta, J.S. Stamler, D. Kieta, J.M. Drazen, Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 152, 800 (1995)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. A.F. Massaro, S. Mehta, C.M. Lilly, L. Kobzik, J.J. Reilly, J.M. Drazen, Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 152, 1510 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  19. American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society, Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 171, 912 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Sciences Inc, 20 New England Business Center, Andover, MA, 01810, USA

    M. L. Silva, D. M. Sonnenfroh, D. I. Rosen & M. G. Allen

  2. Los Gatos Research, 67 E. Evelyn Avenue, Suite 3, Mountain View, 94041, CA, USA

    A. O’ Keefe

Authors
  1. M. L. Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. M. Sonnenfroh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. I. Rosen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. G. Allen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. O’ Keefe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. L. Silva.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silva, M.L., Sonnenfroh, D.M., Rosen, D.I. et al. Integrated cavity output spectroscopy measurements of NO levels in breath with a pulsed room-temperature QCL. Appl. Phys. B 81, 705–710 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-1922-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-1922-2

PACS

Search

Navigation