SBIR-STTR Award

We have invented a novel class of bent laue x-ray analyzer systems that offer unique capabilities for x-ray absorption spectroscopic and x-ray microprobe studies of dilute metalloproteins, biomaterials and bioengineering research, and environmental sciences. This detector concept has been received with great interest in the XAFS community and it is clear there would be significant demand if commercialized in an appropriate manner. Performance of this detector systems is expected to be exceptional in regard to energy resolution, maximum count rate, and time response, and the cost to the end user could be very reasonable. The goal of this proposal is to determine optimal designs, and to constructs and test this new class of detectors in a lower energy range than previously attempted. If successful, the devices will be made available commercially at reasonable cost to experimenters and synchrotron facilities. Although devices of this type have been successfully tested at high energies (20 KeV and above), we intend to develop optimal designs in the range from 4 KeV to 15 KeV, and also to explore alternative methods of fabrication and shaping the extremely thin crystals that are needed at low energies. Methods of maximizing throughput by two- dimensional bending and construction of multi-element arrays also will e investigated. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: This class of devices has substantial potential commercial impact serving the x-ray spectroscopy community. Near-term revenue estimates are in the $5M range. Secondary impact will be even more important because this represents an enabling technology for biomedical sciences, bioengineering, materials research, chemistry, physics, and environmental sciences.

Thesaurus Terms:
X ray spectrometry, biomedical device power system, biomedical equipment development, crystallization, electrical potential, energy source cost effectiveness, evaluation /testing, mathematics, method development, radiofluorescent probe bioengineering /biomedical engineering

Our team has achieved the goals of the Phase I SBIR grant by implementing and testing our Bent Laue Analyzer design concept at a variety of x-ray energies below 15 KeV. In Phase I, we optimized, constructed and tested devices at seven different x-ray fluorescence energies between 6 and 18 KeV. Several of the devices were also successfully tested by respected XAFS experimenters at the Advanced Photon Source, and the devices have been enthusiastically received. At this point it is clear there is a significant commercial potential to our designs, even at the Phase I stage of development. We have been approached by a company with a world-wide sales presence in synchrotron radiation instrumentation who is interested in potentially marketing our analyzer technology, and particularly future integrated systems that we intend to develop. The market potential and utility for end-users will be significantly enhanced through development of turnkey systems incorporating positioners, back-end detectors, and alignment aids. In this Phase II application we propose to carry our bent Laue x-ray analyzer concept through to commercial implementation, specifically to continue to improve the performance below 6 KeV, to develop integrated multielement systems, improve manufacturing, quality control, and quality assurance capabilities, develop user documentation, and form marketing and distribution agreement(s) with an established company or companies with a world-wide sales presence. The products will provide unique and invaluable capabilities for x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy in biology, medicine, chemistry, physics, materials science, and environmental sciences.

Thesaurus Terms:
X ray spectrometry, biomedical equipment development, crystallization, electrical potential, fluorescence spectrometry biomedical device power system, cost effectiveness, evaluation /testing, mathematics, method development bioengineering /biomedical engineering