Michele Gianella

Infrared spectroscopy on smoke produced by cauterization of animal tissue.

In view of in vivo surgical smoke studies a difference-frequency-generation (DFG) laser spectrometer (spectral range 2900–3144 cm−1) and a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer were employed for infrared absorption spectroscopy. The chemical composition of smoke produced in vitro with an electroknife by cauterization of different animal tissues in different atmospheres was investigated. Average concentrations derived are: water vapor (0.87%), methane (20 ppm), ethane (4.8 ppm), ethene (17 ppm), carbon monoxide (190 ppm), nitric oxide (25 ppm), nitrous oxide (40 ppm), ethyne (50 ppm) and hydrogen cyanide (25 ppm). No correlation between smoke composition and the atmosphere or the kind of cauterized tissue was found.

Improved Algorithm for Quantitative Analyses of Infrared Spectra of Multicomponent Gas Mixtures with Unknown Compositions

We present a major improvement of an algorithm based on a spectral library search for the quantitative analysis of multicomponent gas samples with unknown compositions. A quantitative spectral database of infrared spectra is used as a training set to compute regression coefficients. Concentrations are computed in the principal component space via principal component regression (PCR). In addition to previous algorithms, we introduce a rating for each candidate substance depending on the concentration found with PCR and a filter that removes candidates that are predicted with negative concentrations if their rating is below a certain threshold. Negative concentrations arise when the measured spectrum contains components that are not contained in the database. The PCR is recomputed until all candidates have a rating above the threshold. Then an adaptive filter “subtracts” the substance with the highest rating from both the measured spectrum and the library and appends it to a hit list. The iteration of this procedure directly produces a list of substances in order of descending importance (i.e., contribution to the measured absorbance) with their corresponding concentrations. The algorithm is tested on spectra of multicomponent surgical smoke samples. The four main components (water, methane, ethane, and ethene) are identified correctly (within the top 5 of the hit list) for an appropriate choice of the rating threshold. The algorithm describes the composition of the smoke sample correctly despite the presence of features in the spectrum that cannot be explained by the spectrum of any single substance present in the database.

Sensing cocaine in saliva with attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy combined with a one-step extraction method

On-site drug tests have gained importance, e.g., for protecting the society from impaired drivers. Since todays drug tests are majorly only positive/negative, there is a great need for a reliable, portable and preferentially quantitative drug test. In the project IrSens we aim to bridge this gap with the development of an optical sensor platform based on infrared spectroscopy and focus on cocaine detection in saliva. We combine a one-step extraction method, a sample drying technique and infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy. As a first step we have developed an extraction technique that allows us to extract cocaine from saliva to an almost infrared-transparent solvent and to record ATR spectra with a commercially available Fourier Transform-infrared spectrometer. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that such a simple and easy-to-use one-step extraction method is used to transfer cocaine from saliva into an organic solvent and detect it quantitatively. With this new method we are able to reach a current limit of detection around 10 μg/ml. This new extraction method could also be applied to waste water monitoring and controlling caffeine content in beverages.

Quantitative chemical analysis of surgical smoke generated during laparoscopic surgery with a vessel-sealing device.

Background. Exposure to surgical smoke in the operation room has been a long-standing concern. Smoke generated by the interaction between lasers or electrocautery devices with biological tissue contains several toxic and carcinogenic substances, but only a few studies so far have provided quantitative data necessary for risk assessment. Methods. With laser and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, we investigated the chemical composition of smoke produced with a vessel-sealing device in an anoxic environment during laparoscopic surgery. Results. Harmless concentrations of methane (<34 ppm), ethane (<2 ppm), and ethylene (<10 ppm) were detected. Traces of carbon monoxide (<3.2 ppm) and of the anesthetic sevoflurane (<450 ppm) were also found. Conclusions. Gas leaking or gas being released from the pneumoperitoneum could therefore increase pollution by waste anesthetic gas in the operating room. Most toxic compounds found in earlier studies remained undetected. Adverse health effects for operating room personnel due to some of those substances (eg, toluene, styrene, xylene) can be excluded, assuming no significant losses or changes in the chemical composition of the samples occurred between our sampling and measurements.

Automated broad tuning of difference frequency sources for spectroscopic studies

Transmission spectroscopy over large spectral ranges (>100 cm(-1)) generally requires a reference measurement to be taken separately from the sample scan. The ratio of the two measurements (i.e., the transmittance) is therefore susceptible to baseline changes that occur between the recording of the two spectra. The origins of relatively strong baseline changes (≫1%) of a difference-frequency-generation-based laser spectrometer (tuning range 2900-3144 cm(-1), 150 μW average power) were investigated and a method for minimizing them by improving reproducibility and reducing measurement time is presented. The new method was tested for a gas mixture and the sensitivity for broad absorption features was determined as 5×10(-3) minimum measurable absorbance for a total scan duration of 70 min.

Gas emission during laparoscopic colorectal surgery using a bipolar vessel sealing device: A pilot study on four patients

BackgroundDissection during laparoscopic surgery produces smoke containing potentially toxic substances. The aim of the present study was to analyze smoke samples produced during laparoscopic colon surgery using a bipolar vessel sealing device (LigaSure™).MethodsFour consecutive patients undergoing left-sided colectomy were enrolled in this pilot study. Smoke was produced by the use of LigaSure™. Samples (5,5l) were evacuated from the pneumoperitoneum in a closed system into a reservoir. Analysis was performed with CO2-laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy and confirmed by a Fourier-transform infrared spectrum. The detected spectra were compared to the available spectra of known toxins.ResultsSamples from four laparoscopic sigmoid resections were analyzed. No relevant differences were noted regarding patient and operation characteristics. The gas samples were stable over time proven by congruent control measurements as late as 24 h after sampling. The absorption spectra differed considerably between the patients. One broad absorption line at 100 ppm indicating H2O and several unknown molecules were detected. With a sensitivity of alpha min ca 10-5 cm-1 no known toxic substances like phenol or indole were identified.ConclusionThe use of a vessel sealing device during laparoscopic surgery does not produce known toxic substances in relevant quantity. Further studies are needed to identify unknown molecules and to analyze gas emission under various conditions.

Sensing cocaine in saliva with infrared laser spectroscopy

Increasing numbers of accidents caused by drivers under the influence of drugs, raise drug tests to worldwide interest. We developed a one-step extraction technique for cocaine in saliva and analyzed reference samples with laser spectroscopy employing two different schemes. The first is based on attenuated total reflection (ATR), which is applied to dried samples. The second scheme uses transmission measurements for the analysis of liquid samples. ATR spectroscopy achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 3μg/ml. The LOD for the transmission approach in liquid samples is < 10 μg/ml. These LODs are realistic as such concentration ranges are encountered in the saliva of drug users after the administration of a single dose of cocaine. An improved stabilization of the set-up should lower the limit of detection significantly.

Multi-wavelength QCL based MIR spectroscopy for fluids and gases

We demonstrate multi-color DFB QCLs with separated electrical pumping for independent single-mode emission of several wavelengths from the same ridge. This will be implemented in our mid-infrared spectroscopy sensors for gases (CO2) and liquids (cocaine).

Infrared laser-based sensing in medical applications

Laser-spectroscopic applications in medicine increase in importance. We present two medical applications of laser-based analyses of trace gases. The analysis of exhaled breath concerns the determination of the D/H isotope ratio after intake of a small amount of heavy water. The D/H isotope ratio can be used to deduce the total body water weight and lays the foundation for many other laser-based clinical applications. An elevated D/H ratio could be monitored in breath samples up to 30 days after ingestion of only 5 ml of D2O. A second example concerns the analysis of surgical smoke produced in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery with electroknives. The quantitative determination of harmless and hazardous compounds down to the ppm level is demonstrated. A specific example is the presence of sevoflurane at concentrations of 80 to 300 ppm, an anesthetic, which to our knowledge is measured for the first time in an abdominal cavity.

Human breath analysis employing DFG laser spectroscopy

In this paper, our project aims at developing a non-invasive diagnosis tool based on the quantification of certain compounds or rather mixtures of compounds in exhaled air. Our goal is to develop an IR laser spectroscopy trace gas analyser in order to monitor simultaneously the breath concentration of a selection of gases relevant to some hepatic (cirrhosis, hepatitis) or renal (haemodialysis patients) diseases. diseases. The simultaneous monitoring of several specific gases will increase both the specificity and the reliability of the diagnosis in comparison to current clinical breath tests that usually sense one gas only. For this purpose we based our trace gas analyser upon a difference frequency generation (DFG) source.