Hand-held Bacteria Detector
Mentor 1
Marcia Silva
Location
Union 260
Start Date
28-4-2017 12:00 PM
Description
A novel hand-held bacteria detector sensor has been developed utilizing Digital Inline Holographic Microscopy (DIHM). The main objective is to be able to take and process holographic images from water samples at a much faster rate than current methods; 1~4 hours to be specific. This will not only be an efficient alternative, but also a cheaper alternative to current methods. This device has been capable of detecting Escherichia coli (E.coli) concentrations from 1.2 x 10^-3 CFU/mL to 1.2 x 10-7 CFU/mL. The device is capable of detecting this range of concentrations by uploading images over the internet where they are processed by means of fourier transform and other algorithms. The life and heart of the system is the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B. There is additional control circuitry that controls the pump and LED. The power consumption rate is held minimal making the case for applications at rural and underdeveloped areas stronger. An LED as the light source replaced lasers because they are cheaper and produce less noise which can have ramifications on image reconstruction. A custom designed 3D-printed coupling cap was designed too to couple the LED and fiber optic cable allowing for more light to be contained and transferred. The development of this device will provide a cheap, efficient, and portable method to test for pathogens and can potentially be utilized at wastewater treatment facilities, public beaches, have medical applications, and under-developed countries.
Hand-held Bacteria Detector
Union 260
A novel hand-held bacteria detector sensor has been developed utilizing Digital Inline Holographic Microscopy (DIHM). The main objective is to be able to take and process holographic images from water samples at a much faster rate than current methods; 1~4 hours to be specific. This will not only be an efficient alternative, but also a cheaper alternative to current methods. This device has been capable of detecting Escherichia coli (E.coli) concentrations from 1.2 x 10^-3 CFU/mL to 1.2 x 10-7 CFU/mL. The device is capable of detecting this range of concentrations by uploading images over the internet where they are processed by means of fourier transform and other algorithms. The life and heart of the system is the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B. There is additional control circuitry that controls the pump and LED. The power consumption rate is held minimal making the case for applications at rural and underdeveloped areas stronger. An LED as the light source replaced lasers because they are cheaper and produce less noise which can have ramifications on image reconstruction. A custom designed 3D-printed coupling cap was designed too to couple the LED and fiber optic cable allowing for more light to be contained and transferred. The development of this device will provide a cheap, efficient, and portable method to test for pathogens and can potentially be utilized at wastewater treatment facilities, public beaches, have medical applications, and under-developed countries.
