Multi-Angle Light Scattering (MALS) Technology
The phenomenon of particulate light scattering has been described since the turn of the 20th century. By 1969, it was proposed that this property might be used to detect microorganisms. It wasn't until 1985 however, than a formulaic approach to inverse scattering was able to differentiate particles, which ultimately led to the identification of unique light-scattering "signatures". JMAR has taken advantage of this phenomenon and through decades of laser, optics and algorithm expertise, developed BioSentry.
Multi-Angle Light Scattering (MALS), the principal technology used in JMAR's flagship water monitoring system: BioSentry, is rooted in the basic principle that a small particle passing through a laser beam will generate a unique light-scattering pattern.
JMAR was able to develop a library of identifiable microorganisms through several thousand laser light-scattering analyses of each. This method captured myriad possible scatter patterns resulting from inter-species size, shape and morphology variations. From this data, the company established a database of unique Bio-Optical Signatures (BOS) used for contaminant classification.
BioSentry functions as a real-time, continuous flow water-monitoring system. As the slip stream passes through BioSentry's flow cell, it also passes through a laser beam. When particles are present, a specific light-scatter pattern will be captured by the unit's photodetector. This pattern is then analyzed and compared to the BOS database using on-board proprietary algorithms. From this analysis, relative concentration is calculated and detected particles are classified as a bacteria, spore, protozoan or "unknown" .
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