Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing – Optical result – With fluorescence or luminescence
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-10-23
Snay, Jeffrey (Department: 1743)
Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
Optical result
With fluorescence or luminescence
C436S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306662
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention is directed at methods of photoluminescence detection of latent fingerprints.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The photoluminescence detection of latent fingerprints has in the last twenty years become a very successful methodology. However, there are still all too many items that defy processing because of intense background fluorescence from the article itself Time-resolved approaches involving gated (time-domain) and phase-resolved (frequency-domain) imaging are being explored to permit background suppression. From the instrumentation perspective, gated imaging is mature. Although photoluminescence lifetimes of microsecond order and even shorter are amenable in principle to gated fingerprint imaging, practicality considerations generally call for lifetimes of millisecond order. The pertinent fingerprint treatments, largely involving lanthanide-based strategies that mostly utilize europium complexes, leave much to be desired for detection on porous surfaces of fingerprints that are not fresh, however. Moreover, while phase-resolved imaging systems have been operational for some time in cell microscopy, for instance, and instruments for fingerprint work are under development, these systems are suitable for photoluminescence lifetimes of nanosecond order, but the needed companion fingerprint treatment strategy has yet to be developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The methods herein allow time-resolved imaging techniques for latent fingerprint development.
One embodiment herein is directed at a method for photoluminescence detection of latent fingerprints, comprising the steps of attaching photoluminescent nanocrystals to fingerprint residue, exciting the nanocrystals to luminescence and detecting fingerprint luminescence. In this embodiment, the nanocrystals can be applied per se or can have their surfaces covered with agent for attachment to fingerprint residue or can be present in nanocomposites with dendrimer and the results can be enhanced by utilizing diimide treatment.
Another embodiment herein is directed at a method for photoluminescence detection of latent fingerprints, comprising the steps of attaching to fingerprint residue lanthanide complex incorporated into dendrimer, exciting the lanthanide complex to huminescence and detecting fingerprint luminescence.
While photoluminescent semiconductor nanocrystals have not heretofore been applied to fingerprint detection, they are known in the biochemistry arena. See Bruchez, Jr., M., et al., Science 281, 2013-2016 (1998); Chan, W. C. W., et al, Science 281, 2016-2018 (1998). They have the same definition here which is particles of semiconductor material with sizes of nanometer order that may be encapsulated and functionalized with organic ligands.
The term “fingerprint residue” is used herein to mean the material left behind on an article when it is touched by a finger.
The term “latent fingerprint” is used to mean a fingerprint left on an article that cannot be discerned on ordinary visual inspection in room light.
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Snay Jeffrey
Texas Tech University
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