probepuls

ProbePuls is a compact, portable pulsed-probing instrument designed for non-destructive analysis of materials and biological samples. It operates by delivering short pulses through multiple modalities—electrical, optical, or acoustic—and recording the transient responses of the sample. By analyzing these responses, ProbePuls yields measurements such as impedance, refractive index, layer thickness, or surface stiffness, enabling rapid characterization without damaging the specimen. The device integrates a pulse generator, multi-parameter probes, a high-speed data acquisition system, and software for data processing in a single handheld unit.

Operation and configuration: ProbePuls supports stand-alone use or remote operation via a computer or cloud service. It offers automated calibration routines, multi-channel data collection, and model-based interpretation, with options for user-defined analysis through scripting. The software provides visualization, parameter fitting, and quality flags to guide interpretation.

Applications: It is used in materials science for thin-film and coating analysis, electronics manufacturing for device inspection, and biomedical research for tissue spectroscopy. Other use cases include archeology and art conservation where non-destructive surface or pigment analysis is valuable.

Development and reception: The concept matured in the 2010s as a portable alternative to lab-based pulsed techniques. Several manufacturers offer variants with different modality options, emphasizing speed, ease of use, and data portability. Limitations include the need for careful calibration, sample-specific effect interpretation, and operator training.

See also: Pulsed spectroscopy, time-domain reflectometry, scanning probe microscopy, non-destructive testing.