Device for detecting volatile organic compounds
AssigneeElemental Sensor LLC
InventorsOliver P. King-Smith, Eric K. Hoobler, Bernardus H. Smit
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for measuring the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. The device includes a sample chamber for accepting a sample of air; at least one ionization source for ionizing VOCs in the sample; an ionic liquid trap containing an ionic liquid that captures the ionized VOCs; a circuit for generating a electric current through the device to run the ionization and capture of the ionized VOCs; and a chemical sensor for detecting and measuring concentrations of the VOCs in the sample of air. The device, which may be hand-held, portable, or designed to sit on a bench top, may be used on any animal, including humans.
Claims51
A device comprising:
- a sample chamber for accepting a sample of air;
- at least one ionization source for ionizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs);
- an ionic liquid trap comprising an ionic liquid;
- and
- a bias circuit for generating an electric field, wherein the bias circuit is connected to the ionic liquid trap and a conductive element of the device,
- wherein ionization of VOCs in the sample of air by the ionization source and generation of the electric field by the bias circuit drives ionized VOCs from the sample chamber into the ionic liquid trap.
A device comprising:
- a sample chamber for accepting a sample of air;
- at least one ionization source for ionizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the sample of air;
- an ionic liquid trap comprising an ionic liquid that captures ionized VOCs from the sample chamber, wherein the ionized VOCs are deionized in the ionic liquid trap and reionized upon release from the ionic liquid trap;
- and
- a chemical sensor in communication with the ionic liquid trap, wherein the chemical sensor identifies ionized VOCs released from the ionic liquid trap.
A device comprising:
- a sample chamber for accepting a sample of air;
- at least one ionization source for ionizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs);
- an ionic liquid trap comprising an ionic liquid;
- and
- a bias circuit for generating an electric field, wherein the bias circuit is connected to the ionic liquid trap and a conductive element of the device;
- a chemical sensor for identifying and measuring concentrations of VOCs,
- wherein ionization of VOCs in the sample of air by the ionization source and generation of the electric field by the bias circuit drives ionized VOCs from the sample chamber into the ionic liquid trap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.