System and method for optimal chemical analysis
AssigneeInficon GmbH
InventorsShawn Michael Briglin, Katherine Abigail Bartholomew
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for chemical analysis are described herein. The system includes a probe, a sample collection cartridge, and a chemical analyzer. The probe is configured to collect the optimal amount of sample for a future analysis and to store this chemical sample in the sample collection cartridge. The probe also collects sample data. The chemical analyzer is configured to determine the optimal analysis settings based on the sample data and analyze the chemical sample stored in the sample collection cartridge based on the optimal analysis settings.
Claims20
A chemical analysis system, comprising:
- a probe comprising:
- a photo ionization detector (PID) module configured to measure vapor concentration;
- and
- a microcontroller;
- a chemical analyzer;
- and
- a sample collection cartridge configured to removably couple to each of the probe and the chemical analyzer, respectively, the sample collection cartridge comprising:
- a sample retention device configured to store a chemical sample;
- and
- a memory,
- wherein the probe is configured to determine an optimal sample collection location,
- wherein when the sample collection cartridge is coupled to the probe, the probe is configured to collect a chemical sample in the sample collection cartridge and the microcontroller is configured to collect sample data during sample collection and store the sample data in the memory, and
- wherein when the sample collection cartridge is coupled to the chemical analyzer, the chemical analyzer is configured to determine optimal analysis settings based on the stored sample data and analyze the chemical sample using the determined optimal analysis settings.
A probe for a chemical analyzer, comprising:
- a photo ionization detector (PID) module configured to measure vapor concentration of a chemical sample;
- a removable sample cartridge comprising an inlet port and a sample retention device;
- a sample pump operatively coupled to the removable sample cartridge and configured to draw a chemical sensor through the inlet port and into the sample retention device;
- a microcontroller;
- and
- a memory configured to store a reference table of target sample masses,
- wherein the microcontroller is configured to:
- determine an optimal sample collection location;
- monitor sample collection;
- determine sample data;
- and
- discontinue sample collection based on the sample data and the reference table.
A method of optimizing chemical sample analysis with a chemical analysis system comprising a probe, a sample collection cartridge, and a chemical analyzer, the probe comprising a photo ionization detector (PID) module and a microcontroller and the sample collection cartridge comprising a sample retention device and a memory, the method comprising:
- locating, via the PID module, an optimal sample collection location;
- collecting and storing a chemical sample in the retention device when the sample collection cartridge is retained within the probe;
- collecting, via the microcontroller, sample collection data;
- and
- storing the sample collection data in the memory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.