Apparatus and method
AssigneeSmiths Detection-Watford Limited
InventorJonathan Marcel Gowers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A channel assembly is disclosed, which may comprise a microfluidic channel. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed as are detectors and detector components which may comprise such a channel assembly. An example is a detection apparatus comprising: a detector for detecting a substance of interest; and a pneumatic system comprising a microfluidic channel assembly comprising a first microfluidic channel for dispensing vapour to the detector, wherein the first microfluidic channel comprises a groove in a surface of a polymer body and a wall of the first channel is provided by a film bonded to the surface of the body over the groove.
Claims20
A detection apparatus comprising:
- An ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), for detecting a substance of interest, the IMS comprising a pneumatic system;
- a pneumatic interface arranged to be seated on a PCB, the pneumatic interface comprising:
- a body having a plurality of pneumatic channels for coupling with the pneumatic system of the IMS;
- a plurality of pump couplings arranged at the surface of the body so that, when the interface is seated on the PCB, the plurality of pump couplings are each aligned with a corresponding one of a plurality of pumps to couple each of the plurality of pumps to a corresponding channel of the plurality of pneumatic channels;
- and
- an electrically conductive shield interposed between the IMS and the PCB to inhibit electromagnetic interference between the PCB and the IMS.
A detection apparatus comprising:
- a detector for detecting a substance of interest, the detector comprising a pneumatic system;
- a pneumatic interface arranged to be seated on a PCB, the pneumatic interface comprising:
- a body having a plurality of pneumatic channels for coupling with the pneumatic system of the detection apparatus;
- and
- a plurality of pump couplings arranged at the surface of the body so that, when the interface is seated on the PCB, the plurality of pump couplings are each aligned with a corresponding one of a plurality of pumps to couple each of the plurality of pumps to a corresponding channel of the plurality of pneumatic channels, wherein at least one of the plurality of pneumatic channels is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of pump couplings by a plenum, and wherein a first channel part couples the pump coupling to the plenum, and a second channel part couples the plenum to the pneumatic interface, the first channel part and the second channel part being mutually orthogonal.
A detection apparatus comprising:
- an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for detecting a substance of interest, the IMS comprising a pneumatic system;
- a pneumatic interface arranged to be seated on a PCB, the pneumatic interface comprising:
- a body having a plurality of pneumatic channels for coupling with the pneumatics system of the IMS;
- and
- a plurality of pump couplings arranged at the surface of the body so that, when the interface is seated on the PCB, the plurality of pump couplings are each aligned with a corresponding one of a plurality of pumps to couple each pump to a corresponding channel of the plurality of pneumatic channels;
- wherein the pneumatic channels comprise at least a first microfluidic channel for dispensing at least one of a dopant or a calibrant to the IMS, wherein the first microfluidic channel comprises a groove in a surface of a polymer body, and a wall of the first channel is provided by a film bonded to the surface of the body over the groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.