Detector inlet and sampling method
OwnerBen Irwininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Inlet apparatus for providing sample analyte vapour to a detector, the apparatus comprising: a sample receiving portion (110); a heater (120); a vapour pre-concentrator (130); and a sampling inlet (140); wherein the sample receiving portion is arranged to receive a flow of gas carrying aerosol sample analytes and the heater is arranged to heat the aerosol sample analytes to provide sample analyte vapour; and wherein the apparatus is arranged to provide said sample analyte vapour to both: (i) the vapour pre-concentrator, and (ii) a said detector via the sampling inlet.
Claims25
An inlet apparatus for providing sample analyte vapour to a detector, the apparatus comprising:
- a sample receiving portion;
- a heater;
- a vapour pre-concentrator;
- and
- a sampling inlet;
- wherein the sample receiving portion is arranged to receive a flow of gas carrying aerosol sample analytes and the heater is arranged to heat the aerosol sample analytes to provide sample analyte vapour;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is arranged to provide said sample analyte vapour to both:
- (i) the vapour pre-concentrator, and (ii) a said detector via the sampling inlet.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the vapour concentrator is located between the sample receiving portion and the sampling inlet.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the heater is arranged across a flow path from the sample receiving portion towards the vapour pre-concentrator and sampling inlet.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein a flow path through the apparatus comprises at least one bend.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is arranged to provide sample vapour to an ion mobility spectrometer and/or wherein the sampling inlet comprises a pinhole inlet and/or a membrane covering.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises two vapour pre-concentrators and/or two sampling inlets.
A detector configured to detect the presence of one or more substances of interest in sample analyte vapour, the detector having an inlet apparatus and a detection portion, wherein the inlet apparatus comprises:
- a sample receiving portion;
- a heater;
- a vapour pre-concentrator;
- and
- a sampling inlet;
- wherein the sample receiving portion is arranged to receive a flow of gas carrying aerosol sample analytes and the heater is arranged to heat the aerosol sample analytes to provide sample analyte vapour;
- wherein the apparatus is arranged to provide said sample analyte vapour to both:
- (i) the vapour pre-concentrator, and (ii) the detector portion via the sampling inlet;
- and
- wherein the detection portion is configured to detect the presence of one or more substances of interest in sample analyte vapour received from the sampling inlet.
A method of providing sample analyte vapour to a detector, the method comprising:
- receiving a flow of gas carrying aerosol sample analytes in an inlet apparatus;
- heating the aerosol sample analytes to provide sample analyte vapour;
- and
- providing said sample analyte vapour to both:
- (i) a vapour pre-concentrator in the inlet apparatus, and (ii) a said detector via a sampling inlet in the inlet apparatus.
A method of operating a detector to detect the presence of one or more substances of interest in sample analyte vapour, the method comprising:
- receiving a flow of gas carrying aerosol sample analytes;
- heating the aerosol sample analytes to provide sample analyte vapour;
- providing said sample analyte vapour to both:
- (i) a vapour pre-concentrator, and (ii) a detector via a sampling inlet;
- and
- operating the detector to detect the presence of one or more substances of interest in the sample analyte vapour received from the sampling inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.