Hand-held detection system using GC/IMS
AssigneeIntelligent Detection Systems, Inc.
InventorsLawrence V. Haley, Govindanunny Thekkadath
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Abstract
A sampling and gas chromatographic separation detection system and method which is capable of sampling and analyzing particulate and vapors containing drug and explosive residues in real time. The system and method provide high speed and low power consumption from the combination of a cold ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) with a “heat-on-demand” gas chromatographic (GC) system which eliminates the need to continuously heat the device, thus making the detection system battery operable and portable.
Claims20
A portable high speed sampling and gas chromatographic separation system which is capable of sampling and analyzing molecules of interest, the system comprising:
- an input device for collecting sample particles having the molecules of interest at a first position;
- a port device capable of being heated by a heat pulse, the port device connected to the input device to receive sample particles having the molecules of interest at a second position, the molecules of interest releasing a vapor in response to the heat pulse applied to the port device;
- a gas column device connected to the port device, the gas column device receiving the vapor, the gas column device having a temperature lower than the port device, wherein the vapor is condensed in the gas column device, the gas column device further capable of being heated by a heat pulse, wherein in response to the heat pulse applied to the gas column, the condensed vapor of the molecules of interest separate into individual components and exit the gas column at different times;
- and
- a detector connected to the gas column device, the detector receiving the individual components of the condensed vapor, the detector for analyzing the molecules of interest.
A method for high speed sampling and analysis of molecular components in a gas chromatographic separation system, the method comprising:
- receiving sample particles having molecules of interest at a port device;
- heating the port device to a selected temperature to transform the molecules of interest into a vapor;
- moving the vapor to a gas column device having a temperature less than the port device;
- condensing the vapor in the gas column device;
- heating the gas column device with a heat pulse to a predetermined temperature to cause the vapor to separate into individual components which exit the gas column at different times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.