Real-time detection method and system for identifying individual aerosol particles

A method of detecting in real time chemical and/or biological threat agents from a test specimen comprising:

• placing the test specimen in an enclosure defining a sampling volume;
• collecting sample aerosol particles from the sampling volume;
• receiving the sample aerosol particles into a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• producing positive and negative test spectra of an individual aerosol particle using the bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• comparing each test spectrum to spectra of the same respective polarity in a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types including threat agents, to produce a similarity score for each predetermined spectrum and obtain a set of substantially matching spectra based on a predetermined similarity score threshold;
• determining the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set, with at least one of the substantially matching positive and negative spectra having the highest order similarity score of all substantially matching spectra of the same respective polarity;
• and
• notifying a user upon identifying the individual aerosol particle as a threat agent from the known particle types.

A system for identifying individual aerosol particles in real time comprising:

• a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer adapted to receive sample aerosol particles and produce positive and negative test spectra of individual aerosol particles;
• a data storage medium;
• a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types stored on the data storage medium;
• and
• a data processor having a first data processing module adapted to compare each test spectra to spectra of the same respective polarity in the database to obtain a set of substantially matching spectra, and a second data processing module adapted to determine the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set.

A method of identifying individual aerosol particles in real time comprising:

• receiving sample aerosol particles;
• producing positive and negative test spectra of an individual aerosol particle using a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• comparing each test spectrum to spectra of the same respective polarity in a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types so that a similarity score is produced for each predetermined spectrum anc a set of substantially matching spectra is obtained based on a predetermined similarity score threshold;
• and
• determining the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set, wherein the best matching one of the known particle types has associated therewith a substantially matching positive spectrum with the highest order similarity score of all substantially matching positive spectra.

A method of identifying individual aerosol particles in real time comprising:

• receiving sample aerosol particles;
• producing positive and negative test spectra of an individual aerosol particle using a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• comparing each test spectrum to spectra of the same respective polarity in a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types so that a similarity score is produced for each predetermined spectrum and a set of substantially matching spectra is obtained based on a predetermined similarity score threshold;
• and
• determining the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set, wherein the best matching one of the known particle types has associated therewith a substantially matching negative spectrum with the highest order similarity score of all substantially matching negative spectra.

A method of detecting in real time chemical and/or biological threat agents from a test specimen comprising:

• placing the test specimen in an enclosure defining a sampling volume;
• collecting sample aerosol particles from the sampling volume;
• receiving the sample aerosol particles into a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• producing positive and negative test spectra of an individual aerosol particle using the bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• comparing each test spectrum to spectra of the same respective polarity in a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types including threat agents, to produce a similarity score for each predetermined spectrum and obtain a set of substantially matching spectra based on a predetermined similarity score threshold;
• determining the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set, wherein the best matching one of the known particle types has associated therewith a substantially matching positive spectrum with the highest order similarity score of all substantially matching positive spectra;
• and
• notifying a user upon identifying the individual aerosol particle as a threat agent from the known particle types.

A method of detecting in real time chemical and/or biological threat agents from a test specimen comprising:

• placing the test specimen in an enclosure defining a sampling volume;
• collecting sample aerosol particles from the sampling volume;
• receiving the sample aerosol particles into a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• producing positive and negative test spectra of an individual aerosol particle using the bipolar single particle mass spectrometer;
• comparing each test spectrum to spectra of the same respective polarity in a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types including threat agents, to produce a similarity score for each predetermined spectrum and obtain a set of substantially matching spectra based on a predetermined similarity score threshold;
• determining the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set, wherein the best matching one of the known particle types has associated therewith a substantially matching negative spectrum with the highest order similarity score of all substantially matching negative spectra;
• and
• notifying a user upon identifying the individual aerosol particle as a threat agent from the known particle types.

A system for identifying individual aerosol particles in real time comprising:

• a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer adapted to receive sample aerosol particles and produce positive and negative test spectra of individual aerosol particles;
• a data storage medium;
• a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types stored on the data storage medium;
• and
• a data processor having:
• a first data processing module adapted to compare each test spectra to spectra of the same respective polarity in the database so that a similarity score is produced for each comparison of the respective test spectra to the database of predetermined positive and negative spectra, and a set of substantially matching spectra is determinably obtained based on a predetermined similarity score threshold;
• and
• a second data processing module adapted to determine the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set, wherein the best matching one of the known particle types has associated therewith a substantially matching positive spectrum with the highest order similarity score of all substantially matching positive spectra.

A system for identifying individual aerosol particles in real time comprising:

• a bipolar single particle mass spectrometer adapted to receive sample aerosol particles and produce positive and negative test spectra of individual aerosol particles;
• a data storage medium;
• a database of predetermined positive and negative spectra for known particle types stored on the data storage medium;
• and
• a data processor having:
• a first data processing module adapted to compare each test spectra to spectra of the same respective polarity in the database so that a similarity score is produced for each comparison of the respective test spectra to the database of predetermined positive and negative spectra, and a set of substantially matching spectra is determinably obtained based on a predetermined similarity score threshold;
• and
• a second data processing module adapted to determine the identity of the individual aerosol particle from the set of substantially matching spectra by determining a best matching one of the known particle types having both a substantially matching positive spectrum and a substantially matching negative spectrum associated therewith from the set, wherein the best matching one of the known particle types has associated therewith a substantially matching negative spectrum with the highest order similarity score of all substantially matching negative spectra.