Reusable material for collecting samples for analysis
AssigneeL-3 Communications CyTerra Corporation
InventorsRavi K. Konduri, Neil Alan Stewart, Edward E. A. Bromberg, Yarelis M. Rios, David H. Fine, John M. Oelschlaeger, Mark Fraser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A particle-harvesting material includes a flexible, reusable, and thermally conductive material including a rough surface having dimples of a size within a first range of sizes, a microstructure including interstices of a second range of sizes, the second range of sizes including sizes smaller than the first range of sizes, and an etched portion on the rough surface configured to attract particles upon contact between the particles and the etched portion.
Claims27
A particle-harvesting material, comprising:
- a flexible, reusable, and thermally conductive material configured to extract a particle from a second material when contacted to a surface of the second material, the thermally conductive material including a rough surface having dimples of a size within a first range of sizes, the first range of sizes including a size substantially similar to a diameter of the particle;
- a microstructure including interstices of a second range of sizes, the second range of sizes including sizes smaller than the first range of sizes;
- and
- an etched portion on the rough surface.
A cartridge comprising:
- a particle-harvesting material configured to attract and retain particles, the particle-harvesting material comprising:
- a flexible, reusable, and thermally conductive material configured to extract a particle from a second material when contacted to a surface of the second material, the thermally conductive material including a rough surface having dimples of a size within a first range of sizes, the first range of sizes including a size substantially similar to a diameter of the particle,
- a microstructure including interstices of a second range of sizes, the second range of sizes including sizes smaller than the first range of sizes, and
- an etched portion on the rough surface;
- and
- a frame surrounding the particle-harvesting material, the frame being sized to fit into a material-detection apparatus that accepts the frame.
A kit comprising a particle-harvesting material and a frame, wherein:
- the particle-harvesting material is configured to attract and retain particles, the particle-harvesting material comprising:
- a flexible, reusable, and thermally conductive material configured to extract a particle from a second material when contacted to a surface of the second material, the thermally conductive material including a rough surface having dimples of a size within a first range of sizes, the first range of sizes including a size substantially similar to a diameter of the particle,
- a microstructure including interstices of a second range of sizes, the second range of sizes including sizes smaller than the first range of sizes, and
- an etched portion on the rough surface;
- and
- the frame is configured to surround the particle-harvesting material.
A particle-harvesting material, comprising:
- a flexible, reusable, and thermally conductive material configured to extract an object held by a first surface from the first surface by making direct contact between the thermally conductive material and the first surface, the thermally conductive material including a rough surface having dimples of a size within a first range of sizes, the first range of sizes including a size substantially similar to a sample of the object;
- and
- an etched portion on the rough surface configured to attract a sample of the object upon contact between the object held by the first surface and the etched portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.