# US 9,040,905 B2 · Analysis device and analysis method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,905 B2 - Document ID: US9040905B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/884,755 - Filed: 2011-11-08 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-11 - Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd. - Applicants: Hisashi Nagano; Yasutaka Suzuki; Hideo Kashima; Yuichiro Hashimoto; Masuyuki Sugiyama; Masakazu Sugaya; Yasunori Doi; Koichi Terada - Inventors: Hisashi Nagano; Yasutaka Suzuki; Hideo Kashima; Yuichiro Hashimoto; Masuyuki Sugiyama; Masakazu Sugaya; Yasunori Doi; Koichi Terada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040905B2 ## CPC - H01J 49/0422: {for gaseous samples (interfaces to gas chromatographs G01N30/7206)} - G01N 1/2211: {with cyclones} - G01N 1/2214: {by sorption} - H01J 49/0036: {Step by step routines describing the handling of the data generated during a measurement} - H01J 49/04: Arrangements for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed, e.g. vacuum locks; Arrangements for external adjustment of electron- or ion-optical components - H01J 49/0459: {for solid samples} - H01J 49/0468: {with means for heating or cooling the sample} - G01N 33/0057: {Warfare agents or explosives} - G01N 2001/028: {Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising} - H01J 49/00: Particle spectrometers or separator tubes - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract Provided is a technique of analyzing particles in real time while collecting and condensing the particles continuously. Gas and/or particles as a detection target substance that are attached to an authentication target 2 are removed by air flow from a blowing region 5. The removed sample is sucked and is condensed and sampled at a sampling region 10, and ions of the sample are generated at an ion source 21 and are then subjected to mass analysis at a mass analysis region 23. Determination of the obtained mass spectrum is made as to the presence or not of a mass spectrum derived from the detection target substance, and a monitor 27 displays a result thereof. Thereby, the detection target substance attached to the authentication target 2 can be detected continuously in real time, promptly and with a less error rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An analyzer, comprising: a blowing region configured to remove a sample attached to a target; an introduction region configured to suck the sample removed from the target; a sampling region having a conic condensation device, the sampling region being configured to condense and sample the sucked sample; a large intake unit provided above the condensation device; a collection filter provided at a small-radius part of the condensation device; a heating unit that heats the collection filter provided at the small-radius part of the condensation device; a small intake unit configured to continuously suck a sample from a rear face of the collection filter, the sample having been sampled to the collection filter and vaporized through the heating; an ion source configured to introduce the sucked sample for ionization; a mass analysis region configured to perform mass analysis of ions generated at the ion source; a data processor configured to control the ion source and the mass analysis region; a database unit configured to hold mass spectrum data derived from a detection target substance; and an identification region configured to compare a result of mass analysis of the sample at the mass analysis region with the mass spectrum data held at the data base unit, thus determining presence or not of the detection target substance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising a conic first condensation device and a second condensation device at the sampling region, the first condensation device having a rotating radius larger than a rotating radius of the second condensation device, and the second condensation device being connected in series with the first condensation device on a downstream side of the first condensation device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The analyzer according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of the second condensation devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the database unit holds a background threshold, and when background of the collection filter detected at the mass analysis region exceeds the background threshold held at the database unit, the collection filter is moved so as to expose a clean face of the collection filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the introduction region includes a cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising: an introduction pipe coupling the introduction region with the condensation device; an assistance blowing region configured to send pulse-like air flow having injection duration of 1 sec. or shorter to inside of the introduction pipe directed to the condensation device along a path of the introduction pipe; and an assistance blowing region control unit configured to control the assistance blowing region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising: an introduction pipe coupling the introduction region with the condensation device; an assistance blowing region configured to send continuous air flow having injection duration of 1 sec. or longer to inside of the introduction pipe directed to the condensation device along a path of the introduction pipe; and an assistance blowing region control unit configured to control the assistance blowing region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The analyzer according to claim 6, wherein the assistance blowing region control unit controls the assistance blowing region to send air flow in synchronization with injection timing of air flow injected from the blowing region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The analyzer according to claim 6, wherein the assistance blowing region sends the air flow to a part where the path of the introduction pipe changes into a horizontal direction. ### Claim 10 An analyzer, comprising: an authentication region including a face, to which an authentication target is to be brought closer; an authentication database configured to hold authentication data; a blowing region configured to send air flow along the authentication region, thus removing a sample attached to the authentication target; an introduction region configured to suck the sample removed from the authentication target; a sampling region having a conic condensation device, the sampling region being configured to condense and sample the sucked sample; a large intake unit provided above the condensation device; collection filter provided at a smell-radius part of the condensation device; a heating unit that heats the collection filter provided at the small-radius part of the condensation device; a small intake unit configured to continuously suck a sample from a rear face of the collection filter, the sample having been sampled to the collection filter and vaporized through the heating; an ion source configured to introduce the sucked sample for ionization; a mass analysis region configured to perform mass analysis of ions generated at the ion source; a data processor configured to control the ion source and the mass analysis region; a database unit configured to hold mass spectrum data derived from a detection target substance; and an identification region configured to perform identification using both a determination result of presence or not of the detection target substance obtained by comparing a result of mass analysis of the sample at the mass analysis region with the mass spectrum data held at the data base unit, and a determination result of whether or not data on the authentication tar obtained in the authentication region agrees with the authentication data held in the authentication database. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The analyzer according to claim 10, further comprising a conic first condensation device and a second condensation device at the sampling region, the first condensation device having a rotating radius larger than a rotating radius of the second condensation device, and the second condensation device being connected in series with the first condensation device on a downstream side of the first condensation device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The analyzer according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of the second condensation devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the database unit holds a background threshold, and when background of the collection filter detected at the mass analysis region exceeds the background threshold held at the database unit, the collection filter is moved so as to expose a clean face of the collection filter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The analyzer according to claim 10, further comprising at the introduction region: a gas sampling region, a gas introduction pipe connecting the gas sampling region with the ion source, an introduction region for particles and an introduction pipe connecting the introduction region for particles with the sampling region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the authentication region includes a hole, and the analyzer further comprises a second blowing region that sends air flow to the authentication target via the hole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The analyzer according to claim 10, further comprising a cleaning blowing region configured to inject air flow to the authentication region so as to remove a sample attached to the authentication region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the heating unit is operated at a temperature of 180° C. to 300° C. ### Claim 18 An analyzer, comprising: a gate letting a subject pass therethrough; an identification region configured to detect approaching of the subject to the gate; a blowing region provided at the gate, the blowing region being configured to send air flow to the subject passing through the gate, thus removing a sample attached to the subject; an introduction region provided at a floor face or a side face of the gate, the introduction region being configured to suck the sample removed by the air flow sent by the blowing region; a sampling region having a conic condensation device, the sampling region being configured to condense and sample the sucked sample; a large intake unit provided above the condensation device; a collection filter provided at a small-radius part of the condensation device; a heating unit that heats the collection filter provided at the small-radius part of the condensation device; a small intake unit con ed to continuous suck a sample from a rear face of the collection filter, the sample having been sampled to the collection filter and vaporized through the heating; an ion source configured to introduce the sucked sample for ionization; a mass analysis region configured to perform mass analysis of ions generated at the ion source; a data processor configured to control the ion source and the mass analysis region; a database unit configured to hold mass spectrum data derived from a detection target substance; and an identification region configured to compare a result of mass analysis of the sample at the mass analysis region with the mass spectrum data held at the data base unit, thus determining presence or not of the detection target substance. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The analyzer according to claim 18, wherein the gate includes a first gate and a second gate provided at a position opposed to the first gate, the blowing region is built in the first gate, the introduction region is built in the second gate, and a laminar flow is formed from the blowing region to the introduction region. ### Claim 20 An analysis method, comprising: a step of acquiring authentication data from an approaching authentication target; a first comparison step of comparing the acquired authentication data with authentication data held in an authentication database; a step of removing a sample attached to the authentication target; a step of sucking the removed sample; a step of condensing and sampling the sucked sample to a surface of a heated collection filter by a principle of a cyclone; step of continuously sucking a sample vaporized through heating from a rear face of the collection filter, and ionizing the sample; a step of performing mass analysis of the ionized ions; a second comparison step of comparing a mass spectrum obtained as a result of the mass analysis with mass spectrum data held at a database, the mass spectrum data being derived from a detection target substance; and a step of performing identification using both a determination result of presence or not of a component substance of the detection target substance based on a result of the second comparison step, and a determination result of whether or not the acquired authentication data agrees with the authentication data held in the authentication database in the first comparison step.