Vapor sensing instrument for ultra trace chemical detection

US6558626B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Nomadics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Craig Aker · Stillwater, US
• Colin J. Cumming · Stillwater, US
• Mark E. Fisher · Moorpark, US
• Michael Fox · Fitchburg, US
• Marcus LaGrone · Cushing, US
• Dennis K. Reust · Stillwater, US
• Mark G. Rockley · Stillwater, US
• Eric Towers · Stillwater, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 16, 2001
• Grant date: May 6, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 16, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/17
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A detector for detecting vapors emitted from energetic compounds includes a housing, a pump and a sensing assembly. The housing has an inlet, an outlet and an enclosed sensing volume there between. The pump communicates with the housing for moving a carrier gas sequentially through the enclosed sensing volume at a predetermined flow rate. The sensing assembly senses the vapors of the energetic compound delivered by the carrier gas as the carrier gas passes through the housing. The sensing assembly includes a sensing unit constructed of an amplifying fluorescent polymer, a source of excitation, a light detector, and a convertor assembly.