Method and apparatus for detecting a target material in a sample by pre-screening the sample for piezoelectric resonance
US6956476B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/0256
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for screening samples to determine which samples include a target material. Generally, the samples are pre-screened to determine which of the samples have a piezoelectric resonance when irradiated with an electric field, to thereby indicate the presence of the target material. The samples that have the piezoelectric resonance are then further screened by a different process to confirm the presence of the target material. For example, samples that have the piezoelectric resonance are further screened for a specific nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR), a specific nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or a specific visual characteristic, to confirm the presence of the target material in the sample. The apparatus and method can be used, for example, to search luggage at ports of entry for the presence of cocaine hydrochloride or heroin hydrochloride.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.