Vapor sensing instruments for ultra trace chemical detection

US7419636B2 · kind B2 · 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 J. IaGrone · Cushing, US
• Dennis K. Reust · Stillwater, US
• Mark G. Rockley · Stillwater, US
• Eric Towers · Stillwater, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 27, 2003
• Grant date: Sep 2, 2008
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2025

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 analytes includes a housing, a pump and a sensing assembly. The housing has an inlet, an outlet and an enclosed sensing volume therebetween. The pump communicates with the housing for moving a carrier sequentially through the enclosed sensing volume at a predetermined flow rate. The sensing assembly senses the vapors of the analyte delivered by the carrier as the carrier passes through the housing. The sensing assembly includes a sensing unit constructed of an amplifying fluorescent polymer, a source of excitation, a detector, and a convertor assembly.