Patent · US Active

Ion mobility spectrometer and method for improving the detection sensitivity thereof

US8716656B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
9References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 2010
Grant dateMay 6, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 21, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/24
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of improving detection sensitivity of an ion mobility spectrometer, comprising: inserting a sample into a sample receiving device of the ion mobility spectrometer; triggering an operation of spectra acquisition through an optocoupler; when the number of the acquired spectra reaches the level required to contain enough information for accurate detection of explosives with relatively high vapor pressure, adding a dopant instantly to the ionization region by controlling the ON/OFF-state of an electromagnetic valve; when the number of the acquired spectra reaches the level required to contain enough information for accurate detection of explosives with relatively low vapor pressure, stopping the acquisition operation, and turning off the electromagnetic valve so as to stop adding the dopant to the ionization region; analyzing all of the acquired spectra to obtain the detection result. The addition time of the dopant is controlled such that the dopant can take effect on the detection of some explosives with relatively low vapor pressure while the explosives which can be detected with higher sensitivity when no dopant is added can be analyzed in …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.