Non-contact trace chemical screening
US9048076B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2001/024
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and devices for detecting a target substance on a subject without contacting the subject are disclosed. At least one air jet blows analyte from a surface of the subject into an airflow, the airflow entraining the analyte. A desorption channel desorbs molecules from analyte in a portion of the airflow travelling through the desorption channel. An ionizer forms ions from vapor molecules in the portion of the airflow. At least one mass spectrometer analyzes the ions to detect the target substance. The flow travels without interruption from the subject to the at least one mass spectrometer. The desorption channel causes a sufficient quantity of molecules to desorb from the analyte to enable the at least one mass spectrometer to detect the target substance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.