Syagen Technology

Morpho Detection, Inc.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Rapiscan Systems, Inc.

Karl A Hanold

Jack A Syage

Matthew D Evans

Steven Michael Fischer

James L Bertsch

Darrell L Gourley

Andrey N Vilkov

Patricia H Cormia

Joseph A Widjaja

Mark A Hanning-Lee

Brian J Nies

Yong Liu

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for detecting a chemical substance. The methods and systems include chemically modifying a sample of a substance of interest through combination with a reagent to increase the volatility of the substance of interest. The systems and methods further include performing an analysis of the substance of interest.

Chemical vaporization and detection of compounds having low volatility

A particle impact device for a hand-held trace particle detection system includes an intake manifold that includes a first conduit defining an intake port. The intake port defines a first transport area. The intake manifold also includes a second conduit coupled to the first conduit. The second conduit defines a discharge port that defines a second transport area. The first transport area is greater than the second transport area. The particle impact device also includes a combined deposition and deflection apparatus positioned downstream of the discharge port. The combined deposition and deflection apparatus defines a deposition and deflection surface positioned a predetermined distance from the discharge port. The deposition and deflection surface is configured to deflect a fluid stream and collect at least a portion of particles entrained in the fluid stream.

Hand-held trace particle sampling system and method of operating the same

A detector system with a portal including a plurality of output ports that direct a plurality of output airstreams in an essentially horizontal direction, and a plurality of intake ports that pull in air. The system also includes at least one concentrator coupled to at least one of the intake ports, and a detector coupled to the concentrator. The horizontally oriented output airstreams and multiple intake ports provide a system that can rapidly screen multiple people for explosives and other substances.

Method of simultaneously screening a plurality of people

A detector system for detecting trace molecules. The detector includes an ion trap that is coupled to an ionizer and a detector. The system also includes a controller that can generate voltage potentials within the ion trap. The controller can generate a voltage waveform to isolate one or more ions within the ion trap. The controller can then generate a voltage to dissociate the isolated ion(s). The controller can vary the dissociating voltage to dissociate and detect different ions. For example, the controller may vary the amplitude of the voltage to dissociate a target ion. Other techniques are described which generally improve the speed of detecting different target ions.

High speed, multiple mass spectrometry for ion sequencing

A detector system that can analyze multiple samples with a single detector. The detector may contain a portal with a first opening and a second opening. A first sample is obtained from the first opening and a second sample is obtained from the second opening. The openings are coupled to a single detector that can analyze both samples.

Multiple trace portal detection systems

An atmospheric pressure ion source, e.g. for a mass spectrometer, that produces ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). It includes a vaporizer, a photon source for photoionizing vapor molecules upon exit from the vaporizer, a passageway for transporting ions to, for example, a mass spectrometer system, and a means for directing the ions into the passageway. The center axis of the vaporizer and the center axis of the passageway form an angle that may be about 90 degrees. Included in the invention is a method for creating ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization along an axis and directing them into a passageway oriented at an angle to that axis.

Ion sampling for APPI mass spectrometry

A detector system that contains two inlet port coupled to a photoionization chamber. One inlet port allows for the introduction of a test sample. The test sample may contain contaminants, drugs, explosive, etc. that are to be detected. The other port allows for the simultaneous introduction of a standard sample. The standard sample can be used to calibrate and/or diagnose the detector system. Simultaneous introduction of the standard sample provides for real time calibration/diagnostics of the detector during detection of trace molecules in the test sample. The photoizonizer ionizes the samples which are then directed into a mass detector for detection of trace molecules. The detector system may also include inlet embodiments that allow for vaporization of liquid samples introduced to a low pressure photoionizer.

Interfaces for a photoionization mass spectrometer

A monitor that has multiple ioniziation sources that can be switched between different modes. The monitor may have an electrostatic ionizer and a photoionizer that ionize at approximately atmospheric pressure. Activation of the ionizers is controlled by a switch. The switch can activate the ionizers in accordance with a plurality of modes. For example, the switch may create modes where the ionizers are activated sequentially or simultaneously. The monitor may further have a chemical ionizer that is controlled by the switch to activate in a plurality of modes. The modes may be switched to detect different trace molecules of a sample loaded into an ionization chamber. The ionizers are preferably located at orthogonal angles relative to each other.

Multiple ion sources involving atmospheric pressure photoionization

A monitor that can detect a trace molecule that is ionized at approximately one atmosphere. The molecule is ionized with a photoionizer and detected by a detector. The monitor may include a number of techniques to introduce a sample into the photoionizer at approximately one atmosphere. One technique includes creating an electrically charged spray that is directed into the ionizer. The photoionizer may include a plurality of light sources that each ionize the sample with a different radiation energy.

Atmospheric pressure photoionizer for mass spectrometry

A monitor that can detect at least one trace molecule in a gas sample. The monitor may include a photoionizer that is coupled to an electron-ionization mass spectrometer. The photoionizer may ionize the gas sample at a wavelength(es) which ionizes the trace molecules without creating fragmentation. The inclusion of the electron-ionizer may allow alternate or additional ionization to detect trace molecules not ionized by the photoionizer. The gas sample may be ionized at atmospheric pressure which increases the yield of the ionized trace molecules and the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer.

Photoionization mass spectrometer

A high speed mass spectrometer system capable of detecting in real-time multiple compounds in complex environments. This system includes a continuous ionization source coupled to a quadrupole ion trap to store ions, to filter ions for detection, to resonantly excite the ion trajectories to cause them to dissociate for more detailed analysis. This system includes a dual ionization configuration to cover broad and disparate classes of compounds. A glow discharge source is used to attach electrons to molecules with high electrons affinity. A photoionization source is used to detach electrons from molecules with low ionization potentials.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Karl A Hanold