Enertechnix, Inc.

Michelle Hickner

Peter C Ariessohn

Igor V Novosselov

Evan D Dengler

Devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling and sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for contaminating aerosols indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the contaminating aerosols are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. In a first device, a central orifice for pulling a suction gas stream is surrounded by a peripheral array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a virtual sampling chamber. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles from solid surfaces at a distance. In another aspect of the invention, a suction gas stream is split using an air-to-air concentrator so that a particle-enriched gas flow is directed to a particle trap and any particles immobilized in the particle trap (including any adsorbed vapors associated with the particles) are selectively analyzed to detect trace residues associated with explosives.

Particle interrogation devices and methods

Devices and methods are disclosed for non-contact pneumatic sampling of surfaces, persons, articles of clothing, buildings, furnishings, vehicles, baggage, packages, mail, and the like, for aerosols or vapor residues indicative of a hazard or a benefit, where the residues are chemical, radiological, biological, toxic, or infectious in character. A central orifice for pulling a vacuum is surrounded by an array of convergingly-directed gas jets, forming a 'virtual sampling chamber'. The gas jets are configured to deliver millisecond pneumatic pulses that erode particles and vapors from solid surfaces at a distance. A curtain wall flow encloses the sampling area during pulse retrieval.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Michelle Hickner