Saes Getters S.p.a.

Rapiscan Systems, Inc.

Pcp, Inc.

Rapiscan Laboratories, Inc.

Robert M Stimac

Marco Succi

Antonio Bonucci

Luca Pusterla

Roger F Wernlund

Martin J Cohen

William J Kaye

By utilizing the combination of a unique electronic ion injection control circuit in conjunction with a particularly designed drift cell construction, the instantly disclosed ion mobility spectrometer achieves increased levels of sensitivity, while achieving significant reductions in size and weight. The instant IMS is of a much simpler and easy to manufacture design, rugged and hermetically sealed, capable of operation at high temperatures to at least 250&#xb0; C., and is uniquely sensitive, particularly to explosive chemicals.

Miniaturized ion mobility spectrometer

A method for the quantitative analysis of the impurities content in nitrogen, hydrogen or oxygen by means of ion mobility spectrometry is described. The method involves using pure argon or a mixture, having no impurities, containing argon and the gas to be analyzed, as a counterflow gas in the separation zone of the ion mobility spectrometer.

Method for measuring the concentration of impurities in nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen by ion mobility spectrometry

A method is provided for measuring by ionization mobility spectrometry (IMS) relatively high concentrations of water in argon, hydrogen, nitrogen and/or helium, including the following steps: (a) introducing the gas to be analyzed into an IMS instrument with a counter-flow of pure gas; (b) obtaining a signal variable over time and proportional to the number of ions detected by an ion detector of the IMS instrument; (c) determining two time intervals (A, B) corresponding to the drift times in the IMS instrument of the HOand (HO)ions; (d) obtaining the peaks of the signal in the two determined time intervals (A, B); and (e) calculating the water concentration in the gas to be analyzed according to the ratio between the intensity of the two peaks obtained in the signal.

Method for measuring the concentration of water in argon, hydrogen, nitrogen and helium by ionization mobility spectrometry

A method for carrying out nitrogen analysis by ionization mobility spectroscopy at concentrations of few parts per billion (ppb) in argon is described. The method involves the addition of hydrogen in concentration of at least 5 ppb and lower than 100 parts per million (ppm) to the argon to be analyzed; the hydrogen addition step may be preceded by a purification operation of the argon flow to reduce the total concentration of impurities other than nitrogen to under 1 ppb.

Method for measuring the concentration of nitrogen in argon by means of ion mobility spectrometry

The present invention relates to an ion mobility spectrometer sensor apparatus which is in a hermetically sealed housing, utilizing a drift gas for the determination of trace contaminants in a carrier gas, including a container for a sample gas containing an analyte the concentration of which is to be determined, means for purifying the sample gas to produce the carrier gas from it, the means for purifying being hermetically connected from the container through a metallic pipe, a source for the purified drift gas which may be the same or different than the carrier gas, an ion mobility spectrometer sensor having a carrier gas entrance and a drift gas entrance and a gas exit, the ion mobility spectrometer sensor being hermetically connected by a metallic pipe from the purifying means and from the source of the drift gas, a back diffusion trap is hermetically connected from the gas exit, and a signal readout is electrically and hermetically connected from the ion mobility spectrometer sensor for electrically sensing and displaying signals obtained in the sensor.

Method and apparatus for the detection and identification of trace gases

An apparatus and method for the detection and identification of the presence of chosen molecules, typically toxic or contraband located within sealed luggage and the like, comprises subjecting the sealed luggage to a process whereby a portion of the enclosed atmosphere within the luggage is extracted and combined with the surrounding atmosphere in a closed chamber. The extracted, combined sample is passed to a collector, typically a molecule adsorber, which concentrates the chosen molecules by collection on a collecting surface. After the end of a collection period, the adsorbed molecules are released from the surface and passed to an identifier, such as an ion mobility spectrometer. By use of appropriate collection and valving elements, analysis can be accomplished quickly and accurately for a large number of luggage items or the like subject to examination.

Growing community of inventors

Palm Beach Gardens, FL, United States of America

Robert M Stimac