Apparatus and method for sampling of confined spaces
First Claim
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1. A cargo monitoring system comprising:
- (a) receiving a container with an atmosphere, where the container is adapted to detachably attach an atmospheric ionization sorbent module (AISM) including a sorbent material;
(b) attaching the AISM to the container;
(c) directing a flow of the atmosphere onto the AISM to transfer one or more analyte molecules in the atmosphere to the sorbent material;
(d) directing ionizing species from an atmospheric ionizer at the sorbent material to generate one or more analyte ions; and
(e) analyzing the one or more analyte ions with a spectrometer.
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Abstract
In various embodiments of the invention, a cargo container can be monitored at appropriate time intervals to determine that no controlled substances have been shipped with the cargo in the container. The monitoring utilizes reactive species produced from an atmospheric analyzer to ionize analyte molecules present in the container which are then analyzed by an appropriate spectroscopy system. In an embodiment of the invention, a sorbent surface can be used to absorb, adsorb or condense analyte molecules within the container whereafter the sorbent surface can be interrogated with the reactive species to generate analyte species characteristic of the contents of the container.
248 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cargo monitoring system comprising:
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(a) receiving a container with an atmosphere, where the container is adapted to detachably attach an atmospheric ionization sorbent module (AISM) including a sorbent material; (b) attaching the AISM to the container; (c) directing a flow of the atmosphere onto the AISM to transfer one or more analyte molecules in the atmosphere to the sorbent material; (d) directing ionizing species from an atmospheric ionizer at the sorbent material to generate one or more analyte ions; and (e) analyzing the one or more analyte ions with a spectrometer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of identifying one or more controlled substances in a shipping container, comprising:
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(a) receiving a shipping container with an atmosphere; (b) attaching an atmospheric ionization sorbent module (AISM) with a sorbent surface to the shipping container; (c) directing a flow of the atmosphere onto the AISM to transfer one or more analyte molecules in the atmosphere to the sorbent surface; (d) detaching the AISM from the shipping container; (e) directing ionizing species from an atmospheric ionizer at the sorbent surface to generate one or more analyte ions; and (f) analyzing the one or more analyte ions with a spectrometer to determine if one or more controlled substances are present in the shipping container. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An atmospheric ionization sorbent module (AISM) comprising:
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(a) a housing with a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a tube with an inlet and an outlet positioned at the distal end; (c) a connector for attaching the inlet to a connecting pathway on a cargo container; (d) a sorbent material positioned in proximity to the outlet at the distal end; (e) a fan for recirculating air from one or more regions within the cargo container through the connecting pathway to the inlet to transfer one or more analyte molecules through the outlet to the sorbent material; and (f) means for releasing the connector to detach the AISM from the cargo container for analysis of the one or more analyte molecules transferred to the sorbent material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification