Toxic Material Detection Apparatus and Method
First Claim
1. A toxic material detection apparatus comprising:
- a sample collection portion including a sample inlet and a sample concentrator adapted to concentrate an environmental sample on a substrate;
a color sensor adapted to analyze the substrate for a presence of toxic materials;
a spectrometer separate and distinct from the color sensor and adapted to analyze the substrate for a presence of toxic materials;
a sample distributing system adapted to distribute the environmental sample to the color sensor and the spectrometer simultaneously; and
a data management unit in communication with the color sensor and spectrometer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A toxic material detection apparatus includes a sample collection portion including a sample inlet and a sample concentrator adapted to concentrate an environmental sample on a substrate. A sample distributing system transfers portions of the substrate to a color sensor and an ion mobility spectrometer for simultaneously analysis and toxin detection, particularly cholinesterase inhibitor detection. Optionally, a portion of the substrate may be directed to an archive for possible analysis at a later time. Reagents utilized include the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the reactants acetylthiocholine iodide (ATCI) and 5,5′-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTB). A data management unit provides for near-real-time analysis of the samples in under 5 minutes. Simultaneous “hits” by both analysis methods indicate the presence of a cholinesterase inhibitor.
32 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A toxic material detection apparatus comprising:
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a sample collection portion including a sample inlet and a sample concentrator adapted to concentrate an environmental sample on a substrate; a color sensor adapted to analyze the substrate for a presence of toxic materials; a spectrometer separate and distinct from the color sensor and adapted to analyze the substrate for a presence of toxic materials; a sample distributing system adapted to distribute the environmental sample to the color sensor and the spectrometer simultaneously; and a data management unit in communication with the color sensor and spectrometer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting a toxic material comprising:
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impinging ambient air onto a substrate to concentrate any airborne aerosols on the substrate; distributing a first portion of the substrate to a color sensor and simultaneously distributing a second portion of the substrate to a spectrometer which is separate and distinct from the color sensor; detecting a presence of toxic materials on the first portion of the substrate utilizing the color sensor; detecting a presence of toxic materials on the second portion of the substrate utilizing the spectrometer; and determining whether toxic materials are present on the substrate based on both the presence of toxic materials detected utilizing the color sensor and the presence of toxic materials detected utilizing the spectrometer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification