Chemical and Biological Sensor

• US 20110236267A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Cox, Donald P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a sensor device. The sensor device may include an intake port for an air sample connected to a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber may contain at least one device for the introduction of a liquid or gel detection improvement agent, or at least one mechanical dispersal device for the introduction of a solid detection improvement agent. The detection improvement agent may be operable to interact with a chemical or biological agent in the air sample. The mixing chamber may also include at least one heating or cooling plate and at least device for the introduction of water or an aromatic solvent into the air sample as well as at least one detection element able to detect a chemical or biological agent in the air sample. The mixing chamber may be connected to an exhaust port.

Claims

1. A sensor device for the detection of a chemical or biological agent comprising:

an intake port for an air sample connected to;

a mixing chamber containing;

at least one storage container, connection tube, and atomizer for the introduction of a liquid or gel detection improvement agent, or at least one mechanical dispersal device for the introduction of a solid detection improvement agent, the detection improvement agent operable to interact with a chemical or biological agent in the air sample;

at least one heating or cooling plate;

at least one storage container and wick for the introduction of water or an aromatic solvent into the air sample; and

at least one detection element selected from the group consisting of a polymer film, a biometric film, or olfactory cells, or and or an array of polymer or biometric films, each sensitive to a different chemical or biological agent operable to detect a chemical or biological agent in the air sample,

said mixing chamber connected to;

an exhaust port.

2. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer comprises an ultrasonic or radio frequency atomizer.

3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the detection improvement agent comprises a protein.

4. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the detection improvement agent comprises a lipid.

5. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the detection improvement agent chemically reacts with the chemical or biological agent.

6. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the detection element detects the chemical or biological agent by detection a product of an interaction of the chemical or biological agent with the detection improvement agent.

7. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising at least one storage container and connection tube operable to introduce a neutralization agent into the air sample.

8. The sensor device of claim 7, further comprising a detection element operable to detect the neutralization of the chemical or biological agent by the neutralization agent.

9. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chambers are placed in series.

10. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chambers are placed in parallel.

11. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the heating or cooling plate comprises a Peltier Diode heat transfer plate.

12. A sensor device for the detection of a chemical or biological agent comprising:

an intake port for an air sample connected to;

a mixing chamber containing;

at least means for the introduction of a detection improvement agent operable to interact with a chemical or biological agent in the air sample;

at least one heating or cooling means;

at least one means for the introduction of water or an aromatic solvent into the air sample; and

at least one detection element selected from the group consisting of a polymer film, a biometric film, or olfactory cells, or and or an array of polymer or biometric films, each sensitive to a different chemical or biological agent operable to detect a chemical or biological agent in the air sample,

said mixing chamber connected to;

an exhaust port.

13. The sensor device of claim 12, wherein the detection improvement agent comprises a protein.

14. The sensor device of claim 12, wherein the detection improvement agent comprises a lipid.

15. The sensor device of claim 12, wherein the detection improvement agent chemically reacts with the chemical or biological agent.

16. The sensor device of claim 12, wherein the detection element detects the chemical or biological agent by detection a product of an interaction of the chemical or biological agent with the detection improvement agent.

17. The sensor device of claim 12, further comprising at least one means for introducing a neutralization agent into the air sample.

18. The sensor device of claim 17, further comprising a detection element operable to detect the neutralization of the chemical or biological agent by the neutralization agent.

19. The sensor device of claim 12, further comprising at least one additional mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chambers are placed in series.

20. The sensor device of claim 12, further comprising at least one additional mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chambers are placed in parallel.