Environmental material ticket reader and airborne hazard detection system

• US 6,228,657 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Nolan, Patrick M., Genovese, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, PATRICIA KATHRYN
• Application Number:
  US09/387,875
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 422/55, 422/50, 422/56, 422/58, 422/61, 422/69, 422/68.1, 422/71, 422/82.05, 422/83, 422/85, 422/86, 422/87, 422/88, 422/91, 436/159, 436/104, 436/167, 436/181, 436/164-165, 73/23.2
• US Class Current: 436/167
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/007 Devices specially adapted for forensic samples, e.g. tamper-proofing, sample tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2276 Personal monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0032 using two or more different physical functioning modes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/163333 Organic [e.g., chemical warfare agents, insecticides, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25875 Gaseous sample or with change of physical state

Abstract

An airborne hazardous material reader device capable of receiving a collection element. The reader device has a body forming a slot area for receiving the collection element. The body has a crushing mechanism located within the slot area for breaking ampules attached to the collection element containing chemical testing reagents, a micro-pump positioned proximate to the slot area for controlling the temperature next to the collection element, a diode reading component incorporated within the body for distinguishing color changes from the release of chemical testing reagents from the broken ampules, an indicator for indicating the presence of a hazardous material when the diode reading component distinguishes color changes and a microprocessor that coordinates the sequence of the reader device. A method for airborne hazardous material detection also is disclosed.

Claims

1. An airborne hazardous material reader device, comprising:

a body forming a slot area capable of receiving a collection element therein;

a crushing mechanism located within said slot area capable of breaking a plurality of ampules attached to said collection element sufficient to release chemical testing reagents therefrom;

a micro-pump positioned proximate to said slot area and capable of moving airborne hazardous material into said slot area;

means for regulating the temperature within said slot area;

a diode reading component incorporated within said body, the diode reading component capable of distinguishing color changes on said received collection element;

an indicator alarm means effective to indicate the presence of a hazardous material when said diode reading component distinguishes color changes; and

,

a microprocessor incorporated into said body, said microprocessor;

monitoring and controlling said temperature regulation means to control the temperature within said slot area;

controlling said diode reading component to evaluate said collection element'"'"'s physical condition by checking for white, clean detector areas to ensure that said collection element has not been contaminated with dirt;

activating said crushing mechanism in an appropriate sequence and time to crush said ampules;

controlling said micro-pump to regulate the airflow over said collection element; and

initiating a time-interval color reading of said collection element by said diode reading component and monitoring the frequency and intensity of color changes detected by said diode reading component; and

activating the indicator alarm means in relation to said color reading.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a communications port capable of receiving instructions from, and sending detection information to, an external station.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the communications port comprises a relay system selected from the group consisting of fiber optical connection, remote signaling, and cable.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a UV protection component effective to shield said received collection element.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator means comprises an alarm selected from the group consisting of audio and visual alarms.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the diode reading component is capable of distinguishing at least three colors for photometric assessment.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the indicator alarm means is capable of being read remotely.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said collection element, comprises:

a porous substrate capable of absorbing airborne contaminants thereon;

said plurality of ampules containing chemical reagent material attached to the porous substrate and capable of breakage that releases the chemical reagent material onto the porous substrate; and

,

an initiator key enabling said reader device to identify a process to be conducted by said reader device to analyze said collection element; and

wherein said collection element is capable of insertion into said reader device.

9. The collection element of claim 8, wherein the collection element comprises a predetermined selection of chemical reagent material capable of testing for a plurality of contaminants.

10. The collection element of claim 8, wherein the chemical reagent material comprises preservative chemicals.

11. The collection element of claim 10, wherein the preservative chemicals are selected from the group consisting of buffering agents and antioxidant agents.

12. The collection element of claim 8, wherein said initiator key comprises an initiator selected from the group consisting of optical character readers, color key swatch, alphanumeric indicators, and bar codes.

13. A method for detection of airborne hazardous material, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an airborne hazardous material reader device, comprising a body forming a slot area capable of receiving a collection element therein;

a crushing mechanism located within said slot area capable of breaking a plurality of ampules attached to said collection element sufficient to release chemical testing reagents therefrom;

a micro-pump positioned proximate to said slot area and capable of moving airborne hazardous material into said slot area;

means for regulating the temperature within said slot area;

a diode reading component incorporated within said body, the diode reading component capable of distinguishing color changes on said received collection element;

an indicator alarm means effective to indicate the presence of a hazardous material when said diode reading component distinguishes color changes; and

,

a microprocessor incorporated into said body, said microprocessor;

monitoring and controlling said temperature regulation means to control the temperature within said slot area;

controlling said diode reading component to evaluate said collection element'"'"'s physical condition by checking for white, clean detector areas to ensure that said collection element has not been contaminated with dirt;

activating said crushing mechanism in an appropriate sequence and time to crush said ampules;

controlling said micro-pump to regulate the airflow over said collection element; and

initiating a time-interval color reading of said collection element by said diode reading component and monitoring the frequency and intensity of color changes detected by said diode reading component; and

activating the indicator alarm means in relation to said color reading;

(b) placing said collection element into said reader device;

(c) transporting said reader device containing said collection element to an area of possible contamination; and

(d) activating said device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of connecting said reader device with other reader devices to form a detection network.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of coordinating the detection of a hazardous material by said reader device with a global positioning system.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said collection element includes ampules containing chemical reagent material attached to a porous substrate and capable of breakage so that said reagents are released onto said porous substrate, and wherein said ampules are broken over a timed sequence wherein the latter broken ampules provide detection of an increased amount of contaminant.