Particle transport and near field analytical detection

• US 7,235,123 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Biegelsen, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa; Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US10/977,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20070131037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 964/13, 964/18, 96/26, 96/65, 96/66, 96/98, 210/93, 210/243, 210/748, 204/556, 204/665, 204/674
• US Class Current: 96/26
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 5/02 Separators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0656 using electric, e.g. electrostatic methods or magnetic methods by investigating individual particles G01N15/1031, G01N15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1456 without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0042 Investigating dispersion of solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0288 Sorting the particles

Abstract

Particle collection, transport, and detection systems are disclosed. The systems are uniquely adapted for collecting or concentrating particles from a flowing medium and then transporting the collected particles to a desired location or for subsequent analysis. Electrostatic traveling wave grids can be used in conjunction with sample concentrators.

Claims

1. A system for collecting particles and transporting the collected particles, the system comprising:

a source of sample dispersed in a gas or liquid medium;

a concentrator in communication with the source and adapted to collect the sample, wherein the concentrator is an electrostatic precipitator;

a traveling wave grid extending from a first location at which the concentrator is located, to a second location;

wherein upon operation of the concentrator and the traveling wave grid, sample is collected from the medium and transported to the second location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sample includes particulates dispersed in a gas or liquid medium.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sample includes liquid droplets dispersed in a gaseous medium.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a device disposed at the second location, the device adapted to perform a detection and/or analytical operation.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the device includes a light generating component and a light detector spaced from the light generating component whereby upon operation of the device, the collected sample passes between the light generating component and the light detector.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the light generating component is a light emitting diode and the light detector is a spectroscopic detector.

7. A system for collecting particles from a medium and subjecting the collected particles to an analytical operation, the system comprising:

a source of sample dispersed in a medium;

a concentrator in communication with the source of the sample, the concentrator including an electrostatic precipitator;

a device adapted to perform a detection and/or analytical operation; and

a traveling wave grid extending between the concentrator and the device and adapted to transport collected sample to the device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the sample includes particulates dispersed in a gas or liquid medium.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the sample includes liquid droplets dispersed in a gaseous medium.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the device is an optical detection device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the device includes a light generating component and a light detector spaced from the light generating component whereby upon operation of the device, the collected sample passes between the light generating component and the light detector.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the light generating component is a light emitting diode and the light detector is a spectroscopic detector.

13. The optical detection system of claim 11 further comprising:

an optics system disposed between the light generating component and the light detector, the optics system adapted to focus light emitted from the light generating component within a focal region of the light detector and containing the transported sample.

14. The optical detection system of claim 11 wherein the light generating component is positioned in the device such that collected sample passes through the near field of the light generating component.

15. The optical detection system of claim 13 wherein the light detector is a spectroscopic detector.

16. The system of claim 7 wherein the traveling wave grid is optically transparent.