Particle transport and near field analytical detection

• US 7,374,603 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• 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:
  US11/803,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 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 concentrating flow-through filter in communication with the source and adapted to collect or concentrate the sample;

a traveling wave grid configured to receive the concentrated or collected sample from the concentrating flow through filter, and extending from a first location at which the concentrating flow-through filter is located, to a second location;

wherein upon operation of the concentrating flow-through filter 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 flow-through filter comprises a filter including segments of a porous material and segments of a non-porous material.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the traveling wave grid is disposed on a porous material segment.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the traveling wave grid is disposed on a non-porous material segment.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the flow-through filter includes a filter body extending at least partially across a flow of the gas or liquid medium.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the flow-through filter defines a particle receiving port adapted to receive the sample after having been collected or concentrated.

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

8. 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.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the device includes an optical detection system, utilizing optics to focus light for irradiation and detection, specifically, a light source is configured to emit light that is absorbed and re-emitted at lower energies by the collected or concentrated sample, the emitted light is sensed by a detector and light at the energy of the light source is blocked from the detector by an optical filter.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the device includes a light source and a detector, and the device is located near a collection of traveling wave grids within or generally along an analysis region of the system for analyzing the collected or concentrated sample in a near field location.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the traveling wave grid is optically transparent.

12. A system for collecting particles and transporting the collected particles from a flowing stream of particles and medium, the system comprising:

a member adapted to receive and house a flow stream of a medium and particles dispersed therein;

a concentrating filter body disposed at least partially within the flow stream, the filter body defining a face directed to the approaching flow stream, the filter body adapted to collect or concentrate particles from the flow stream;

a traveling wave grid configured to receive the concentrated or collected sample from the concentrating filter body disposed proximate to the face of the filter body;

wherein upon operation of the traveling wave grid, particles collected by the filter body are transported from a first region of the grid to a second region of the grid.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the medium is selected from a gas, a liquid, and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the filter body extends entirely across a region of flow defined by the member.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the filter body includes segments of a porous material and segments of a non-porous material.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the traveling wave grid is disposed on a porous material segment.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the traveling wave grid is disposed on a non-porous material segment.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the filter body extends partially across a region of flow defined by the member.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

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

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the traveling wave grid is optically transparent.