Article scanner

• US 7,458,283 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nacson, Sabatino, Gibbons, Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis; Robert R
• Application Number:
  US11/319,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 738/631.2
• US Class Current: 73/863.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00009 provided with a sample supporting tape, e.g. with absorbent zones

Abstract

A CTD and method of using a CTD for automatic sampling and analysis of target analytes, such as explosive materials, chemical warfare agents, and narcotics present on documents or other articles is provided. The CTD comprises an article processing mechanism, a swabbing medium, a thermal desorber, and a spectrometer.

Claims

1. An contact trace detector, comprising:

an article processing mechanism for moving an article through the detector,

a swabbing medium for collecting an analyte from the article,

a thermal desorber for desorbing the analyte from the swabbing medium, and

a spectrometer with an inlet for receiving the analyte.

2. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the desorber includes an anvil positioned adjacent the swabbing medium on a side opposite the inlet and configured to press the swabbing medium against the inlet.

3. The contact trace detector of claim 2, further comprising:

a heater movable with the anvil and configured to heat the analyte.

4. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the swabbing medium comprises a fabric.

5. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the swabbing medium comprises a steel woven mesh.

6. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the article processing mechanism comprises a roller positioned adjacent a guide bed to move the article proximate the swabbing medium.

7. The contact trace detector of claim 6, wherein the roller applies a tension against the article.

8. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the swabbing medium is attached to a feed roller to feed the swabbing medium against the article.

9. The contact trace detector of claim 1, further comprising:

an air purification module for cleaning the air within the detector; and

a controller, wherein the controller controls the movement of the article processing mechanism.

10. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the swabbing medium applies a tension against the article.

11. The contact trace detector of claim 1, further comprising:

a guide bed, and

a plurality of rollers, comprising;

a first roller set with at least one roller; and

a second roller set with at least one roller,

wherein the first roller set is positioned opposite the second roller set and configured to move the article between the first roller set and the second roller set.

12. The contact trace detector of claim 11, wherein the first roller set and the second roller set are capable of rotating in a forward and backward direction.

13. The contact trace detector of claim 11, further comprising:

a switch mechanism, wherein the switch mechanism includes at least one roller to change a travel path of the article between a path to the exit area and a path to the holding area.

14. The contact trace detector of claim 13, wherein the switch mechanism is activated by a solenoid.

15. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the article processing mechanism includes at least one guide roller and at least one flat wheel positioned on a bed, wherein the guide roller is positioned on a first side of the article and the bed is positioned on a second side of the article.

16. The contact trace detector of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic reader for reading information from the article.

17. The contact trace detector of claim 1, further comprising a second swabbing medium for collecting an analyte from the article, wherein the first swabbing medium contacts a first surface of the article and the second swabbing medium contacts a second surface of the article.

18. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the swabbing medium contacts at least one roller.

19. The contact trace detector of claim 1, wherein the swabbing medium includes a first end attached to a first feed coil and a second end attached to a second feed coil.

20. The contact trace detector of claim 17, further comprising a second spectrometer with an inlet for receiving the analyte, wherein the second spectrometer analyzes analyte obtained from the second swabbing medium.

21. A method of testing an article, comprising:

inserting an article into a detector, the article having a first surface and a second surface;

contacting a first surface of the article with a first swabbing medium while the article is present in the detector;

transferring an analyte to the swabbing medium; and

analyzing the analyte.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising contacting the second surface of the article with a second swabbing medium while the article is present in the detector.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising desorbing the analyte from the first surface of the article from the swabbing medium into a first ion mobility spectrometer, and desorbing the analyte from the second surface of the article from the second swabbing medium into a second ion mobility spectrometer.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising desorbing the analyte from the first surface of the article from the swabbing medium into an ion mobility spectrometer, and desorbing the analyte from the second surface of the article from the second swabbing medium into the ion mobility spectrometer.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

moving the swabbing medium to a desorber region,

contacting the swabbing medium with an anvil, and

heating the swabbing medium.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transferring the analyte from the swabbing medium to a spectrometer, wherein the spectrometer analyzes the analyte.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the spectrometer is an ion mobility spectrometer.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein tension is applied to the article when the article is in contact with the swabbing medium.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the swabbing medium comprises a fabric.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the fabric is supplied by a feed roller.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising positioning the article proximate the swabbing medium using at least one roller.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising vaporizing the analyte to release the analyte from the swabbing medium, wherein the vaporized analyte is transferred to a spectrometer.

31. A method of testing an article, comprising:

(a) inserting an article into a detector, the article having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) contacting a first surface of the article with a first swabbing medium;

(b) transferring an analyte to the swabbing medium; and

(c) analyzing the analyte,

wherein the swabbing medium comprises a steel woven mesh.

34. A method of testing an article, comprising:

(a) inserting an article into a detector, the article having a first surface and a second surface;

(b) contacting a first surface of the article with a first swabbing medium;

(c) transferring an analyte to the swabbing medium; and

(d) desorbing the analyte on the swabbing medium; and

(e) moving the swabbing medium on a feed wheel after desorption; and

(f) analyzing the analyte.