Multi-modal particle detector
First Claim
1. A particle detector, comprising:
- (a) a first chamber, including a first detector configured for a first particle detection mechanism, wherein analyte particles are subjected to a first detection using the first particle detection mechanism in the first chamber, and wherein a subset of the analyte particles are determined in the first detection to match one or more predetermined mobility characteristics;
(b) a second chamber, including a second detector configured for a second particle detection mechanism, wherein an entrance of the second chamber is coupled to an exit of the first chamber, wherein particles of the subset that passes through the first chamber are subjected to a second detection using the second particle detection mechanism in the second chamber, and wherein detection characteristics of the second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first particle detection mechanism;
(c) a shutter between the exit of the first chamber and the entrance of the second chamber selectively inputting said particles of the subset into the second chamber; and
(d) a control module configured to control the shutter to input only said particles of the subset into the second chamber, wherein the control includes opening the shutter in response to detecting the subset in the first detection.
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Abstract
Systems, methods and computer program products for the multi-modal detection of particles are described herein. An embodiment of the present invention is a particle detector that includes a first chamber wherein analyte particles are subjected to a first particle detection mechanism, and a second chamber coupled to the first chamber, wherein the analyte particles are subjected to a second particle detection mechanism, and wherein the detection characteristics of second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first particle detection mechanism. According to another embodiment, the present invention is a particle detection method including the steps of detecting presence of at least one predetermined particle type in an analyte particle sample using a first particle detection mechanism, and confirming the presence of the predetermined particle type in the analyte particle sample using a second particle detection mechanism, wherein detection characteristics of the second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first detection mechanism.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A particle detector, comprising:
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(a) a first chamber, including a first detector configured for a first particle detection mechanism, wherein analyte particles are subjected to a first detection using the first particle detection mechanism in the first chamber, and wherein a subset of the analyte particles are determined in the first detection to match one or more predetermined mobility characteristics; (b) a second chamber, including a second detector configured for a second particle detection mechanism, wherein an entrance of the second chamber is coupled to an exit of the first chamber, wherein particles of the subset that passes through the first chamber are subjected to a second detection using the second particle detection mechanism in the second chamber, and wherein detection characteristics of the second particle detection mechanism are orthogonal to detection characteristics of the first particle detection mechanism; (c) a shutter between the exit of the first chamber and the entrance of the second chamber selectively inputting said particles of the subset into the second chamber; and (d) a control module configured to control the shutter to input only said particles of the subset into the second chamber, wherein the control includes opening the shutter in response to detecting the subset in the first detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14)
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10. A threat particle detector, comprising:
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(a) a first chamber including a first detector configured to analyze particles using Ion Mobility Spectrometry to detect a subset of particles having one or more predetermined mobility characteristics; (b) a second chamber including a second detector configured to analyze only particles of the subset using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to detect threat particles based upon predetermined Surface Enhanced Raman scattering characteristics, wherein an entrance of the second chamber is coupled to an exit of the first chamber; (c) a shutter configured to automatically control transfer of said particles of the subset through an opening between the first and second chambers to input the subset to the second chamber; and (d) a control module configured to control the shutter to input only said particles of the subset into the second chamber, wherein the control includes opening the shutter in response to the detection of the subset by the first detector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification