Color coded swipe for portable explosive or drug detection system

• US 8,590,791 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chemspectra Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chemspectra Incorporated
• Inventors: Haas, Jeffrey, Haas, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEDEKEL, TABITHA F
• Application Number:
  US12/498,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120178176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/438, 235/440, 235/448, 235/462, 436106-110, 436/115, 422/7, 422/8, 422/41, 422/413, 422/424, 422/430, 422/400, 422/402, 422/403, 422/82.07, 422/82.05, 422/82.12, 422/68.1, 73/233.6, 73/280.1, 250/286
• US Class Current: 235/448
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/293 with colour charts, graduated scales or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/22 Fuels; Explosives

Abstract

A test swipe for testing drugs, explosives or a chemical compound includes a base; and one or more swipe pads positioned on the base to receive one or more chemicals thereon, the one or more swipe pads displaying an array of colors after receiving the chemicals to uniquely identify a chemical compound.

Claims

1. A test swipe, comprising:

a base; and

one or more swipe pad positioned on the base to receive one or more chemicals thereon, the one or more swipe pads displaying an array of test regions forming coded colors after receiving the chemicals to uniquely identify a chemical compound, wherein the swipe pad is swiped on a surface to collect samples of the chemical compound and wherein the chemicals are subsequently deposited on the samples to form a bar code with the coded colors.

2. The test swipe of claim 1, wherein the swipe pad comprises a substantially round shape.

3. The test swipe of claim 1, comprising a sequence of one or more chemicals delivered to the swipe pad to detect an explosive compound.

4. The test swipe of claim 3, wherein each chemical causes the swipe pad to display a color unique to the explosive compound.

5. The test swipe of claim 3, wherein the sequence of chemicals is deposited onto the swipe pad at predetermined times.

6. The test swipe of claim 3, wherein the sequence of chemicals is deposited onto the swipe pad at predetermined temperature range(s).

7. The test swipe of claim 3, wherein the sequence of chemicals is deposited onto the swipe pad at predetermined hold time(s) each at predetermined temperature range(s).

8. The test swipe of claim 3, wherein each chemical deposited under predetermined time and temperature conditions reacts to a specific explosive or class of explosives to yield a specific color or a sequence of colors unique to that explosive.

9. The test swipe of claim 1, wherein the swipe pad comprises a substantially four-sided shape.

10. The test swipe of claim 1, comprising chemicals to detect one or more drug compounds.

11. The test swipe of claim 10, wherein each chemical causes each swipe pad to display a color unique to the drug compound.

12. The test swipe of claim 10, wherein the sequence of chemicals is deposited onto the swipe pad at predetermined times.

13. The test swipe of claim 10, wherein the sequence of chemicals is deposited onto the swipe pad at predetermined temperature range(s).

14. The test swipe of claim 10, wherein the sequence of chemicals are deposited onto the swipe pad at predetermined hold time(s) each at predetermined temperature range(s).

15. The test swipe of claim 10, wherein each chemical deposited under predetermined time and temperature conditions reacts to a specific explosive or class of explosives to yield a specific color unique to that explosive.

16. The test swipe of claim 1, wherein the colors comprise a color bar code.

17. The test swipe of claim 1, wherein the chemically treated swipe pad comprises a substantially four-sided shape and adapted to receive a sequence of one or more chemicals to detect a drug compound.

18. The test swipe of claim 1, wherein the chemically treated area comprises a plurality of test regions.

19. The test swipe of claim 1, comprising a plurality of unique chemical solutions deposited on each test region.

20. The test swipe of claim 18, comprising chemical solutions deposited at same time to the respective test regions on the swipe to impart a collective color code of pads unique to a class of drugs.

21. The test swipe of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a dull black color, comprising a swipe pad region having a cloth within a white zone on the base and an ink free border.

22. The test swipe of claim 1, wherein the base comprises an area approximately 1.25 inch by 2 inches, the swipe pads are spaced at least approximately 0.25 inch from the base perimeter and spaced apart by approximately 0.02 inch.

23. A method to analyze a swiped sample to identify a chemical composition, comprising:

clamping a test swipe under a camera and above a heater, the test swipe having a base and a swipe pad containing the swiped sample positioned above the base, the swipe displaying an array of test regions forming coded colors to visually indicate the presence of a predetermined chemical composition;

swiping the swipe pad on a surface to collect samples of the chemical compound and wherein the chemicals are subsequently deposited on the samples to form the coded colors;

automatically delivering a series of chemical solution agents into the swiped sample without dripping thereby allowing the system to be held at any angle;

heating the swiped sample to one or more predetermined temperatures and hold times to optimize and reproducibly accelerate the chemical reactions;

capturing one or more images of the chemical reaction;

sending the images to the a display screen for operator observation; and

analyzing the images to identify the chemical composition based on a chemical reaction and sequence of occurrence and database.