Ion Concentrating Chamber for Rapid Trace Analyte Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-concentrating devices for detecting trace analytes, such as explosives, require prolonged sample accumulation and often cannot operate at atmospheric pressure, making them unsuitable for fast and efficient security applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that ionizes analyte molecules and then concentrates them using a combination of a non-linear electric field and air velocity field in an ion-concentrating chamber, allowing for real-time concentration and separation of ions from neutral molecules, which can be directed to an ion-detecting device without the need for vacuum systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pre-concentration time is increased to accumulate sufficient analyte, then detection sensitivity is improved, but detection speed and throughput are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adsorption-based pre-concentration system with an electrical field-based ion concentration system. By applying a non-linear electric field to ionized analytes, the system achieves rapid concentration enhancement without requiring prolonged accumulation times, thus maintaining both high sensitivity and fast detection speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and electrical properties of analytes by ionization, transforming neutral molecules into charged ions. This parameter change enables the use of electric field manipulation for concentration, allowing rapid concentration enhancement without prolonged accumulation times
2Measurement precision
If adsorbent-based pre-concentration is used to increase analyte concentration, then detection limit is reduced, but the system cannot operate at atmospheric pressure and requires vacuum
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vacuum-based mechanical pre-concentration system with an electrical field-based ion concentration system that operates at atmospheric pressure. The non-linear electric field concentrates ionized analytes directly in the gas phase, eliminating the need for vacuum chambers and complex vacuum pumping systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational pressure parameter from vacuum to atmospheric pressure by using electrical field manipulation of ionized analytes. This allows the system to operate under normal atmospheric conditions while achieving the same concentration enhancement effect
3Measurement precision
If GC-MS is used for trace VOC analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but response time is too slow for security applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the slow GC separation process with rapid electrical field-based ion concentration and direct IMS detection. The non-linear electric field concentrates ions in seconds, and IMS provides sub-second detection, achieving both trace analysis precision and fast response time required for security applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary ionization and concentration of analytes before detection, using a non-linear electric field to pre-concentrate ionized analytes in seconds. This preliminary action enables subsequent rapid detection by IMS without requiring slow GC separation processes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables rapid concentration of analytes, reducing detection time and increasing sensitivity, while avoiding the limitations of prolonged accumulation and vacuum requirements, thus enhancing the performance of ion-detecting instruments for security and border control applications.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the sample gas flow to an ionising entity to bring about formation of ions of the analyte
Implementation Method 2
the ions are subjected to a combination of a non-linear electric field and an air velocity field that concentrate ions into a smaller volume
Implementation Method 3
the ions are subjected to a combination of a non-linear electric field and an air velocity field that concentrate ions into a smaller volume
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method and apparatus subjecting an analyte in an ion concentrating chamber to an electric and velocity field to concentrate analyte ions into a smaller space.