| DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120326023 | ION MOBILITY SPECTROMETER to MASS SPECTROMETER INTERFACE - A method and apparatus are described herein for the interface of an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) to a mass spectrometer (MS) that utilizes collisional focusing, through internal modification. Commercial standalone IMS instrumentation cannot be combined in tandem with a commercially available MS that utilizes collisional focusing due to the physics of the differentially pumped interface of the MS being an unsuitable environment for an IMS measurement. The invention provides for transfer of the ion beam from the IMS to the MS without distortion of the chemical species or temporal profile due to large scale collisions in the differentially pumped interface, by increasing the electric field strength between the orifice and skimmer, and decreasing the pressure in the differentially pumped interface, thereby reducing the number of background gas collisions encountered by the ion beam during transit from the IMS to the MS. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120152038 | HIGH VOLUME SAMPLING FRONT END COLLECTION DEVICE - A device for sampling surfaces for the presence of compounds is provided, the device comprising a housing having a proximal end adapted to receive a negative pressure gradient and a distal end adapted to contact the surfaces; a heating element spaced medially from the distal end, the heating element positioned within the housing; a primary filter spaced medially from the heating element, the primary filter encased by the housing; and a secondary filter spaced medially from the primary filter, the secondary filter removably received by the housing. Also provided is a method for sampling a surface for the presence of compounds, the method comprising contacting the surface for a time and with a pressure to dislodge the compounds from the surface; capturing first fractions of the compounds with a primary filter while allowing second fractions of the compounds to pass through the primary filter; heating the primary filter for a time and at a temperature sufficient to volatilize the first fractions; capturing the volatized first fractions and the second fractions with a secondary filter; and analyzing the secondary filter for the identity of the compounds. | 06-21-2012 |
