Abstract: A system for inspecting items in transit through a transit facility, wherein the system comprises a plurality of data collection units located at a plurality of transit facilities; a decision entity, in connection with the data collection unit at a selected one of the transit facilities; and a server connectable to each of the data collection units. The server comprising a data store storing inspection data, obtained from the data collection units, indicative of instances of item inspection at the plurality of transit facilities; and a processor coupled to the data store and operable to update the data store based on data gathered at the data collection units.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometry method comprising (i) applying a voltage difference between a first electrode of an ion gate and a second electrode of the ion gate to prevent ions from leaving a reaction region of an ion mobility spectrometer; (ii) opening the ion gate to allow the ions to travel from the reaction region into a modification region between the first electrode and the second electrode; (iii) applying a radio frequency, RF, voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to fragment the ions in the modification region to provide daughter ions; (iv) allowing the daughter ions to travel from the modification region into a drift region of the ion mobility spectrometer towards a collector; (v) closing the ion gate; and (vi) determining the time of flight of the daughter ions from the ion gate to the collector.

Abstract: A detector comprising an analytical apparatus for detecting a substance of interest, and a detector inlet. The detector inlet comprises a flow passage for carrying a flow of fluid, the flow passage comprising a sampling volume, and a sampling inlet adapted to collect samples of the fluid from the sampling volume as the fluid flows past the sampling inlet, and to provide the samples to the analytical apparatus, wherein the flow of fluid carries particulates. The detector inlet also comprises a flow director arranged to vary a spatial distribution of the particulates carried by the fluid to increase a relative proportion of the particulates carried past the sampling inlet along the flow passage without entering the sampling volume.

Abstract: A detector inlet for providing a sample to an analytical apparatus for detecting an aerosol, the detector inlet comprising; an intake for inhaling a flow of gaseous fluid to be sampled by the analytical apparatus; a mixing region; a first conduit for carrying a first part of the flow of gaseous fluid from the intake to the mixing region; a second conduit for carrying a second part of the flow of gaseous fluid from the intake to the mixing region; and a heater configured to heat the first part more than the second part, and wherein the detector inlet is configured to combine the first part with the second part in the mixing region.

Abstract: A portable ion mobility spectrometry apparatus (1) for detecting an aerosol and a method for using the apparatus. The apparatus comprises an ion mobility spectrometer (3); a portable power source (5) carried by the apparatus for providing power to the apparatus (1); an inlet (7) for collecting a flow of air to be tested by the spectrometer (3); a heater (4) configured to heat the air to be tested to vapourise an aerosol carried by the air and a controller (2) configured to control the spectrometer (3) to obtain samples from the heated air, wherein the controller is configured to increase a heat output from the heater (4) for a selected time period before obtaining samples from the heated air.

Abstract: A detector comprising an analytical apparatus for detecting a substance of interest, and a detector inlet. The detector inlet comprises a flow passage for carrying a flow of fluid, the flow passage comprising a sampling volume, and a sampling inlet adapted to collect samples of the fluid from the sampling volume as the fluid flows past the sampling inlet, and to provide the samples to the analytical apparatus, wherein the how of fluid carries particulates. The detector inlet also comprises a flow director arranged to vary a spatial distribution of the particulates carried by the fluid to increase a relative proportion of the particulates carried past the sampling inlet along the flow passage without entering the sampling volume.

Abstract: A detector inlet for providing a sample to an analytical apparatus for detecting a substance of interest, the detector inlet comprising a plenum for allowing passage of a flow of a gaseous fluid, the plenum comprising a sampling volume a sampling inlet arranged in the plenum and arranged to collect samples of the gaseous fluid from the sampling volume and to provide the samples to the analytical apparatus, wherein the flow carries particulates and a flow director arranged to create circulatory flow of the gaseous fluid around the plenum encircling the sampling inlet thereby to vary a spatial distribution of the particulates carried by the fluid to increase a relative proportion of the particulates carried past the sampling inlet without entering the sampling volume.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer comprising an ioniser for ionising a sample; a detector separated from the ioniser by a drift chamber along which ions can travel from the ioniser toward the detector; a gate for controlling the passage of ions from the ioniser to the drift chamber; an ion modifier arranged between the ioniser and the detector and comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; and a voltage provider configured to provide a time varying voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode wherein the time varying voltage has a frequency of at least 2.5 MHz.

Abstract: Techniques are described for collecting information regarding the presence or absence of a material of interest in an environment and associating the presence or absence of the material of interest with additional data associated with the environment. In embodiments, the additional data is collected and associated with one or more windows identified for the materials of interest. A method includes initiating sample detection in an environment. The method also includes receiving an indication associated with at least one of a presence or an absence of a material of interest in the environment. The method also includes associating the indication with a time stamp furnished by a clock. The method further includes initiating collection of additional data associated with the environment. The additional data is associated with a second time stamp furnished by the clock. The method also includes associating the indication with the additional data in a window.

Abstract: Ion modification An ion mobility spectrometer (100) comprising a sample inlet (108) comprising an aperture arranged to allow a sample of gaseous fluid to flow from an ambient pressure region to a low pressure region of the ion mobility spectrometer to be ionised; a controller (200) arranged to control gas pressure in the low pressure region to be lower than ambient pressure; and an ion modifier (126, 127, 202) configured to modify ions in the low pressure region, wherein the ions are obtained from the sample of gas.

Abstract: An ionizing apparatus for ionizing a sample of gaseous fluid. The ionizing apparatus comprises an ionizer configured to provide reactant ions; an ion modifier configured to modify the reactant ions, and a reaction region arranged to receive the modified reactant ions and a sample and to combine the sample with the modified reactant ions to ionize the sample for analysis by a detector configured to identify a substance of interest in the sample.

Abstract: A thermal desorption apparatus is configured to detect a substance of interest in a sample, the apparatus comprising: a wand configured to support a swab and a detector comprising an analyser arranged to detect a substance of interest, wherein the wand is configured to couple to the detector such that thermal desorption of a sample from the swab provides a part of the sample to the analyser.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a process for calibrating a detection apparatus, especially an ion mobility spectrometer, using isoflurane (CAS Reg. No. 26675-46-7) as a chemical standard whereby calibrating the detection apparatus for a known target chemical is based on an evaluation of the experimental data collected for the negative isoflurane monomer ion against the experimental data collected for the negative isoflurane dimer ion.

Abstract: An on-demand vapor generator includes a vapor chamber configured to produce a vapor and a vapor absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapor from the vapor chamber. The vapor absorption assembly includes a first vapor-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapor-permeable passage that is closed. When vapor absorption assembly receives a flow of vapor from the vapor chamber, the flow of vapor passes through the first vapor-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapor from the flow of vapor. However, when a flow of vapor is not received from the vapor chamber, vapor entering the vapor absorption assembly from the vapor chamber passes into the first vapor-permeable passage and the at least one second vapor-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometry method comprising determining whether a sample comprises ions having a first characteristic, and in the event that it is determined that the sample comprises ions having the first characteristic, applying thermal energy together with a radio frequency, RF, electric field to parent ions so as to obtain daughter ions having a second characteristic for inferring at least one identity for the parent ions based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

Abstract: A detecting method using an IMS apparatus with a preconcentrator outside its inlet aperture. Analyte vapor is adsorbed during a first phase when substantially no gas is admitted to the reaction region. The preconcentrator is then energized to desorb the analyte molecules and create a volume of desorbed molecules outside the IMS housing. Next, a pressure pulser is energized momentarily to drop pressure in the housing and draw in a small sip of the analyte molecules from the desorbed volume through the aperture. This is repeated until the concentration of analyte molecules in the desorbed volume is too low for accurate analysis, following which the apparatus enters another adsorption phase.

Abstract: Synchronized ion modification systems and techniques are described. An ion modifier can be used to modify a portion of ions that enter a drift chamber via a gate that controls entry of the ions to the drift chamber. A controller that is communicatively coupled to the ion modifier is configured to control the ion modifier to select a portion of the ion to be modified. In embodiments, the controller selects the portion based on a detector's previous response to other ions that are formed from a sample from which the ions were formed. The other ions, for example, correspond to ions that are associated with a peak in previous operation of a spectrometer.

Abstract: IMS apparatus has an inlet with a preconcentrator opening into a reaction region where analyte molecules are ionized and passed via a shutter to a drift region for collection and analysis. A pump and filter arrangement supplies a flushing flow of clean gas to the housing in opposition to ion flow. A pressure pulser connects with the housing and is momentarily switched to cause a short drop in pressure, in the housing to draw in a bolus of analyte sample from the preconcentrator. Just prior to admitting a bolus of sample, the pump is turned off so that the flushing flow drops substantially to zero, thereby prolonging the time the analyte molecules spend in the reaction region.

Abstract: RF generators including active devices driving series resonant circuits are described. The series resonant circuits include a self-resonant dual inductor. The RF generators can be used to drive capacitive loads.

Abstract: An accessory for a device includes an actuator that is configured to be activated to operate a switch on the device when the accessory is physically engaged with the device. The switch is operable to cause the device to switch between on and off modes in which the device is configured to function. The off mode is a mode in which the device consumes less energy than when in the on mode. A controller is communicatively coupled with the actuator and is configured to activate the actuator to operate the switch when power is applied to the actuator.