Patents Assigned to Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
  • Patent number: 11959846
    Abstract: A method for providing in situ chemical transformation and ionization of a portion (e.g., inorganic oxidizer) of a sample via an analyte detection system is disclosed herein. The method includes introducing a gas into an ionization some of the analyte detection system via an inlet. The method further includes generating ions within the ionization source and directing the gas and generated ions through and out of the ionization source and to the sample. The sample is located proximal to the ionization source in an ambient environment. The ions chemically react with the sample and desorb and ionize an analytic from the sample, the analyte being generated from the inorganic oxidizer, the desorbed analyte having a lower melting point and/or better desorption kinetics than the inorganic oxidizer. The method further includes receiving the desorbed analyte via an analyzer of the analyte detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Hendrikse, Vladimir Romanov
  • Patent number: 11506576
    Abstract: A trace analyte collection swab having a collection surface at least partially coated with a microscopically tacky substance to enhance pick-up efficiency is described. In embodiments, the truce analyte collection swab comprises a substrate including a surface having a trace analyte collection area and a coating disposed on the surface of the substrate in the trace analyte collection area. The coating is configured to be microscopically adhesive to collect particles of the trace analyte from a surface when the trace analyte collection area is placed against the surface. In one embodiment, the coating comprises Polyisobutylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Christopher Peter Thomson, Atin J. Patel
  • Patent number: 11307172
    Abstract: An ion detection assembly is described that includes a drift chamber, an inlet assembly, and a collector assembly. The drift chamber is formed of substantially non-conductive material and/or semi-conductive material. A patterned resistive trace is deposited on one or more of an interior surface or an exterior surface of the drift chamber. The patterned resistive trace is configured to connect to a source of electrical energy. The inlet assembly and the collector assembly are in fluid communication with the drift chamber. The inlet assembly includes an inlet for receiving a sample, a reaction region for ionizing the sample, and a gate for controlling entrance of the ionized sample to the drift chamber. The collector assembly includes a collector plate for collecting the ionized sample after the ionized sample passes through the drift chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal, Inc.
    Inventors: Bohdan Atamanchuk, Volodimir Bondarenko, Vlad Sergeyev, Henryk Zaleski, Daniel Levin, Mark Piniarski, Igor Kubelik, Qunzhou Bian, Simon Feldberg, Douglas J. Green, Brian Boso, Atin J. Patel
  • Patent number: 10429275
    Abstract: A trace analyte collection swab having a collection surface at least partially coated with a microscopically tacky substance to enhance pick-up efficiency is described. In embodiments, the trace analyte collection swab comprises a substrate including a surface having a trace analyte collection area and a coating disposed on the surface of the substrate in the trace analyte collection area. The coating is configured to be microscopically adhesive to collect particles of the trace analyte from a surface when the trace analyte collection area is placed against the surface. In one embodiment, the coating comprises Polyisobutylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Christopher Peter Thomson, Atin J. Patel
  • Patent number: 10338027
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed provide for methods of managing polarity switching in an ion mobility spectrometer, and provide for management of the repelling grid voltage, the gating grid voltage, and the fixed grid voltage during polarity switching. Systems and methods also provide for the management of the effect of dielectric relaxation in an insulator proximal to the collector, and provide for a preamplifier coupled to the collector including a switch, and a method of managing the collector output including the switch. Systems and methods consistent with the current disclosure further provide for a method of normalizing ion mobility data by determining fitting coefficients associated with a plurality of measurement data sets, and subtracting the curves determined by the fitting coefficients from the data acquired by the ion mobility spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Henryk Zaleski, Mark Piniarski, Simon Feldberg, Jeff Anderson, Oleg Samarin
  • Patent number: 9972482
    Abstract: A concentric APCI surface ionization probe, supersonic sampling tube, and method for use of the concentric APCI surface ionization probe and supersonic sampling tube are described. In an embodiment, the concentric APCI surface ionization probe includes an outer tube, an inner capillary, and a voltage source coupled to the outer tube and the inner capillary. The inner capillary is housed within and concentric with the outer tube such that ionized gas (e.g., air) travels out of the outer tube, reacts with a sample, and the resulting analyte ions are sucked into the inner capillary. A supersonic sampling tube can include a tube coupled to a mass spectrometer and/or concentric APCI surface ionization probe, where the tube includes at least one de Laval nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Hendrikse, Vladimir Romanov
  • Patent number: 9837257
    Abstract: A corona ionization source assembly and fabrication methods are described that include a fine wire including a wire core including a first material, and a wire coating including a second material, where the wire coating surrounds a portion of the wire core, and the diameter of the wire coating is greater than the diameter of the wire core. Additionally, the fine wire may be coupled to a mounting post. In an implementation, a process for fabricating the corona ionization source assembly that employs the techniques of the present disclosure includes forming a wire core, forming a wire coating that surrounds the wire core, forming a mask layer on at least a portion of the wire coating, etching the wire coating, and removing the mask layer from the wire coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventor: Henryk Zaleski
  • Patent number: 9778224
    Abstract: An ionization device includes a first electrode comprising a conductive member coated with a dielectric layer. The ionization device also includes a spine extending adjacent to and at least partially along the first electrode. The ionization device further includes a second electrode comprising conductive segments disposed adjacent the first electrode. Each one of the conductive segments contacts the spine at a respective contact location. The dielectric layer of the first electrode separates the conductive member of the first electrode from the spine and the second electrode. The ionization device is configured to create plasma generating locations corresponding to respective crossings of the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Kubelik, Simon Feldberg, Bohdan Atamanchuk, Mark Piniarski, Mark Lekhter, Daniel Levin, Vlad Sergeyev, Henryk Zaleski
  • Patent number: 9728389
    Abstract: A concentric APCI surface ionization probe, supersonic sampling tube, and method for use of the concentric APCI surface ionization probe and supersonic sampling tube are described. In an embodiment, the concentric APCI surface ionization probe includes an outer tube, an inner capillary, and a voltage source coupled to the outer tube and the inner capillary. The inner capillary is housed within and concentric with the outer tube such that ionized gas (e.g., air) travels out of the outer tube, reacts with a sample, and the resulting analyte ions are sucked into the inner capillary. A supersonic sampling tube can include a tube coupled to a mass spectrometer and/or concentric APCI surface ionization probe, where the tube includes at least one de Laval nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Hendrikse, Vladimir Romanov
  • Patent number: 9134208
    Abstract: A sample introduction system configured for introducing analytes of a solid phase micro extraction (SPME) sample into an analytical instrument system (e.g., mass spectrometer) is described. The sample introduction system includes a pressure vessel configured with an inlet port via which a probe portion (e.g., SPME fiber) of a SPME assembly is received into a sealed volume of the pressure vessel. The probe portion of the SPME assembly is coated with an extracting phase material, the analytes being absorbed into and/or adsorbed onto the extracting phase material. The pressure vessel is configured for providing an environment in which desorption of the analytes from the extracting phase material occurs at a gaseous pressure which is substantially less than atmospheric pressure (e.g., less than 100 mTorr). The desorbed analytes are then directed to the vacuum chamber of the analytical instrument system via an outlet port of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Hendrikse, Vladimir Romanov
  • Patent number: 8901489
    Abstract: Looped ionization sources for ion mobility spectrometers are described. The ionization sources can be used to ionize molecules from a sample of interest in order to identify the molecules based on the ions. In an implementation, an electrical ionization source includes a wire that is looped between electrical contacts. The wire is used to form a corona responsive to application of voltage between the wire and the walls of an ionization chamber. The corona can form when a sufficient voltage is applied between the wire and the walls. A difference in electrical potential between the wire and a wall forming an ionization chamber, in which wire is contained, can be used to draw the ions away from the wire. In embodiments, the wire can be heated to reduce the voltage used to strike the corona. The ions, subsequently, may ionize the molecules from the sample of interest. The looped corona source can also be used in mass spectrometers (MS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Levin, Vlad Sergeyev, Volodimir Bondarenko, Bohdan Atamanchuk, Qunzhou Bian, Henryk Zaleski, Mark Piniarski, Simon Feldberg, Ronald Jackson
  • Publication number: 20140339417
    Abstract: A mass spectrometry system for screening a sample for one or more analytes includes a pre-mass spectrometry screening apparatus configured to pre-screen an ionized sample to generate output correlated to the composition of the sample, and a mass spectrometer. A sample gate is opened to allow flow of at least a portion of the ionized sample to the mass spectrometer and closed to prevent flow of the ionized sample to the mass spectrometer. A processing system compares results of the pre-mass spectrometry screening to an analyte database, wherein correlation of the results to an analyte within the analyte database comprises a preliminary positive identification. When the processing system determines that a preliminary positive identification is made, it causes the gate to open for a period of time. However, when the processing system determines that a preliminary positive identification is not made, it causes the gate to remain closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Hendrikse
  • Publication number: 20140264021
    Abstract: An ion detection assembly is described that includes a drift chamber, an inlet assembly, and a collector assembly. The drift chamber is formed of substantially non-conductive material and/or semi-conductive material. A patterned resistive trace is deposited on one or more of an interior surface or an exterior surface of the drift chamber. The patterned resistive trace is configured to connect to a source of electrical energy. The inlet assembly and the collector assembly are in fluid communication with the drift chamber. The inlet assembly includes an inlet for receiving a sample, a reaction region for ionizing the sample, and a gate for controlling entrance of the ionized sample to the drift chamber. The collector assembly includes a collector plate for collecting the ionized sample after the ionized sample passes through the drift chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Bohdan Atamanchuk, Volodimir Bondarenko, Vlad Sergeyev, Henryk Zaleski, Daniel Levin, Mark Piniarski, Igor Kubelik, Qunzhou Bian, Simon Feldberg, Douglas J. Green, Brian Boso, Atin J. Patel
  • Patent number: 8461517
    Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer includes a permeation tube, ammonium sulfate disposed within the permeation tube in solid form, and a heating device configured to heat the permeation tube so as to create ammonia gas to flow within the permeation tube. When an array of sensors of the IMS is placed in contact with an unknown sample, the ammonia operates as a reactant so as to provide detection signals that are provided to a processor unit of the IMS, so as to identify the unknown sample based on its ion mobility spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Reno F. Debono, Paul Christopher Peter Thomson
  • Patent number: 7800056
    Abstract: A document sampler can be arranged to receive a document in an insertion area of the document sampler. With such arrangements, a document can be directly inserted into a document sampler without an extra step of swabbing a document with a sample collection device. By eliminating the extra step of swabbing a document, the efficiency of sample detection is improved, sample detection is performed more rapidly, and operating costs of sample detection are decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Smiths Detection Montreal Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Mawer, Geoff Beyer, Mark Elliot, Mark Piniarski, Roland Link, Simon Feldberg