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

Abstract: A channel assembly is disclosed, which may comprise a microfluidic channel. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed as are detectors and detector components which may comprise such a channel assembly. An example is a detection apparatus comprising: a detector for detecting a substance of interest; and a pneumatic system comprising a microfluidic channel assembly comprising a first microfluidic channel for dispensing vapour to the detector, wherein the first microfluidic channel comprises a groove in a surface of a polymer body and a wall of the first channel is provided by a film bonded to the surface of the body over the groove.

Abstract: An ionising apparatus for ionising a sample of gaseous fluid. The ionising apparatus comprises an ioniser 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 ionise the sample for analysis by a detector configured to identify a substance of interest in the sample.

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: An ion filter for a mass spectrometer, the apparatus comprising an ion modifier; an ion selector configured to select a subset of a sample of ions based on their mobility in a gas; and a controller configured to operate the ion modifier in a first mode to modify the ions selected by the ion selector to provide daughter ions, and configured to operate the ion modifier in a second mode to output the ions selected by the ion selector; wherein the ion filter is adapted for providing output ions from the ion modifier to an intake of a mass spectrometer.

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 ion mobility spectrometer comprising an ionizer for ionizing a sample; a detector separated from the ionizer by a drift chamber along which ions can travel from the ionizer toward the detector; a gate for controlling the passage of ions from the ionizer to the drift chamber; an ion modifier arranged between the ionizer 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: 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 vaporize 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: An apparatus includes a sample receiving port and an inlet assembly configured to be positioned adjacent to the sample receiving port. The inlet assembly defines a volume for receiving a sample and includes a gap that defines an extraction port. The extraction port is configured to extract one fluid flow to facilitate another fluid flow toward the sample receiving port. The extraction port can be configured as an annular flow port around the sample receiving port. In some instances, the apparatus also includes a curtain port positioned apart from the sample receiving port and the extraction port. The curtain port can be used to guide fluid away from interior surfaces of the inlet assembly and toward the sample receiving port, and/or to provide an environment of controlled air, and/or to isolate the sample receiving port from external sources of contamination.

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: The present disclosure relates to a process for facilitating the identification of target chemicals which may be detected by means of an ion mobility spectrometer and a system for implementing the same. In an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a process for determining the ratio of CI? to CI?.OOH reactant ion species formed in a pentachloroethane doped ion mobility spectrometer operating in negative mode, said process comprising: i) introducing a sample comprising or consisting essentially of isoflurane into a pentachloroethane doped ion mobility spectrometer; ii) collecting data relevant to the detection of two isoflurane monomer ions formed following reaction with CI? and CI?.OOH reactant ion species present in the pentachloroethane doped ion mobility spectrometer; and iii) determining the ratio of CI? to CI?.OOH reactant ion species formed in the pentachloroethane doped ion mobility spectrometer based on an evaluation of the data collected.