Abstract: An injection valve is provided. A first conduit is disposed between first and second chambers of the valve. An entrance to the first conduit is located within the first chamber. A second conduit is concentrically disposed within the first conduit so that there is a first flow passage between the first and second conduits connecting the first and second chambers. The second conduit has an entrance communicating with the first chamber via the entrance of the first conduit and an exit defining a first outlet port of the valve. A cover opens and closes a first inlet port of the first chamber, and a biasing device biases the cover closed. An actuator moves the cover from the closed position to open the first inlet port.

Abstract: A hand-held chemical vapor detector for detecting biological substances in an indoor and outdoor setting is claimed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a plasma chromatograph (PC) vapor detector that is interfaced to a biological sample processing and transfer introduction system. The biological sample processing was accomplished by quartz tube thermal decomposition (TD), and the resultant vapor was transferred by gas chromatography (GC) to the PC detector. This system is comprised of a thermal decomposition module, gas chromatography module and a plasma chromatograph detector. These components are connected in a series fashion. The device is referred to as a Biological Classifier System (BCS). The BCS can be described as a hyphenated device where two analytical dimensions (the GC and PC), in series, allow the separation and isolation of individual components from the thermal decomposition of biological analytes.

Abstract: A hand-portable, modular and temperature programmable gas chromatography aratus having reduced power consumption requirements is disclosed. The gas chromatography module includes a ring oven for housing a gas chromatography capillary column and programmable means for controlling the temperature of said column within the ring. The gas chromatography capillary column includes a sampling end and an effluent end. The sampling end of the GC capillary column is in fluid communication with a sampling nozzle and a vacuum pulse generating means. The vacuum generating means generates a sample pulse and directs the sample pulse to the sampling end of the gas chromatography capillary column during sample injection mode. During standby mode only clean dry air is directed to the column. The module is also easily interfaced with secondary sample detection or analysis instruments so that additional identification dimensions can added.

Abstract: A chemical sampling apparatus including an interface between a miniature mobility spectrometer and a gas chromatography system. The apparatus has a gas chromatography an ion mobility spectrometer and an input for inputting a regulated flow of a gas to be analyzed to the gas chromatograph. An interface is positioned between the gas chromatograph and the ion mobility spectrometer. The interface accepts and analyzes eluted gas from the gas chromatograph and selectively inputs the eluted gas to the ion mobility spectrometer only when an eluted gas condition to be analyzed is detected.

Abstract: A heated capillary tube is axially supported in center of a housing under cuum. One end of the capillary tube receives ions from an ion source. The other end of the capillary tube terminates adjacent to the inner side of a flat plate having an orifice. A transport tube is connected to the outer side of the flat plate and has an open outer end. A first electrical field exists between the capillary tube and the plate to control the flow of ions. A second electrical field exists downstream of the plate, and the tube is disposed within the second electrical field. The transport tube allows for more efficient focusing of ions by the electrical and aerodynamic means to the mass spectrometer. A mechanical valve may be coupled to the capillary tube to independently control the flow of ions and the entire probe may be removed without compromising the vacuum in the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a spectrometric technique to determine microorganism detection and identification by taking advantage of the inherent extracellular enzymes present in living organisms, as opposed to dead, non-enzyme producing organisms. These enzymes are harnessed in the in vivo reactions with a non-fluorescent dye containing a select organic functional group that is known to be cleaved or hydrolyzed by the certain enzyme. The dye is tailored such that one of the products fluoresces, so that by employing a conventional spectrofluorimeter, the rate of fluorescence can be determined. By subjecting a plurality of samples having different cellular concentrations of viable microorganisms to the same non-fluorescent dye, or by subjecting the same bacterial sample to a number of different non-fluorescent dyes, a pattern of fluorescent rates emerge.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting bacteria by forming an immunoassay ladder sing a biological substance (Ag) adsorbed onto a surface, to which has been added an immunological biochemical ladder (Ab) and beta-galactosidase enzyme (gal) to form a Ag-Ab-gal system. The system is added to an aqueous solution of an enzyme selected from ortho-nitrophenylgalactopyranoside and ortho-nitrophenylgalactosidase enzyme. The enzyme reacts with the gal to produce ortho-nitrophenol (ONP) such that the amount of ortho-nitrophenol (ONP) produced may be detected by measuring the vapor pressure generated by the ONP using an ion mobility spectrometer monitor. The pressure of the ONP is in proportion to the amount of biological substance present in the system. In a preferred embodiment, the ion mobility spectrometer monitor includes display means for indicating the quantity of bacteria measured.