US 11,937,919 B2
Apparatus and associated accessories, methods and uses for visualising a print on an object
Roberto Stefano Pasquale King, Evesham (GB); Martin Wayne Millington, Evesham (GB); and Andrew Worsfold, Evesham (GB)
Assigned to The Secretary of State for Defence, Salisbury (GB)
Appl. No. 17/250,818
Filed by THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, Salisbury (GB)
PCT Filed Sep. 13, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/000135
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 5, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/053542, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1815050 (GB), filed on Sep. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0393169 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/1172 (2016.01); B05D 1/00 (2006.01); C01B 21/00 (2006.01); C23C 14/00 (2006.01); C23C 16/448 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/1172 (2013.01) [B05D 1/60 (2013.01); C23C 16/4485 (2013.01); C01B 21/00 (2013.01); C23C 14/00 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for visualizing a print on an object, the apparatus comprising:
a base defining a surface, the base comprising a first heating element in thermal communication with a receptacle having an opening adapted to receive an agent, the receptacle protruding from the surface of the base;
a housing adapted to contact the base to provide a sealed chamber; and
a port adapted to apply a vacuum to or release a vacuum from the sealed chamber,
wherein the receptacle comprises, along its length, two portions: a first portion, at the base of the receptacle, in contact with, or designed to be heated directly by, the first heating element; and a second portion, adjacent to the opening to the receptacle, either not in contact with, or not directly heated by, the first heating element, wherein the first portion of the receptacle comprises a heat conductive material, and the second portion of the receptacle comprises a material that is (i) less heat conductive than the heat conductive material of the first portion or (ii) an insulating material.