US 12,411,122 B2
Sensitivity traps for electronic trace detection having explosives or narcotics embedded in a plasticized polymer matrix
Udo H. Verkerk, Toronto (CA); Vladimir Romanov, Pelham, NH (US); Hartwig Schmidt, Tewksbury, MA (US); Stefan Lukow, Windham, NH (US); Robert MacRae, Ayer, MA (US); and Zachary Andersen, Andover, MA (US)
Assigned to Rapiscan Systems, Inc., Torrance, CA (US)
Filed by Rapiscan Systems, Inc., Torrance, CA (US)
Filed on May 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/318,917.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/023,368, filed on May 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0011286 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 33/22 (2006.01); G01N 33/15 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/227 (2013.01) [G01N 33/15 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a sensitivity trap, wherein the sensitivity trap comprises a polymer matrix made of a polymer material, and at least one analyte embedded within the polymer matrix, and wherein the sensitivity trap is defined by a target glass transition temperature, the method comprising:
selecting an amount and a type of plasticizer, wherein the amount and the type of the plasticizer is based upon a type of the at least one analyte and at least one of the target glass transition temperature or a diffusion coefficient of the at least one analyte and wherein said amount of plasticizer is sufficient to increase a diffusion coefficient of the at least one analyte such that, when the sensitivity trap is inserted into an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) and exposed to a heating rate of approximately 33° C. per second, the at least one analyte is released from the mixture with sufficient desorption intensity to reach at least 2000 a.u. as measured by the IMS within 4 seconds of initiating heating;
dissolving a polymer and the selected amount and type of plasticizer in a solvent to form a mixture;
adding the at least one analyte to the mixture;
removing the solvent from the mixture; and
depositing the mixture onto a carrier to form the sensitivity trap.
 
17. A sensitivity trap defined by a target glass transition temperature, comprising:
a polymer matrix made of a polymer material;
at least one analyte embedded within the polymer matrix;
a plasticizer, wherein an amount and a type of the plasticizer is based upon the target glass transition temperature and a type of the at least one analyte and wherein said amount of plasticizer is sufficient to increase a diffusion coefficient of the at least one analyte such that, when the sensitivity trap is inserted into an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) and exposed to a heating rate of approximately 33° C. per second, the at least one analyte is released from the mixture with sufficient desorption intensity to reach at least 2000 a.u. as measured by the IMS within 4 seconds of the onset of heating; and
a carrier material upon which the polymer matrix, at least one analyte, and plasticizer are deposited.