APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SAMPLING OF CONFINED SPACES

摘要

In various embodiments of the invention, a cargo container can be monitored at appropriate time intervals to determine that no controlled substances have been shipped with the cargo in the container. The monitoring utilizes reactive species produced from an atmospheric analyzer to ionize analyte molecules present in the container which are then analyzed by an appropriate spectroscopy system. In an embodiment of the invention, a sorbent surface can be used to absorb, adsorb or condense analyte molecules within the container whereafter the sorbent surface can be interrogated with the reactive species to generate analyte species characteristic of the contents of the container.

主权项

1. An atmospheric ionization sorbent module (AISM) system to analyze a cargo comprising:
a container with a volume, where the container can be substantially confined on all sides, where the container includes at least a distal end and a proximal end; the atmospheric ionization sorbent module (AISM) including a sorbent surface and a region in front of the sorbent surface, where the AISM is in connection with one or both the distal end and the proximal end; and one or more fans to introduce ambient air to the region in front of the sorbent surface.