FROG-4000 | Defiant Technologies, Inc.

General Description
The FROG-4000™ Portable Gas Chromatograph (GC) analysis system. MEMS technology allows us to reduce the size of a lab GC to a volatile organic compound (VOC) analyzer that weighs less than 5 pounds and is battery operated. The FROG-4000™ scrubs the ambient air for its carrier gas. The FROG-4000™ can provide lab quality results with ppb detection limits in a 5 minute analysis. The FROG-4000™ can be calibrated for a variety of VOCs to include benzene, toluene, TCE, PCE, and many other VOCS. The instrument display will inform the user which VOCs are detected and their concentration. An on-board SD card stores all of the data the FROG-4000™ has acquired and that data can be downloaded to a computer later. The FROG-4000™ includes a purge and trap collection system for easy analysis VOCs of soil and water. The FROG-4000™ is intended to be used in the field to provide lab quality results in about 5 minutes of analysis time.

Technical Description
The FROG-4000™ is a portable Gas Chromatograph analysis instrument. It is a “systems approach to chemical analysis” constructed using Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) technology components. The key components are a pre-concentrator (PC), a micro gas chromatograph (GC) column (4.8 meters), and a Photo-Ionization Detector (PID). The system employs a built in purge-and-trap collection system to allow rapid sample loading. Ambient air is used as the carrier gas. The air is scrubbed using an activated charcoal filter and pumped through the purge-and-trap collector. This air is then pumped over the PC for about 30 seconds, at which point using proprietary ELLVIN™ software that is included with the instrument. The software allows for real time monitoring of the instrument, and displays the chromatogram as it develops. The software is also used to calibrate the instrument and perform routine maintenance functions.

Evaluation Criteria

THROUGHPUT:

Between 2 and 15 minutes for detection
1 sample, single test/sample per run
Less than 32 samples every 2 hours
The system could be adapted to a semi-automated system with some effort
Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
0-1 solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
1 component
Less than 5 minutes is required for set-up
1-2 steps are required for detection

LOGISTICS:

A day of training and technical skills are required
Approximately the size of a toaster
Between 1 and 5 kg
Wired connections are available
4-8 hours battery life

OPERATIONS:

Can be used from 4°C to 41°C
Components must be stored at 4°C
Performance is not influenced by relative humidity
3-5 years expected life
Results can be viewed in real-time
The system could be adapted to a fully autonomous system with significant effort
The system software is closed and not available for modification
The system hardware is closed and not available for modification

DETECTION:

Possible the system could receive 510K clearance, no current efforts at this time
Possible the system could receive FDA approval, no current efforts at this time
Greater than 250 µL
Superior specificity. System has a false alarm rate approaching zero (~0%)
> 1x10-3 mg/m3
< 1 ppb
System currently can identify aerosolized chemical agent
System currently can identify liquid chemical agent