General Description
The Laser Photo-Acoustic Spectrometer (LPAS) is a high-sensitivity, optically-based sensor for detection and identification of trace levels of volatile explosives and chemicals. Developed as a commercial product by our Pranalytica partner www.prananytic.com, LPAS was originally created for environmental monitoring of semi-conductor manufacturing sites. The high sensitivity and reliability attributes of LPAS are now being ported to explosive and chemical sensing needs. In terms of logistics, the only daily-use consumable is electricity and train-up for non-technical users is one day.
Technical Description
The Laser Photo-Acoustic Spectrometer (LPAS) was developed as a commercial product by our Pranalytica partner www.prananytic.com and utilizes multiple quantum cascade lasers combined with a smart algorithm for rapid detection and identification of chemicals or explosives to the ppb level. The optical system is open architecture and the smart algorithm is trainable within one day against new target analytes.
Evaluation Criteria
THROUGHPUT:
- 2 minutes or less for detection
- Multiple samples, multiple tests/sample per run
- 95-32 samples every 2 hours
- The system or device is currently semi-automated
- Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
- 0-1 solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
- 1 component
- 10-20 minutes is required for set-up
- 1-2 steps are required for detection
LOGISTICS:
- An afternoon of training and some technical skills required
- Approximately the size of a carry-on luggage suitcase
- Between 25 and 50 kg
- Wireless and wired connections are available
- System or device has 110V electrical requirement
OPERATIONS:
- Can be used from 25°C to 37°C
- Device or system has peak performance at normal relative humidity conditions
- Between 1 to 3 years shelf life
- Greater than 10 years expected life
- Results can be viewed in real-time
- The system or device is currently fully autonomous
- The system software is open and available for modification
- The system hardware is open and available for modification
DETECTION:
- This system does not test liquids
- Good specificity. System has a consistently low level of false alarms (2-5%)
- 1x10-4–1x10-3 mg/m3
- <1 ppb
- System currently can identify aerosolized chemical agent
- System currently can identify liquid chemical agent
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