Lightweight Chemical Detector (LCD) 3.2e | Smiths Detection

General Description
LCD (Lightweight Chemical Detector) is a sophisticated yet small and lightweight chemical warfare agent detectors, has revolutionized the soldier/squad's protection. The LCD contains no radioactive source, has a volume of less than 30in³ and weighs less than 1 lb (0.45kg). Principally used as an unobtrusive compact detector, the LCD constantly samples the air for traces of nerve (G), blister (H), TICs (T) or blood (H) and choking (T) agents, to enable the user to take appropriate action. When used in survey mode, the unit has the capability for checking cargo, equipment, personnel or facilities. Additionally, the unit can be deployed on fixed or mobile platforms, including vehicles, ships, aircraft and fixed site installations. Equipped with an audible and/or visual alarm the unit incorporates an LED display mounted on the top face, to show operating status and give visual alarms (when worn), and a bar display on the front of the unit indicates concentration levels. In the event of an attack, the unit has the ability to recover quickly with a rapid clear-down time. The LCD 3.2E is user-friendly, highly reliable and field maintainable to minimize whole life cost. The only consumable items are standard commercially available AA batteries and the molecular sieve pack; both of which are replaceable in the field in less than two minutes and can be undertaken whilst wearing Individual Protective Equipment. Once deployed, the detector requires no calibration, lubrication or other scheduled maintenance

Technical Description
LCD 3.2e uses Ion Mobility Spectroscopy (IMS) and analysis software to match sample spectral results to stored libraries to classify, identify and quantify chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and toxic industrial chemicals (TICs).

Evaluation Criteria

THROUGHPUT:

Detection is instantaneous
Continuous operation with no defined runs
System is continuous and provides real time analysis with no defined tests/samples
The system or device is currently fully automated
Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
0-1 solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
2 components
Less than 5 minutes is required for set-up
Automatic detection

LOGISTICS:

Very brief (minutes-hours) training and minimal technical skills
Approximately the size of a soda can
Less than 1 kg
Wired connections are available
System or device uses batteries
4-8 hours battery life

OPERATIONS:

Can be used from < -21°C to > 42°C (All temperatures)
Performance is not influenced by relative humidity
Greater than 10 years expected life
Results cannot be viewed in real-time
The system or device is currently fully autonomous
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
Less than 10 µL
Excellent specificity. System has occasional false alarms under certain conditions (<2%)
>1x10-3 mg/m3
Possible system could identify aerosolized chemical agent
System currently can identify liquid chemical agent

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