New device to complement Smiths Detection HazMatID analyzers in the identification of unknown liquids, powders and solids; highly accurate analysis of unidentified substances
Smiths Detection, a provider of detection equipment, has formed a strategic partnership with DeltaNu to introduce a hand-held Raman spectroscopy system that will be used to identify unknown chemical substances.
The new system is designed to complement Smiths Detection's widely deployed HazMatID FT-IR system and offers a confirming, independent analysis of unidentified liquids, powders and solids.
The new system will be available for sale to emergency responders in the summer of 2005.
Based on Raman technology, the new chemical analyser will identify toxic industrial chemicals, nerve and blister agents, weapons of mass destruction, explosives, narcotics, and common chemicals in seconds.
The system will non-destructively analyse substances directly or through glass and clear plastic containers.
"To verify the identification of a potentially dangerous unknown substance, emergency response teams routinely conduct two or more independent tests," said Jim Fitzpatrick, Smiths Detection general manager for emergency responders.
"Raman spectroscopy, when combined with FT-IR spectroscopy, enables first responders to quickly apply two fundamentally different techniques to a sample and thereby ensure a high degree of accuracy when identifying unknowns".
"We are pleased to partner with Smiths Detection," said Keith Carron, CEO of DeltaNu.
"Our hand-held Raman technology is a vital, new addition to the arsenal of tools enabling first responders to rapidly identify unknown chemicals at the site of the incident".
"Our company has been looking for the appropriate strategic partner to take our revolutionary technology to market and Smiths was at the top of our list." Smiths Detection said the combination of the two analyser technologies is particularly well suited to identifying complex materials such as mixtures containing multiple chemicals and wet samples.
The DeltaNu Raman system creates a unique spectral signature by measuring the interaction of a low-power laser with a sample.
Like the HazMatID, the signature is compared against an on-board database library of known chemicals for an identity.
Because Raman measures a completely different behavior than the HazMatID, it is an ideal confirmatory tool for the analysis of unknowns.
Smiths Detection has sold hundreds of its popular HazMatID systems to fire department HazMat teams, law enforcement, military, and a variety of federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, US Customs, and UN weapons inspection teams.
The HazMatID is a tool that measures the way chemical samples interact with infrared light, with each substance generating a unique infrared fingerprint.
The HazMatID instantly compares the infrared fingerprint against a database to provide the identity of the unknown.top of page
