Test swipe for portable explosive or drug detection system

Abstract

A portable chemical analytical apparatus to analyze a test swipe having a base; a chemically treated pad containing the swiped sample positioned in a white zone above the base; and a tab attached to one side of the base. The apparatus includes a heater to warm the test swipe to a predetermined temperature; a clamp to secure the test swipe to the heater; one or more pumps to dispense one or more chemicals onto the test swipe from a disposable cartridge; a fan to remove chemical vapors rising a predetermined distance from the test swipe; and a camera to capture an image of the test swipe for un-biased automated analysis, and displayed on an LCD screen.

1 . A test swipe, comprising:
 a base;   one or more chemically treated pads positioned above the base; and   a tab attached to one side of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically treated pad comprises a substantially round shape. 
     
     
         3 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , comprising a sequence of one or more chemicals delivered to the pad to detect an explosive compound. 
     
     
         4 . The test swipe of  claim 3 , wherein each chemical causes the pad to display a color unique to the explosive compound. 
     
     
         5 . The test swipe of  claim 3 , wherein the sequence of chemicals are deposited onto the pad at predetermined times. 
     
     
         6 . The test swipe of  claim 3 , wherein the sequence of chemicals are deposited onto the pad at predetermined temperature range(s). 
     
     
         7 . The test swipe of  claim 3 , wherein the sequence of chemicals are deposited onto the pad at predetermined hold time(s) each at predetermined temperature range(s). 
     
     
         8 . The test swipe of  claim 3 , wherein each chemical deposited under predetermined time and temperature conditions reacts to a specific explosive or class of explosives to yield a specific color or a sequence of colors unique to that explosive. 
     
     
         9 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically treated pad comprises a substantially round shape and adapted to receive a sequence of one or more chemicals to detect an explosive compound. 
     
     
         10 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically treated pad comprises a substantially four-sided shape. 
     
     
         11 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , comprising chemicals to detect one or more drug compounds. 
     
     
         12 . The test swipe of  claim 11 , wherein each chemical causes each pad to display a color unique to the explosive compound. 
     
     
         13 . The test swipe of  claim 11 , wherein the sequence of chemicals are deposited onto the pad at predetermined times. 
     
     
         14 . The test swipe of  claim 11 , wherein the sequence of chemicals are deposited onto the pad at predetermined temperature range(s). 
     
     
         15 . The test swipe of  claim 11 , wherein the sequence of chemicals are deposited onto the pad at predetermined hold time(s) each at predetermined temperature range(s). 
     
     
         16 . The test swipe of  claim 11 , wherein each chemical deposited under predetermined time and temperature conditions reacts to a specific explosive or class of explosives to yield a specific color unique to that explosive. 
     
     
         17 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically treated pad comprises a substantially four-sided shape and adapted to receive a sequence of one or more chemicals to detect a drug compound. 
     
     
         18 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the chemically treated area comprises a plurality of test regions. 
     
     
         19 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of unique chemical solutions deposited on each test region. 
     
     
         20 . The test swipe of  claim 18 , comprising chemical solutions deposited at same time to the respective test regions on the swipe to impart a collective color code of pads unique to a class of drugs. 
     
     
         21 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a dull black color. 
     
     
         22 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , comprising a pad region having a cloth within a white zone on the base and an ink free border. 
     
     
         23 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more chemically treated pads are positioned in a white zone. 
     
     
         24 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an area approximately 1.25 inch by 2 inches. 
     
     
         25 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the pads are spaced at least approximately 0.25 inch from the base perimeter. 
     
     
         26 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the pads are spaced apart by approximately 0.02 inch. 
     
     
         27 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a dull black color. 
     
     
         29 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tab comprises a side measuring approximately 0.35 inch and a second side parallel to the first side measuring approximately 0.375 inch. 
     
     
         30 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the pad is circular and spaced at least approximately 0.27 inch from the base perimeter. 
     
     
         31 . The test swipe of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an area approximately 1.25 inch by 2 inches, the pads are spaced at least approximately 0.25 inch from the base perimeter, and the tab comprises a side measuring approximately 0.35 inch and a second side parallel to the first side measuring approximately 0.375 inch. 
     
     
         32 . A method to analyze a swiped sample to identify a chemical composition, comprising:
 clamping a test swipe under a camera and above a heater, (Original) The test swipe having a base; a chemically treated pad containing the swiped sample positioned above the base; and a tab attached to one side of the base;   automatically pumping a series of chemical solution agents into the swiped sample without dripping thereby allowing the system to be held at any angle;   heating the swiped sample to one or more predetermined temperatures and hold times to optimize, and reproducibly accelerate the chemical reactions;   capturing one or more images of the chemical reaction;   sending the images to the a display screen for operator observation; and   analyzing the images to identify the chemical composition based on a chemical reaction and sequence of occurrence and database.