Patent ID: 6363773
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of detecting contaminants in an otherwise pure fluid, comprising:transporting a mixture of said fluid and contaminants from a vessel into a fluid inlet of a detection apparatus; transporting said mixture from said fluid inlet along a flow path to a SAW sensor of said apparatus such that the only contaminants reaching said SAW sensor originate from said vessel; delivering said mixture of said fluid and said contaminants from said flow path to said SAW sensor such that a surface of the SAW sensor is exposed to said mixture; controlling the temperature of the mixture as said mixture flows along the flow path; thermally separating the contaminants from the fluid in the delivered mixture such that said contaminants are distributed on the surface of the SAW sensor; and detecting changes in response of the SAW sensor due to the contaminants on the surface of the SAW sensor.