Patent ID: 7113277

Claim:
An aerosolized agent detector, comprising: a sample dispenser providing a concentrated particle stream, said sample dispenser having a sample input port configured and disposed to receive fluid samples and an exit port to deliver said particle stream derived from said fluid samples; a section of capture tape oriented to receive said particle stream from the exit port and collect selected particles on one or more laser vaporizable sample collection portions thereof, said capture tape including a data storage portion; a laser induced breakdown spectroscopic analyzer providing real-time detection of aerosolized agents from among the collected particles, said analyzer including a laser capable of vaporizing at least one of the one or more laser vaporizable sample collection portions of said capture tape and a spectrometer adapted to obtain spectral elements attributable to vaporized sample collection portions of said capture tape and spectral elements attributable to said collected particles; a processor for differentiating between the spectral elements attributable to said vaporized sample collection portions of said capture tape and spectral elements attributable to said collected particle; a means for advancing the section of capture tape from the vicinity of said sample dispenser exit port to said analyzer; and an encoder storing on the data storage portion information relative to the fluid samples collection and analysis.