Patent ID: 8183053

Claim:
A method for concentrating analyte for detection by a detector comprising: exposing preconcentrator media to a plurality of analytes for a period of time sufficient for said preconcentrator media to capture a quantity of said analyte that will be detectable upon release of said analyte from said preconcentrator media, said preconcentrator media comprising a plurality of particles wherein each particle comprises a heatable core and at least one coating carried by said core wherein said coating is a sorptive coating selected to capture said analyte, wherein said sorptive coating differs from said heatable core, wherein said preconcentrator media has at least a first set and a second set of particles wherein said particles are distinguished by the composition of said heatable core materials; heating said preconcentrator media to a temperature sufficient to release a detectable concentration of said analyte from said sorptive coating, wherein said step of heating comprises exposing said preconcentrator media to a high frequency electromagnetic field thereby inductively heating said core; selectively releasing analyte collected by the first set of preconcentrator media particles by inductively heating said preconcentrator media particles and selectively releasing analyte collected by the second set of particles by inductively heating said second set of preconcentrator media particles; and detecting said released analyte using a detector.