Inficon Hapsite
The HapSite was the first field portable gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer, capable of identifying volatile organic compounds in the air and assessing the concentration. It has become an invaluable tool in quickly assessing hazardous materials in accidental spills, as well as monitoring emissions in factories, and identifying materials in storage facilities and dump sites. It was used at the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks, as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan by the military. The design challenge was to seal a sensitive laboratory instrument and a power supply into a single rugged package compact enough to be carried and operated by a person in a full Hazmat suit, in any terrain, and then be decontaminated afterwards. A companion instrument, the Headspace, prepares water samples by releasing the dissolved compounds into the air within the sample bottle, which can then be tested by the Hapsite.