Method and apparatus for detecting substances using substance detection routines

Abstract

Methods and devices for sampling, processing and identifying use of a substance or substances of abuse are provided. Systems and kits for sampling, processing and identifying acute use of a substance of abuse is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to mate with multiple cartridges;   a processing unit provided within the housing, the processing unit configured to:
 concurrently control acquisition of (i) a first sample from a first cartridge mated with the housing, and (ii) a second sample from a second cartridge mated with the housing; 
 control performance of one or more substance detection routines on each of the first sample and the second sample to detect at least a first amount of at least a first substance; and 
 generate one or more output signals based at least in part on the detected amount of the first substance. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an output unit coupled to the processing unit, the output unit being configured to provide an output based on the one or more output signals. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more substance detection routines includes a first substance detection routine and a second substance detection routine, the processing unit controlling performance of (i) the first substance detection routine to detect at least the first amount of the first substance, and (ii) the second substance detection routine to detect at least a second amount of a second substance. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first substance detection routine is different than the second substance detection routine. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first substance detection routine is performed at a different time than the second substance detection routine. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first substance is different than the second substance. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the one or more output signals based at least in part on each of the detected amount of the first substance and the detected amount of the second substance. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising an output unit coupled to the processing unit, the output unit being configured to provide an output based on the one or more output signals. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first substance detection routine is performed concurrently with the second substance detection routine. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more substance detection routines include at least a first substance detection routine that is performed using at least one of mass spectrometry, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, high pressure mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, or two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein acquisition of the first sample is performed simultaneously with acquisition of the second sample. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 concurrently controlling acquisition of (i) a first sample from a first cartridge, and (ii) a second sample from a second cartridge;   controlling performing of one or more substance detection routines on each of the first sample and the second sample to detect an amount of at least a first substance; and   generating one or more output signals based at least in part on the detected amount of the first substance.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing an output on an output unit based on the one or more output signals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein controlling performance of the one or more substance detection routines includes controlling performance of each of a first substance detection routine and a second substance detection routine, the first substance detection routine detecting at least the first amount of the first substance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first substance detection routine is different than the second substance detection routine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first substance detection routine is performed at a different time than the second substance detection routine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first substance is different than the second substance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing an output based on the one or more output signals. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first substance detection routine is performed concurrently with the second substance detection routine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first substance detection routine is performed simultaneously with the second substance detection routine. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a housing configured to mate with multiple cartridges;   a processing unit provided within the housing, the processing unit configured to:
 concurrently control acquisition of (i) a first sample from a first cartridge mated with the housing, and (ii) a second sample from a second cartridge mated with the housing, the first sample and the second sample being acquired to enable subsequent performance of one or more substance detection routines. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processing unit simultaneously controls the acquisition of the first sample and the second sample. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system includes at least one of the first cartridge or the second cartridge. 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 concurrently controlling acquisition of (i) a first sample from a first cartridge, and (ii) a second sample from a second cartridge, the first sample and the second sample being acquired to enable subsequent performance of one or more substance detection routines.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the method is performed using a processing unit of an apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the method is performed while at least one of the first cartridge or the second cartridge is mated to a housing of the apparatus. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein controlling acquisition of the first sample and the second sample is performed simultaneously.