A device for collecting particles present in a gas or gas mixture, including a component, a collection zone disposed on the component, on which said particles are deposited, collection device configured to force said particles to be deposited against the collection zone, a fluidic elution circuit arranged in said component to elute the particles present in the collection zone.

One variation of a method for detecting pathogens in an environment includes, during a first sampling period: triggering collection of a pathogen sample from ambient air in the environment by an air sampler; and tracking a first organic load of the first pathogen sample via a detection subsystem integrated within the air sampler, the first organic load representative of a first amount of organic matter present in the first pathogen sample. In response to the first organic load exceeding a threshold organic load defined for the environment, the method further includes: interpreting presence of a set of pathogens in the environment via genetic analysis of the first pathogen sample; and, in response to detecting presence of a first pathogen, in the set of pathogens, in the first pathogen sample, transmitting a notification indicating presence of the first pathogen in the environment to a user associated with the environment.

A method of ion imaging is disclosed that includes automatically sampling a plurality of different locations on a sample using a front device which is arranged and adapted to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from the sample. Mass spectral data and/or ion mobility data corresponding to each location is obtained and the obtained mass spectral data and/or ion mobility data is used to construct, train or improved a sample classification model.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

A portable sampling device includes a housing at least partially enclosing an inner chamber and an airflow assembly disposed within the inner chamber and comprising a portion of an airflow path. The airflow assembly includes a portion of a printed circuit board (PCB); a manifold configured to be sealably coupled to the portion of the PCB to define at least one airflow channel disposed between an inner surface of the manifold and an outer surface of the PCB; and one or more pumping elements positioned on the PCB.

The present invention relates to a shale gas extracting device, and provides a shale gas extracting device comprising: a canister, which is vertically and rotatably provided on a canister support vertically provided on both sides of a base, has an receiving space for accommodating a drilled rock sample and a ball mill together in a sealed manner, and has an injection opening at one side of a top thereof; a driving means for vibrating the canister such that the rock sample is crushed by mixing with the ball mill accommodated in the canister; a heating means for heating the canister; and a vacuum pipe, a pressure pipe, a sensor pipe, an injection pipe and an extracting pipe sequentially and detachably coupled to the injection opening of the canister.

This present invention relates to a comprehensive mold testing system capable of capturing high-resolution photographs of mold samples and wirelessly sending the digital photographs to a remote location for analysis. The mold testing system includes a vacuum-based mold capturing device and a smartphone application. The vacuum-based mold capturing device features a vacuum pump, a high-resolution/magnification camera, and a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module transmits the captured images wirelessly to the smartphone application, and the smartphone application transmits the received images to a mold specialist for testing, analysis and expert advice. The mold sample testing system eliminates the need to physically submit the mold samples to a testing laboratory, and provides a quicker turnaround time for receiving the results of the mold analysis.

Electrokinetic devices and methods are described with the purpose of collecting assayable agents from a dielectric fluid medium. Electrokinetic flow may be induced by the use of plasma generation at high voltage electrodes and consequent transport of charged particles in an electric voltage gradient. Actively growing mold releases the carbohydrate cell wall component (1.fwdarw.3)-β-D-Glucan into the air. The invention recognizes that the airborne fraction is that which affects respiratory health and selectively tests for a free form which is soluble in aqueous medium. The sample to be analysed is preferably collected by the electrokinetic propulsion method described, but any air sampling method such as filtration, impactor or impingement may be applicable.

An air sampling system is disclosed. The air sampling system includes: an air inflow channel having an air inlet portion at a top end, the air inflow channel being oriented substantially vertically; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet portion; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel, the cooling unit disposed downstream of the inlet portion; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber being fluidly connected to the air inflow channel; and a sensing unit for determining a volume of liquid in the collection chamber, wherein the cooling unit is controlled in response to signals generated by the sensing unit.

A system for real-time detection of airborne pathogens is disclosed. The system includes: an air intake unit defining an inlet and an air inflow channel; a fan configured to cause air in a sampling environment to flow into the air inflow channel via the inlet; a cooling unit for cooling air in the air inflow channel; a collection chamber for collecting liquid water condensed from air in the air inflow channel, the collection chamber including: an active target substrate having a surface that is coated with bioreceptors; and a reference target substrate that is not coated with bioreceptors, and an optical detection unit that is configured to independently illuminate the active target substrate and the reference target substrate with light for detecting presence of an airborne pathogen.