Provided is a measuring system capable of stably, safely, and easily measuring hazardous fine particles. A measuring system 10 includes a work space 3 in which measuring equipment 5 can be installed, a containment device 13 that defines the work space 3 by closing portions other than an open section 134 and an air inlet 132 and an air outlet 133, a temperature and humidity control device 11, a filter unit 12, and a first connection means 14, a second connection means 15, and a third connection means 16 that connect the above-described components. Accordingly, in the measuring system 10, air whose temperature and humidity are controlled circulates, and a laminar flow flows in the work space 3, and particles floating in the work space 3 are reliably contained inside the measuring system 10.

Provided are methods for quantifying and/or detecting sub-visible particulates in cell cultures. Specifically, the methods comprise a step of breaking down, e.g., lysing, cells in a cell culture. The methods can further comprising filtering the cell culture through a filter. Further provided are methods of quantifying sub-visible particulates that do not pass through the filter using a microscope.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for sampling particles from air. In one implementation, an inlet opening is defined in a proximal end of a cassette top, and the inlet opening has an inlet diameter. An internal surface extends along an airflow curve from the inlet opening to an internal cavity. A sampling substrate is formed by at least one grid attached to a filter. The sampling substrate is disposed in the internal cavity at an internal distance from the inlet opening. The inlet opening and the airflow curve of the internal surface generate an airflow of the air to the sampling substrate. The sampling substrate collects a set of the particles from the air, and the inlet diameter, the airflow, and the internal distance dictate a cutoff diameter of the set of particles collected from the air by the sampling substrate.

A filter toxin and antigen detector assembly for detecting the presence or absence of toxins or antigens within air handling systems, ventilators, respirators, continuous positive airway pressure devices (CPAP), and bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP) devices is disclosed. The filter toxin and antigen detectors may be attached to an air filter, or placed (such as in the form of a test cartridge or test strip) onto a port or other portion of a respiration device to determine if the device is clean for further medical use. The filter toxin and antigen detectors disclosed herein utilize lateral flow immunochromatographic assay technology having a sample window allowing air flow therethough. The filter toxin and antigen detector will give an immediate presence indication, such as by changing color, thus providing a fast indication of whether or not harmful toxins or antigens are present within an airborne environment.

Disclosed are methods and systems for analyte detection in a sample and more particularly, a biological sample. Methods and systems particularly relate to differentiating and/or identifying cell types in biological samples, such as blood samples, by adding antibodies specific to predetermined CD antigens. Other methods and systems relate to controlling the dynamic range of an assay for analyte detection.

A method for parallel determination of contrasting particles on a membrane when analyzing an accumulation of particles on the same membrane using an optical microscope is provided. The method involves increasing the transparency of the membrane to light radiation before analyzing particle accumulation.

To perform a prognostic health analysis for an asset (11-13), a stochastic simulation is performed to obtain a prognosis for the evolution of the asset health state. The prognosis is updated based on sensor measurements using a particle filter.

Systems for prequalifying components for a processing chamber are described. The systems may be used to clean particulates from chamber parts and concurrently quantify the cleanliness. The systems may be used to qualify replacement parts before sending to a customer site for installation. The systems have three adjacent compartments separated by impermeable barriers. All three compartments are filled with liquid while cleaning a chamber component. The center compartment contains a submerged component for cleaning and qualifying. Two compartments on either side of the center compartment are configured with submerged ultrasonic transducers to deliver ultrasonic energy to either side of the component being cleaned and prequalified. A liquid pump is connected to the cleaning tub to recirculate water from the cleaning bath and another liquid pump is configured to remove a small amount of the cleaning bath to sample particulates.

A MEMS sensing device for sensing microparticles in an environment external to the MEMS sensing device is provided. The MEMS sensing device comprises a semiconductor body integrating a sensor and a pump unit, the sensor including a sensor cavity, a membrane suspended over the sensor cavity, and a piezoelectric element over the membrane and configured to cause the membrane to oscillate, about an equilibrium position, at a corresponding resonance frequency when sensing electric signals are applied to the piezoelectric element during a first operative phase of the MEMS sensing device, the resonance frequency depending on an amount of microparticles located on the membrane, the membrane having a plurality of through holes for establishing a fluid communication between the sensor cavity and the environment; the pump is configured to cause air pressure in the sensor cavity to be reduced with respect to the air pressure of the environment during the first operative phase, so that microparticles are caused to adhere onto the membrane by a suction force through the plurality of through holes.

The present invention provides a virus collection matrix, including: a porous gel or fibrous structure formed by a positively charged polymer material; and a plurality of ACE 2 receptors. The plurality of ACE 2 receptors are negatively charged, and distributed and covered on the surface of the porous gel or fibrous structure. The whole virus collection matrix is positively charged.