In an apparatus for collecting aerosolised respirable particles of an inhalable medicinal formulation, aerosolised formulation is drawn pneumatically through a dose collection section comprising an inlet orifice (201) and an air-permeable filter (206), the filter being positioned opposed to said orifice, and extending across the pathway (4) for filtering the pneumatic flow so as to retain particulate material therein on the filter, and the orifice (201) being so dimensioned and configured that it has an unimpeded area that is no less than 75% of the area of the filter (201) on which the dose will be collected. In a method using the apparatus, particles (209, 210) collected on the filter may optionally be subjected to a dissolution test. A good correlation is obtainable between in vitro and in vivo doses with improved independence of loading.

A particle detecting device is provided. The particle detecting device includes an impactor, a resonator and a piezoelectric actuator. A gas containing a plurality of suspended particles is transported into the impactor and is impacted by the impactor for performing separation and screening based on different diameters of the suspended-particles. Moreover, screened and required-diameter particles from the impactor are collected by the resonator to detect a mass and a concentration of the screened and required-diameter particles. Thus, the air quality can be monitored anytime and anywhere.

Various embodiments are directed to a collection media assembly for receiving one or more particles from a volume of fluid within a fluid composition sensor. In various embodiments, the collection media assembly comprises a housing, a transparent substrate, a collection media disposed upon the transparent substrate and configured to receive one or more particles from a volume of fluid received through a fluid inlet; and at least one alignment feature. The housing defines an open lower end configured for interaction with an imaging device, such that the one or more particles received by the collection media are visible through the transparent substrate from the open lower end. Each of the at least one alignment features is configured to engage a corresponding element disposed within the fluid composition sensor so as to constrain relative movement between the collection media assembly and the corresponding element in at least a first direction.

Various embodiments described herein relate to apparatuses and methods for detecting fluid particles and their characteristics. In various embodiments, a device for detecting fluid particles and their characteristics may comprise a lens free holographic microscope configured to collect fluid particles via inertial impaction. In various embodiments, the collection media may be replaceable within the apparatus. In various embodiments, the impactor nozzle may be selectively configured to avoid optical reflections and scattering from illumination light passing through the nozzle. Various embodiments are directed to a collection media assembly for receiving particles from a volume of fluid within a fluid composition sensor. A collection media assembly may comprise a collection media, an orifice, a seal engagement portion and a frame element configured to facilitate the serial use of a plurality of collection media assemblies within a fluid composition sensor.

The present invention relates to a measuring system for investigating concentrated, larger aerosol particles of an aerosol in the gas phase, having a multi-stage aerosol particle concentrator and also a measuring chamber for analyzing the larger aerosol particles, with at least one measuring device for the qualitative and/or quantitative determination of the aerosol particles, in particular in real time. The aerosol particle concentrator separates a larger part of the aerosol with fine particles and concentrate the larger aerosol particles in the smaller part of the aerosol. The aerosol particle concentrator includes an aerosol suction pump generating a negative pressure in the virtual impactor stages and a circulating-flow channel in which a part of the separated aerosol with fine particles is returned in the circulating flow from the aerosol outlet to the aerosol inlet of the aerosol suction pump. The present invention also relates to a method for investigating concentrated, larger aerosol particles of an aerosol.

The invention generally provides systems and methods for particle detection for minimizing microbial growth and cross-contamination in manufacturing environments requiring low levels of microbes, such as cleanroom environments for electronics manufacturing and aseptic environments for manufacturing pharmaceutical and biological products, such as sterile medicinal products. In some embodiments, systems of the invention incorporate a housing having an outer surface being a first antimicrobial surface and a touchscreen being a second antimicrobial surface. In some embodiments, substantially all of the outer surfaces of the system are antimicrobial surfaces. In some embodiments, the first antimicrobial surface may comprise an Active Screen Plasma alloyed layer. In some embodiments, the housing may comprise a molded polymer substrate and a metal coating layer bonded to the molded polymer substrate such that at least some exterior surfaces of the housing are metal coated surfaces.

A collecting device (200) for collecting airborne particles comprises: a first (202) and second layer (220) spaced apart for forming a particle collection chamber (240) therebetween, wherein inlets (210) extend through the first layer (202) for transporting a flow of air into the particle collection chamber (240); wherein ends (214) of the inlets (210) face a first surface (222) of the second layer (220) for capturing airborne particles by impaction; wherein outlets (230) extend through the second layer (220) for transporting the flow of air out of the particle collection chamber (240); wherein the inlets (210) and outlets (230) are staggered such that the center axes of the inlets (210) and outlets (230) are displaced from each other; wherein the flow of air experiences a pressure drop lower than 3 kPa at a flow rate of 0.5 liters per second, when the flow of air passes the collecting device (200).

A gas sampler device has a top plate with a concaved outer wall. The concaved outer wall allows users easily to lift the top plate off of the bottom plate without disturbing the bottom plate because the curved surface permits more positive contact between the outer wall and users' fingers. Moreover, the weight of the top plate is reduced by approximately twenty percent compared to conventional top plates, a feature that also makes it easier for users to lift the top plate off of the bottom plate.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for sampling air-borne particles. According to one embodiment a nozzle is used to generate a jet of fog that includes a gas and liquid droplets of different sizes. The jet of fog is formed by the nozzle in a way to cause particles in the air surrounding the jet of fog to be drawn into the jet of fog and to further cause the particles to aggregate with the liquid droplets inside the jet of fog. A sample collecting surface is located opposite and spaced apart from an outlet of the nozzle. The sample collecting surface is preferably sloped so that the liquid sample can be forced by gravity off the collecting surface and into a vial or other liquid sample container. Inside the jet of fog and on the sample collection surface the liquid droplets merge with one another to form larger sized droplets that are collectable in the liquid sample container.

The present disclosure relates to a novel personal sampler for bioaerosols and the method of making and using the personal sampler.