The present disclosure provides for a system and method of concentrating airborne particles, specifically toward the center of one or more intake channels of PM sensors. The invention provides a simple and cost effective device that, when used in conjunction with a MEMS PM sensor or the like, can increase the sensitivity of said device by orders of magnitude. An in-line MEMS PM concentrator uses a converging optical intensity field to concentrate particulate matter along the center of a longitudinal axis of a microchannel. More specifically, the concentrator is designed to bring in ambient air containing PM through a microchannel and concentrate the PM in the center of the microchannel using a converging optical intensity field within a confocal optical cavity.

The method is for quantification of sub-visible particles. A filter membrane is provided that has a plurality of pores defined therethrough. The pores are sealed with a sealant such as glycine or poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA). A sample droplet, containing liquid and sub-visible particles, is applied onto the filter membrane. The liquid dissolves the sealant in pores disposed directly below the sample droplet. The liquid flows through the pores in which the sealant has been dissolved and the sub-visible particles remain on top of the filter membrane. The particles are enumerated in an electron microscope.

A filter device for filtering nano particles conveyed in a fluid in order to determine an exposure of the filter device to nano particles includes a support element having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral surface, and at least one fluid duct having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The top surface and the bottom surface extend substantially parallel to each other. The filter device further includes at least one filter element with a collection surface on which the nano particles are to be deposited. The at least one filter element is arranged in the at least one fluid duct for collecting the nano particles conveyed in the fluid. The collection surface of the at least one filter element is oriented parallel to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface.

An apparatus for measuring the optical absorption of airborne matter or other light absorbing species in a sample airflow. The apparatus comprises a flow path through a fibrous filter to collect light absorbing species in the sampled air. The filtered airflow may subsequently pass through a second filter, used for reference measurements. At least one light source impinges in the filter generating one or two optical signals to determine the light absorption of particulate matter or other species in the sampled airflow. The apparatus includes at least one auxiliary sensor in the sample flow path to monitor an environmental factor, such as temperature. During a training period, a mathematical model of the apparatus' environmental sensitivity is derived. Using the mathematical model and measurements from the auxiliary sensor, optical signals are compensated in real time to increase the precision and accuracy of light absorption measurements recorded under fluctuating environmental conditions.

A method includes projecting light to obtain a reference measurement using a first photoresistor; collecting dust on a platform during a collection time interval; and projecting light across the platform to obtain a dust measurement using the first photoresistor or a second photoresistor.

A cell inspection method includes a concentrate production step, a staining step, a cell precipitation step, and an observation step. In the concentrate production step, the cell concentrate is produced by causing an inner cylinder which has a filter provided on a bottom surface to enter from the bottom surface side into the through hole of the outer cylinder and bringing the inner cylinder closer to the slide, the inner cylinder having an internal space, and in the observation step, observation is performed in a state where the inner cylinder is entered into the outer cylinder.

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 fluid composition sensor configured to receive a volume of fluid. The fluid composition sensor has a collection media housing configured to receive a portion of a collection media, a pump for moving a volume of fluid over the collection media housing, an imaging device configured to capture an image of particles on the collection media, and a particle matter mass concentration calculation circuitry configured to calculate a total particle matter mass. The particle matter mass concentration calculation circuitry is connected with the imaging device and the pump. The particle matter mass concentration calculation circuitry is configured to adjust the volume of fluid over the collection media housing.

Provided is a method for detecting respirable participles in a bulk material comprising particles. The method comprises: analyzing morphology of the particles; analyzing chemical composition of the particles; creating a profile of the particles, wherein each particle in the profile is characterized by its shape, size and chemical composition; selecting particles from the profile which match the size and chemical composition of a respirable particle; and calculating a percentage of the respirable particles in the bulk material.

An apparatus for measuring the optical absorption of airborne matter or other light absorbing species in a sample airflow. The apparatus comprises a flow path through a fibrous filter to collect light absorbing species in the sampled air. The filtered airflow may subsequently pass through a second filter, used for reference measurements. At least one light source impinges in the filter generating one or two optical signals to determine the light absorption of particulate matter or other species in the sampled airflow. The apparatus includes at least one auxiliary sensor in the sample flow path to monitor an environmental factor, such as temperature. During a training period, a mathematical model of the apparatus' environmental sensitivity is derived. Using the mathematical model and measurements from the auxiliary sensor, optical signals are compensated in real time to increase the precision and accuracy of light absorption measurements recorded under fluctuating environmental conditions.

Sample monitoring and flow control systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring of airborne particulates. A system may include a particle collection filter. The system also includes a fluid moving device for moving a sample through the particle collection filter. Further, the system includes a light source configured to direct irradiating light towards the particle collection filter. The system also includes a light detector positioned to receive the irradiating light passing through the particle collection filter and configured to generate a signal representative of an amount of the received light. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive the signal and to control the fluid moving device based on the amount of the received light.