A system and a method is described herein for the collection of small particles in a concentrated manner, whereby particles are deposited onto a solid surface or collected into a volume of liquid. The collected samples readily interface to any of a number of different elemental, chemical, or biological or other analysis techniques.

We describe apparatuses, systems, method, reagents, and kits for conducting assays as well as process for their preparation. They are particularly well suited for conducting automated sampling, sample preparation, and analysis in a multi-well plate assay format. For example, they may be used for automated analysis of particulates in air and/or liquid samples derived therefrom in environmental monitoring.

A particle detector apparatus for optically ascertaining a number of particles arranged on a surface of, for example, a particle filter. The particle detector apparatus includes a light source, an optical focusing device, a spatially resolving light detector and an evaluation device. The light source emits source light onto the surface. The optical focusing device focuses image light that is emitted from the surface in response to the source light onto the spatially resolving light detector. The spatially resolving light detector includes light sensors that measure brightness values based on the image light, such that the light detector produces image data based on the brightness values delivered by the light sensors. The evaluation device then ascertains the number of particles based on the image data.

A method for collecting particles or gaseous chemicals is provided. The method includes providing liquid to a tube of a droplet generator, heating, with a heater of the droplet generator, the tube to provide vapor to a gas flow channel inside the tube, passing a gas flow containing the particles or gaseous chemicals through the gas flow channel inside the tube to obtain droplets including the particles or gaseous chemicals, and passing the droplets including the particles or gaseous chemicals to a wall of a collecting device such that the droplets including the particles or gaseous chemicals hit the wall. The temperature inside the gas flow channel is higher than a temperature inside the collecting device.

Disclosed is a liquid impinger, for example a liquid impinger, particularly a disposable liquid impinger. The liquid impinger comprises, for example, at least one nozzle positioned in the interior and attached to the bottom portion. In some aspects, the liquid impinger comprises a polymeric material. Also disclosed are methods of making the liquid impinger comprising, for example, forming at least two components, assembling the at least two components into the liquid impinger, filling the liquid impinger with liquid, and exposing the filled liquid impinger to radiation for sterilization prior to use. Also disclosed are methods of using the liquid impinger, for example, by transporting a gas comprising analytes through the liquid impinger and transferring at least a portion of the analytes from the gas into the liquid contained therein. The method further comprises, for example, after transferring analytes form the gas into the liquid, incubating and/or detecting at least a portion of the analytes in the liquid without removing the liquid from the liquid impinger.

A system for monitoring aircraft air including a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of an outlet flow path or a recirculation flow path of an environmental control system of an aircraft, wherein the collector is accessible to a user within the cabin of the aircraft.

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; 340) therebetween: wherein inlets (210; 310) and outlets (230; 330) are configured for transporting a flow of air (104) into and out of the particle collection chamber (240; 340) and configured for allowing capturing airborne particles by impaction. The collecting device (200) further comprises at least one liquid access port (260; 260a, 260b; 360a-360h) for filling the particle collection chamber (240; 340) with a reagent; and wherein the particle collection chamber (240; 340) comprises at least one side wall (246; 346) for defining flow of the reagent, such that a first portion (248a; 348a) and a second portion (248b; 348b) of the particle collection chamber (240; 340) are arranged on opposite sides of the at least one side wall (246; 346).