A fine particle measuring device performing fine particle measurement includes a particle probe, a pipe connected to the particle probe, and a particle counter connected to the pipe. A cylindrical pipe is disposed on an outer periphery of the pipe and an air flow path is provided between the pipe and the cylindrical pipe.

A particulate matter sensing device includes an inlet through which air is introduced, a particle classifying unit classifying particles included in air introduced through the inlet, a corona discharging unit electrifying the particles passing through the particle classifying unit, and a sensing unit collecting the particles electrified by the corona discharging unit, in which the sensing unit includes an electrode having a plurality of intervals to collect the particles electrified by the sensing unit, and a control unit determining whether fine particles are detected, based on a result of monitoring an output signal change of the electrode.

The present disclosure provides a self-propelled pathogen detection device in which a place where a pathogen is highly likely to be present in a space such as an inside of a facility is allowed to be configured preferentially to be a target region of detection. The self-propelled pathogen detection device according to the present disclosure comprises a housing; a detection part for detecting a pathogen; a movement mechanism for moving the housing; a position acquirement part for acquiring position information representing a current position of the housing in a space; and a control part which determines a target region in the space on the basis of traffic line information on a person in the space, and controls the movement mechanism to move the housing in the target region on the basis of the position information. The detection part detects the pathogen in the target region.

One variation of a pathogen detection system includes an air sampler and a cartridge. The air sampler includes: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a tunnel arranged within the housing and extending between the inlet and the outlet; a charge electrode arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet; a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal; and a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the charge electrode and the cartridge terminal. The cartridge includes: a substrate; a collector plate arranged on the substrate and configured to collect charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel; and a connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate and the collector plate within the tunnel and electrically couple the collector plate to the cartridge terminal.

The present invention relates to a method for measuring characteristics of particles in solution and to a device for performing the same, wherein said method comprises the steps of providing a vessel comprising a sample of said particles in solution, wherein the sample has preferably a volume between 0.1 μL and 15 μL, providing a monochromatic light source and a light detector, transmitting light from the monochromatic light source to the vessel comprising the sample, detecting light emitted from the vessel with the light detector, and determining characteristics of said particles in solution comprised in the sample based on a dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement.

A method for an automatic inspection of a plurality of plate-like plastic carriers, whereby each plastic carrier is closed by a cover and has a unique identification code and a culture medium. A storage container including a multiplicity of plastic carriers is provided, and a computer-controlled handling unit including an optical inspection system is provided. While performing the automatic inspection in an inspection routine, a plastic carrier is removed from the storage container with the aid of the handling unit, the cover of the plastic carrier is subsequently removed, the plastic carrier is supplied to the inspection system, the identification code is read, and at least one image of the plastic carrier, including the surface of the culture solution is recorded. The image is evaluated for a growth of germs and/or faults in the plastic carrier and the result of the evaluation is stored for each plastic carrier.

One variation of a pathogen detection system includes an air sampler and a cartridge. The air sampler includes: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a tunnel arranged within the housing and extending between the inlet and the outlet; a charge electrode arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet; a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal; and a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the charge electrode and the cartridge terminal. The cartridge includes: a substrate; a collector plate arranged on the substrate and configured to collect charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel; and a connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate and the collector plate within the tunnel and electrically couple the collector plate to the cartridge terminal.

A method for the quantitative and/or qualitative detection of particles in fluid, with which the fluid to be examined is introduced into a beam path of an optical device, between at least one light source and the image acquisition sensor with a matrix of light-sensitive cells. Pixel values of the cells are detected and the distribution of the pixel values is at least partly determined. The pixel value or values which have been determined most often are used as a value or average value for a background signal. A signal is outputted or the method is interrupted, on reaching a maximal permissible value for the background signal.

One variation of a pathogen detection system includes an air sampler and a cartridge. The air sampler includes: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a tunnel arranged within the housing and extending between the inlet and the outlet; a charge electrode arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet; a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal; and a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the charge electrode and the cartridge terminal. The cartridge includes: a substrate; a collector plate arranged on the substrate and configured to collect charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel; and a connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate and the collector plate within the tunnel and electrically couple the collector plate to the cartridge terminal.

A method for treating a biological sample, preferably a food sample which may contain one or more species of interest, including a step of decomplexification by acoustophoresis.