A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

Collection devices, systems, and methods include those for collecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and/or other chemical substances from a target area of a subject’s anatomy (e.g., a subject’s skin, a wound on a subject, etc.). In some cases, the collector may have a collection component including an adsorbent material. The collector may be used with a pump. The pump may be configured to draw a fluid flow containing one or more chemical substances from a target area on a subject’s anatomy through the collection component. The collection component may be configured to collect at least some of the chemical substances from the fluid flow as the flow passes through the collection component.

The present invention relates to non-invasive method and system for characterising and certifying cognitive activities by detecting gaseous substances emitted by an organism, by means of the respiration, perspiration, and/or secretion, and changes measureable by sensors during said cognitive activities. Substance detection makes it possible to characterise the olfactory signal in order to determine and certify whether or not a cognitive activity has occurred and to classify said signals into different categories of cognitive activities.

Example aspects of a volatile organic compound detection device, a wearable health monitoring device, and a method of monitoring a user's health are disclosed. The volatile organic compound detection device can comprise a collector comprising a collector material configured to collect volatile organic compounds given off from a user's skin; a separator comprising a gas chromatography column configured to separate mixtures of the volatile organic compounds into their constituent chemicals; and an identifier comprising a detector and a processor, the detector configured to transduce the constituent chemicals into a signal, the processor configured to process the signal to identify specific volatile organic compounds indicative of a health condition.

An apparatus and method of use are provided; the apparatus having at least a degasser, a hollow core fiber HCF, an optical mechanism, a detector, and circuitry. The degasser enables gasses to permeate out of a liquid into the degasser interior. The propagator establishes a low-pressure area that helps to pull the gas from the degasser interior into the HCF interior, where the optical mechanism delivers electromagnetic radiation EMR that interacts with the gas. The detector determines EMR absorption, producing output signals which are sent to the circuitry. Circuitry controls the optical mechanism and analyzes the output signals to quantify the concentration of gas in the HCF and in the liquid.

A method of spectrometric analysis comprises obtaining one or more sample spectra for an aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The one or more sample spectra are subjected to pre-processing and then multivariate and/or library based analysis so as to classify the aerosol, smoke or vapour sample. The results of the analysis are used for various surgical or non-surgical applications.

Recombinant adeno associated viral vectors are disclosed. These include AAV8 or AAV9 derived vectors that include capsid proteins with mutations that confer upon the vector particular characteristics such as the ability to transduce or avoid (detarget) particular tissues, to be retained longer in the blood, or to be internalized in a cell without viral expression.

A volumetric sampling apparatus for volatile compounds comprises a structure, such as a channel structure that forms a continuous curve between the inlet port and the outlet port. A gas flow induced in the structure urges volatile compounds collected via transdermal diffusion toward the outlet port, where the volatile compounds may be collected and analyzed by a gas composition analyzer coupled to the outlet port.

A system for determining the gender and/or fertility status of avian eggs including a sampling apparatus and an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and detector. In certain embodiments, the transmitter operates in the terahertz range. The sampling apparatus can be coupled to an avian egg. The sampling apparatus includes a vacuum source, a gas collection device, and a membrane that can be positioned in the passageway coupling the vacuum source to the gas collection device. The membrane is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds. The sampling apparatus applies a vacuum from the vacuum source to the gas proximate to the avian egg and directs the gas captured from the vicinity of the egg toward the membrane. Subsequently, the membrane is positioned within the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter, generating a spectrum which can be analyzed to determine whether the egg is fertile or infertile, and if fertile, whether the egg is male or female. In an embodiment, the captured volatile organic compounds are transferred to a sample chamber where the captured gas is analyzed.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.