A system and method for performing field-portable GC/MS measurements for the rapid sampling and measurement of high temperature boiling semi-volatile organic compounds in environmental samples, wherein other column bundles have cold spots that may prevent high temperature boiling semi-volatile components from eluting the GC column, this new design may eliminate those cold spots on the GC column.

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.

The disclosure includes an intelligent automatic control system for mine gas chromatographs, comprising a CPU. The system may comprise a touch screen coupled to the CPU, a computer and a relay unit electrically coupled to the CPU, and a remote transmission module and a remote mobile control terminal communicatively coupled to the CPU. A digital output terminal may be electrically coupled through the relay unit to a component selected from the group consisting of a solenoid valve, at least one heater, a chromatograph motor, a six-way injection valve, a ten-way injection valve, a chromatograph automatic injection pump, FID ignition coils, a TCD bridge solenoid valve, at least one gas generator solenoid valve, and a standard gas/sample gas conversion valve. The system may comprise at least one temperature sensor, at least one gas pressure sensor, a TCD bridge module, and at least one pressure-controlling switch electrically coupled to the CPU.

A portable gas analysis device having a separating column and a detector. The separating column is composed as a multi-capillary unit from parallel individual capillaries and, depending on the length, is bent into a compact shape, preferably even wound into multiple turns. A thermally conductive casing and a thermal stabilizing device are provided for the multi-capillary unit. The thermal stabilizing device comprises a temperature sensor, a heating element and control electronics. The casing protects the sensitive multi-capillary unit from mechanical actions; it acts as a protective space. The temperature-controlled casing also forms a space in which uniform and controlled conditions prevail and which in particular is isolated from the temperature and humidity of the environment, allowing reliable measurements outside a laboratory environment, in the field. This double effect of the casing for the capillaries in conjunction with the compact dimensions forms the true essence of the invention.

A portable gas analysis device having a separating column and a detector. The separating column is composed as a multi-capillary unit from parallel individual capillaries and, depending on the length, is bent into a compact shape, preferably even wound into multiple turns. A thermally conductive casing and a thermal stabilizing device are provided for the multi-capillary unit. The thermal stabilizing device comprises a temperature sensor, a heating element and control electronics. The casing protects the sensitive multi-capillary unit from mechanical actions; it acts as a protective space. The temperature-controlled casing also forms a space in which uniform and controlled conditions prevail and which in particular is isolated from the temperature and humidity of the environment, allowing reliable measurements outside a laboratory environment, in the field. This double effect of the casing for the capillaries in conjunction with the compact dimensions forms the true essence of the invention.

Certain configurations are described of column heaters that can be used in gas chromatography applications to provide individual heating zones along a gas chromatography column. The column heater may comprise a plurality of inductive elements that can be used to provide heating zones. A thermally conductive support can be used with the gas chromatography column and the inductive elements if desired. The column heater can be used to provide a travelling wave, a thermal gradient or other heating profiles.

The present invention considers bringing a mobile unit closer to the site of interest and conduct the quantification of the tracers by performing the detection methods in situ and in real time at the wellhead, and that can be moved to the site on numerous occasions for the preparation of results during the test where the quantification of tracers is necessary, helping to speed up and reduce times that, until now, have not been achieved with stationary laboratories and that depending on the laboratory can last up to three months providing results.

A system and method for performing field-portable GC/MS measurements for the rapid sampling and measurement of high temperature boiling semi-volatile organic compounds in environmental samples, wherein other column bundles have cold spots that may prevent high temperature boiling semi-volatile components from eluting the GC column, this new design may eliminate those cold spots on the GC column.

This invention relates to a micro-device for detecting volatile compounds comprising: an input (E) and an output (S); collection means (2) for taking a gas sample containing at least one compound to be detected; sampling means enabling a gas volume of 100 mL or less to be sampled, arranged after the collection means; injection means (3) of said gas sample; separation means (5) of the compound to be detected in the gas sample; compound detection means (6); and a gas circulation circuit (1) located downstream of the collection means and passing through the sampling means, injection means (3), separation means (5) and detection means (6);

characterized in that the gas circulation circuit (1) has a volume of between 0.2 cm.sup.3 and 2.0 cm.sup.3.

A wearable health monitoring device includes a band configured to attach the wearable health monitoring device to a user's body; a VOC detection device configured to collect and analyze volatile organic compounds given off from the user's skin to identify specific health-indicative volatile organic compounds indicative of a health condition; and a biomarker sensor configured to detect a biomarker of the user.