Patent ID: 7250138
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of submicron sized particles having a size range of from greater than 350 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers in a sample taken from the environment, comprising: (a) a collecting means for collecting a sample from the environment; (b) means for purifying and concentrating the submicron particles in the sample by purifying and concentrating the particles based on size, the purifying and concentrating means including a means for connecting the collecting means to the purifying and concentrating means for transferring the sample from the collecting means to the means for purifying and concentrating the particles; and (c) means for detecting the purified and concentrated particles, wherein the detecting means comprises: an electrospray assembly which receives the output from the purifying and concentrating means for placing a charge on the purified and concentrated particles under the influence of an electric field, a differential mobility analyzer which receives the output from the electrospray assembly for separating the charged particles according to size, and a condensation particle device for counting the number of sized particles received from the differential mobility analyzer.