Patent EP-2239557-B1 (EP)
Inventor: DUNKHORST WILHELM
IPC: G01N15/02
Filed: 2009-04-09
Granted: 2012-01-25
Abstract: The device for measuring bioaerosol particles, comprises a sample reception- and deposition unit (1) for the reception of air sample containing bioaerosol particles and a defined deposition of a defined particle size fraction of the bioaerosol particles, a substrate, which comprises a carrier and a polymer layer applied on the carrier, where the substrate is mounted against the sample reception- and deposition unit so that the defined deposition of the defined particle size fraction of the bioaerosol particle is carried out on the polymer layer, and the polymer layer is formed by a polymer. The device for measuring bioaerosol particles, comprises a sample reception- and deposition unit (1) for the reception of air sample containing bioaerosol particles and a defined deposition of a defined particle size fraction of the bioaerosol particles, a substrate, which comprises a carrier and a polymer layer applied on the carrier, where the substrate is mounted against the sample reception- and deposition unit so that the defined deposition of the defined particle size fraction of the bioaerosol particle is carried out on the polymer layer, and the polymer layer is formed by a polymer, whose viscosity is changed under the influence of external effect, a device unit for viscosity modification of polymer layer, sample molecules that comprise markings and bind through molecular interaction specifically to bioaerosol particles or components of bioaerosol particles, an optical detection unit (5) that is arranged against the substrate so that the marked bioaerosol particles present on and/or in the polymer layer are detected, and an electrophoretic separation device (4) for removing bounded sample molecules from the area of the defined deposition of the bioaerosol particles. The device unit for the viscosity modification of the polymer layer is selected from a heating and/or cooling element for heating and/or cooling the polymer layer, a spraying unit (3) for producing water droplets, a humidifier and/or an UV-radiation unit. The sample molecules exist in the polymer layer and/or the spraying unit is present in external of the polymer layer. The sample reception- and deposition unit comprises impactors and/or virtual impactors and/or electrostatic depositors. The polymer layer of the substrate functions as deposition area of the second impactor, which has a slit nozzle with a rectangular slit opening having a length of 10-50 mm and a width of 0.05-1 mm. The polymer, whose viscosity is reversibly changed under the influence of external effect is a hydrophilic polymer that forms hydrogel. The sample molecules are antibody and its derivatives and/or fragments, synthetic peptides, ligands, lectins, receptor binding molecules, adhesion molecules binding on ion pumping and/or channel forming protein, and derivatives and/or mutant, and/or markings from fluorescence marking, luminescence marking, metal markings and/or Raman marking. The optical detection is carried out by a fluorescent microscope, Raman microscope, Raman/surface-enhanced Raman scattering microscope and/or luminescence microscope. An independent claim is included for a method for the detection of bioaerosol particles.