Patent ID: 7499167

Claim:
A trigger device for detecting particulates of interest comprising: a collector configured to deposit samples of particulates within a sample collection area onto a sample substrate; a read head positioned proximate to said sample collection area generally opposite of said collector such that said sample collection area is between said collector and said read head, said read head comprising a housing, an optical system and at least one detector, and a processor operatively configured to analyze a signal from said at least one detector and to trigger an event if particulates of interest are detected in said sample area, wherein: said read head housing comprises a sample substrate receiving surface including a channel for receiving said sample substrate; said read head optical system comprises: a concave reflection surface having a back surface positioned adjacent to said channel so as to register said sample substrate when received in said channel adjacent to said optical system of said read head; and an illumination source that illuminates at least a portion of said sample area, wherein radiation emitted by said illumination source is directed towards said reflection surface; said at least one detector collects radiation within said read head including at least one of light reflected from said reflection surface and radiation which may be emitted by samples collected within said sample area; and said sample substrate is oriented generally between said collector and said read head, said sample substrate configured to collect samples deposited in said sample area on a first side of said sample substrate proximate said collector for interrogation of collected samples by said read head through a second, opposite side of said sample substrate which is aligned with said optical system of said read head.