Patent ID: 8596148

Claim:
An automated cascade impactor, comprising: a vertical array of a plurality of impactor stages; an extension actuator operatively connected to at least one of said plurality of impactor stages so as to permit all of said plurality of impactor stages to move vertically away from each other such that all of said plurality of impactor stages are disposed in separated states with respect to each other, and to cause said plurality of impactor stages to move vertically toward each other such that all of said plurality of impactor stages are disposed in compressed states with respect to each other; a vertical array of a plurality of isolation stages; and an isolation actuator operatively connected to all of said plurality of isolation stages so as to respectively insert all of said plurality of isolation stages into spaces respectively defined between all of said plurality of impactor stages, and to respectively remove all of said plurality of isolation stages out from said spaces respectively defined between all of said plurality of impactor stages, when all of said plurality of impactor stages are disposed in said separated states with respect to each other, and to be respectively compressed between all of said plurality of impactor stages when all of said plurality of impactor stages are disposed in said compressed states with respect to each other whereby all of said plurality of isolation stages can isolate all of said plurality of impactor stages from each other.