Patent ID: 8506686

Claim:
An aerosol collection and storage system for capturing and storing aerosol particles comprising: an inlet for receiving ambient air into the system; an outlet for allowing ambient air to exit the system; a collection zone for receiving the ambient air from said inlet; a first feed reel for holding an unexposed collection tape for movement through said collection zone; a second take-up reel for receiving and storing the collection tape from said first feed reel, said collection tape being movable from said first feed reel through said collection zone and onto said second take-up reel; means for collecting the aerosol particles contained within the ambient air which passes through said collection zone onto that portion of the collection tape located within said collection zone; a pouch forming mechanism located between said collection zone and said second take-up reel, said pouch forming mechanism including apparatus for folding the collection tape containing the collected aerosol particles onto itself; a dispensing mechanism for injecting a fluid into the folded collection tape containing the collected aerosol particles; heat sealing means for sealing a portion of the folded collection tape to form a sealed pouch containing the collected aerosol particles and the injected fluid; heat sealing means for heat sealing the folded collection tape at a location above the sealed pouch; means for severing the folded collection tape at a location between the sealed pouch and the heat sealed location above said sealed pouch; and a storage container for receiving the severed sealed pouch.