Patent ID: 7370543

Claim:
An apparatus for use in collecting airborne particles comprising: a collection vessel in which airborne particles are collected for analysis, the collection vessel comprising a microcentrifuge tube having an open end that is orthogonal to a line extending longitudinally with respect to the tube; an air-inlet conduit for conducting air into the microcentrifuge tube, the air-inlet conduit extending at an angle with respect to a plane that is parallel to the open end, the air-inlet conduit being non-orthogonal and non-parallel to said plane; and an air-outlet conduit for conducting air out of the microcentrifuge tube; wherein the air-inlet conduit and the air-outlet conduit are situated to cause air flowing through the microcentrifuge tube to create a vortex, thereby causing airborne particles to separate from the air flowing through the microcentrifuge tube.