Method for surface deposition of concentrated airborne particles
US6695146B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2015/0288
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention employs a virtual impactor to separate a flow of fluid into a major flow and a minor flow, such that the minor flow contains a higher concentration of particulates of a desired size. The minor flow is directed toward an archival surface, causing the particulates to impact against and be deposited on the archival surface. Over time, the archival surface and the virtual impactor are moved relative to one another such that particulates collected at different times are deposited as spaced-apart spots on different portions of the archival surface. The particulates are stored on the archival surface until analysis of the particulates is required. The archival surface can be coated with a material that enhances the deposition and retention of the particulates and can further be coated with materials that sustain the life of biological organism particulates deposited on the archival surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.