Air samplers

参照图1，用来对生物分析物进行分析的空气采样器(1)包括空气腔室(2)，其具有空气入口(3)和空气出口(4)。抽风风扇(5)将空气经入口(3)抽入，并且随后经过腔室(2)，将空气经由出口(6)排放回大气。气流腔室(2)容纳有一旋流式空气/液体分离器(7)，流入的空气被迫流经该分离器。注入器(8)将液体引入到流经空气入口(3)的空气中。旋流式分离器(7)将该液体和其中携带的任何颗粒提取出，并且将其从气流腔室(2)中排出，这先经由管道(9)，在该管道中，液体及其中的颗粒被输送到收集容器(12)中，并经由三通道式的蠕动泵(13)以及管道(14)。收集容器(12)容纳在珀耳帖式冷却保持器(15)中，以便将容器(12)内的内含物保持在2-8摄氏度的范围内，该温度范围对于保持例如细菌或蛋白质的生物分析物的完整性是所需的。对收集到的样品进行例如聚合酶链反应、培养或琼脂板培养、或免疫测定的分析。保持器(15)还容纳有样品瓶(16、17、18和19)。 An air sampler for use in analyzing biological or other analytes, comprizes an airflow chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. An extract from an air mover draws ambient air in through the inlet, and then through the chamber, to discharge it back to atmosphere by way of an outlet. The airflow chamber houses a cyclone air/liquid separator through which the inflowing air is caused to pass. An injector introduces liquid into air flowing through the air inlet. The cyclone separator extracts this liquid and any entrained particles therein and discharges it from the airflow chamber, initially by way of a duct, where it is then conveyed to a collection vessel, by way of a three channel peristaltic pump, and a duct. The collection vessel is housed within a Peltier-cooled holder to maintain the contents of the vessel within the 2-8 degree Celsius range.