Surface emissions collection and measurement devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for collecting and / or measuring gas emissions from a surface are disclosed. A device may include a housing comprising a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end may be configured to couple with the surface. The device may further include an inlet, an outlet, and a first chamber disposed at least partially within the bottom end of the housing. The first chamber may be configured to receive the gas emissions from the surface and allow a carrier gas to flow between the inlet and the outlet such that at least a portion of the carrier gas flows over the surface. A system may include the mentioned device and additionally any one or combination of: a pump configured to move the carrier gas through the device, a gas supply, a pre-concentrator, a sensor configured to measure characteristic(s) of the gas emissions, and a gas analysis subsystem.

Description

SURFACE EMISSIONS COLLECTION AND MEASUREMENT DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 653,569, filed May 30, 2024, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] This invention was made with Government support under Grant No. TR004083, awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The Government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to gas analysis and, more particularly, to collecting and measuring gas emissions from a surface.BACKGROUND

[0004] Assessing the qualitative and / or quantitative composition of a gas mixture has applications in many fields including, for example, in healthcare, research, environmental monitoring, and medical and industrial manufacturing. In healthcare, gases emitted from a patient such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have the potential to serve as biomarkers for various diseases and conditions. While a patient’s skin represents a potential source of VOC emissions, sampling emissions from the skin presents various technical and methodological challenges.

[0005] Skin-emitted VOCs are primarily derived from sweat, secreted eccrine and apocrine glands, and sebum which is secreted by sebaceous glands. These different glands, as well as the bacteria flora that form the skin microbiome, may be unevenly distributed across the skin, leading to different VOC patterns depending on the area of sampling. Additional factors including, for example, an individual's diet, emotional state, hormone levels, age, and / or environmental influences can also cause variations in VOC emissions. Therefore, to accurately assess VOC emissions from the skin, it may be necessary to employ relatively complex analytical techniques and gather multiple samples, potentially over an extended period of time, which may be impractical or burdensome for a patient or individual depending on the circumstances.

[0006] Further challenges arise from the fact that VOCs typically are emitted from the skin in low concentrations, requiring the use of highly sensitive and specific analytical techniques. This tends to restrict the sampling of skin-emitted VOCs to settings where there is access to instrumentation and / or trained individuals capable of performing such techniques, such as a laboratory or hospital.

[0007] To address one or one of the needs and challenges mentioned herein and other related needs and challenges, the present disclosure sets forth advantageous emission collection devices and related systems and methods for collecting and / or measuring emissions from a surface.SUMMARY

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a device for collecting gas emissions from a surface. The device may include a housing comprising a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end may be configured to removably and / or permanently couple with the surface. The device may further include an inlet, an outlet, and a first chamber disposed at least partially within the bottom end of the housing. The first chamber may be configured to receive the gas emissions from the surface and allow a carrier gas to flow between the inlet and the outlet such that at least a portion of the carrier gas flows over the surface. Additional optional aspects of the device may include one or more of the following.

[0009] The device may include a heater configured to heat the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows to and / or through the first chamber. The heater may be coupled with the top end of the housing. The heater may include a first heating portion coupled with the inlet. Furthermore, the heater may include a second heating portion covering or substantially covering the top end of the housing. The second heating portion may include a heater sheet.

[0010] The device may include a temperature sensor. Furthermore, the device may include a controller coupled with the temperature sensor and configured to control the heater based at least partly on a signal output from the temperature sensor.

[0011] The first chamber of the device may be configured to receive the gas emissions directly from the surface.

[0012] The top end of the housing of the device may include the inlet.

[0013] The device may include a second chamber in gas communication with and upstream of the first chamber such that the carrier gas flows through the second chamber prior to entering the first chamber. A divider may be disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The divider may include a perforated wall having a plurality of openings. The plurality of openings may include: a first plurality of openings adjacent to the inlet and each having a first diameter or width; and a second plurality of openings adjacent to the outlet and each having a second diameter or width, wherein the second diameter or width is larger than the first diameter or width.

[0014] The device may further include a third chamber disposed adjacent to the outlet and which is not in gas communication with the first chamber and / or the second chamber.

[0015] The device may include an opening in a downwardly facing surface of the bottom end of the housing. This opening may lead into the first chamber.

[0016] The device may include a sealing member configured to contact the surface emitting the gas emissions and prevent or inhibit the ingress of ambient gases through the opening into the device. The sealing member may be arranged around a perimeter of the bottom end of the housing.

[0017] The device may additionally include an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the bottom end of the housing for removably coupling the device with the surface emitting the gas emissions. The adhesive may be a skin adhesive.

[0018] The device may be wearable, including, for example, being configured to be worn by a patient.

[0019] The gas emissions which the device may be configured to collect and / or measure may include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and / or other compounds.

[0020] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for use in measuring gas emissions from a surface. The system may include the above-described device, in any form, and additionally any one or combination of: a pump configured to move the carrier gas through the device, from the inlet of the device to the outlet of the device, a supply of inert gas for use as the carrier gas, a pre-concentrator configured to absorb and / or adsorb at least some of the gas emissions from the carrier gas exiting the outlet of the device, a sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of the gas emissions, and a gas analysis subsystem separate from the device. Additional optional aspects of the system may include one or more of the following.

[0021] The system may include the gas analysis subsystem, which may include any one or combination of: a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), a photoionization detector, and an ion mobility spectrometer. Furthermore, the gas analysis subsystem may be in gas communication with or configured to be in gas communication with the outlet of the device. Additionally, the gas analysis subsystem may be configured to measure the gas emissions in real-time or substantially real-time.

[0022] The system may include the sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the gas emissions, which may be coupled with and / or disposed within the housing of the device.

[0023] The system may include the pre-concentrator, which may include a chemical sorbent.

[0024] An additional aspect of the present disclosure provides a method including: providing the above-described device, in any form; coupling the device with a surface such that the first chamber is arranged to receive gas emissions from the surface; and moving a carrier gas through the device, from the inlet to the outlet, such that the carrier gas flows over the surface and carries away at least some of the gas emissions from the surface. Additional optional aspects of the method may include one or more of the following.

[0025] The method may include heating the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows to and / or through the first chamber of the device. The method may also include measuring a temperature within the device. The method may further include controlling the heater based on a temperature measurement.

[0026] The method may include arranging the first chamber of the device to receive the gas emissions directly from the surface.

[0027] The step of coupling the device with the surface emitting the gas emissions may include adhering the bottom end of the device to the surface emitting the gas emissions.

[0028] The method may include arranging the sealing member in contact with the surface emitting the gas emissions to prevent or inhibit the ingress of ambient gases through the first opening into the device.

[0029] The method may include directing the carrier gas exiting the outlet of the device to a pre-concentrator configured to absorb and / or adsorb at least some of the gas emissions from the carrier gas.

[0030] The method may include sensing at least one characteristic of the gas emissions.

[0031] The method may be used in an application where the surface emitting the gas emissions is a patient’s skin.

[0032] The method may be used in an application where gas emissions include VOCs and / or other compounds.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] It is believed that the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Some of the drawings may have been simplified by the omission of selected elements for the purpose of more clearly showing other elements. Such omissions of elements in some drawings are not necessarily indicative of the presence or absence of particular elements in any of the exemplary embodiments, except as may be explicitly delineated in the corresponding written description. Also, none of the drawings are necessarily drawn to scale.

[0034] Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a system for use in measuring gas emissions from a surface in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a surface emissions collection device in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0036] Fig. 3 is a top view of a surface emissions collection device in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a surface emissions collection device in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-section of the surface emissions collection device of Fig. 4 taken along line Z-Z.

[0039] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the divider of the surface emissions collection device in Figs. 4 and 5.

[0040] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sealing member for a surface emissions collection device in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a surface emissions collection device coupled with an arm of a patient in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0042] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a surface emissions collection device in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the surface emissions collection device of Fig. 9 taken along line Y-Y, with the fittings omitted.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The present disclosure generally pertains to collecting gas emissions from a surface (also referred to herein as “surface emissions”) to, for example, analyze their composition, concentration, emission rate, and / or other characteristic(s). The gasemitting surface may be the skin of a patient (including, e.g., the skin of a human and / or an animal), a surface of a plant(including, e.g., bark), a surface of an inanimate or non-living object, the ground, or any other physical surface. Surface emissions are prone to mix with ambient gases in the surrounding environment (e.g., the atmosphere) and therefore can be difficult to measure, particularly if the surface emits the gases of interest in low concentrations and / or at a slow or inconsistent rate. The present disclosure addresses these issues and others by providing devices, systems, and methods which prevent or minimize surface emissions from escaping to and / or mixing with the surrounding environment, and furthermore, in at least some embodiments, increase the rate of emissions from the targeted surface and / or stimulate and / or induce the release of emissions or select emissions from the surface. Accordingly, the presently disclosed devices, system, and methods advantageously may reduce the sampling time, increase the sensitivity of detection, facilitate the detection of compounds with low vapor pressures, reduce the variability in measurement, and / or facilitate real-time measurements. These and other advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art reviewing the present disclosure.

[0045] Gas emissions from the skin of a patient, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are a potential source of human metabolites to aid in the diagnosis of various diseases and conditions, as well as to monitor the general health of a patient.Various embodiments disclosed herein facilitate the collection and / or measurement of VOCs and / or other gas emissions from the skin. In some embodiments, the device for collecting and / or measuring gas emissions may removably attach to (e.g., adhere to and / or be fastened with a strap to) and / or sealingly engage with the skin. A permanent attachment to the patient is also possible. In some embodiments, the portability and relatively small size of the presently disclosed surface emissions collection device may enable the patient to move or remain at least somewhat active during a sample collection process. This may facilitate longer sampling times and / or collecting samples from the patient while the patient performs various physical activities, including, for example, walking, running, working, sleeping, showering, and / or various aspects of their daily routine. Moreover, by improving the recovery of gas emissions from a surface, the presently disclosed devices, systems, and methods may facilitate the collection and / or measurement of gas emissions from the patient’s skin in less intensive environments, including outside of a hospital or a laboratory setting, such as at home or at an outpatient or other non-hospital point-of-care facility.

[0046] Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system 10 for use in measuring gas emissions from a surface 12. The surface 12 may be any external and / or internal surface of any physical object, including the ground. The surface 12 may have any shape (e.g., planar, substantially planar, curved, rounded, stepped, etc.), texture (e.g., smooth, substantially smooth, bumpy, etc.), porosity, and / or other configuration. Furthermore, the surface 12 may be part of an object that is mobile, partially mobile, or immobile. In some embodiments, the surface 12 may be the skin of a patient, including, for example, the skin of a human or an animal. For example, the surface 12 may be the skin of a person’s forearm, upper arm, hand, shoulder, leg, ankle, foot, abdomen, chest, back, neck, face, head, and / or any other body part. In other embodiments, the surface 12 may be the outer layer of a plant, including, for example, the bark of a tree. In still further embodiments, the surface 12 may be the surface of an inanimate or non-living object including, for example, a food product, a research sample, a table or other furniture item, an appliance, and / or a piece of equipment.

[0047] Generally, the system 10 may be configured to collect, sense, analyze, and / or communicate information regarding gas emissions from the surface 12 and may include various device(s) and / or subsystem(s) directly or indirectly coupled with each other to achieve some or all of these functionalities and / or other(s). In some embodiments, the system 10 may include, for example, any one or combination of: a surface emissions collection device 20 configured to collect gas emissions from the surface 12, a gas supply 22, a pump 24, a pre-concentrator 26, a gas sensor 28, a gas analysis subsystem 30, a controller 32, and a power supply 34. The system 10 may omit any one or combination of these elements and / or incorporate additional element(s) depending on the application. In some embodiments, any one or combination of the elements of the system 10 may be separate from and / or coupled with each other via various external and / or internal mechanical and / or electrical connection(s); whereas, in other embodiments, any one or combination of the elements of the system 10 may be integrated into a single device, including, for example, a wearable device configured (e.g., shaped and dimensioned) to be worn by a patient (including, e.g., apatch-like or strap-on device), a bedside monitor, and / or a tabletop instrument. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the system 10 may be configured for use at home, outdoors, and / or in outpatient facility or setting, including, a doctor’s office, medical clinic, and / or urgent care center. Alternatively or additionally, the system 10 may be configured for use in more regulated environment(s) such as, for example, a hospital, laboratory, and / or manufacturing facility.

[0048] To measure gas emissions from the surface 12, the system 10 generally may be configured to create a flow of carrier gas over the surface 12 and subsequently and / or simultaneously sense (e.g., detect, monitor, quantify, etc.) the gas emissions which mix with and / or are swept away by the carrier gas. In some embodiments, the carrier gas may chemically and / or mechanically interact with the surface 12 to stimulate and / or induce the release of gas emissions, or specific gas emissions of interest, from the surface 12. To boost or enhance the ability of the carrier gas to extract gas emissions from the surface 12, some embodiments of the system 10 may be configured to heat the carrier gas while it flows to and / or over the surface 12. Heating the carrier gas may increase the efficiency with which the system can extract gas emissions from the surface 12, thereby reducing the sampling time. Furthermore, heating the carrier gas may allow more compounds to reach vapor pressure and thereby facilitate their collection by the system 10 for detection and / or analysis. Other embodiments of the system 10, however, may not heat the carrier gas. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the system 10 may be configured to control the flow rate, temperature, and / or other characteristics of the carrier gas to, for example, optimize the extraction of gas emissions from the surface 12, reduce the potential for discomfort to a patient (e.g., caused by the carrier gas heating the skin to an uncomfortable temperature), save or optimize the use of power, among other functions. The system 10 additionally may be configured to concentrate and / or distill the gas emissions which have mixed with and / or been carried away by the carrier gas, to simplify or improve the detection of the gas emissions. This pre-concentration feature may be useful, for example, if the surface 12 tends to emit the gases of potential interest at slow rate and / or in very low concentrations, which is sometimes the case for gas emissions from the skin. Though pre-concentration of the gas emissions may not be necessary in all embodiments, including, for example, where the system 10 incorporates a gas sensor 28 having a high sensitivity. The continuous or substantially continuous flow of carrier gas over the surface 12 may facilitate real-time or substantially real-time measurements of the gas emissions by the system 10. The system 10, however, may also or alternatively be configured for non-real-time (e.g., off-line) measurements of the gas emissions from the surface 12, for example, by having the pre-concentrator 26 or another device absorb and / or adsorb the gas emissions from the carrier gas during sampling, and then later, after sampling is complete, analyzing the contents of the pre-concentrator 26 or other absorption device.

[0049] Surface emissions which the system 10 may be configured to measure include, for example, any one or combination of the following: VOCs, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, aldehydes, ketones, alkenes, alkanes, amines, alcohols, ammonia, acetone, isoprene, lactic acid, volatile fatty acids, propionic acid, butyric acid, volatile sulfur compounds, dimethyl sulfide, heptane, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2,2-dimethoxybutane, 1 -nonene, 5-hepten-2-one, 6-methyl-, nonane, D-limonene, decane, undecane, isopropyl palmitate, and other chemicals. Furthermore, the system 10 may be configured to measure any one or combination of the foregoing chemicals in the quantities, rates, concentrations, and / or other parameters normally associated with emission of these chemical(s) from, for example, a human’s skin.

[0050] Having provided a general overview of the system 10, the present disclosure will now describe particular elements of the system 10 in more detail.

[0051] The gas supply 22 may be configured to store the carrier gas and / or other gas(es) for use in the system 10. In some embodiments, the gas supply 22 may be directly or indirectly coupled with (e.g., via a gas conduit) the pump 24 such that the pump 24 can move (e.g., draw and / or expel) the carrier gas and / or other gas(es) from the gas supply 22 into the surface emissions collection device 20. In other embodiments, the gas supply 22 may configured to store the carrier gas and / or other gas(es) under pressure such that, for example, the carrier gas and / or other gas(es) can be released directly into the surface emissions collection device 20 without the assistance of the pump 24. In some embodiments, the gas supply 22 may beconfigured to store an inert gas (e.g., helium, nitrogen, and / or argon) for use as the carrier gas. In addition to or as an alternative to the carrier gas, the gas supply 22 may be configured to store a chemical standard (e.g., deuterated compounds, standard a- pinene, etc.) for use in, for example, calibrating and / or comparing measurements by the gas sensor 28 and / or the gas analysis system 30.

[0052] In certain embodiments, the system 10 may utilize air from the surrounding environment as the carrier gas. In such embodiments, the gas supply 22 may be omitted and / or the pump 24 may draw air directly from the surrounding environment. The use of air as the carrier gas and / or omission of the gas supply 22 may be advantageous in embodiments where, for example, the system 10 is designed to be worn by a patient and other applications where compactness and / or portability the system 10 is desirable.

[0053] The pump 24 may be configured to move the carrier gas and / or other gas(es) through the surface emissions collection device 20, from an inlet 36 of the surface emissions collection device 20 to an outlet 38 of surface emissions collection device 20. Additionally, the pump 24 may be configured to move the carrier gas and / or other gas(es) through the pre-concentrator 26, gas sensor 28, gas analysis subsystem 30, and / or other elements of the system 10. An outlet of the pump 24 may be directly or indirectly coupled with (e.g., via a gas conduit) the inlet 36 of the surface emissions collection device 20. An inlet of the pump 24 may be directly or indirectly coupled with (e.g., via a gas conduit) an outlet of the gas supply 22 or air in the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the pump 24 may be configured to re-circulate the carrier gas, or a portion thereof, back through the surface emissions collection device 20 one or more times after the carrier gas has already moved through it once. In such embodiments, the inlet of the pump 24 may be selectively coupled with (e.g., via a valve) the outlet 38 of the surface emissions collection device 20 and / or an outlet of the pre-concentrator 26, gas sensor 28, gas analysis subsystem 30, and / or another element of the system 10. In embodiments where the system 10 incorporates heater(s) for heating the carrier gas, recirculating the carrier gas may lower the power usage of the heater(s), as the recycled carrier gas may retain some of its warmth.

[0054] The pump 24 may be controlled by, for example, the controller 32 to move the carrier gas and / or other gas(es) through the surface emissions collection device 20 at a desired flow rate, including, for example, at any flow rate in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 0 - 1000 mL per minute. The pump 24 may be controlled to provide a continuous or an intermittent flow of carrier gas through the surface emissions collection device 20 depending on, for example, the surface 12 being sampled and / or the surface emissions of interest. The pump 24 may be a disc pump (e.g., model XP-S2-028 by Ion Science Ltd.), rotary pump, peristaltic pump, reciprocating pump, diaphragm pump, micropump, and / or any other suitable pump. In some embodiments, the pump 24 may be separate from the surface emissions collection device 20; whereas, in other embodiments, the pump 24 may be part of (e.g., enclosed within and / or mounted directly on) the surface emissions collection device 20 and may pump air from the surrounding environment for use as the carrier gas.

[0055] The power supply 34 may be configured to supply various element(s) of the system 10 with electricity including, for example, any one or combination of: the pump 24, the surface emissions collection device 20, a heater 40 included in the surface emissions collection device 20, the gas analysis subsystem 30, and the controller 32. In some embodiments, the power supply 34 may be controlled by the controller 32. Depending on the application, the power supply 34 may be a standard electrical outlet, a benchtop DC power supply, and / or a portable device such as a battery. When configured as a battery, the power supply 34 may be included as part of (e.g., enclosed within and / or mounted directly on) the surface emissions collection device 20.

[0056] The pre-concentrator 26 may be configured to absorb and / or adsorb the surface emissions from the carrier gas exiting the outlet 38 of the surface emissions collection device 20. Pursuant to this, the pre-concentrator 26 may have an inlet directly or indirectly coupled with (e.g., via a gas conduit) the outlet 38 of the surface emissions collection device 20. The pre-concentrator 26 may be configured to absorb and / or adsorb one or more preselected (e.g., predetermined, targeted, desired, etc.) surface emissions, or all surface emissions, from the carrier gas. In some embodiments, the pre-concentrator 26 may include a chemical sorbent (e.g., a Tenax® TA based sorbent, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based sorbent, PDMS-coated stirbar(s), twisters,thermal desorption tubes containing Tenax® TA, etc.). While the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 utilizes a single preconcentrator 26, other embodiments may utilize additional pre-concentrator(s) connected in series or in parallel with the preconcentrator 26, or no pre-concentrators at all. Moreover, depending on the application, the pre-concentrator 26 may be separate from, or, alternatively, part of (e.g., enclosed within and / or mounted directly on) the surface emissions collection device 20 and / or the gas analysis system 30. In some embodiments, the pre-concentrator 26 may be used to absorb and / or adsorb surface emissions during sampling and thereafter de-coupled from the surface emissions collection device 20 and then stored off-line and / or analyzed manually or with a system which is separate from the system 10.

[0057] The gas sensor 28 may be configured to measure one or more characteristics of the gas emissions from the surface 12. Such characteristic(s) may include, for example, any one or combination: a chemical composition, concentration, quantity, flow rate, temperature, humidity, pressure, and other characteristic(s) of the gas emissions from the surface 12. The gas sensor 28 may include, for example, any one or combination of: an electrochemical sensor (e.g., a sensor configured to measure characteristic(s) of a gas through a chemical reaction that produces an electrical current), an optical sensor (e.g., a sensor configured to measure characteristic(s) of a gas by measuring changes in light properties such as intensity or wavelength as the light passes through the gas), a photoionization detector (PID) sensor (e.g., a sensor configured to ionize gas molecules with ultraviolet light and measure the resulting current to determine characteristic(s) of the gas), a differential mobility spectrometer, and any other sensor capable of measuring characteristic(s) of a gas. As seen in Fig. 1, the gas sensor 28 may have an inlet directly or indirectly coupled with (e.g., via a gas conduit) an outlet of the pre-concentrator 26. Furthermore, while the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 utilizes a single gas sensor 28, other embodiments may utilize additional sensor(s) connected in series or in parallel with the gas sensor 28, or no sensors at all. Moreover, depending on the application, the gas sensor 28 may be separate from, or, alternatively, part of (e.g., enclosed within and / or mounted directly on) the surface emissions collection device 20, the pre-concentrator 26, and / or the gas analysis system 30.

[0058] The gas analysis subsystem 30 may be configured to analyze (e.g., process, compare, evaluate, etc.) the output (e.g., an electrical signal, data, information, etc.) from the gas sensor 28 and / or other sensor(s) in order to determine characteristic(s) of the gas emissions from the surface 12. The gas sensor 28 and / or other sensor(s) may be separate from the gas analysis system 30, or, alternatively, integrated into the gas analysis system 30. The gas analysis subsystem 30 may include, for example, any one or combination of: a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC- MS), a photoionization detector, and an ion mobility spectrometer. In some embodiments, the gas analysis subsystem 30 may have an inlet directly or indirectly coupled with (e.g., via a gas conduit) the outlet 38 of the surface emissions collection device 20, an outlet of the pre-concentrator 26, and / or an outlet of the gas sensor 28. Additionally or alternatively, the gas analysis subsystem 30 may be electrically coupled with (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection) the surface emissions collection device 20, pre-concentrator 26, and / or gas sensor 28. In embodiments where the carrier gas is re-circulated by the system, an outlet of the gas analysis system 30 may be directly or indirectly coupled with (e.g., via a gas conduit) the inlet 36 of the surface emissions collection device 20 and / or an inlet of the pump 24. Furthermore, while the gas analysis subsystem 30 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is separate from the surface emissions collection device 20, in other embodiments the gas analysis subsystem 30 may be part of (e.g., enclosed within and / or mounted directly on) the surface emissions collection device 20.

[0059] The controller 32 may be configured to control the operation of various element(s) of the system 10, including, for example, any one or combination of: the surface emissions collection device 20 (including, for example, its heater 40 and / or temperature sensor 42), the gas supply 22, the pump 24, the pre-concentrator 26, the gas sensor 28, and the gas analysis subsystem 30. Additionally, the controller 32 may be configured to receive and / or process information, data, signals (analog and / or digital), and / or other output from the gas sensor 28, gas analysis subsystem 30, temperature sensor 42, and / or other elements of the system 10 and / or elements external to the system 10 such as an external computing device (e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, server, etc.). Furthermore, the controller 32 may be responsive to the output it receives from suchelement(s), and may be configured to automatically control the operation of certain element(s) of the system 10 such as, for example, the gas supply 22, pump 24, and / or heater 40, according to the programming or other configuration of the controller 32. As an example, the controller 32 may be configured to control the heater 40 based on output from the temperature sensor 42 in order to, for example, maintain the carrier gas flowing into, through, and / or out of the surface emissions collection device 20 at or within a preselected (e.g., predetermined, targeted, desired, etc.) temperature value and / or temperature range.

[0060] The controller 32 may include and / or implement its operations via an electrical device (e.g., a hardwired circuit, a microprocessor, etc.), a combination of electrical devices, a mechanical device, a combination of mechanical devices, a chemical device, a combination of chemical devices, or any combination thereof (e.g., an electromechanical device, electrochemical device, etc.). According to those embodiments wherein the controller 32 includes a microprocessor or the like, the configuration of the controller 32 may correspond to the software or other programming of the controller 32.

[0061] In some embodiments, the controller 32 may be provided as a computing device that includes one or more processors and one or more memories in communication with and / or integrated with each other. The one or more processors may include, for example, any one or combination of: a microprocessor, micro-controller, programmable logic controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, software-based processing module, and any device that manipulates signals (analog and / or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and / or operational instructions. The one or more memories may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store data, including, for example, non-transitory computer-readable instructions constituting one or more services, programs, and / or modules and any data operated on or produced by such services, programs, and / or modules. The memory may store the data on a volatile (e.g., random access memory (RAM), etc.) and / or non-volatile memory (e.g., a hard disk), and may be a removable or non-removable memory. The one or more processors may be configured to fetch and execute the instructions stored in the one or more memories in order to perform or implement various functions of the system 10, including, for example, controlling the flow rate of the pump 24 and / or the temperature of the heater 40.

[0062] In some embodiments, the controller 32 may be electrically coupled with (e.g., a via wired and / or wireless connection) various element(s) of the system 10, including, for example, any one or combination of: the surface emissions collection device 20 (including, for example, its heater 40 and / or temperature sensor 42), the gas supply 22, the pump 24, the pre-concentrator 26, the gas sensor 28, and the gas analysis subsystem 30. This may allow the controller 32 to transmit communications to and / or receive communications from these element(s). Such communications may include electrical signals, data, information, and the like.

[0063] The surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to receive the gas emissions directly or indirectly from the surface 12 and / or allow the carrier gas to flow over the surface 12. As an example, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to allow the carrier gas to flow between the inlet 36 and the outlet 38 such at least a portion of the carrier gas flows over the surface 12, and, as a result, carries or otherwise transports away some or all gas emissions emanating from and / or elicited by the carrier gas from the surface 12. As a more specific example, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to direct the carrier gas toward the surface 12 such that the carrier gas interacts (e.g., molecularly interacts) with the surface 12 to stimulate and / or induce the release of gas emissions or select emissions from the surface 12. As an even more specific example, the surface emissions collection device 20 may configured to cover a portion of the surface 12 and / or define, or partially define, a flow path for the carrier gas which is parallel, or substantially parallel, the covered portion of the surface 12 and / or which allows the carrier gas to directly contact the covered portion of the surface 12.

[0064] In some embodiments, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to removably (e.g., temporarily, selectively, releasably, etc.) couple with the surface 12, including, for example, via an adhesive (e.g., a skin adhesive), a fastener (e.g., a strap, band, belt, sling, harness, rope, and / or article of clothing), and / or other temporary or semi-permanent connector. This may facilitate use of the surface emissions collection device 20 to collect sample(s) from the surface 12 over a definedand / or relatively short time period and subsequent removal of the surface emissions collection device 20 from the surface 12. In other embodiments where, for example, the surface emissions collection device 20 must collect sample(s) from the surface 12 indefinitely or over a relatively long period of time, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to permanently couple with the surface 12, including, for example, being configured for implantation or partial implantation in the surface 12.

[0065] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to directly contact the surface 12. As an example, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to sealin gly engage the surface 12 to: prevent or inhibit the ingress (e.g., entry) of ambient gases and / or other environmental elements into the surface emissions collection device 20, for example, through a contact point or area where the surface emissions collection device 20 meets the surface 12; and / or prevent or inhibit the egress (e.g., exit) of the carrier gas and / or surface emissions out of the surface emissions collection device 20, for example, through the contact point or area where the surface emissions collection device 20 meets the surface 12.

[0066] In some embodiments, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be configured to heat the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows towards and / or over the surface 12. As an example, the surface emissions collection device 20 may include a heater 40 and / or other heater(s) coupled with a top end of the surface emissions collection device 20, as seen in Fig. 1. The heater 40 will be described in more detail below. In alternative embodiments, the surface emissions collection device 20 may not include the heater 40 or any other heating feature.

[0067] As used herein, the terms “top,” “upper,” and related terms are used to refer to the end of the surface emissions collection device 20 which is furthest away from the surface 12 in use, and the terms “bottom,” “lower,” and related terms are used to refer to the end of the surface emissions collection device 20 which is closest to the surface 12 in use. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “upward,” “upwardly,” and related terms refer to any direction extending away from the surface 12 (including but not limited to a direction which is perpendicular to the surface 12), and the terms “downward,” “downwardly,” and related terms refer to any direction extending toward the surface 12 (including but not limited to a direction which is perpendicular to the surface 12).

[0068] Referring now to Figs. 2-8, the configuration and operation of the surface emissions collection device 20 will be described in further detail. Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the surface emissions collection device 20 taken along an imaginary plane which is perpendicular to the surface 12 and intersects with the inlet 36 and outlet 38. As seen in Fig. 2, the surface emissions collection device 20 may include a housing 50 having a bottom end 52 and a top end 54. The bottom end 52 of the housing 50 may be configured to removably or permanently couple with the surface 12. In some embodiments, this coupling may be achieved, or at least partially achieved, through an adhesive 56 (e.g., an adhesive layer) applied to or otherwise disposed on a downwardly facing surface of the bottom end 52 of the housing 50. The adhesive 56 may be waterproof, transparent, and / or biocompatible with human skin and / or other biological matter. In some embodiments, the adhesive 56 may be included as part of a dressing such as, for example, Tegaderm™ by 3M™. In addition to or as an alternative to the adhesive 56, a fastening band or strap 74 may be used to secure the housing 50 with the object (e.g., a patient’s arm, leg, wrist, abdomen, etc.) including the surface 12, as described below in connection with Fig. 8.

[0069] As illustrated in Fig. 2, there may be an opening 60, or multiple openings, in the downwardly facing surface of the bottom end 52 of the housing 50. The opening 60 may allow gas emissions from the surface 12 to emanate into an interior of the housing 20. As an example, the opening 60 may lead into a first or lower chamber 62 disposed at least partially within the bottom end 52 of the housing 50, thus allowing gas emissions emanating and / or elicited from the surface 12 to flow directly through the opening 60 into the first chamber 62 of the surface emissions collection device 20.

[0070] In some embodiments, the housing 50 may have a generally planar, low-profile shape (e.g., a flat shape) which can be worn by, for example, a patient without impeding, or without substantially impeding, movement of some or all the patient’s limbs. In some embodiments, the housing 50 may have a rectangular box-like shape, a cuboid shape, a hemispherical shape, a disc-like shape, a ring-like shape, and / or any other suitable shape. In some embodiments, the housing 50 may have length L1 which extends in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 12 (when the housing 50 is coupled therewith), a width W1 which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the length L1 and extends in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 12 (when the housing 50 is coupled therewith), and a height H1 which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the length L1 and / or width W1. In some embodiments, the length L1 of the housing 50 may be equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 60 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 30-90 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 45-75 mm, or any other suitable value or range. In some embodiments, the width W1 of the housing 50 may be equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 40 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 20-60 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 25-55 mm, or any other suitable value or range. In some embodiments, the height H1 of the housing 50 may be equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 10 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 5-15 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 7.5-12.5 mm, or any other suitable value or range. In some embodiments, a wall thickness T1 of a vertical sidewall, or other external wall(s), of the housing 50 may be equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 1.27 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 1.0 - 1.5 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 1.0 - 2.0 mm, or in a less than or equal to approximately (e.g., ±10%) 3.0 mm, or in a less than or equal to approximately (e.g., ±10%) 2.0 mm.

[0071] The housing 50 may be made partially or entirely of metal (e.g., steel, stainless steel, brass), plastic (e.g., polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)), and / or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the housing 50 may be made of partially or entirely of an inert material. In some embodiments, the housing 50 or at least an external wall thereof may be made of (partially or entirely) or coupled with a thermal resistant insulant (e.g., thermal insulation) to reduce the transfer of heat between the housing 50 and the surface 12 and / or the surrounding environment. In applications where, for example, the surface 12 is a patient’s skin, the thermal resistant insulant may reduce or eliminate the possibility of heat generated by the surface emissions collection device 20 causing discomfort and / or harm to the patient. Furthermore, the thermal resistant insulant may prevent or limit the loss of heat to the surrounding environment, including, for example, heat generated by the heater 40 for heating the carrier gas. In some embodiments, the thermal insulation may surround or partially surround the housing 50 or at least a sidewall 70 of the housing 50.

[0072] The top end 54 of the housing 50 may include the inlet 36, outlet 38, heater 40, temperature sensor 42, and / or other component(s). In some embodiments, the inlet 36, outlet 38, and / or temperature sensor 42 may extend through a wall 72 defining an upwardly facing surface of the housing 50, as seen in Fig. 2. In other embodiments, the inlet 36, outlet 38, and / or temperature sensor 42 may extend through the sidewall 70 of the housing 50.

[0073] The inlet 36 may be configured to feed the carrier gas into the housing 50, including, for example, directly into a second or upper chamber 64 disposed at least partially within the top end 54 of the housing 50. In some embodiments, a first portion of the inlet 36 such as a top end of the inlet 36 may be disposed outside of or adjacent to an exterior surface of the housing 50 and / or a second portion of the inlet 36 such as a bottom end of the inlet 36 may be disposed within the housing 50 such as within or adjacent to the second chamber 64.

[0074] In some embodiments, the inlet 36 may have an inner diameter D1 equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 13 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 6 - 20 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 10 - 16 mm. In some embodiments, the inner diameter D1 or other internal dimension of the inlet 36 may be larger than the inner diameter D2 or other internal dimension of the outlet 38. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the inlet 36 may include a tubular structure having a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical wall having a wall thickness T2 equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 3 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 1 - 5 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 2 - 4 mm. In some embodiments, a center of the inlet 36 may be arranged approximately (e.g., ±10%) 15 mm inward of a first outer edge ofthe housing 50 and / or a center of the outlet 38 may be arranged approximately (e.g., ±10%) 6.5 mm inward of second outer edge of the housing 50, wherein the first outer edge and the second outer edge are disposed on opposite sides of the housing 50.

[0075] The outlet 38 may be disposed downstream of the inlet 36 and / or configured to allow the carrier gas to exit from the housing 50 after the carrier gas has flowed over the surface 12. In some embodiments, the outlet 38 may exhaust the carrier gas directly from the first chamber 62 to outside of the housing 50. In certain such embodiments, a first portion of the outlet 38 such as a bottom end of the outlet 38 may be disposed within the housing 50 such as within or adjacent to the first chamber 62 and / or a second portion of the outlet 38 such as the top end of the outlet 38 may be disposed outside of or adjacent to exterior surface of the housing 50.

[0076] In some embodiments, the outlet 38 may have an inner diameter D2 equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 9 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 4.5 - 13.5 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 7 - 11 mm. In some embodiments, the inner diameter D2 or other internal dimension of the outlet 38 may be less than the inner diameter D1 or other internal dimension of the inlet 36. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the outlet 38 may include a tubular structure having a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical wall having a wall thickness T3 equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 3 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 1 - 5 mm, or in range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 2 - 4 mm.

[0077] As shown in Fig. 2, a first sealing member 68 may be coupled with the bottom end 52 of the housing 50. The first sealing member 68 may be configured to contact the surface 12 to: prevent or inhibit the ingress (e.g., entry) of ambient gases and / or other environmental elements into the first chamber 62 of the housing 50, for example, through the contact point or area where the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 meets the surface 12; and / or prevent or inhibit the egress (e.g., exit) of the carrier gas and / or surface emissions out of the first chamber 62 of the housing 50, for example, through the contact point or area where the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 meets the surface 12. In some embodiments, the first sealing member 68 may be arranged around a perimeter of the bottom end 52 of the housing 50. In some embodiments, the first sealing member 68 may be made partially or entirely of a chemical resistant coating including, for example, any one or combination of: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Viton™, and Tygon®. Additionally, the first sealing member 68 may be waterproof, transparent, and / or biocompatible with human skin and / or other biological matter.

[0078] In addition to or as an alternative to the first sealing member 68, the surface emissions collection device 20 may include a second sealing member 70, an example of which is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In some embodiments, the second sealing member 70 may take the form of and / or function as a gasket. Similar to the first sealing member 68, the second sealing member 70 may be coupled with the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 and configured to contact the surface 12 to: prevent or inhibit the ingress (e.g., entry) of ambient gases and / or other environmental elements into the first chamber 62 of the housing 50, for example, through the contact point or area where the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 meets the surface 12; and / or prevent or inhibit the egress (e.g., exit) of the carrier gas and / or surface emissions out of the first chamber 62 of the housing 50, for example, through the contact point or area where the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 meets the surface 12. In some embodiments, the second sealing member 70 may be arranged around a perimeter of the bottom end 52 of the housing 50, including, for example, around a perimeter of the first sealing member 68. In some embodiments, the second sealing member 70 may be made partially or entirely of a resin including, for example, a silicone resin. In some embodiments, the second sealing member 70 may be made of a flexible (e.g., soft) material and / or may be configured to conform with the shape (e.g., topology) of the surface 12 and / or the sidewall 70 of housing 50, for example, to ensure an gas-tight and / or liquid-tight fit between the second sealing member70 and the surface 12 and / or housing 50. In some embodiments, an adhesive may be applied to a downwardly facing surface of the second sealing member 70, to facilitate attachment to the surface 12.

[0079] In some embodiments, the second sealing member 70 may be configured to be held and / or pressed against the surface 12 by a fastening band or strap 74 and / or other connector member. An example of such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 8, where the surface 12 being sampled is the skin of a patient’s arm 76. The fastening band or strap 74 may be coupled with thesecond sealing member 70 and wrap at least partially around the patient’s arm 76, thereby pressing the second sealing member 70 against the skin to create a tighter seal between the second sealing member 70 and the skin. In some embodiments, the second sealing member 70 may include one or more openings, such as openings 78a-d in Fig. 7, allowing the fastening band or strap 74 to be looped through second sealing member 70 and around the object including the surface 12.

[0080] Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, various internal chambers of the housing 50 will now be further described. The above- mentioned first chamber 62 and second chamber 64 may be in gas communication, or configured to be in gas communication, with each other such that the carrier gas and / or other gases can flow between the first chamber 62 and the second chamber 64 during operation. In some embodiments, the first chamber 62 and the second chamber 64 may define a portion of, or the entirety of, a flow path along which the carrier gas may travel when flowing through the housing 50 during operation (e.g., during sampling). The second chamber 64 may be disposed, partially or entirely, upstream of the first chamber 62 along this flow path such that the carrier gas flows through the second chamber 64 prior to flowing through the first chamber 62.

[0081] In addition to defining a flow path for the carrier gas, the first chamber 62 may be configured to receive the gas emissions emanating and / or elicited from the surface 12. As a result, the carrier gas may mix with and / or carry away some or all the gas emissions emanating and / or elicited from the surface 12 when the carrier gas flows through the first chamber 62. In some embodiments, the first chamber 62 may be configured to allow and / or direct the carrier gas in a direction that is parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 12 such that the carrier gas flows over a relatively large area of the surface 12 when passing through the first chamber 62. In some embodiments, the first chamber 62 may extend between opposite sides of the housing 50 to maximize the space for the carrier gas to interact with the surface 12 and / or mix with the gas emissions emanating and / or elicited from the surface 12.

[0082] The opening 60 in the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 may be in gas communication, or configured to be in gas communication, with the first chamber 62. In some embodiments, the opening 60 in the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 may lead into the first chamber 62. In certain such embodiments, the gas emissions emanating and / or elicited from the surface 12 may flow directly into the first chamber 62 from the surface 12.

[0083] In some embodiments, the second chamber 64, or a portion thereof, may be disposed in the top end 54 of the housing 50, and the first chamber 62, or a portion thereof, may be disposed in the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 such that the second chamber 64, or a portion thereof, is disposed vertically above the first chamber 62, or a portion thereof. In such embodiments, the second chamber 64 may provide a space where heat added to the carrier gas (e.g., via the heater 40) can be diffused, such that, for example, the carrier gas may reach a uniform or substantially uniform temperature prior to coming into contact with the surface 12. In applications where the surface 12 is the skin of a patient, this aspect of the second chamber 64 may reduce or eliminate the risk of burns to the skin.

[0084] In some embodiments, a divider 79 may be disposed between the first chamber 62 and the second chamber 64. In some embodiments, the divider 79 may include a turbulator and / or be configured to create and / or increase an amount of turbulence in the carrier gas as it flows from the second chamber 64 to the first chamber 62. Such turbulence may facilitate, for example, diffusing heat more uniformly throughout the carrier gas, promoting mixing (e.g., blending, homogenization, etc.) between the carrier gas and / or the surface emissions, and / or improving evaporation of the surface emissions. In some embodiments, the divider 79 may include a perforated wall 80, as seen in Figs. 2, 5, and 6. The perforated wall 80 may have a generally planar or plate-like shape and / or may separate the first chamber 62 and the second chamber 64. Furthermore, the perforated wall 80 may have a plurality of openings configured to break up the flow of carrier gas into multiple streams. The plurality of openings may have the same or different sizes. As seen Figs. 2 and 5, the perforated wall 80 may have a first plurality of openings 80a adjacent to the inlet 36 and a second plurality of openings 80b adjacent to the outlet 38. The first plurality of openings 80a may have a first diameter or width, and the second plurality of openings 80b may have a second diameter or width which may be larger than the first diameter or width. In some embodiments, the first diameter of each of thefirst openings 80a may be equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 2 mm and / or the second diameter of each of the second openings 80b may be equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 4 mm.

[0085] In some embodiments, the first chamber 62 may have length (parallel or substantially parallel to the length L1 of the housing 50) equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 58 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 29 - 87 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 38 - 78 mm. In some embodiments, the first chamber 62 may have width (parallel or substantially parallel to the width W1 of the housing 50) equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 38 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 19 - 57 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 25 - 51 mm. In some embodiments, the first chamber 62 may have height (parallel or substantially parallel to the width H 1 of the housing 50) equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 5 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 2.5 - 7.5 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 4 - 6 mm.

[0086] In some embodiments, the second chamber 54 may have length (parallel or substantially parallel to the length L1 of the housing 50) equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 40 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 20 - 60 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 30 - 50 mm. In some embodiments, the second chamber 54 may have width (parallel or substantially parallel to the width W1 of the housing 50) equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 38 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 19 - 57 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 25 - 51 mm. In some embodiments, the second chamber 54 may have height (parallel or substantially parallel to the width H1 of the housing 50) equal to or less than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 5 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 2.5 - 7.5 mm, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 4 - 6 mm.

[0087] The surface emissions collection device 20 may, in some embodiments, have fewer or additional chambers than the first and second chambers 62 and 64. In some embodiments, the second chamber 64 and / or divider 79 may be omitted. In some embodiments, a third or dead chamber 65 may be included, as seen Figs. 2 and 5. The third chamber 65 may not be in gas communication with the first chamber 62 and / or second chamber 64. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the third chamber 65 may be adjacent to the outlet 38 and / or the temperature sensor 42. As an example, the outlet 38 and / or temperature sensor 42 may extend through the third chamber 65, as seen in Fig. 2. As a more specific example, the outlet 38 may be configured to transport gas from the first chamber 62, through the third chamber 65, and then outside the surface emissions collection device 20. In some embodiments, the third chamber 65 or a portion thereof may be disposed above the first chamber 62.

[0088] With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the heater 40 will now be described in further detail. Generally, the heater 40 may be configured to heat the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows to and / or through the first chamber 62. In at least some applications, increasing the temperature of the carrier gas may improve the ability of the carrier gas to extract emissions from the surface 12 as the carrier gas flows over the surface 12. For example, the heated carrier gas may increase the rate and / or consistency of emissions from the surface 12, facilitate the recovery of compounds with low vapor pressures, and / or reduce the amount of sampling time. In some embodiments, the heater 40 may be coupled with the top end 54 of the housing 50. Such a configuration may reduce the possibility of the heater 40 and / or the gas heated by the heater 40 from inadvertently causing burns and / or other damage to the surface 12, and, in the case where the surface 12 is a patient’s skin, discomfort to the patient. The heater 40 may be powered by electricity and / or any other suitable source of power.

[0089] In some embodiments, different portions of the heater 40 may be configured for heating different portions of the surface emissions collection device 20. As an example, the heater 40 may have a first heating portion 40a coupled with the inlet 36 and / or a second heating portion 40b coupled with a wall of the housing 50 such as, for example, a wall at least partially defining the second chamber 64. The first heating portion 40a may be configured to heat the carrier gas as it flows into and / or through the inlet 36. The second heating portion 40b may be configured to heat the carrier gas as it flows through the second chamber 64. In some embodiments, the second heating portion 40b may be coupled with an upwardly facing surface and / or an uppermost wall of the top end 54 of the housing 50. In some embodiments, the second heating portion 40b may cover all of, or substantiallyall of, the top end 54 of the housing 50. In certain such embodiments, the second heating portion 40b or a portion thereof may have a generally planar or other flat shape and / or may be made partially or entirely of one or more heating wire(s) and / or coil(s). In some embodiments, the second heating portion 40b may include a heater sheet (e.g., a heating pad, a strip heater, etc.).

[0090] In some embodiments, the first heating portion 40a and / or the second heating portion 40b may be coupled with the controller 32 to allow the controller 32 to adjust its / their temperature. In some embodiments, the controller 32 may be configured to control the first heating portion 40a and / or the second heating portion 40b based at least partly on a signal which is output from the temperature sensor 42. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor 42 may be configured to measure a temperature within the first chamber 62 and / or the second chamber 64, including, for example, a temperature of the carrier gas and / or other gases within the first chamber 62 and / or the second chamber 64. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature sensor 42 may be configured to measure the temperature of the surface 12. The temperature sensor 42 may be a thermocouple and / or any other device configured to convert a physical temperature into a readable signal (e.g., an electrical signal).

[0091] In some embodiments, including embodiments where the surface 12 is human skin, the first heating portion 40a may be controlled by the controller 32 and / or another device such that a temperature of the first heating portion 40a is within a range of approximately (e.g., ±10%) 40°C - 70°C and / or such that a temperature within the first chamber 62 is within a range of approximately (e.g., ±10%) 30°C - 40°C. In some embodiments, including embodiments where the surface 12 is human skin, the second heating portion 40b may be controlled by the controller 32 and / or another device such that a temperature of the second heating portion 40b is within a range of approximately (e.g., ±10%) 40°C - 60°C and / or such that a temperature within the first chamber 62 is within a range of approximately (e.g., ±10%) 30°C - 40°C.

[0092] In embodiments where the surface 12 is not human skin, the first heating portion 40a and / or the second heating portion 40b may be controlled by the controller 32 and / or another device such that a temperature of the first heating portion 40a and / or a temperature of the second heating portion 40b is approximately (e.g., ±10%) 100°C and / or such that a temperature within the first chamber 62 is approximately (e.g., ±10%) 100°C. Such temperatures may improve collection of VOC emissions from the surface 12, in at least some instances.

[0093] The system 10 and / or the surface emissions collection device 20 described above may be used in various methods for collecting and / or measuring emissions from various surfaces, including, for example, a patient’s skin. In scenarios where the surface 12 is a patient’s skin, an initial step of the method may involve cleaning the skin at the sampling site, where, for example, the surface emissions collection device 20 is to be attached. This step may involve washing the skin with ethyl alcohol and then drying the skin, for example, with a paper towel. This cleaning step may improve the accuracy and / or reliability of the measurements of the skin emissions. Surface cleaning may also be beneficial in applications where the surface 12 is not human skin.

[0094] Next, the surface emissions collection device 20 may be coupled with the surface 12 to cover the sampling site. This step may involve removably or permanently coupling the surface emissions collection device 20 to the surface 12. As seen in Fig. 8, this step may involve wrapping the fastening band or strap 74 around the patient’s arm. Additionally or alternatively, this step may involve adhering the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 to the surface 12 with the adhesive 56. In some embodiments, coupling the surface emissions collection device 20 with the surface 12 may involve arranging the first chamber 62 to receive the emissions directly from the surface 12. Furthermore, in some embodiments, coupling the surface emissions collection device 20 with the surface 12 may involve sealing the bottom end 52 of the housing 50 to the surface 12, for example, by arranging the first sealing member 68 and / or the second sealing member 70 in contact with the surface 12. Optionally, a chemical standard may be injected into the surface emissions collection device 20 (e.g., via the inlet 36) once coupled with the surface 12 to check if the bottom end 52 of the hosing 50 has been adequately sealed to the surface 12.

[0095] Once coupled with the surface 12, the surface emissions collection device 20 may begin collecting and / or measuring emissions from the surface 12. In some embodiments, this may involve moving (e.g., pushing, pulling, forcing, suctioning, etc.)the carrier gas through the surface emissions collection device 20, from the inlet 36 to the outlet 38, such that the carrier gas flows over the surface 12 and carries away some or all of the gas emissions from the surface 12. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by the controller 32 controlling the pump 24 to feed the carrier gas from the gas supply 22 (which, in some embodiments, may be air in the surrounding environment) into the second chamber 64 via the inlet 36, which then flows through the first chamber 62 over the surface 12 and subsequently out of the surface emissions collection device 20 through the outlet 38. While the carrier gas is flowing through the inlet 36 and / or the second chamber 64, the first heating portion 40a and / or the second heating portion 40b of the heater 40 may be controlled (e.g., via the controller 32) to heat the carrier gas to a desired temperature, including, for example, any of the temperatures mentioned above. In some embodiments, the first heating portion 40a and / or the second heating portion 40b may be controlled at least partly based on one or more temperature measurements made by the temperature sensor 42. In other embodiments, the carrier gas may not be heated as it flows through the surface emissions collection device 20, or may be heated intermittently based on need in situations where, for example, the carrier gas is re-circulated back through the surface emissions collection device 20 one or more times.

[0096] In some embodiments, moving the carrier gas through the surface emissions collection device 20 may involve causing the carrier gas to flow from outside the surface emissions collection device 20 through the inlet 36, then through the second chamber 64, then through the divider 79, then through the first chamber 62, and then through the outlet 38 to a location outside of the surface emissions collection device 20. The carrier gas may flow through additional or fewer element(s) of the surface emissions collection device 20 in other embodiments.

[0097] In some embodiments, the sampling time (e.g., the time during which the carrier gas is moved through the surface collection device 20) may be in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 0-60 minutes, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 0-30 minutes, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 5-30 minutes, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 15-30 minutes, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 0-15 minutes, or in a range between approximately (e.g., ±10%) 0-5 minutes, or greater than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 5 minutes, or greater than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 10 minutes, or greater than approximately (e.g., ±10%) 15 minutes, or any other suitable duration.

[0098] The method may further involve directing the carrier gas exiting the outlet 38 to the pre-concentrator 26 to absorb and / or adsorb one or more preselected (e.g., predetermined, targeted, desired, etc.) surface emissions, or all surface emissions, from the carrier gas. This step may be omitted in certain embodiments.

[0099] Furthermore, the method may involve sensing and / or analyzing one or more characteristics of the surface emissions swept away from the surface 12 by the carrier gas, for example, via the sensor 28 and / or the gas analysis system 30. This sensing and / or analysis may be done locally at the surface emissions collection device 20 and / or externally at a device separate from the surface emissions collection device 20, depending on, for example, if the sensor 28 and / or the gas analysis subsystem 30 is integrated into the surface emissions collection device 20, or not. Furthermore, this sensing and / or analysis may be done in real-time (e.g., while the carrier gas is flowing over the surface 12) and / or off-line (e.g., after the surface emissions collection device 20 has finished collecting surface emission sample(s)). The sensed and / or analyzed characteristic(s) of the surface emissions may include, for example, any one or combination: a chemical composition, concentration, quantity, flow rate, temperature, humidity, pressure, and other characteristic(s) of the gas emissions from the surface 12.

[0100] In some embodiments, the method may involve re-circulating the carrier gas which has exited the outlet 38 back into the inlet 36 and then through the surface emission collection device 20 one or more additional times. In other embodiments, the carrier gas may pass through the surface emissions collection device 20 only a single time.

[0101] Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of a surface emission collection device, denoted with reference numeral 120. The surface emissions collection device 120 includes many similar or identical components as those shown in Figs. 1-8 and described above. The elements of the surface emissions collection device 120 not described in more detail below may have similar or identical configurations, functions, and / or structure as the correspondingly numbered elements described above withrespect to the surface emissions collection device 20 in Figs. 1-8. Such elements are assigned with the same reference numeral as used in Figs. 1-8, except incremented by 100.

[0102] As seen in Fig. 10, the surface emissions collection device 120 does not include the third or dead chamber 65 like the surface emissions collection device 20. Instead, this space is filled partially or entirely with structural material, which in the illustrated embodiment corresponds to a downward extension 154a of the top end 154 the housing 150. In other embodiments, this structure may be integrally formed with the divider 179 or may be separate component which is coupled with the housing 150 and / or divider 179. As shown in Fig. 10, the outlet 138 may extend through the downward extension 154a and divider 179 to provide gas communication with the first chamber 162. An opening for a temperature sensor (such as temperature sensor 42) may extend through the downward extension 154a and the divider 179 as well.

[0103] The upper end of the outlet 138 may be formed by an upward extension 154b of the top end 154 of the housing 150. As an example, the upward extension 154b may be a boss and / or have a generally tubular shape, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10.

[0104] To facilitate coupling the inlet 136 and / or outlet 138 in gas communication with other components (e.g., the pump 24 and / or the pre-concentrator 26), a fitting 184 may be coupled with the upper end of the inlet 136 and / or a fitting 186 may be coupled with the upper end of the outlet 138. In some embodiments, the fitting 184 and / or the fitting 186 be a quick connect fitting or push fitting and / or may be configured to sealingly and / or removably couple the inlet 136 and / or outlet 138 to a respective external gas line and / or tubing. In some embodiments, the fitting 184 may have an end that is threaded into and / or onto the inlet 136 and / or the fitting 186 may have an end that is threaded into and / or onto the outlet 138. In some embodiments, the fitting 184 and / or the fitting 186 may be generally elbow-shaped.

[0105] Described below is a study which demonstrates advantageous aspects of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods but which is not intended to limit the scope of any associated claims.

[0106] The study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the system 10 in sampling gas emissions including VOCs from the skin. 20 young, healthy subjects participated in the study. Their ages ranged from 20-45 years and 13 were males. The system 10 was configured with the surface emissions collection device 20 secured to the posterior forearm of each subject. To minimize contributions from exogenous sources, a skin pre-treatment step was included in the sampling protocol. More particularly, participants washed their forearm with ethyl alcohol and waited 30 minutes prior to beginning sampling. No special dietary regimes were applied.

[0107] The surface emissions collection device 20 was fed with a one-way, continuous flow of filtered air to ensure a VOC-free background atmosphere. The housing 50 of the surface emissions collection device 20 was constructed of a 1 mm thick sheet of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and had a length L1 of 6 cm, a width W1 of 4 cm, and a height H1 of 1 cm. To stabilize the surface emissions collection device 20 onto the skin and distribute the clamping force, a 3D printed gasket made of latex-free resin was used for the second sealing member 70. To prevent background VOC contamination, the surface emissions collection device 20 was sealed to the forearm by a transparent waterproof adhesive (3M™, Tegaderm™). The flow of filtered air through the surface emissions collection device 20 was generated by a disc pump by Ion Science, model XP-S2-028. The flow rate in the study was 100 mL / min, which was calibrated prior to each sample being taken using an external flow meter.

[0108] The perforated wall 80 of the surface emissions collection device 20 was configured such that the first chamber 62 had a length of 40 mm, a width of 38 mm, and a height of 5mm and such that the second chamber 64 had a length of 58 mm, a width of 38 mm, and a height of 5 mm. Furthermore, the first plurality of openings 80a formed in perforated wall 80 included four lines of 2 mm diameter holes; and the second plurality of openings 80b formed in perforated wall 80 included four lines of 5 mm diameter holes.

[0109] The pre-concentrator 26 was configured with a Tenax® TA sorbent. Samples collected by the pre-concentrator 26 were analyzed offline using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

[0110] Feedback from the subjects raised no criticisms and indicated that the surface emissions collection device 20 was light and its placement was comfortable for extended wear. No subjects reported experiencing high temperature sensation, burning, irritation, or extra dryness as a result of operation of the heater 40 of the surface emissions collection device 20. Moreover, subjects reported they would not have known heating was occurring had they not been informed beforehand.

[0111] The study found that the system 10 was effective at sampling VOCs emitted from human skin under conditions including 15 minutes of sampling at sampling temperature of 40 °C (for example, as measured by the temperature sensor 42) using a Tenax TA sorbent for the pre-concentrator 26. These conditions were found to increase the recovery of compounds with lower vapor pressure and decrease the observed variability in skin VOC measurements.

[0112] Analysis of the detected VOCs following thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed a variety of classes of compounds emanating from the skin, including: methyl benzenes, toulenes, styrenes, phenoxy compounds, xylenes, chlorobenzenes, benzoic acid esters, benzene and substituted derivates, alkanes, cycloalkanes, branches alkanes, unsaturated aliphatic, fatty acid, fatty acid methylesters, fatty alcohol esters, fatty alcohols, fatty aldehydes, long-chain fatty alcohols, wax esters, bicyclic monoterpenoids, menthane monoterpenoids, triterpenoids, other esters, ketones, unsaturated carbonyl compounds, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acid esters, gamma butyrolactones, and piperdines. The most representative chemical classes were alkanes, esters, ketones, alcohols, and aldehydes respectively representing 32%, 16%, 10%, 10%, and 8% of the total number of compounds. In total, 79 compounds emitted from the skin were detected.

[0113] Additionally, various pollutants were detected, such as BTEX, a mixture of benzene (found in n=16 of the 20 samples), toluene (n=20), ethylbenzene (n=13), and xylenes (p-xylene n=14, o-xylene n=18). These carcinogens are commonly observed environmental exposure hazards, produced mostly by industrial activities and petroleum processes. These chemicals are categorized as hazardous pollutants and carcinogens by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and associate to numerous diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO). Accordingly, the study indicated that the surface emissions collection device 20 is suited for environmental exposure assessments, among other assessments.

[0114] All features described herein, including in the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process described herein, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where one or more of the features and / or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0115] As will be recognized, the devices, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure may have one or more advantages relative to conventional technology, any one or more of which may be present in a particular embodiment in accordance with the features of the present disclosure included in that embodiment. Other advantages not specifically listed herein may also be recognized as well.

[0116] Although the devices, systems, and methods have been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, they are not limited thereto. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the present disclosure. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent that would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention(s) disclosed herein.

[0117] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) disclosed herein, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept(s).

[0118] Exemplary Embodiments:

[0119] Exemplary embodiments provided in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter include, but are not limited to, the claims and the following embodiments:

[0120] Embodiment 1 : A device for collecting gas emissions from a surface, the device comprising: a housing comprising a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being configured to couple with the surface; an inlet; an outlet; and a first chamberdisposed at least partially within the bottom end of the housing, the first chamber being configured to receive the gas emissions from the surface and allow a carrier gas to flow between the inlet and the outlet such that at least a portion of the carrier gas flows over the surface.

[0121] Embodiment 2: The device of Embodiment 1 , further comprising a heater configured to heat the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows to and / or through the first chamber.

[0122] Embodiment 3: The device of Embodiment 2, wherein the heater is coupled with the top end of the housing.

[0123] Embodiment 4: The device of any one of Embodiments 2 or 3, wherein the heater comprises a first heating portion coupled with the inlet.

[0124] Embodiment 5: The device of any one of Embodiments 2 to 4, wherein the heater comprises a second heating portion covering or substantially covering the top end of the housing.

[0125] Embodiment 6: The device of Embodiment 5, wherein the second heating portion comprises a heater sheet.

[0126] Embodiment 7: The device of any one of Embodiments 2 to 6, further comprising a temperature sensor.

[0127] Embodiment 8: The device of Embodiment 7, further comprising a controller coupled with the temperature sensor and configured to control the heater based at least partly on a signal output from the temperature sensor.

[0128] Embodiment 9: The device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the first chamber is configured to receive the gas emissions directly from the surface.

[0129] Embodiment 10: The device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the top end of the housing comprises the inlet.

[0130] Embodiment 11 : The device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 10, further comprising a second chamber in gas communication with and upstream of the first chamber such that the carrier gas flows through the second chamber prior to entering the first chamber.

[0131] Embodiment 12: The device of Embodiment 11, further comprising a divider disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0132] Embodiment 13: The device of Embodiment 12, wherein the divider comprises a perforated wall having a plurality of openings.

[0133] Embodiment 14: The device of Embodiment 13, wherein the plurality of openings comprises: a first plurality of openings adjacent to the inlet and each having a first diameter or width; and a second plurality of openings adjacent to the outlet and each having a second diameter or width, wherein the second diameter or width is larger than the first diameter or width.

[0134] Embodiment 15: The device of any one of Embodiments 11 to 14, further comprising a third chamber disposed adjacent to the outlet and which is not in gas communication with the first chamber and / or the second chamber.

[0135] Embodiment 16: The device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 15, further comprising an opening in a downwardly facing surface of the bottom end of the housing, wherein the opening leads into the first chamber.

[0136] Embodiment 17: The device of Embodiment 16, further comprising a sealing member configured to contact the surface emitting the gas emissions and prevent or inhibit the ingress of ambient gases through the opening into the device.

[0137] Embodiment 18: The device of Embodiment 17, wherein the sealing member is arranged around a perimeter of the bottom end of the housing.

[0138] Embodiment 19: The device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 18, further comprising an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the bottom end of the housing for removably coupling the device with the surface emitting the gas emissions.

[0139] Embodiment 20: The device of Embodiment 19, wherein the adhesive comprises a skin adhesive.

[0140] Embodiment 21 : The device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 20, wherein the device is configured to be worn by a patient.

[0141] Embodiment 22: The device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 21, wherein the gas emissions comprise volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

[0142] Embodiment 23: A system for use in measuring gas emissions from a surface, the system comprising: the device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 22; and any one or combination of the following: a pump configured to move the carrier gas through the device, from the inlet of the device to the outlet of the device, a supply of inert gas for use as the carrier gas, a preconcentrator configured to absorb and / or adsorb at least some of the gas emissions from the carrier gas exiting the outlet of the device, a sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the gas emissions, and a gas analysis subsystem separate from the device.

[0143] Embodiment 24: The system of Embodiment 23, wherein the system comprises the gas analysis subsystem, and wherein the gas analysis subsystem comprises any one or combination of: a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), a photoionization detector, and an ion mobility spectrometer.

[0144] Embodiment 25: The system of Embodiment 23 or 24, wherein the gas analysis subsystem is in gas communication with or configured to be in gas communication with the outlet of the device.

[0145] Embodiment 26: The system of any one of Embodiments 23 to 25, wherein the gas analysis subsystem is configured to measure the gas emissions in real-time or substantially real-time.

[0146] Embodiment 27: The system of any one of Embodiments 23 to 26, wherein the system comprises the sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the gas emissions, and wherein the sensor is coupled with and / or disposed within the housing of the device.

[0147] Embodiment 28: The system of any one of Embodiments 23 to 27, wherein the system comprises the preconcentrator, wherein the pre-concentrator comprises a chemical sorbent.

[0148] Embodiment 29: A method comprising: providing the device of any one of Embodiments 1 to 22; coupling the device with a surface such that the first chamber is arranged to receive gas emissions from the surface; and moving a carrier gas through the device, from the inlet to the outlet, such that the carrier gas flows over the surface and carries away at least some of the gas emissions from the surface.

[0149] Embodiment 30: The method of Embodiment 29, further comprising heating the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows to and / or through the first chamber of the device.

[0150] Embodiment 31 : The method of any one of Embodiments 29 or 30, further comprising measuring a temperature within the device.

[0151] Embodiment 32: The method of Embodiment 31, wherein the device is the device of any one of Embodiments 2 to 8, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the heater based on a temperature measurement.

[0152] Embodiment 33: The method of any one of Embodiments 29 to 32, further comprising arranging the first chamber of the device to receive the gas emissions directly from the surface.

[0153] Embodiment 34: The method of any one of Embodiments 29 to 33, wherein the device is the device of any one of Embodiments 16 to 18, and wherein coupling the device with the surface emitting the gas emissions comprises adhering the bottom end of the device to the surface emitting the gas emissions.

[0154] Embodiment 35: The method of any one of Embodiments 29 to 34, wherein the device is the device of any one of Embodiments 17 or 18, and wherein the method further comprises arranging the sealing member in contact with the surface emitting the gas emissions to prevent or inhibit the ingress of ambient gases through the first opening into the device.

[0155] Embodiment 36: The method of any one of Embodiments 29 to 35, further comprising directing the carrier gas exiting the outlet of the device to a pre-concentrator configured to absorb and / or adsorb at least some of the gas emissions from the carrier gas.

[0156] Embodiment 37: The method of any one of Embodiments 29 to 36, further comprising sensing at least one characteristic of the gas emissions.

[0157] Embodiment 38: The method of any one of Embodiments 29 to 37, wherein the surface emitting the gas emissions comprises a patient’s skin.

[0158] Embodiment 39: The method of any one of Embodiments 29 to 38, wherein the gas emissions comprise volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for collecting gas emissions from a surface, the device comprising: a housing comprising a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being configured to couple with the surface; an inlet; an outlet; and a first chamber disposed at least partially within the bottom end of the housing, the first chamber being configured to receive the gas emissions from the surface and allow a carrier gas to flow between the inlet and the outlet such that at least a portion of the carrier gas flows over the surface.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a heater configured to heat the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows to and / or through the first chamber.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the heater is coupled with the top end of the housing.

4. The device of any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the heater comprises a first heating portion coupled with the inlet.

5. The device of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the heater comprises a second heating portion covering or substantially covering the top end of the housing.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second heating portion comprises a heater sheet.

7. The device of any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising a temperature sensor.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a controller coupled with the temperature sensor and configured to control the heater based at least partly on a signal output from the temperature sensor.

9. The device of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first chamber is configured to receive the gas emissions directly from the surface.

10. The device of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the top end of the housing comprises the inlet.

11. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a second chamber in gas communication with and upstream of the first chamber such that the carrier gas flows through the second chamber prior to entering the first chamber.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a divider disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the divider comprises a perforated wall having a plurality of openings.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of openings comprises: a first plurality of openings adjacent to the inlet and each having a first diameter or width; anda second plurality of openings adjacent to the outlet and each having a second diameter or width, wherein the second diameter or width is larger than the first diameter or width.

15. The device of any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising a third chamber disposed adjacent to the outlet and which is not in gas communication with the first chamber and / or the second chamber.

16. The device of any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising an opening in a downwardly facing surface of the bottom end of the housing, wherein the opening leads into the first chamber.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a sealing member configured to contact the surface emitting the gas emissions and prevent or inhibit the ingress of ambient gases through the opening into the device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the sealing member is arranged around a perimeter of the bottom end of the housing.

19. The device of any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the bottom end of the housing for removably coupling the device with the surface emitting the gas emissions.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the adhesive comprises a skin adhesive.

21. The device of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the device is configured to be worn by a patient.

22. The device of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the gas emissions comprise volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

23. A system for use in measuring gas emissions from a surface, the system comprising: the device of any one of the preceding claims; and any one or combination of the following: a pump configured to move the carrier gas through the device, from the inlet of the device to the outlet of the device, a supply of inert gas for use as the carrier gas, a pre-concentrator configured to absorb and / or adsorb at least some of the gas emissions from the carrier gas exiting the outlet of the device, a sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the gas emissions, and a gas analysis subsystem separate from the device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the system comprises the gas analysis subsystem, and wherein the gas analysis subsystem comprises any one or combination of: a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), a photoionization detector, and an ion mobility spectrometer.

25. The system of claim 23 or 24, wherein the gas analysis subsystem is in gas communication with or configured to be in gas communication with the outlet of the device.

26. The system of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the gas analysis subsystem is configured to measure the gas emissions in real-time or substantially real-time.

27. The system of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the system comprises the sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the gas emissions, and wherein the sensor is coupled with and / or disposed within the housing of the device.

28. The system of any one of claims 23 to 27, wherein the system comprises the pre-concentrator, wherein the preconcentrator comprises a chemical sorbent.

29. A method comprising: providing the device of any one of claims 1 to 22; coupling the device with a surface such that the first chamber is arranged to receive gas emissions from the surface; and moving a carrier gas through the device, from the inlet to the outlet, such that the carrier gas flows over the surface and carries away at least some of the gas emissions from the surface.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising heating the carrier gas while the carrier gas flows to and / or through the first chamber of the device.

31. The method of any one of claims 29 or 30, further comprising measuring a temperature within the device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the device is the device of any one of claims 2 to 8, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the heater based on a temperature measurement.

33. The method of any one of claims 29 to 32, further comprising arranging the first chamber of the device to receive the gas emissions directly from the surface.

34. The method of any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the device is the device of any one of claims 16 to 18, and wherein coupling the device with the surface emitting the gas emissions comprises adhering the bottom end of the device to the surface emitting the gas emissions.

35. The method of any one of claims 29 to 34, wherein the device is the device of any one of claims 17 or 18, and wherein the method further comprises arranging the sealing member in contact with the surface emitting the gas emissions to prevent or inhibit the ingress of ambient gases through the first opening into the device.

36. The method of any one of claims 29 to 35, further comprising directing the carrier gas exiting the outlet of the device to a pre-concentrator configured to absorb and / or adsorb at least some of the gas emissions from the carrier gas.

37. The method of any one of claims 29 to 36, further comprising sensing at least one characteristic of the gas emissions.

38. The method of any one of claims 29 to 37, wherein the surface emitting the gas emissions comprises a patient’s skin.

39. The method of any one of claims 29 to 38, wherein the gas emissions comprise volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

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