135 results about "Airborne exposure" patented technology

An apparatus, method and system for detecting and quantizing levels of specific airborne particle contamination in areas to be monitored for a plurality of users 201. Sealed particulate samplers 100 are distributed to a plurality of users 201. Samplers 100 are opened during a test period so that airborne particulate is pulled and affixed to surface 101 by means for attraction and affixing. After the test period, samplers 100 are sealed and sent to a processing center 200 where particulate affixed to surface 101 is analyzed using optical means and reports 203 generated and sent to users 201. Reports 203 compare test results with selected benchmark values from database 204.

The present invention provides method of particle size and concentration measurement that comprises the steps of: providing a focused, synthesized, non-Gaussian laser beam, causing the beam to interact with the particles, measuring the interaction signal and the number of interactions per unit time of the beam with the particles, and using algorithms to map the interaction signals to the particle size and the number of interactions per unit time to the concentration. The particles are fluid borne, airborne, or on a surface and have a size ranging from sub-micron to thousands of microns. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the focused, synthesized, non-Gaussian laser beam is a dark beam. The non-Gaussian beam can be generated by employing a mask over a Gaussian laser beam or by directly modifying the laser cavity or by combining the beams from several lasers. The measurements can be made using the duration of interaction with a scanning beam, including dark field. The invention further provides a system for particle size and concentration measurement.

A protective socket is provided for use with a parallel optical transceiver module. When the parallel optical transceiver module is seated within a receptacle of the protective socket, the side walls and bottom that define the receptacle of the protective socket protect the internal components of the parallel optical transceiver module from dirt, dust, gases, and other airborne matter.

A modular ductwork assembly decontaminates an air stream circulating within a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The assembly includes one or more of (a) an ionizing module for removing particulates from the air stream, (b) a sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in the air stream, (c) an ozone treatment module for neutralizing pathogens or odoriferous or gaseous constituents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air stream, optionally (d) baffles for slowing and disrupting the flow rate and promoting turbulence in the air stream traveling through the modules, optionally (e) a fan module for directing a treated air stream, optionally (f) an ozone sensor, optionally (g) a monitoring or ozone control means, and optionally (h) a means of delivering and repurposing generated ozone. Each of the modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.

A method of obtaining a fugitive emission flux measurement of airborne matter is provided. The method involves measuring the airborne matter along one or more than one measurement surface that spans the fugitive emission using two or more than two measurement beam paths where each of the two or more than two measurement beam paths are parallel to each other, or substantially parallel to each other, and determining a mass per unit length measurement for the measurement surface, determining a representative wind velocity at or near the one or more than one measurement surface, and calculating the fugitive emission flux of the airborne matter in mass per unit time using the mass per unit length determination and representative wind velocity.

Apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of an airborne chemical or biological analyte utilise:a substantially gas- and liquid-impermeable container; means for introducing a substantially analyte-free collection liquid into said container; means for rapidly sampling ambient air and transferring said analyte therefrom into said collection liquid, said sampling means comprising an air intake means and and an air venting means; and-means for removing from said container an analyte-enriched collection liquid; wherein said volume of air passes through a substantially horizontal air inlet and upwardly through a substantially vertical collector electrode tube with means for applying an electric field between said tube and a co-axial spiked wire- or rod-shaped discharge electrode.

Some food pathogens are not well controlled by lethality treatments followed by refrigeration. A food processing facility according to this invention reduces the likelihood that food pathogens will be able to enter the food processing facility, or spread should they be able to enter. The food processing facility is divided into a plurality of area, with different areas having different allowed actions that can be taken on the food product, different rules and/or procedures for persons who are allowed entry, and/or different levels of cleanliness. The food processing facility includes a plurality of separate rooms for processing the food product, each including separate food processing machines, air handling systems, drain systems and/or often-used supplies and tools. Different air pressures within different areas limit the possible movement of airborne food pathogens. Sanitizing stations are placed between various ones of the different areas.

A reusable two-way respirator mask comprising a filter cover, a filter base, a facepiece, and a filter adapted to remove airborne pathogens. The facepiece is configured to interface with the face of the user and deform under moderate pressure to create a substantially airtight seal with the user's face. The filter cover and filter base a removably coupled such that the user may easily replace the filter by decoupling the filter cover and filter base. Both inhalation and exhalation pass through the filter, reducing the user's inhalation of pathogens and reducing the spread of pathogens from the user to others. The reusable two-way respirator mask is constructed of head resistant materials, suitable for repeated disinfecting.

The disclosed invention is a new concept for a network of specialized continuous ambient air sampling systems, which employ a novel non-destructive ionization and separation method, coupled to a near real-time genomic sequencer. The network of preferably pathogen samplers, would constitute a plurality of distributed nodes throughout the world, with bacterial & viral concentration, identification, and mutation data uploaded to the cloud for epidemic/pandemic predictive modeling. The proposed system offers the ability to migrate from outbreak surveillance, to outbreak forecast. In addition, the capability for continuous data of genomic sequencing offers an enhanced capability to help track antigenic drift and antigenic shift. While optimized for viral capture and analysis, any airborne pathogen or spore can be accepted using the technology. Applications include world health monitoring, pandemic prediction, and detection of real-time bioterror pathogen deployment.

The invention discloses a high-grade biosafety protection type air propagation experimental device for pathogens of medium and small animals. The high-grade biosafety protection type air propagation experimental device can be used for carrying out a droplet propagation experiment on the medium and small animals such as rats, mice, martens and rabbits. The high-grade biosafety protection type air propagation experimental device comprises a biosafety cabinet, wherein the biosafety cabinet comprises an exposure cavity for accommodating healthy animals and bacteria-carrying animals; a sealed experimental box is arranged in the exposure cavity; the healthy animals and the bacteria-carrying animals are placed in the experimental box; the biosafety cabinet is provided with an air supply filteringdevice and an air exhaust filtering device; the air supply filtering device is used for supplying air into the exposure cavity; the air exhaust filtering device is used for purifying air in the exposure cavity and exhausting the air; the experimental box comprises an air inlet and an air outlet; the air inlet communicates with the air supply filtering device; and the air outlet communicates withthe air exhaust filtering device. According to the technical key points, the experimental animals are placed in the experimental box and the propagation experiment is not directly carried out in the biosafety cabinet, so that the pollutant diffusion range is reduced and the experiment is safer; and the section of the droplet propagation experimental box is small and an accurate experimental resultis easy to obtain.

An apparatus for isolating airborne pathogens created during a procedure performed on an individual's extremity includes a transparent, dome-shaped shield having first and second openings therein to allow two individuals to insert their respective extremities into the shield, said first and second openings being located on opposite sides of the shield, and said shield further having a ventilation opening located generally between the first and second openings; an air-cleaning filter located at the ventilation opening; and a fan mounted to the shield and communicating with the ventilation opening and the air-cleaning filter with the filter located adjacent the inlet side of the fan, whereby fumes created during the procedure are directed through the filter.

System (10) for containing airborne dust created during the transfer of material between components of a material delivery system (18) includes at least one airflow duct (70) fluidly coupled to at least one central vacuum unit (14) and configured to direct at least some of the contained airborne dust to the central vacuum unit.

An apparatus for collection and detection of airborne particles includes an optical imaging system having an exposure time, a particle inspection zone, and a flexible substrate with an adhesive coating. The flexible substrate passes through the particle inspection zone. The flexible substrate alternates between an advancing state of moving through the particle inspection zone and an imaging state of not moving through the particle inspection zone. In the imaging state the flexible substrate is so tensioned so that a portion of the flexible substrate in the particle inspection zone moves at most a small distance during the exposure time.

A filtration mask protects the wearer against airborne hazards. The mask is reusable and may be used in a number of configurations. The mask includes filters located to the side and beneath the line of sight of the wearer. The filters may be tailored to the use and type of environmental hazard.

An isolation barrier and method of using it. The isolation barrier includes a mask with a face opening and at least one access opening in front of the subject's nose and/or mouth and an enclosure having a first enclosure opening attached around the access opening, a second enclosure opening, and flexible material extending from the first enclosure opening to the second enclosure opening and defining an enclosure interior, the flexible material comprising at least one area through which the enclosure interior can be viewed, the mask and enclosure interior defining a medical procedure field extending from the subject's nose and mouth to the second enclosure opening when the isolation barrier is in place on the subject's face.

The present invention discloses an anti-flu mask or a respirator to filter air and prevent spreading of virus or pathogens through airborne. The anti-flu mask comprises a filter, a check valve, and a dial or a selector. The filter is configured to filter the airflow and capture up to 99.7% of all particulates or infectious materials. The check valve or one-way valve is configured to control the airflow and allows the air in one direction. The selector is configured to slide smoothly over the check valve and to make the airflow path selection by a user.