Handheld sensing apparatus

A method for assessing food quality using a handheld sensing apparatus, said method comprising:

• contacting said handheld sensing apparatus with a test sample from a food component, said handheld sensing apparatus comprising:
• a housing;
• a sensor module mounted in the housing and including at least two sensors that provide a distinct response to a particular test sample wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is selected from the group consisting of a conducting/nonconducting regions sensor and an organic semiconducting gas sensor;
• a sample chamber defined by one or both of the housing and the sensor module, the sample chamber incorporating an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the at least two sensors are located within or adjacent to the sample chamber;
• and a microprocessor mounted in the housing and configured to analyze a particular response from the at least two sensors, wherein the microprocessor identifies or quantifies analytes within the test sample based on the particular response, thereby assessing food quality.

A method for diagnosing an illness using a handheld sensing apparatus, said method comprising:

• contacting said handheld sensing apparatus with a test sample comprising a bodily component, said handheld sensing apparatus comprising:
• a housing;
• a sensor module mounted in the housing and including at least two sensors that provide a distinct response to a particular test sample, wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is SAW sensor;
• a sample chamber defined by one or both of the housing and the sensor module, the sample chamber incorporating an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the at least two sensors are located within or adjacent to the sample chamber;
• and a microprocessor mounted in the housing and configured to analyze a particular response from the at least two sensors, wherein the microprocessor identifies or quantifies analytes within the test sample based on the particular response, thereby diagnosing an illness.

A method for assessing food quality using a handheld sensing apparatus, said method comprising:

• contacting said handheld sensing apparatus with a test sample from a food component, said handheld sensing apparatus comprising:
• a housing;
• a sensor module mounted in the housing and including at least two sensors that provide a distinct response to a particular test sample wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is a SAW sensor;
• a sample chamber defined by one or both of the housing and the sensor module, the sample chamber incorporating an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the at least two sensors are located within or adjacent to the sample chamber;
• and a microprocessor mounted in the housing and configured to analyze a particular response from the at least two sensors, wherein the microprocessor identifies or quantifies analytes within the test sample based on the particular response, thereby assessing food quality.

A method for detecting a volatile substance using a handheld sensing apparatus, said method comprising:

• contacting said volatile substance with said handheld sensing apparatus, said handheld sensing apparatus comprising:
• a housing;
• at least two sensors that provide a distinct response to a particular test sample wherein at least one of the at least two sensors is selected from the group consisting of a conducting/nonconducting regions sensor, an organic semiconducting gas sensor and a SAW sensor;
• a sample chamber incorporating an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the at least two sensors are located within or adjacent to the sample chamber;
• and a microprocessor mounted in the housing and configured to analyze a particular response from the at least two sensors, wherein the microprocessor identifies or quantifies analytes within the test sample based on the particular response, thereby detecting said volatile substance.