Integrated airborne substance collection and detection system

An autonomously functioning detection apparatus to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the autonomously functioning detection apparatus comprises:

• a. an air collection device configured to automatically intake ambient air including airborne particles and to automatically output a fluid sample including the particles;
• b. a toxin detection module configured to automatically process a first portion of the fluid sample to detect the presence of one or more specific toxins;
• c. a nucleic acid detection module configured to automatically process a second portion of the fluid sample to detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids, wherein the nucleic acid detection module processes the second portion of the fluid sample concurrently with the toxin detection module processing the first portion of the fluid sample;
• and
• d. a control module configured to provide control signals to the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module to enable the detection apparatus to function autonomously.

A detection apparatus to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the integrated detection apparatus comprises:

• a. an air collection device configured to intake ambient air including airborne particles and to output a fluid sample including the particles;
• b. a distribution module configured to meter and to distribute a first portion of the fluid sample, and to meter and to distribute a second portion of the fluid sample;
• c. a toxin detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific toxins within the first portion of the fluid sample;
• and
• d. a nucleic acid detection module configured to detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids within the second portion of the fluid sample, wherein the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module are configured to process the first portion of the fluid sample and the second portion of the fluid sample in parallel.

An integrated and autonomously functioning detection apparatus to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the integrated detection apparatus comprises:

• a. an air collection device configured to automatically intake ambient air including airborne particles and to automatically output a fluid sample including the particles;
• b. a distribution module configured to meter and to distribute a first portion of the fluid sample, and to meter and to distribute a second portion of the fluid sample;
• c. a toxin detection module configured to automatically detect the presence of one or more specific toxins within the first portion of the fluid sample;
• d. a nucleic acid detection module configured to automatically detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids within the second portion of the fluid sample, wherein the toxin detection module and the nucleic acid detection module are configured to process the first portion of the fluid sample and the second portion of the fluid sample in parallel;
• e. microfluidic circuitry to couple the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module within the detection apparatus;
• and
• f. a control module configured to provide control signals to the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module to enable the detection apparatus to function autonomously.

A network of devices to detect the presence of one or more different types of particles, the network of devices comprising:

• a. a network monitoring point;
• and
• b. one or more detection devices coupled to the network monitoring point, each detection device is configured to detect the presence of one or more types of particles and to provide an alarm signal to the network monitoring point upon detection of the one or more types of particles, each detection apparatus comprises:
• i. an air collection device configured to intake ambient air including airborne particles and to output a fluid sample including the particles;
• ii. a toxin detection module configured to process a first portion of the fluid sample to detect the presence of one or more specific toxins;
• iii. a nucleic acid detection module configured to process a second portion of the fluid sample to detect the presence of one or more specific nucleic acids, wherein the nucleic acid detection module processes the second portion of the fluid sample concurrently with the toxin detection module processing the first portion of the fluid sample;
• and
• iii. a control module configured to provide control signals to the air collection device, the toxin detection module, and the nucleic acid detection module and to provide the alarm signal to the network monitoring point.