US 8,011,239 B1 · In situ sediment ecotoxicity assessment system

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of chamber holders having openings therein, and an exposure chamber positioned in each chamber holder. Each exposure chamber includes a mesh portion and a top end cap. One exposure chamber contains a mesh bottom and one contains a closed bottom. Each chamber holder is positioned within an opening contained within a base portion. One exposure chamber may extend beyond the lower boundary of the base portion. A top portion may be secured to the base portion to contain the chamber holders. A pump, with connected supply hose, may be coupled to the top portion. The supply hose is routed through the chamber holders such that a supply hose opening is adjacent to each chamber holder. The system may include a water quality sensor and a passive sampling device coupled to the base portion. A deployment system may be connected to the top portion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a plurality of chamber holders, each chamber holder containing a plurality of chamber holder openings;
and
an exposure chamber positioned in each of the chamber holders, each exposure chamber comprising a mesh portion and a top end cap, wherein at least one of the exposure chambers contains a mesh bottom and at least one of the exposure chambers contains a closed bottom.

A system comprising:

a base portion having a plurality of base portion openings;
a plurality of cylindrical chamber holders, each chamber holder positioned within one of the base portion openings, each chamber holder containing a plurality of vertically-oriented chamber holder openings;
an exposure chamber positioned in each of the chamber holders, each exposure chamber comprising a mesh portion and a top end cap, wherein at least one of the exposure chambers contains a mesh bottom, at least one of the exposure chambers contains a closed bottom, and at least one of the exposure chambers extends beyond the lower boundary of the base portion;
and
a top portion secured to the base portion such that the chamber holders are positioned between the top portion and the base portion.

2 more elements

A system comprising:

a base portion having a plurality of base portion openings;
a plurality of chamber holders, each chamber holder positioned within one of the base portion openings, each chamber holder containing a plurality of chamber holder openings;
an exposure chamber positioned in each of the chamber holders, each exposure chamber comprising a mesh portion and a top end cap, wherein at least one of the exposure chambers contains a mesh bottom, at least one of the exposure chambers contains a closed bottom, and at least one of the exposure chambers extends beyond the lower boundary of the base portion;
a top portion secured to the base portion such that the chamber holders are positioned between the top portion and the base portion;
a pump attached to the top portion;
a supply hose connected to the pump, the supply hose having a plurality of hose openings therein, wherein the supply hose is routed through the chamber holders such that a supply hose opening is adjacent to each chamber holder;
and
a water quality sensor coupled to the base portion.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

In situ sediment ecotoxicity assessment system

Life of this patent

In situ sediment ecotoxicity assessment system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20