Micro scale flow through sorbent plate collection device

A self contained micro analytical system, comprising:

• an analyte collection device, the comprising:
• a first micro scale plate having a narrowed end;
• sorbent coating on at least a portion of said first micro scale plate;
• a penetrating hole through said first micro scale plate, said hole being arranged to permit passage of an analyte fluid flow through said first micro scale plate;
• a heating element for heating said sorbent coating, wherein said first micro scale plate comprises a collection zone for collecting analyte from environment and a delivery zone for delivering the analyte from the device;
• and
• a second micro scale plate with a narrowed end, sorbent coating, a penetrating hole, and a heating element, said second micro scale plate being arranged downstream of said first micro scale plate such that an analyte fluid flow substantially perpendicular to said first micro scale plate is directed through said first micro scale plate and subsequently through said second micro scale plate;
• a detector system;
• a power source;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein said controller drives said heating element with a pulse width modulation(PWM) signal;
• wherein the system further comprises:
• a housing for the collection device;
• an inlet to said housing;
• an outlet from said housing;
• means for inducing flow for analyte collection;
• and
• means for inducing flow for the analyte from the collection zone to the delivery zone;
• wherein the narrowed end of said first micro scale plate and the narrowed end of said second micro scale plate are sized to match an inlet of said detector system to interface with said detector system.

An analyte collection device, the device comprising:

• a micro scale plate;
• a penetrating hole through said micro scale plate, said hole being arranged to permit passage of an analyte fluid flow through said micro scale plate;
• a first resistive trace forming a first heating element defining a first zone on said micro scale plate;
• a second resistive trace forming a second heating element defining a second zone on said micro scale plate;
• and
• sorbent coating formed on at least a portion of said first zone and a portion of said second zone;
• wherein said first zone comprises a collection zone for concentrating analyte from environment and said second zone comprises a delivery zone for concentrating analyte from the collection zone in a smaller area and delivering the analyte to a detector system;
• wherein said sorbent coating is thicker in said second zone than in said first zone;
• and
• wherein said sorbent coating in said first zone and said second zone comprises the same sorbent material.

A self contained micro analytical system, comprising:

• an analyte collection device, the device comprising:
• a micro scale plate having a narrowed end;
• sorbent coating on at least a portion of said micro scale plate;
• a penetrating hole through said micro scale plate, said hole being arranged to permit passage of an analyte fluid flow through said micro scale plate;
• and
• a heating element for heating said sorbent coating, wherein said micro scale plate comprises a collection zone for collecting analyte from environment and a delivery zone for delivering the analyte from the device;
• a detector system;
• an airflow system;
• a power source;
• and
• a controller, wherein said controller controls said airflow system;
• wherein the system further comprises:
• a housing for the collection device;
• an inlet to said housing;
• and
• an outlet from said housing;
• wherein the narrowed end of micro scale plate is sized to match an inlet of said detector system to interface with said detector system;
• and
• wherein said controller controls said airflow system to induce flow through said micro scale plate for analyte collection and, subsequently, to induce flow from the collection zone to the delivery zone.