Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas responsive pellistor and associated information specific to that pellistor. The information can include environmental compensation information, such as temperature or humidity compensation information or other manufacturing information, and is stored in a computer readable medium. Such information can be used by local circuitry in compensating the sensor while making ambient gas level determinations.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas detector includes a superhydrophobic, nanostructured gas porous electrode. The electrode exhibits a physically disrupted porous region. In an embodiment, electrode material can be deposited around a templating material which is removed before use. Such electrodes exhibit repeatable and reproducible characteristics.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor is disclosed which comprises a gas sensing electrode and a counter electrode disposed within a housing, the housing having an aperture for gas ingress, the gas sensing electrode and counter electrode being separated by a region containing electrolyte, and means for connecting the gas sensing electrode and the counter electrode to a sensing circuit. An electrolyte-absorbing element is disposed inboard of the aperture, between the housing and the gas sensing electrode, in order to absorb electrolyte passing through the gas sensing electrode whilst maintaining a gas path through the electrolyte-absorbing element.

Abstract: An explosion retaining housing includes a sheet metal member or outer skin which at least in part forms an interior region of the housing. At least one structural element provides additional strength to the member to retain the explosion in the region. The structural element can be inside of, or, outside of the region. The structural element can have a plurality of components which cooperate together to resist the force of an explosion in the interior region.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a substrate having a low thermal conductivity. Localized heating can be produced using a serpentined heater carried by the substrate. The low thermal conductivity of the substrate substantially confines the generated heat to a region local to the heater thereby reducing required power to operate the sensor. Multiple sensing elements can be deposited onto the substrate adjacent to respective heaters and relatively close together because of the thermal isolation provided by the substrate. In one embodiment, the sensor can include the ceramic substrate, the heater, catalytic material overlying the heater with a gas impermeable layer overlying, at least in part the catalytic material.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a substrate having a low thermal conductivity. Localized heating can be produced using a serpentined heater carried by the substrate. The low thermal conductivity of the substrate substantially confines the generated heat to a region local to the heater thereby reducing required power to operate the sensor. Multiple sensing elements can be deposited onto the substrate adjacent to respective heaters and relatively close together because of the thermal isolation provided by the substrate. In one embodiment, the sensor can include the ceramic substrate, the heater, catalytic material overlying the heater with a gas impermeable layer overlying, at least in part the catalytic material.

Abstract: A lead wool electrode for an electro-chemical cell can be fused to a metallic collector to provide an electrical connection therebetween. Various methods of fusion such as thermal, electrical or chemical can be used.

Abstract: A method of improving performance of electrochemical gas sensors includes cycling potentials applied to one or more of the electrodes of the respective sensor(s) to improve performance of a different electrode. In a process for treating a reference electrode, potentials can be applied to working and, or counter electrodes so as to modify the environment in the vicinity of the reference electrode. An apparatus can carry out the method automatically.

Abstract: A sampling and analysis device comprises a housing, a sampling region and an analysis region being defined within the housing. The housing has at least one aperture to allow fluid ingress to and egress from the sampling region. A filter is disposed within the housing, and is movable inside the housing between a sampling position, located in the sampling region, and an analysis position, located in the analysis region.

Abstract: A method of determining allergen activity in dust comprises: providing a dust sample; extracting from the dust sample at least one breakdown component or proteins or peptides; reacting the extracted at least one breakdown component with a colorimetric amine detection reagent such as TNBSA; and quantitatively measuring the intensity of any resulting coloration. The allergen activity may be gauged by the intensity of coloration.

Abstract: A docking station for use with gas sensors includes limited test and diagnostic circuitry directed to specific characteristics of selected detectors. Where a family of detectors is to be evaluated, a universal interface for that family can be included. A single port can be used for multiple different detectors irrespective of specific detector characteristics.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor has a hollow housing with multi-layer walls. A first layer of the walls has a selected water vapour transport rate. A second layer of the walls has a lower water vapour transport rate than the selected rate. The housing can be formed by first and second moulding processes.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a gas sensor that generates an output related to the concentration of a sensed gas, the method comprising: i) obtaining the value of said output or a related value at each of a set of known values of a first variable and at each of a set of known values of a second variable, one of the variables being gas concentration; ii) for each value of said second variable, determining a first best fit function relating said output or related value to the first variable, each best fit function utilizing at least one coefficient whose value is determined; iii) for the, or the corresponding, coefficient values from each of the first best fit functions, determining a second best fit function relating said coefficient to the second variable, and replacing the coefficient values in the first best fit functions by the second best fit function, and, iv) repeating step iii) for each further coefficient, if any, in the first best fit functions so as to generate a final function relating said output or

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique solution to the problems of both steady-state and transient signals produced by a variety of interfering stimuli, including humidity, which relies upon the inclusion in a gas sensing electrode in an electrochemical gas sensor of a catalyst material, in addition to a first catalyst material reactive to the target gas, the additional, or second, catalyst material producing a response to an interfering stimulus which is of the opposite polarity to that generated by the first catalyst material.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor is disclosed which comprises a gas sensing electrode and a counter electrode disposed within a housing, the housing having an aperture for gas ingress, the gas sensing electrode and counter electrode being separated by a region containing electrolyte, and means for connecting the gas sensing electrode and the counter electrode to a sensing circuit. An electrolyte-absorbing element is disposed inboard of the aperture, between the housing and the gas sensing electrode, in order to absorb electrolyte passing through the gas sensing electrode whilst maintaining a gas path through the electrolyte-absorbing element.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a gas sensor that generates an output related to the concentration of a sensed gas, the method comprising: i) obtaining the value of said output or a related value at each of a set of known values of a first variable and at each of a set of known values of a second variable, one of the variables being gas concentration; ii) for each value of said second variable, determining a first best fit function relating said output or related value to the first variable, each best fit function utilizing at least one coefficient whose value is determined; iii) for the, or the corresponding, coefficient values from each of the first best fit functions, determining a second best fit function relating said coefficient to the second variable, and replacing the coefficient values in the first best fit functions by the second best fit function, and, iv) repeating step iii) for each further coefficient, if any, in the first best fit functions so as to generate a final function relating said output or