Abstract: The invention discloses a device for identifying fluids or measuring their concentration. The device is configured to capture fluid sensing signals and sent to processing capabilities to be annotated, pre-processed and fed to databases of datasets and models which have learning capabilities. The device has a stick or stylus form factor which is makes it fit to be used by health care professionals or by the general public. Advantageously, the stick can be used to capture data from gas and liquid, being possibly phases of the same analyte. The device can be a package containing all processing capabilities being configured to be autonomous. It can operate in conjunction with an intermediary device of a smart phone, a PC or a POCT type. The system comprising autonomous fluid sensory devices, intermediary devices and database servers can operate in a learning mode or in a use mode.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device for identifying fluids or measuring their concentration. The device is configured to capture fluid sensing signals and sent to processing capabilities to be annotated, pre-processed and fed to databases of datasets and models which have learning capabilities. The device has a stick or stylus form factor which is makes it fit to be used by health care professionals or by the general public. Advantageously, the stick can be used to capture data from gas and liquid, being possibly phases of the same analyte. The device can be a package containing all processing capabilities being configured to be autonomous. It can operate in conjunction with an intermediary device of a smart phone, a PC or a POCT type. The system comprising autonomous fluid sensory devices, intermediary devices and database servers can operate in a learning mode or in a use mode.

Abstract: In a gas sensor having a gas-sensitive layer and a heating element to heat the gas-sensitive layer, the heating element comprises a heater track having first and second outer electric terminals and at least one inner electric terminal located between the outer electric terminals. The gas sensor includes a control unit configured to control the electric potentials that are applied to the electric terminals during use, and the control unit is configured to be capable of varying the set of electric potentials applied to the electric terminals. In certain applications the control unit may select the terminals to which power is applied, in order to assure the gas-sensitive layer is heated to a specified temperature. In certain applications the gas sensor has multiple measurement electrodes and the control unit selects the set of electric potentials so that different temperatures are attained at locations where different measurement electrodes are located.

Abstract: An olfactometer or “electronic nose” is able to vary a plurality of operating parameters during a test cycle in parallel, in accordance with a measurement protocol. This measurement protocol, and correspondingly the operating parameters to be varied, the values to be set for those parameters, and the timing of the variation in these values is tailored to most effectively distinguish between likely candidates in a particular testing scenario. A characterisation library is then used to match the results of the measurement protocol to the best target in the characterisation library. Test protocols and/or characterisation libraries may be downloaded from a remote server on demand, and certain activities may be carried out either locally or remotely.

Abstract: In a gas sensor having a gas-sensitive layer and a heating element to heat the gas-sensitive layer, the heating element comprises a heater track having first and second outer electric terminals and at least one inner electric terminal located between the outer electric terminals. The gas sensor includes a control unit configured to control the electric potentials that are applied to the electric terminals during use, and the control unit is configured to be capable of varying the set of electric potentials applied to the electric terminals. In certain applications the control unit may select the terminals to which power is applied, in order to assure the gas-sensitive layer is heated to a specified temperature. In certain applications the gas sensor has multiple measurement electrodes and the control unit selects the set of electric potentials so that different temperatures are attained at locations where different measurement electrodes are located.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device for identifying fluids or measuring their concentration. The device is configured to capture fluid sensing signals and sent to processing capabilities to be annotated, pre-processed and fed to databases of datasets and models which have learning capabilities. The device has a stick or stylus form factor which is makes it fit to be used by health care professionals or by the general public. Advantageously, the stick can be used to capture data from gas and liquid, being possibly phases of the same analyte. The device can be a package containing all processing capabilities being configured to be autonomous. It can operate in conjunction with an intermediary device of a smart phone, a PC or a POCT type. The system comprising autonomous fluid sensory devices, intermediary devices and database servers can operate in a learning mode or in a use mode.

Abstract: An olfactometer or “electronic nose” is able to vary a plurality of operating parameters during a test cycle in parallel, in accordance with a measurement protocol. This measurement protocol, and correspondingly the operating parameters to be varied, the values to be set for those parameters, and the timing of the variation in these values is tailored to most effectively distinguish between likely candidates in a particular testing scenario. A characterisation library is then used to match the results of the measurement protocol to the best target in the characterisation library. Test protocols and/or characterisation libraries may be downloaded from a remote server on demand, and certain activities may be carried out either locally or remotely.

Abstract: The sensitivity and/or selectivity of a chemoresistor type gas sensor is enhanced by measuring the response of the sensing material to a gas sample while the sensing material is subjected to illumination using specially-tailored pulses of ultraviolet radiation. For a given target gas to be detected there is an optimal duration of the UV pulses to achieve peak sensitivity of the sensing material.

Abstract: The sensitivity and/or selectivity of a chemoresistor type gas sensor is enhanced by measuring the response of the sensing material to a gas sample while the sensing material is subjected to illumination using specially-tailored pulses of ultraviolet radiation. For a given target gas to be detected there is an optimal duration of the UV pulses to achieve peak sensitivity of the sensing material.

Abstract: A multi-storey gas sensor is constructed by stacking chemoresistor type gas sensing elements and providing holes through each sensing element so gas can pass from one sensing element to the next, through the sensing layers. A rich data set can be obtained by selecting appropriate combinations of materials for the different sensing layers and varying the operating conditions of the different gas-sensing elements by: taking measurements when different combinations of sensing layers are activated, when given sensing layers are heated to different temperatures or according to different heating profiles, and/or when selected sensing layers are exposed to UV light. Sensor sensitivity and selectivity can be increased by applying UV pulses of controlled duration, and target gas species can be detected based on the transient response of the sensing layer at onset of UV irradiation. Each sensing element may have a micro-hotplate architecture.

Abstract: A multi-storey gas sensor is constructed by stacking chemoresistor type gas sensing elements and providing holes through each sensing element so gas can pass from one sensing element to the next, through the sensing layers. A rich data set can be obtained by selecting appropriate combinations of materials for the different sensing layers and varying the operating conditions of the different gas-sensing elements by: taking measurements when different combinations of sensing layers are activated, when given sensing layers are heated to different temperatures or according to different heating profiles, and/or when selected sensing layers are exposed to UV light. Sensor sensitivity and selectivity can be increased by applying UV pulses of controlled duration, and target gas species can be detected based on the transient response of the sensing layer at onset of UV irradiation. Each sensing element may have a micro-hotplate architecture.