Abstract: The present techniques relate to breath sampling device and a method for preparing a collected sample from a breath sampling device. The breath sampling device comprises a filter (204), a drying component (210), a mixer (220) and a sampler (230). The drying component (210) is positioned in the fluid path and it is configured to split the fluid path into first and second pathways which include a drying bed (214) and one or a plurality of bypass channels (212). The drying component may comprise a sieve comprising a drying bed of drying material held between an inlet face (202) and an outlet face (206). The method comprises simultaneously releasing and drying a collected sample from the sorbent material by heating the sorbent material to release the collected sample and mixing the released collected sample with a dry gas to dry the released collected sample. The dried released collected sample is then collected ready for analysis.

Abstract: The present techniques relate to sampling devices, and in particular to breath sampling devices. We describe a computer-implemented method of designing a breath sampling device comprising a housing through which a substantial portion of an exhaled breath passes and sorbent material which extends across a cross-section of the housing. The method comprises identifying a plurality of parameters of the device which are variable with different designs of the breath sampling device and selecting values of the plurality of parameters which maximise a global fitness value. The plurality of parameters comprises at least two of mass of the sorbent material, size of the sorbent material, thickness of the sorbent material, breakthrough volume and flowrate within the device.