Abstract: There is provided a resonant cavity system. A first mirror is actuated at a first end of a resonant cavity to move in a direction between a first position relative to a second mirror at a second end of the resonant cavity, at which a cavity length between the first mirror and the second mirror is less than a resonance length for a laser beam, and a second position relative to the second mirror, at which the cavity length is greater than the resonance length. An event is triggered when the cavity length is proximal to the resonance length. The first mirror is continuously actuated to move in the direction between the first position and the second position during the event.

Abstract: A spectroscopy system is disclosed, and includes a resonant cavity, a first conduit configured to couple at a first end thereof to a gas source, and at a second end thereof to a first end of a sorbent tube containing a sample for analysis, and a second conduit configured to couple at a first end thereof to a second end of the sorbent tube, and at a second end thereof to the resonant cavity.

Abstract: A cavity ring-down spectroscopy system and a method of modulating a light beam therein are provided. The cavity ring-down spectroscopy system includes at least one laser that generates a light beam, a first optical modulator positioned to attenuate the light beam from the at least one laser, a second optical modulator positioned to attenuate the light beam from the first optical modulator, a ring-down cavity positioned to receive the light beam from the second optical modulator, and at least one light sensor to detect an intensity of light leaked from the ring-down cavity.

Abstract: There is provided a resonant cavity system. A first mirror is actuated at a first end of a resonant cavity to move in a direction between a first position relative to a second mirror at a second end of the resonant cavity, at which a cavity length between the first mirror and the second mirror is less than a resonance length for a laser beam, and a second position relative to the second mirror, at which the cavity length is greater than the resonance length. An event is triggered when the cavity length is proximal to the resonance length. The first mirror is continuously actuated to move in the direction between the first position and the second position during the event.

Abstract: There is provided a method of tuning a resonant cavity and a cavity ring-down spectroscopy system using the same. A first mirror is actuated at a first end of a resonant cavity to move in a direction between a first position relative to a second mirror at a second end of the resonant cavity, at which a cavity length between the first mirror and the second mirror is less than a resonance length for a laser beam, and a second position relative to the second mirror, at which the cavity length is greater than the resonance length. An event is triggered when the cavity length is proximal to the resonance length. The first mirror is continuously actuated in the direction between the first position and the second position during the event.

Abstract: There is provided a method of tuning a resonant cavity and a cavity ring-down spectroscopy system using the same. A first mirror is actuated at a first end of a resonant cavity to move in a direction between a first position relative to a second mirror at a second end of the resonant cavity, at which a cavity length between the first mirror and the second mirror is less than a resonance length for a laser beam, and a second position relative to the second mirror, at which the cavity length is greater than the resonance length. An event is triggered when the cavity length is proximal to the resonance length. The first mirror is continuously actuated in the direction between the first position and the second position during the event.

Abstract: A cavity ring-down spectroscopy system and a method of modulating a light beam therein are provided. The cavity ring-down spectroscopy system includes at least one laser that generates a light beam, a first optical modulator positioned to attenuate the light beam from the at least one laser, a second optical modulator positioned to attenuate the light beam from the first optical modulator, a ring-down cavity positioned to receive the light beam from the second optical modulator, and at least one light sensor to detect an intensity of light leaked from the ring-down cavity.

Abstract: A spectroscopy system is disclosed, and includes a resonant cavity, a first conduit configured to couple at a first end thereof to a gas source, and at a second end thereof to a first end of a sorbent tube containing a sample for analysis, and a second conduit configured to couple at a first end thereof to a second end of the sorbent tube, and at a second end thereof to the resonant cavity.

Abstract: An optical system is for imaging a surface covered with a viscous substance using an illuminating beam having a spectral profile including an imaging waveband to which the viscous substance is transparent. The system includes a support frame, a flattening plate, a light source and a camera. The support frame has a front and a rear end, and has an abutment structure. The flattening plate is transparent to the imaging waveband, and is engageable with the viscous substance to flatten the substance into a substantially flat layer. The light source is operatively coupled to the support frame, and configured to project the illuminating beam towards the surface through the flattening plate. The camera is mounted onto the support frame, is sensitive to light in the imaging waveband, and has a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the surface illuminated by the illuminating beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting volatile compounds in human breath. The apparatus includes a device for discriminating between alveolar and non-alveolar portions of exhaled breath, a device for measuring volume of exhaled breath, a chamber with a piston or similar compressible device with clean internal services designed to collect a precise volume of alveolar breath, a pump to draw the exhaled breath from the chamber through at least one sorbent tube, a subsystem for introducing a clean gas into the chamber to expand it and for purging the tubing of the system, and a subsystem for selectively collecting a room air sample. A manifold is provided in the apparatus for receiving sorbent tubes and comprises an input block and output block, and a locking lever for actuating the input and output blocks linearly towards and away from each other and selectively locking them in a fully closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly and accurately identifying and quantifying analytes in a complex mixture is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an ultra-sensitive cavity-enhanced spectrometer coupled to data-collection and analysis devices. The method comprises the use of a database containing the absorption cross-sections of various analytes to numerically determine the composition of the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly and accurately identifying and quantifying analytes in a complex mixture is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an ultra-sensitive cavity-enhanced spectrometer coupled to data-collection and analysis devices. The method comprises the use of a database containing the absorption cross-sections of various analytes to numerically determine the composition of the sample.

Abstract: A fluid heater including a reservoir, an inlet-conduit assembly and an outlet conduit. The reservoir contains fluid and includes heating elements. The inlet-conduit assembly is mounted to the reservoir and has an inlet-aperture and is in communication with the reservoir at an opposite end. The outlet conduit is mounted to the reservoir and is in communication with the reservoir at one end and has an outlet-aperture at an opposite end. A fluid-flow detector assembly is mounted to one of the inlet-conduit assembly and outlet conduit. A heating element modulator is mounted to the inlet-conduit assembly. The heating element modulator is connected to the heating elements. A thermal sensor is mounted to at least one of the inlet-conduit assembly, reservoir and outlet conduit. A controller is connected to the heating element modulator, to the fluid-flow detector assembly and to the thermal sensor.

Abstract: A fluid heater including a reservoir, an inlet-conduit assembly and an outlet conduit. The reservoir contains fluid and includes heating elements. The inlet-conduit assembly is mounted to the reservoir and has an inlet-aperture and is in communication with the reservoir at an opposite end. The outlet conduit is mounted to the reservoir and is in communication with the reservoir at one end and has an outlet-aperture at an opposite end. A fluid-flow detector assembly is mounted to one of the inlet-conduit assembly and outlet conduit. A heating element modulator is mounted to the inlet-conduit assembly. The heating element modulator is connected to the heating elements. A thermal sensor is mounted to at least one of the inlet-conduit assembly, reservoir and outlet conduit. A controller is connected to the heating element modulator, to the fluid-flow detector assembly and to the thermal sensor.

Abstract: An interlaced meshed resistance network having one or more continuous wire conductors is formed from a tubular wire network cylinder folded over itself in order to have a double thickness into a flat annular ring shape. The resistance network can be used to bond heat fusing plastic tubes together. The wire is covered with a layer of material which is thermally conducting and electrically insulating up to a temperature about 300 to 350 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A connecting device for connecting two thermoplastic pipes together including a thermoplastic body having a resistive element having a wire mesh structure and connection terminals. Each of the connection terminals has a tubular rivet body made of an electrically conductive material. The tubular rivet body includes a collar integrally formed with a hollow shaft and a flanged portion bent to immobilize the resistive mesh after the connection terminals are riveted to the mesh. This increases the reliability of the connection terminals to the resistive mesh.

Abstract: The invention relates to the welding of components made of heat-fusing plastic, using an electrical heating resistor arranged in the thickness of a connection component.According to the invention, the resistor is a thin electrically conductive layer advantageously formed on a supporting film made of heat-fusing plastic and capable of causing the tearing of the layer at a specific temperature corresponding to the welding temperature of the components.The invention is used particularly for the thermal welding of polyethylene pipes used in the gas industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connection component equipped with an electrical resistor for the welding of elements made of heat-fusing plastic. According to the invention, the resistor takes the form of a single wire coated with an electrically insulating layer and having points of intersection, the coating layer fusing at a temperature between the fusion temperature of the components to be joined together and their temperature of thermal damage, so that short-circuits are generated on the wire and so that the stopping of the supply of current to the latter is commanded. The invention is used particularly for the thermal welding of polyethylene pipes used in the gas industry.