Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection of trace volatiles such as those produced by fungal decay of timber, comprising a sampling probe (10), comprising a housing (11) and bored barrel (12) adapted removably to receive an SPME device (14) in which a coated tipped fiber (15) is guided within a needle sheath (16) into the barrel (12), and a pump (19) is energized to draw a fluid sample over the fiber tip within the bore of the barrel. A motor (23) advances and retracts the SPME device (14) and its fiber (15) for a sample to be captured thereby and the captured sample is then released within an instrument having an array of gas sensors whereby any trace volatiles captured by and released from the coated fiber (15) may then be analyzed by computer software to produce a fingerprint for the location and identification of the presence of trace volatiles at a site into which the sampling probe is introduced.

Abstract: A method enabling a person to visualize images including encoding spatial information relating to a feature or features contained within an image into the form of one or more musical sequences, and playing the musical sequence or sequences to the person.

Abstract: A method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject includes the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in the emitted subject respiratory gases with the gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of the species with the occurrence of the condition.

Abstract: [There is disclosed a method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject comprising the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in said emitted subject respiratory gases with said gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of said species with the occurrence of the condition] A method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject includes the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in the emitted subject respiratory gases with the gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of the species with the occurrence of the condition.

Abstract: A microorganism analyzer has a flow-through arrangement into which a microorganism-containing sample may be introduced, and a headspace connected or connectible to a gas analyzer. The headspace is connected to the flow-through arrangement so as to be affected by the sample.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for interrogating a sensor comprising the steps: applying a periodic electrical signal to the sensor; obtaining a signal therefrom; and performing an operation on the obtained signal to obtain the sensor response at a plurality of frequencies, said operation including a transformation to the frequency domain of said signal or a quantity related to said signal.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for monitoring at least one condition in a patient comprising the steps of (a) obtaining samples from the patient over a period of time; (b) flowing the samples, or gases associated with or produced by the samples, over at least one gas sensor; c) measuring the response or responses of the at least one gas sensor; and (d) correlating the response or responses with the occurrence or state of the at least one condition. A method for identifying a micro-organism comprising the steps of (a) providing at least one gas sensor; (b) compiling a database of responses to at least one known micro-organism under a variety of culturing conditions; c) abstracting gas or vapor from a detection region and flowing the same over the at least one gas sensor and observing the response of the sensor or sensors; and (d) comparing the response to the database.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pattern identifying neural network comprising at least an input and an output layer, the output layer having a plurality of principal nodes, each principal node trained to recognize a different class of patterns, and at least one fuzzy node trained to recognize all classes of patterns recognized by the principal nodes but with outputs set out at levels lower than the corresponding outputs of the principal nodes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a semiconducting organic polymer polymerized from a 1-substituted, 3-substituted or 1,3-substituted indole monomer and a gas sensor containing this polymer as the active gas sensing element.

Abstract: A method for identifying a microorganism is described that includes abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors. An apparatus for detecting a microorganism is also disclosed having a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism which includes an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.

Abstract: A method for identifying a microorganism is described that includes abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors. An apparatus for detecting a microorganism is also disclosed having a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism which includes an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.