Abstract: A device for detecting and/or measuring out one or more chemical compounds and a cell for forming the device, the device including at least one first and one second vibrating surface, each having a resonance frequency which varies when placed in presence of at least one chemical compound to be detected, and at least one first system actuating the first and the second vibrating surface to vibrate the first vibrating surface. The first actuating system is configured to generate a first mechanical wave remote from the first and the second vibrating surface, the first actuating system arranged in the device such that the first mechanical wave is transmitted to the first and the second vibrating surfaces to vibrate the first and the second vibrating surfaces.

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 fibre (15) is guided within a needle sheath (16) into the barrel (12), and a pump (19) is energised to draw a fluid sample over the fibre tip within the bore of the barrel. A motor (23) advances and retracts the SPME device (14) and its fibre (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 fibre (15) may then be analysed 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.