Abstract: Chemical indicators for acidic or basic gases include an inert, porous substrate, an indicator dye or mixture of dyes contained within at least some of the pores of the inert, porous substrate, and an inert adhesive layer attached to the inert, porous substrate. The porous substrate may be a microporous substrate.

Abstract: A filter system includes a housing, a filter medium disposed within the housing, an optical analyte sensor, and an optical reader. The optical analyte sensor is characterized by a first region that exhibit a first response to an analyte of interest and a second region that exhibit a second, different, response to an analyte of interest. The optical analyte sensor includes a detection medium and is disposed within the housing such that the detection medium is in fluid communication with the filter medium. The optical reader includes at least one light source and at least one detector.

Abstract: An optical reader for interrogating an optical analyte sensor includes a housing, comprising in its interior: at least one light source, a detector, and a programmable logic device. The housing has a registration feature configured to align the optical reader with an optical analyte sensor. Methods for confirming alignment of such optical readers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Sensing elements for sensing organic chemical analytes are disclosed. The sensing elements include a first electrode and a second electrode, and a substantially microporous, amorphous, hydrophobic, analyte-responsive organosilicate material in proximity to the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: Applicant discloses a sensing element for sensing an organic chemical analyte, comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and a microporous, hydrophobic, analyte-responsive dielectric material disposed at least in proximity to the first and second electrodes. The analyte-responsive dielectric material may be an amorphous random covalent network comprising a mean pore size of less than about 10 nm and a porosity of at least about 20%. An electrical property of the sensing element, such as capacitance, can be monitored in order to sense an organic chemical analyte.

Abstract: A filter cartridge 12 that includes a filter material 42, an end-of-service-life-indicator 40, a cartridge housing 22, and a window 38. The filter material 42 and ESLI 40 are disposed in the housing, and the ESLI 40 may be viewed through the window 38. The window 38 is configured such that the ESLI 40 can only be seen within a cone defined by an angle ? of 20 to 70 degrees. The limited viewing range precludes reader error when examining the ESLI for color change.

Abstract: A filter system includes a housing, a filter medium disposed within the housing and a optical analyte sensor also disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the filter medium. The optical analyte sensor includes a detection medium that changes at least one of its optical characteristics in response to an analyte. The filter system further includes an optical reader having at least one light source and at least one detector. The optical reader is attached to the housing such that at least a portion of light emitted by at least one light source is reflected from the optical analyte sensor and captured by at least one detector.

Abstract: A filter cartridge 12 that includes a sorbent filter material 42, an end-of-service-life (ESLI) indicator 40, a housing, and a housing cover 24. The housing 22 has a sidewall 26 that has a window pane that allows the ESLI 40 to be viewed through it. The cover 24 is secured to a first perimeter 28 of the housing sidewall 26 and has an air throughput surface 32 and an opaque extension 36. The opaque extension 36 is positioned on the cover 24 such that the extension is juxtapositioned against an outer surface of the housing sidewall 26. The cover extension 36 also has a window pane located in it so that the ESLI 40 may be viewed through it too. The provision of an opaque extension 36 on the cover 24 and a window 38 in the extension 36 allows the ESLI 40 to be appropriately masked such that the sensor registration position is consistently achieved during manufacture of the filter cartridge 12.

Abstract: Plasma deposited microporous analyte detection layers, method of forming analyte detection layers, and analyte sensors including the same are disclosed. An analyte sensor includes a substrate and a microporous amorphous random covalent network layer. The microporous amorphous random covalent network layer includes silicon, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with a mean pore size in a range from 0.5 to 10 nanometers and an optical thickness in a range from 0.2 to 2 micrometers.

Abstract: A filter cartridge 12 that includes a filter material 42, an end-of-service-life-indicator (ESLI) 40, a housing 22, a cover 24, and a window 38. The filter material 42 has first and second major surfaces 45, 47 and is disposed in the housing such that the second major surface 47 of the filter material is located downstream to the first major surface 45. The housing has a sidewall 26 through which the ESLI 40 can be seen. The cover 24 is secured to the housing 22 and has an opaque extension 36 that masks at least a portion of the housing sidewall 26. The window 38 is positioned on the extension 36 at a registration position where the ESLI 40 can be seen through the window 38 such that a change in a certain color of the ESLI 40 indicates that the cartridge 12 needs to be replaced. The use of the cartridge cover to provide the ESLI registration position allows the filter cartridges to be mass assembled without risk of error in achieving proper window registration.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods and devices for detecting the presence of an analyte. Such methods and devices may comprise an array comprising at least two sensing elements that differ in their response to an analyte of interest. The sensing elements each comprise at least an optically responsive layer that comprises at least a highly analyte-responsive sublayer. At least one sensing element of the array further contains a minimally analyte-responsive sublayer that comprises part of the thickness of the optically responsive layer. Methods of making and using such arrays of sensing elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods and devices for detecting the presence of an analyte. Such methods and devices may comprise at least one sensing element that comprises at least one optically responsive layer that comprises at least a highly analyte-responsive sublayer and a minimally analyte-responsive sublayer. Methods of making and using such sensing elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sorbent media protective device includes an enclosure having a gas inlet, gas outlet and a thin-film multilayer indicator. The thin-film multilayer indicator is proximate sorbent media that can sorb a vapor of interest flowing from the gas inlet towards the gas outlet. The indicator includes a porous detection layer whose optical thickness changes in the presence of the vapor, located between a semireflective layer and a reflective layer permeable to the vapor. With equilibration at the applied vapor concentration between at least a portion of the media and the vapor, the vapor can pass through the reflective layer into the detection layer and change the detection layer optical thickness sufficiently to cause a visibly discernible change in the indicator appearance if viewed through the semireflective layer.

Abstract: Organosilicate materials and methods for preparing organosilicate materials, including organosilicate films are provided. The organosilicate materials are hydrophobic, amorphous, and substantially microporous. These materials are prepared from organo-functional hydrolysable silane precursors and are prepared without the use of porogens. These materials are suitable for a wide range of uses, including as detection layers for sensing applications.

Abstract: Multi-layered optical sensor films are disclosed. The sensor films include a first reflective layer, a detection layer over the reflective layer, and optionally a second reflective layer over the detection layer. The detection layer contains a hydrophobic, amorphous, substantially microporous, analyte-sensitive organosilicate composition. The analyte-sensitive organosilicate composition provides an optical change in the film upon analyte exposure.

Abstract: The present disclosure is particularly adapted for determining whether the condition of personal protection equipment PPE articles satisfies at least one criterion. A method and system provide at least one predetermined criterion that governs use of the PPE article in a working environment; a PPE article is configured with a smart tag, and a sensing device is provided that is configured to sense data in a working environment related to the predetermined criterion. Acquired data from the sensing device and the smart tag are processed in a data processing system to determine whether the condition of the PPE article satisfies the at least one predetermined criterion.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for determining conditions of components that are removably coupled to articles of personal protection equipment (PPE) by tracking the components against predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Composite particles of a metal oxide particle within a crosslinked, cored dendrimer are described. Additionally, methods of making the composite particles and compositions that contain the composite particles are described.

Abstract: Composite particles of a metal oxide particle within a crosslinked, cored dendrimer are described. Additionally, methods of making the composite particles and compositions that contain the composite particles are described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking compliance of personal protection (PP) articles in working environments. Tracking compliance includes providing at least one PP article configured with a smart tag; providing at least one predetermined criterion that governs compliance with respect to the at least one PP article in a particular working environment; tracking the PP article by retrieving smart tag data; and determining whether the smart tag data satisfies at least one predetermined criterion; and storing data relating to results of the determination.