Hand-held apparatus and method

Abstract

There is disclosed a gas sampling apparatus adapted for use in a hand-held gas sensing device having at least one gas sensor, the apparatus comprising: a gas inlet; a gas conductor for conducting gas from the gas inlet to the sensor or sensors; a gas outlet; a gas conductor for conducting gas from the sensor or sensors to the gas outlet; and a vacuum containment enclosing an inner region having a pressure below atmospheric pressure and adapted for connection to the gas outlet so that a flow of gas is developed from the gas inlet to the vacuum containment.

1 . A hand-held sensing apparatus comprising: 
 a housing;    a sensor module mounted in the housing and including at least two sensors that provide a distinct response to a particular test sample;    a sample chamber defined by one or both of the housing and the sensor module, the sample chamber incorporating an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the at least two sensors are mounted within or adjacent to the sample chamber; and    analysis means configured to analyze a particular response from the at least two sensors and produce an analytic result.    
     
     
         2 . A method for analyzing a gas test sample using a hand-held gas analyzer, comprising: 
 providing a sensor array which includes at least two sensors in a sample chamber within a hand-holdable housing;    introducing the gas test sample into the sample chamber via an inlet port;    contacting the gas test sample to the at least two sensors in the sample chamber;    generating a response by the at least two sensors; and    analyzing the response to produce an analytic result of the gas test sample.