Gas sampling & analysis on-the-go
What Is
PRIMOSAMP & PRIMOSENS?
Since 1950, gas chromatography remains the top choice among laboratory techniques for complex gas-mixture analysis. Until now, these systems could be as largeas a table.
Leti, a specialist in microtechnologies, is introducing two highly miniaturized and low-cost gas sampling
and analysis lab-on-chip systems that fit in the hand:
- PRIMOSAMP: samples gas into a removable cartridge. User can then inject the sample in any gas chromatograph.
- PRIMOSENS: samples gas into a removable cartridge and performs a gas chromatography analysis.
Applications:Air-quality and environmental monitoring
- Defense and security
- Process monitoring
- Breath analysis
- Protecting workers from breathing dangerous gas
- Automotive
What’s
new?
PRIMOSAMP and PRIMOSENS are based on several innovations:
- Low-cost solution: cost divided by 10 due to collective fabrication
- Low-power solution: lower thermal capacity. Battery powered, both devices require 100x less energy than conventional gas chromatography systems
- Easy to use: no gas bottle needed, meaning no maintenance required
- Handheld device: highly miniaturized with same performance compared to existing systems
- Performance: lower sampling volume and detection in the ppb range
Leti’s PRIMO devices leverage miniaturized silicon technology bricks, such as micro-preconcentrators, micro-valves, micro-columns and micro-detectors.
- PRIMOSAMP includes a Leti micro-preconcentrator chip, a 12V battery and a commercial miniaturized gas pump
- PRIMOSENS includes a Leti micro-preconcentrator and micro-thermal conductivity detector (μTCD), as well as a 12V battery, a commercial miniaturized gas pump and a gas chromatography column
What’s Next?Leti’s team continues working on the PRIMO technology by:
- Investigating new healthcare applications: breath sampling and analysis
- Developing an embedded recognition algorithm and new absorbent material for pre-concentration
- Studying the potential use of this technology beyond the lab, for the high-end consumer market