Fluid composition sensor device and method of using the same

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a fluid composition sensor device and method of using the same. In various embodiments, the fluid flow composition sensor is configured to receive a volume of fluid, the fluid composition sensor comprising a housing, a removable fluid flow component, an impactor nozzle, a collection media assembly dock element configured to receive a replaceable collection media assembly comprising a collection media configured to receive one or more particles within the volume of fluid, an imaging device configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the one or more particles received by the fluid composition sensor, and a controller configured to determine, based at least in part on the image, at least one particle characteristic of the volume of fluid. The imaging device may be configured to capture the image of one or more particles received by the fluid composition sensor using lensless holography.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A replaceable collection media assembly comprising:
 a transparent substrate;   a collection media disposed upon the transparent substrate configured to receive one or more particles of a plurality of particles within a volume of fluid through a sensor along a fluid flow path;   a slide frame element configured to support the transparent substrate and the collection media, wherein a portion of the slide frame element is configured as handle to enable the removal of the collection media; and   a latch positioned so as to engage a collection media assembly ejection element of the sensor, the latch being configured to impede removal of the replaceable collection media assembly from the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The replaceable collection media assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the slide frame element is selectively detachable from the transparent substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The replaceable collection media assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two distinct and separable components. 
     
     
         4 . The replaceable collection media assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more compression elements, wherein the compression elements comprise protrusions extending from the slide frame element that are configured to engage a portion of the sensor upon the replaceable collection media assembly being inserted into an internal sensor portion of the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The replaceable collection media assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the compression elements comprise protrusions and/or surfaces disposed about the replaceable collection media assembly and configured to receive a compression force from a corresponding spring element disposed within the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The replaceable collection media assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the compression force constrains the movement of the replaceable collection media assembly in at least a vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The replaceable collection media assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more identification elements configured to uniquely identify the replaceable collection media assembly, wherein the one or more identification elements are further configured to be read by an imaging device. 
     
     
         8 . The replaceable collection media assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the identification element comprises a bar code, QR code, or a serial number. 
     
     
         9 . A device for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising:
 a sensor configured to receive a volume of fluid, the sensor comprising:   an impactor nozzle configured to receive at least a portion of the volume of fluid such that the at least a portion of the volume of fluid received by the impactor nozzle is directed in a fluid flow direction;   a collection media assembly comprising a collection media configured to receive one or more particles from the volume of fluid;   an imaging device configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the one or more particles received by the collection media;   a collection media assembly ejection element positioned so as to engage a latch of the collection media assembly, the latch being configured to impede removal of the collection media assembly from the sensor; and   a controller configured to determine, based at least in part on the image, at least one particle characteristic of a plurality of particles of volume of fluid.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the controller uses machine learning techniques to determine a particle type and/or species of each of the one or more particles received by the collection media. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is configured to, to receive a pressing force from a replaceable collection media assembly so as to constrain the collection media assembly against movement relative to the imaging device in at least a vertical direction; upon receiving the pressing force received from the replaceable collection media assembly, align the replaceable collection media assembly in a position at least substantially adjacent the imaging device so as to define an air seal that at least partially isolates the imaging device from the volume of fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein one or both of the controller and the imaging device is configured to read one or more identification elements disposed on a replaceable collection media assembly received by a collection media assembly dock element so as to identify the replaceable collection media assembly, and wherein the one or more identification elements are configured to uniquely identify the replaceable collection media assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the impactor nozzle comprises an impactor nozzle outlet defined at least in part by a nozzle outlet shape that is at least substantially similar to a field of view shape of the imaging device. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising an illumination source configured to emit one or more light beams so as to engage the collection media of a replaceable collection media assembly and illuminate the one or more particles received by the collection media. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging device configured to utilize the light beam emitted from the illumination source in order to capture an image of the one or more particles received by the collection media. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more additional latch and/or fasting elements configured to secure an upper sensor housing to a lower sensor housing in a closed sensor configuration of the sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A method for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising:
 receiving, via a sensor, a volume of fluid;   directing, via an impactor nozzle, the volume of fluid towards a collection media of a replaceable collection media assembly;   receiving, by a collection media, one or more particles of a plurality of particles within a volume of fluid, wherein the collection media comprising:
 a latch positioned so as to engage a collection media assembly ejection element of a fluid composition sensor, the latch being configured to impede removal of the replaceable collection media assembly from the sensor; 
   capturing, using an imaging device disposed within the sensor, an image of the one or more particles of a plurality of particles received by the collection media to determine one particle characteristic of the plurality of particles of the volume of fluid; and   upon determining the at least one particle characteristic of the plurality of particles of the volume of fluid, removing the replaceable collection media assembly from the sensor based at least in part on an engagement of a latch of the collection media assembly ejection element.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising identifying, using one or both of a sensor controller and the imaging device, the replaceable collection media assembly based at least in part on an identifying element disposed thereon. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the image of the one or more particles of the plurality of particles received by the collection media is captured using lensless holography. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising determining a particle type and/or species of each of the one or more particles received by the collection media using machine learning techniques.