Device for sampling and transporting nano-objects contained in aerosols for the analysis thereof

1. A device for sampling and transporting nano-objects likely to be present in an aerosol for analysis thereof, comprising:

a porous sampling filter configured to trap nano-objects likely to be suspended in the aerosol;

a cassette including a first part and a second part including mutual assembly means and filter holding means, the first and second parts defining, in their assembled position, a cavity in which the filter is accommodated by being held, and at least one seal configured to seal between the cavity and outside; wherein

the mutual assembly means comprises:

first clipping means integral with the first part,

second clipping means integral with the second part and configured to cooperate with the first clipping means to clip both parts, the first clipping means including flexible tabs and the second clipping means including recesses shaped complementary to the flexible tabs so that the flexible tabs fit within the recesses and none of the flexible tabs project out from the recesses, and

wherein the second part includes holes extending from an outside of the second part to cooperation zones wherein the first clipping means cooperates with the second clipping means, the holes each configured to accommodate a pin for unclipping both parts by applying a thrust force on the pins against the first or second clipping means.

2. The device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first clipping means includes a number equal to n of the flexible tabs with ends shaped as a hook and arranged on the first part by being relatively distant from each other at an angular position equal to 2π divided by the number n, 2π/n, and

wherein the second clipping means includes a same number n of the recesses shaped by being complementary to the hooks and arranged on the second part by being relatively distant from each other at the angular position 2π/n same as the tabs.

3. The device according to claim, wherein the filter holding means comprises first and second shoulders, the first shoulder made on an inner periphery of the first part and the second shoulder on an inner periphery of the second part, and wherein the device comprises a filter holder pinchedly held between the first and second shoulders.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the filter holder is compressively deformable to be crushed by the first and second parts in the assembled position and thus making up a single seal.

5. The device according to claim 3 , comprising at least one elastomeric seal pressing against at least one of the shoulders.

6. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the first and second parts and the filter holder are based on thermoplastic material, or of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyamide 6 (PA6), polyamide 66 (PA66), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP) or polyoxymethylene copolymer (POM-C).

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the mutual assembly means further comprises an annular edge on each of the first and second parts to perform, in addition to clipping, mutual surface pressing between the parts in their assembled position.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the parts comprises a notch opening on either side of the annular edge, and the filter holder comprises a tongue complementary to the notch and on which a filter identifying element is attached, such that in the assembled position of the parts, the identifying element is in contact with an outside environment.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the identifying element is an electronic chip or a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag or a two dimensional bar code.

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the identifying element is attached by a bonding technique, through etching, overinjection, or tampography.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part each have a generally cylindrical shape and the flexible tabs fit within the recesses such that the flexible tabs are flush with the cylindrical shape of the second part.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cassette includes an inlet port and an outlet port through which the aerosol passes, and the inlet port is positioned in the second part and the outlet port is positioned in the first part.

13. A tool for performing unclipping of both parts of the device according to claim 1 , comprising pins arranged relatively distant from each other at a same position as the holes.

14. The tool according to claim 13 , further comprising mechanical guide means capable of guiding the tool relatively to the part including the holes to facilitate simultaneous thrust of the pins against the first or second clipping means.

15. The tool according to claim 14 , wherein the mechanical guide means includes tabs protruding from the tool such that the tabs are configured to receive the part including the holes to guide the pins into the holes.

16. A device for sampling and transporting nano-objects likely to be present in an aerosol for analysis thereof, comprising:

a porous sampling filter configured to trap nano-objects likely to be suspended in the aerosol;

a cassette including a first part and a second part including means for assembling the first part and the second part and means for holding the filter, the first and second parts defining, in their assembled position, a cavity in which the filter is accommodated by being held, and at least one seal configured to seal between the cavity and outside: wherein

the means for assembling comprises:

first clipping means integral with the second part,

second clipping means integral with the first part and the first clipping means fit within the second clipping means to assemble the first part and the second part without the first clipping means projecting out from the second clipping means, and

wherein the parts first part includes holes extending from an outside of the first part to cooperation zones wherein the first clipping means cooperates with the second clipping means, the holes each configured to accommodate a pin for unclipping both parts by applying a thrust force on the pins against the first or second clipping means.

17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the cassette includes an inlet port and an outlet port through which the aerosol passes.

18. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the inlet port is positioned in the first part and the outlet port is positioned in the second part.