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A sampling system for detecting an analyte, comprising a diaphragm pump, a buffer chamber, a sensor head and intake port. The pump includes a chamber for receiving fluids via first and second ports. A buffer chamber is located at the second port for holding a quantity of air, and a sensor head is ad

A sampling system for detecting an analyte, comprising a diaphragm pump, a buffer chamber, a sensor head and intake port. The pump includes a chamber for receiving fluids via first and second ports. A buffer chamber is located at the second port for holding a quantity of air, and a sensor head is adapted to identify the presence of a desired analyte and produce a signal in response to the quantity identified. Preferably the diaphragm pump has a volume of gas per stroke capacity slightly larger than the volume of the sensor head such that the pump chamber has a greater volume than the buffer chamber and the buffer chamber has about the same volume as the sensor head. A sensor intake port intakes a sample potentially containing the analyte for contact with the sensor head upon operation of the diaphragm pump and out of the sensor head by jet-action caused by rapid movement of the diaphragm pump. A filter may be used for filtering air drawn through the pump chamber. The diaphragm pump may be either a single chamber pump or a multiple chamber diaphragm mesopump. In the purging mode, the system can also contain a pump for filling the system with cleaned air. When a mesopump is used, a single pumping channel can provide both AC and DC operation.

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1. A gas sampling system for detecting the presence of an analyte in the proximate atmosphere, comprising:a diaphragm pump having a pump chamber for moving gas into and out of said pump chamber through first and second ports, said pump including a valve at said first port having open and closed posi

1. A gas sampling system for detecting the presence of an analyte in the proximate atmosphere, comprising:a diaphragm pump having a pump chamber for moving gas into and out of said pump chamber through first and second ports, said pump including a valve at said first port having open and closed positions ,said pump adapted to expel said gas at a rate greater than the rate of intake into said pump chamber; a buffer chamber at said second port for holding a quantity of air from said pump chamber; a chemical sensor head operationally connected to said buffer chamber and adapted to identify the presence of a desired analyte and produce a signal in response to the quantity identified, said chemical sensor head having a volume less than said pump chamber; and a sensor intake port for intaking and exhausting a sample potentially containing said analyte for contact with said sensor head upon operation of said diaphragm pump with said valve in its closed position to pump air in and out of said buffer chamber.