1. A detection kit for detecting a target compound or target compounds comprises:
a plurality of sticks, each stick comprising: an outer sheath, a wicking tip, a detection surface and a breakable ampoule enclosing a volume of a fluid;
an outer housing containing the plurality of sticks;
a rupture mechanism; and
a removable cap comprising a transparent material, the cap being mated with the outer housing, such that the detection surface of each of the sticks is exposed when the cap is removed, and when the cap is matingly engaged on the outer housing, the detection surface of each of the sticks are enclosed within the housing and the cap and are visible through the transparent cap;
wherein the detection surface of each of the plurality of sticks is disposed on the wicking tip arranged such that the wicking tip is capable of directing the fluid to the detection surface by wicking of the fluid from the volume, when the fluid is released by activating the rupture mechanism;
wherein the fluid comprises a solvent, a reagent or a combination of a solvent and a reagent;
wherein the volume of the fluid is contained within the outer sheath, such that when the fluid is released from the volume, the outer sheath contains the fluid within the stick, whereby the fluid is wicked by the wicking tip from a first end of the wicking tip to the detection surface on an opposite end of the wicking tip;
wherein the outer sheath is of a polymer;
wherein the detection surface comprises an adhesive.
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the detection surface further comprises a solid phase reagent.
3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the fluid comprises a solvent.
4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the rupture mechanism is an integrally-formed portion of the cap.
5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the integrally-formed portion of the cap comprises an inwardly directed surface from a top portion of the cap capable of contacting and breaking each of the breakable ampoules of the plurality of sticks, when the cap and the housing are compressed, displacing the top portion of the cap toward the housing.
6. The kit of claim 5, wherein the inwardly directed surface includes a hemispherical shell extending from an annular wall, the annular wall extending from the top portion of the cap.
7. A detection kit for detecting a target compound or target compounds comprises:
a plurality of sticks, each stick comprising: an outer sheath, a wicking tip, a detection surface and a volume of a fluid;
an outer housing containing the plurality of sticks;
a rupture mechanism; and
a removable cap comprising a transparent material, the cap being mated with the outer housing, such that the detection surface of each of the sticks is exposed when the cap is removed, and when the cap is matingly engaged on the outer housing, the detection surface of each of the sticks are enclosed within the housing and the cap and are visible through the transparent cap;
wherein the detection surface of each of the plurality of sticks is disposed on the wicking tip arranged such that the wicking tip is capable of directing the fluid to the detection surface by wicking of the fluid from the volume, when the fluid is released by activating the rupture mechanism;
wherein the fluid comprises a solvent, a reagent or a combination of a solvent and a reagent;
wherein the volume of the fluid is contained within the outer sheath, such that when the fluid is released from the volume, the outer sheath contains the fluid within the stick, whereby the fluid is wicked by the wicking tip from a first end of the wicking tip to the detection surface on an opposite end of the wicking tip;
wherein the detection surface comprises an adhesive.
8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the adhesive is applied as a porous adhesive layer extending over a substantial portion of the wicking tip.
9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the porous adhesive layer includes a solid phase reagent on the surface of the porous adhesive layer.
10. The kit of claim 9, wherein the detection surface comprises a solid phase reagent.
11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the fluid comprises a solvent.
12. The kit of claim 1, wherein the rupture mechanism comprises an integrally-formed portion of the cap.
13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the integrally-formed portion of the cap comprises an inwardly directed surface from a top portion of the cap capable of contacting and breaking each of the breakable ampoules of the plurality of sticks, when the cap and the housing are compressed, displacing the top portion of the cap toward the housing.
14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the inwardly directed surface includes a hemispherical shell extending from an annular wall, the annular wall extending from the top portion of the cap.
15. The kit of claim 1, wherein the rupture mechanism comprises an integrally-formed portion of the housing, and a push rod deflects a portion of the rupture mechanism radially outward, when the push rod is compressed toward the housing, such that the rupture mechanism is capable of contacting and radially compressing the outer sheath, releasing the fluid from the volume of each of the plurality of sticks.
16. The kit of claim 1, wherein the rupture mechanism comprises a rotatably activatable mechanism capable of contacting and radially compressing the outer sheath between the rupture mechanism and the housing, releasing the fluid from the volume of each of the plurality of sticks.
17. The kit of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of sticks comprises a plurality of volumes separating at least two different fluids within the at least one of the plurality of sticks.
18. The kit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sticks comprises at least five sticks.
19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the plurality of sticks comprises six sticks, and the six sticks are arranged circumferentially within the housing.
20. The kit of claim 7, wherein two or more of the detection surfaces of the plurality of sticks are joined one to the other, such that the fluid of a first of the plurality of sticks comprising a first of the two or more adjacent detection surfaces mixes with the fluid of a second of the plurality of sticks comprising a second of the two or more adjacent detection surfaces.
21. A method of detecting a plurality of target compounds, comprising:
selecting a detection kit according to claim 7;
removing the cap;
swabbing the detection surface of each of the sticks on a target surface;
replacing the cap;
activating the rupture mechanism;
releasing the fluid from the volume of each of the plurality of sticks, at the same time by activating the rupture mechanism, such that the fluid of each of the plurality of sticks displaces to the detection surface of each of the plurality of sticks, respectively; and checking the detection surface of each of the plurality of sticks, determining if any of the plurality of target compounds is present on the detection surface of any of the plurality of sticks.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus with a heat source comprising at least one electric or electronic component, with a heat sink and with an intermediate layer made of a thermally conductive material provided between the heat source and the heat sink, wherein the intermediate layer consists of an organic matrix with embedded nanofibers, the length of at least a majority of the nanofibers embedded in the organic matrix is between 1-100 \u03bcm and wherein the heat source and the heat sink bear with thermally conductive surfaces against the intermediate layer with a surface pressure between approximately 0.1 and 100 bar.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the organic matrix, at least at the operating temperature of the apparatus or of the heat source, is in a viscous or liquid state, or a semi-liquid state.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the organic matrix is already in the viscous or liquid state at a temperature between 10 and 30\xb0 C.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the organic matrix is in the viscous or liquid state at a temperature higher than 30\xb0 C., or at a temperature between 40 and 80\xb0 C.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the organic matrix contains at least one oil, such as a synthetic oil, or a silicone oil.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the organic matrix contains at least partially an elastomer, such as a completely or only partially cross-linked elastomer, or a synthetic elastomer, or silicone rubber.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the organic matrix is at least partially a polymer, a polycarbonate, a polypropylene or a polyethylene.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the percentage of nanofibers in the matrix is between 1 and 70 percent by weight in relation to the total mass of the intermediate layer.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nanofibers have a thickness between approximately 1.3 nm and 300 nm, where the lengththickness ratio of a majority of the nanofibers embedded in the organic matrix is greater than 10.
10. (canceled)
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is between 0.01 mm and 0.5 mm.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the nanofibers are made of carbon, boron nitride, or tungsten carbide.
13. (canceled)
14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nanofibers in the organic matrix are oriented in a random andor tangled configuration.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nanofibers in the organic matrix at least for the most part are oriented in the same direction longitudinally, perpendicular or crosswise to the adjacent heat transfer surfaces or parallel or approximately parallel to the heat transfer surfaces.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for orienting andor maintaining the orientation of the nanofibers in the organic matrix, by means for creating an electric field intensity in the organic matrix.
17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the nanofibers embedded in the organic matrix form a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure, in which the nanofibers are linked with each other, in the form of a web or web-like structure, a non-woven material structure andor a network or screen-like structure.
18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the organic matrix contains further components or additives, in a percentage that is lower than the percentage of nanofibers.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the organic matrix contains at least one thermally conductive ceramic in the form of fine particles or powder as an additive, selected from Al2O3, AlN, BN, Si3N4, SiC, BeO, ZrO.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the organic matrix contains as an additive at least one metal andor metal compound andor metal alloy in the form of fine particles or powder, selected from silver, copper or gold.
21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the matrix contains as an additive, in the form of fine particles or powder, at least one material andor material compound andor alloy that is heat-conductive and changes to molten state at temperatures above 50\xb0 C.
22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the nanofibers are nanotubes, for example single-walled andor double-walled nanotubes.
23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the nanofibers are coated with at least one metal.
24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nanofibers made of carbon are such nanofibers that were subjected to a heat treatment or graphitization step at a temperature between 2700-3100\xb0 C. before being embedded in the organic matrix.
25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is formed by at least one electronic component, such as diode, semiconductor switch or control element, a transistor, a mosfet or by an integrated component.
26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is formed by at least one circuit or module with at least one electric or electronic component, which is located on a metal-ceramic substrate manufactured using the DCB process or active soldering process, wherein the intermediate layer is located between one metallization of the substrate and one heat transfer surface adjacent to said metallization.
27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is formed by a microprocessor, at least one laser diode or one laser diode bar.
28. (canceled)
29. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink is formed by a passive cooler with cooling fins, cooling pins or similar structures.
30. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises at least one active cooler through which a coolant circulates.
31. The apparatus according to claim 30, the at least one cooler is part of a coolant circulation system.
32. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises at least one heat pipe and that the intermediate layer is provided at least between the heat source and one cooling surface formed by the heat pipe.
33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein one cooler or heat exchanger is provided on the heat pipe, wherein at least one intermediate layer is provided between the heat pipe and this heat exchanger or cooler.
34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the heat pipe functions as a heat pump or heat spreader.
35. (canceled)
36. A thermally conductive mass for forming an intermediate layer between a heat source and a heat sink, wherein the mass consists of an organic matrix with embedded nanofibers and the length of at least for a majority of the nanofibers embedded in the organic matrix is between 1-100 \u03bcm.
37. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the organic matrix, at least at the operating temperature of the apparatus or of the heat source, is in a viscous or liquid state, or a semi-liquid state.
38. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the organic matrix is already in the viscous or liquid state at a temperature between 10 and 30\xb0 C.
39. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the organic matrix is in the viscous or liquid state at a temperature between 40 and 80\xb0 C.
40. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the organic matrix contains at least one oil, a synthetic oil, or a silicone oil.
41. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the organic matrix contains at least partially an elastomer, a completely or only partially cross-linked elastomer, a synthetic elastomer or a silicone rubber.
42. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the organic matrix is at least partially a polymer, selected from polycarbonate, polypropylene or polyethylene.
43. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the percentage of nanofibers in the matrix is between 1 and 70 percent by weight in relation to the total mass of the intermediate layer.
44. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the nanofibers have a thickness between approximately 1.3 nm and 300 nm, where the lengththickness ratio of a majority of the nanofibers embedded in the organic matrix is greater than 10.
45. (canceled)
46. The thermally conductive mass claim 36, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is between 0.01 mm and 0.5 mm.
47. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein at least part of the nanofibers are made of carbon, boron nitride andor tungsten carbide.
48. (canceled)
49. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the nanofibers in the organic matrix are oriented in a random andor tangled configuration.
50. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the nanofibers in the organic matrix at least for the most part are oriented in the same direction longitudinally, perpendicular or crosswise to the adjacent heat transfer surfaces or parallel or approximately parallel to the heat transfer surfaces.
51. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein at least part of the nanofibers embedded in the organic matrix form a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure, in which the nanofibers are linked with each other, in the form of a web or web-like structure, a non-woven material structure andor a network or screen-like structure.
52. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the organic matrix contains further components or additives, in a percentage that is lower than the percentage of nanofibers.
53. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 52, wherein the organic matrix contains as an additive at least one thermally conductive ceramic in the form of fine particles or powder, selected from Al2O3, AlN, BN, Si3N4, SiC, BeO, ZrO.
54. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 52, wherein the organic matrix contains as an additive at least one metal andor metal compound andor metal alloy in the form of fine particles or powder, such as silver, copper or gold.
55. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 52, wherein the matrix contains as an additive, in the form of fine particles or powder, at least one material andor material compound andor alloy that is heat-conductive and changes to molten state at temperatures above 50\xb0 C.
56. The thermally conductive mass claim 36, wherein at least part of the nanofibers are nanotubes, single-walled andor double-walled nanotubes.
57. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein at least part of the nanofibers are coated with at least one metal.
58. The thermally conductive mass according to claim 36, wherein the nanofibers made of carbon are such nanofibers that were subjected to a heat treatment or graphitization step at a temperature between 2700-3100\xb0 C. before being embedded in the organic matrix.