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Figure 1 | Chemistry Central Journal

Figure 1

From: Assessment of cigarette smoke particle deposition within the Vitrocell® exposure module using quartz crystal microbalances

Figure 1

The Vitrocell VC 10 Smoking Robot and mammalian exposure module (6/4 CF Stainless) – a schematic cross-section. ([1]) Smoking robot carousel where cigarettes are loaded and smoked, enclosed in a ventilation hood. ([2]) Piston/syringe which draws and delivers ISO (35 ml) or Health Canada Intense (55 ml) mainstream cigarette smoke. ([3]) Air jets add continuous diluting air perpendicular to the mainstream smoke in the range 0.2-12 L/min; rates are set and maintained by mass flow controllers. ([4]) Dilution, transit and delivery of whole smoke occurs in the dilution bar, multiple parallel bars make up the dilution system. ([5]) Isolated cell culture inserts are supported and exposed to diluted whole smoke at the ALI in a module which docks under the dilution system; culture inserts can be removed and replaced with QCMs. ([6]) A vacuum (5–100 ml/min/well) is applied to the module which draws the diluted smoke from the dilution bar into the module via the ‘trumpet’ inlets. ([7]) Due to continuous diluting airflow, smoke remaining within the dilution system transits to exhaust away from the module.

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