The ECOvette – 1st ECOSENSE patent

Monitoring Plant Communication: Our New Gas Sampling Interface

We have developed an innovative gas sampling interface designed to capture the complex gas exchanges of living plant leaves in their natural environment. Unlike traditional methods that often encase entire branches, our device attaches minimal invasively to the underside of a single leaf using a gentle magnetic clip-on system. This approach ensures that the leaf’s upper surface remains exposed to sunlight and rain, allowing photosynthesis to continue undisturbed during measurement. The sampler creates a sealed micro-chamber where a carrier gas collects Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other metabolic gases directly from the stomata. Due to its ultra-lightweight design (5 g), the device is carried entirely by the leaf itself without causing mechanical damage. Internally, a specialized flow director ensures that the gas circulates efficiently over the leaf surface for high-precision sampling.