Measuring and testing – Sampler – sample handling – etc. – With constituent separation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-22
2001-02-27
Noland, Thomas P. (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Sampler, sample handling, etc.
With constituent separation
C073S864340, C073S864710
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192767
ABSTRACT:
The object of the present invention consists in a sampler instrument able to collect airborne particles of various dimensions, even very little, that are dispersed in the atmosphere.
In particular this sampler is able to collect particles both of inorganic nature, as dusts, and of organic nature, as viruses, bacteria, spores, mycetes, pollen grains and so on. In case of personal utilisation, i.e. when it is necessary to determine a particular parameter relative to the physical condition of a person in relation to the surrounding atmosphere, this instrument is able to sample and monitor the atmospheric condition directly near the person, particularly near his or her mouth, using the same medium flows of respiration of an adult subject at rest, corresponding to the aspiration medium flow of about 10 liters per minute.
Many instruments able to sample airborne particles are know in the art: these instruments fixed or movable, are of greater dimensions when considered in comparison with the described instrument, or, if of the same dimensions, they are not so exact in the quantitative determination of substances present in the atmosphere and certainly they are not able to monitor the atmospheric air conditions at a medium aspiration value corresponding to the air flow mobilised during a quiet respiration of an adult at rest and in a healthy condition.
The sampling instrument, object of this invention is of pocket size, of negligible weight, can be utilised for a long period and does not interfere with the normal life of the person who utilises it. Due to these peculiarities, it does not present difficulties when used by old people and children.
This instrument can be utilised for sampling airborne particles by a survey that can have hourly or daily programmes, or during a work shift in varied conditions; this instrument can be worn by a person or can be installed in a fixed position in a strategic point or in a mobile position, on a revolving tripod with a wing which will permit it to sample against the wind force. The sampling instrument object of the present invention can be utilised in studies of different types such as studies of aerobiology, allergology, immunology, bacteriology and virology, allowing the taking-in of particles present in the atmosphere where a determined person lives, works or rests. Therefore, it is possible to do a timed and targeted atmosphere sampling that can find and quantify airborne particles in the aspirated air and also to evaluate the possible ratio of cause and effect between pathogen agent and the pathology of the patient affected by the disease, for example rhinitis, bronchial asthma, allergic alveolitis, pneumoconiosis, infections of the broncopulmonary apparatus.
It is very useful to correlate the data of air sampling with a very detailed record of symptoms evidenced by the patient examined, with a description of his daily activity and with the characteristics of his surroundings during the sampling time.
Therefore, we can have manifold uses of the object of the invention:
in the diagnosis of ORL, oculistic, respiratory, dermatologic (with allergic pathogeny) diseases;
for virological, bacteriological, mycological studies of pure research or in practical hygienistic employments, such as, the study of hospital infections, the study of ambience regarding the sterility characteristics of operating theatres, of transplant centers, and the study of industrial centers, e.g. the monitoring of sterility of the ambience used for manipulation and packaging of drugs and foods;
in the field of work medicine for environmental monitoring and for the diagnosis of professional diseases;
in botany for scientific, morphologic and genetic studies;
agriculture for studying the vital cycle of parasites and, consequently, for a beneficial and correct use of pesticides;
in legal medicine for identification of particles found on the scene of the crime;
for the safeguarding of cultural and artistic works of art, e.g. in picture galleries, libraries, for the identification of parasites that can irremediably damage works of art.
The instrument of the present invention is compact, light in weight and easy to transport; it allows the performance of sampling also during the movements of the person, as well as an accurate evaluation of the nature and quantity of the airborne particles in the atmosphere with which the person is in contact at a determined time.
Furthermore this instrument can be produced at a very competitive price, it is portable and simple to use and, therefore, represents an advance in respect to similar instruments on the market at present.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The sampling instrument for airborne particles, object of the present invention, essentially consists of three elements: a disposable sampling chamber, an aspirative turbine and a case containing the batteries and the electric circuit for driving the turbine.
The sampling chamber is disposable and, dependent on the type of airborne particles researched, presents different characteristics, suitable to their sampling which can be of aerobiologic, bacteriologic, sporologic, virologic and environmental type with organic and inorganic particles. This chamber is essentially made of a cylindric body subdivided with an apposite perforated diaphragm and is furnished of an inlet cone aspirator and outlet cone of exit for the air.
Inside this chamber is located a cellulose acetate tape that, as it is flexible, assumes the form of the internal lateral surface of the cylindric chamber. The cellulose acetate tape is opportunely coated with a particular substance that is adhesive and so does not permit the particles drawn on its surface to go away: preferentially used is, in aerobiological sampling, silicone oil.
The sampling chamber is divided in two cylindrical parts, each part having in the inside the cellulose acetate tape opportunely treated, these parts are arranged in a coaxial way one in respect to the other, making an appropriate matching connection and having interposed, on the junction surface, a diaphragm which has an appropriate number of holes, preferably from 3 to 9, and, more preferably, 6, that provoke a whirly air flow, homogeneous and facilitate the deposition of the airborne particles on the cellulose acetate tape.
In the case of virologic, bacteriologic and mycologic sampling, the sampling chamber can contain, alternatively to the cellulose acetate tape, a Petri capsule inserted inside at an opportune distance from the perforated diaphragm.
Eventually, the holes present on the diaphragm are made on the frustum of the cone, this fact determines an impact of air flow directly on the surface of culture medium, facilitating in this way the deposition of particles inside the Petri capsule.
In alternative to this realisation, instead of the Petri capsule, a particular membrane of the millipore type of cyrolite can be utilised, which permits to capture the viruses, bacteria and microscopic fungi inside and, subsequently, cultivate them sterilely in a culture medium on a Petri capsule containing a selected culture medium.
The second element of the instrument, the aspirative turbine, has well defined characteristics consisting essentially in offering constant aspiration flow in time, generally fixed in ten liters per minute, this value is taken as a physiologic parameter of reference because it represents current respiratory volume, but is eventually modifiable according to the need of research or of study.
The third element of the instrument is a case containing the engine, the electric circuit and the rechargeable batteries that furnish electric energy at low voltage for driving turbine: this case is furnished, on the outside, with a push button for operating the turbine. For a better comprehension of the sampling instrument, reference is made to the enclosed designs in which is represented a preferred realisation of the invention: these designs are not, however, limitative of the same invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3572128 (1971-03-01), Hemeon
patent: 4075389 (1978-02-01), Vassiliades et al.
Armstrong, Westerman Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
Noland Thomas P.
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