SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE RAPID DETECTION AND ANALYSIS OF AIRBORNE BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

• US 20040043443A1
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Space Electronics, Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Lejeune, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 6,777,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices

Abstract

A sampling device for detecting airborne particles has two parallel substantially identical intake passages. Each intake passage, in close proximity to the other, and has an inlet, a sampling filter intersecting the passage, means for drawing ambient air through the inlet, and sampling filter. The sampling filter is mounted on a filter magazine that has a plurality of sampling filters. A motor is provided for sequentially moving successive sampling filters on the magazine into the air flow. The sampling device accordingly captures two substantially identical samples from the parallel intake passages.

Claims

1. A sampling device for detecting airborne particles comprising:

(i) two parallel substantially identical intake passages, each said intake passage being in close proximity to the other, and each intake passage having an inlet,

(ii) a sampling filter intersecting each said passage, and

(iii) means for drawing ambient air through each inlet and through said sampling filter, said sampling filter mounted onto a filter magazine,

(iv) said filter magazine comprising a plurality of sampling filters, and means for sequentially moving each said sampling filter from said filter magazines into each said intake passage, and

(v) wherein said sampling device can capture two substantially identical samples from said parallel intake passages.

2. The sampling device for detecting airborne particles as in claim 1 further comprising at least one particle detector, said particle detector positioned in said passage between said inlets and said sampling filter, said particle detector provide data as output reflecting the numbers and sizes of target particles.

3. The sampling device for detecting airborne particles of claim 2 further comprising a means for transmitting particle data gathered by said sampling device to a remote location.

4. The sampling device for detecting airborne particles of claim 1 wherein the communication means is a wireless communication system.

5. The sampling device for detecting airborne particles of claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system.

6. An integrated mobile system for the detection of airborne biological pathogens comprising:

(a) a plurality of sampling devices as in claims 1-2,

(b) a means for transmitting particle data gathered from said sampling devices operatively linked to each of said plurality of sampling stations, and

(c) a central command unit comprising

(i) a mobile vehicle,

(ii) a central command unit comprising a central processor operatively linked to said means for transmitting particle data,

(iii) and a laboratory comprising equipment capable of analyzing sample contents captured by the sampling filters of said sampling devices.

7. The integrated system according to claim 6 wherein the mobile vehicle of said central command unit is a trailer or recreational vehicle.

8. The integrated system according to claim 6 wherein the central command unit further comprises the filters from the sampling stations, said filters having been physically transferred to said central command unit.

9. A method for monitoring a geographic area for the presence of airborne biological pathogens comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a plurality of sampling devices of claims 1-2 within said geographical area,

(b) sampling the air with the plurality of filters comprised within said sampling devices continuously at predetermined time intervals, each said sampling device capturing samples in parallel,

(c) monitoring said air for the presence of particles of about 0.5 to 5 microns in size via at least one particle detector,

(d) reporting the data gathered by said particle detector to a central command unit via a means for transmitting said particle data,

(e) collecting and transferring said air filters to said central command unit,

(f) analyzing the particles captured by said filters for the presence of airborne biological pathogens.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the parallel sampling step comprises the dual sampling of said air onto a first then onto a second air filter, the method further comprising transferring said first and second air filters to two separate central command units, the samples taken from said second filter being a control for the samples taken from said first filter and that the dual samples are optionally compared.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting data relating to the time of said predetermined time interval and the location of the sampling device and physically correlating said data with said sample filters.