Automatic point source biological agent detection system

• US 20040063197A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Schmidt, John C., DiFurio, Gabriel A., Tilles, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/441,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20040063197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/10 in the liquid or fluent state burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2211 with cyclones
• 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 1/4077 by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2217 using a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0099 comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method and apparatus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for automatically collecting air samples and identifying biological agents in the air sample. A fully automated system is provided that is capable of detecting transient events such as bacillus anthracis in a piece of mail being processed on high-speed mail processing equipment. The system includes apparatus for implementing the following features: particle collection and pre-separation using a collection hood and dry cyclone passive filtration system; continuous particle collection into a liquid sample; automated fluid transfer to a PCR analysis cartridge at pre-scheduled times; automated cartridge handling and transfer to PCR bio-agent identification apparatus for detecting a bio-agent in a piece of mail; automatic retesting of the liquid sample upon various error conditions; automatic confirmation testing upon preliminary positive results; automated fluid transfer to archive containers at the completion of analysis; and, automated notification/reporting system to alert designated personnel/organizations upon the occurance of selected events such as the presence of bacillus antracis.

Claims

1. A fully automatic biological agent detection system, comprising:

biological agent identifier apparatus;

collection apparatus for collecting an aerosol sample of particles of an aerosolized biological agent at at least one monitored location;

aerosol concentrator apparatus for producing a liquid sample of the aerosol sample;

an automated fluidics apparatus for storing and delivering a portion of the liquid sample to a cartridge type receptacle;

an automated mechanical handling system for transporting the receptacle from a staging area to a liquid fill point of the fluidics apparatus and then to the biological agent identifier apparatus; and

control apparatus for providing overall automated control of the system, for controlling the apparatus at said at least one monitored location, and for reporting the test results provided by the identifier apparatus to a predetermined location.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collection apparatus operates continuously to collect samples of particles and wherein the system for transporting operates periodically to transport a receptacle from a staging area to a liquid fill point of the fluidics apparatus and then to the biological agent identifier apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the fluidics apparatus periodically delivers a portion of the liquid sample to said receptacle prior to the receptacle being transported to the biological agent identifier apparatus.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collection apparatus includes a shroud/hood positioned at a collection point of the monitored location.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the shroud/hood is located along a mail transport path of mail processing equipment.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the shroud/hood is located at a mail pinch point along the mail transport path and including mail pinching apparatus located adjacent the shroud/hood.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the concentrator apparatus includes a dry cyclone pre-separator and a wet-cyclone aerosol concentrator assembly.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the fluidics apparatus is capable of temporarily holding a sample in a reservoir where it can be accessed for one or more analyses, while the aerosol concentrator apparatus is collecting a next sample.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the fluidics apparatus additionally archives a remaining portion of the liquid sample.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical handling system includes a gripper type end effector for picking up and transporting the cartridge type receptacle.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the staging area includes a storage rack for holding a plurality of cartridge type receptacles and wherein the end effector is located above the storage rack.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the storage rack is an elongatd rack holding the cartridge type receptacles in a linear arrangement and wherein the end effector is located on and automatically moves in two orthogonal directions on an elongated track above the storage rack for grabbing, transporting and returning one receptacle at a time, to and from the fluidics apparatus and the biological agent identifier apparatus.

13. The sytem according to claim 12 wherein the fluidics apparatus and the identifier apparatus are aligned with the storage rack so that only two axes of motion are required of the end effector.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the end effector is controlled by a machine controller forming part of said control apparatus.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the machine controller also controls the automatic operation of the fluidics apparatus and an insert/extract cartridge mechanism forming part of the biological agent identifier apparatus.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein the biological agent identifier apparatus comprises a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) bioagent identifier.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the identifier apparatus includes at least one screening cartridge containing an assay for a single gene sequence of a target biological agent and an internal control.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein the identifier apparatus comprises a single bay unit including automatic cartridge exchange.

19. The system according to claim 1 wherein the control apparatus includes a local machine control computer connected to and controlling the operation of the biological agent identifier apparatus, the aerosol concentrator apparatus, the fluidics apparatus, and the mechanical handling system.

20. The system according to claim 19 wherein the control apparatus additionally includes a remote site command and control computer connected to and controlling the machine control computer as well as communicating the test results to said predetermined location.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the site command and control computer is connected to the machine control computer via a hardwire link.

22. The system according to claim 20 wherein the site command and control computer is connected to the machine control computer via an RF link.

23. The system according to claim 18 wherein the site command and control computer include a primary and a backup control computer.

24. The system according to claim 1 and additionally including a cabinet for housing the aerosol concentrator apparatus, the fluidics apparatus, the mechanical handling system, and the biological agent identifier apparatus.

25. A method of detecting a biological agent in items to be delivered and being transported along a transport path, comprising the steps of:

collecting an aerosol sample from said items at at least one location of the transport path;

producing a liquid sample of the aerosol sample;

delivering a portion of the liquid sample to a cartridge type receptacle;

mechanically transporting the receptacle to biological agent identifier apparatus wherein said identifier apparatus analyses the liquid sample for particles of a predetermined biological agent;

reporting the results of the analyses provided by the identifier apparatus to a predetermined location; and

,

providing overall automated control of the method.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein said items comprise mail items.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein the step of collecting an aerosol sample includes the step of pinching said items at a pinch point along the transport path.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the step of collecting an aerosol sample includes locating an apparatus for pinching said items and a shroud/hood for collecting aerosol samples pinched from said items.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein the step of transporting comprises transporting a receptable containing the liquid sample periodically to biological agent identifier apparatus.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the step of transporting includes using a mechanical handling system having a gripper type end effector for picking up and transporting the cartridge type receptacle under the control of a local machine controller.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein the step of transporting includes periodically picking up and transporting a cartridge type receptacle from a plurality of receptacles located in a rack located beneath the end effector.

32. The method according to claim 28 whererin the step of delivering a portion of the liquid sample includes the step of temporarily storing the sample in a reservoir where it can be accessed for one or more analyses.

33. The method according to claim 32 wherein the step of delivering includes archiving a remaining portion of the liquid sample.

34. The method according to claim 25 wherein the biological agent identifier apparatus comprisese a polymerase chain reactor (PCT) bio-agent identifier.

35. The method according to claim 25 wherein the step of producing a liquid sample includes using a dry cyclone pre-separator and a web cyclone aerosol concentrator assembly.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of providing control of the method includes using local machine control computer apparatus.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein said step of providing control of the method also includes a remote site control computer apparatus.