Biological soil detector and method of using same

• US 20050250089A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Landgrebe, Kevin D., Gonzalez, Bernard A., Chandrapati, Sailaja, Hovde, Bonnie J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,468,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/4
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/22 Testing for sterility conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2326/00 Chromogens for determinations of oxidoreductase enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2334/00 O-linked chromogens for determinations of hydrolase enzymes, e.g. glycosidases, phosphatases, esterases
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2337/00 N-linked chromogens for determinations of peptidases and proteinases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/521 Single-layer analytical elements

Abstract

A biological soil detector and a method for detecting bio soil are provided. The biological soil detector comprises: A solid support member; a specific indicator immobilized on the solid support member, the specific indicator comprising a material sensitive to the presence of blood; and the solid support and specific indicator positioned with respect to the detector to facilitate contact with a liquid that has been used to contact a surface. In the method for detecting bio soil, the method comprises: Contacting the surface with a liquid; after the liquid has contacted the surface, contacting the liquid with the solid support member and the specific indicator of the detector described herein; and inspecting the solid support member for a detectable response to determine whether the specific indicator has interacted with biological soil.

Claims

1. A biological soil detector, comprising:

A solid support member;

A specific indicator immobilized on the solid support member, the specific indicator comprising a material sensitive to the presence of blood; and

The solid support and specific indicator positioned with respect to the detector to facilitate contact with a liquid that has been used to contact a surface.

2. The biological soil detector of claim 1 wherein the solid support member comprises a first material selected from the group consisting of at least one polymer;

inorganic material; and

mixed organic and inorganic material.

3. The biological soil detector of claim 2 wherein the polymer is selected from polymers containing functional groups, the functional groups selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and salts thereof, aldehydes, sulfonic acid and salts thereof, phosphonic acid and salts thereof, alcohol, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, amide, imide, quaternized ammonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, pyridine, cyclic amido, oxyalkylene, imidazoles and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

4. The biological soil detector of claim 3 wherein the polymers containing functional groups comprise polymers and copolymers selected from the group consisting of carboxyl containing polymers;

polyalkoxylates;

poly(meth)acrylates;

polyvinyl alcohol;

polyethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer;

polyurethane;

polyurea;

polyester;

polyamide;

polyimide;

polyether;

cellulose;

rayon;

polyphosphate;

polypeptide;

polyacrylonitrile;

polyacrylamide;

polycarbonate;

polyethersulfone; and

combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

5. The biological soil detector of claim 2 wherein the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of metal oxide, hydrate, metal-hydroxyl and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

6. The biological soil detector of claim 2 wherein the mixed organic and inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of polymeric composites, ceramers, and combinations thereof.

7. The biological soil detector of claim 1 wherein the solid support member comprises a first material selected from the group consisting of at least one polymer, inorganic material, and mixed organic and inorganic material;

and a second material attached to the first material.

8. The biological soil detector of claim 7 wherein the first material is selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene vinylidene fluoride, polyurethane, polyurea, polyester, polyvinyl acetate, polyamide, polyimide, poly(meth)acrylate, polyethersulfone, glass, silica, cellulosics, rayon, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, and combinations of the foregoing.

9. The biological soil detector of claim 8 wherein the second material is hydrophilic and is selected from the group consisting of monomer, polymer, reactive metal alkoxide and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

10. The biological soil detector of claim 9 wherein the second material comprises one or more functional groups selected from carboxyl and salts thereof, aldehyde, sulfonic acid and salts thereof, phosphonic acid and salts thereof, alcohol, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, amide, imide, quaternized ammonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, pyridine, cyclic amido, oxyalkylene, ω

-saccharinamidoundecylsiloxane, glycidyl, succinimido, imidazoles and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

11. The biological soil detector of claim 2 wherein the solid support member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of films, nonwoven material, woven material, knitted material, reticulated foam, open-celled foam, porous ceramic inorganic frit, fiber, particle-coated supports, sintered particles, sintered fiber, sponge, and polymer membrane.

12. The biological soil detector of claim 11 wherein the polymer membrane comprises a thermally induced phase separation membrane comprising a material selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidenefluoride, polyethylene-vinyl copolymer and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

13. The biological soil detector of claim 2 wherein the solid support member further comprises a hydrophilic coating.

14. The biological soil detector of claim 1 wherein the specific indicator comprises a material sensitive to one or more blood proteins.

15. The biological soil detector of claim 1 wherein the specific indicator comprises a material selected from the group consisting of compounds capable of reacting with the product of peroxide and heme, materials useful in immuno assay based tests, tagged antibodies and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

16. The biological soil detector of claim 1 wherein the specific indicator comprises 3,3′

,5,5′

-tetramethylbenzidine.

17. The biological soil detector of claim 1 further comprising a retaining member supporting the solid support member and the specific indicator, the retaining member positioned to facilitate contact between the liquid and the solid support member.

18. The biological soil detector of claim 17 wherein the retaining member is a receptacle capable of collecting and retaining the liquid, the solid support and specific indicator positioned within the receptacle to facilitate contact between the liquid and the solid support member when the liquid is collected in the receptacle.

19. The biological soil detector of claim 17 wherein the retaining member comprises a structure capable of channeling the liquid therethrough, the solid support and specific indicator positioned within the retaining member to facilitate contact between the liquid and the solid support member when the liquid is channeled through the retaining member.

20. The biological soil detector of claim 19 wherein the retaining member is a tubular member having a fluid inlet through which the liquid enters the retaining member and a fluid outlet through which the liquid exits the retaining member, the solid support and specific indicator positioned within the retaining member between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

21. The biological soil detector of claim 20 wherein the solid support and specific indicator are releasably positioned within the retaining member.

22. The biological soil detector of claim 20 further comprising a flow indicator, the flow indicator presenting a first appearance when the flow indicator is dry and a second appearance when the flow indicator has been exposed to the liquid.

23. The biological soil detector of claim 22 wherein the flow indicator is positioned near the specific indicator so that the second appearance of the flow indicator is an indication that the specific indicator has been exposed to the liquid.

24. The biological soil detector of claim 17 wherein the retaining member comprises a structure capable of channeling the liquid therethrough, the solid support and specific indicator positioned on the retaining member to facilitate contact between the liquid and the solid support member when the liquid is channeled through the retaining member.

25. The biological soil detector of claim 24 wherein the retaining member is a tubular member having a fluid inlet through which the liquid enters the retaining member and a fluid outlet through which the liquid exits the retaining member, the solid support and specific indicator positioned near the fluid inlet.

26. The biological soil detector of claim 25 wherein the solid support and specific indicator are releasably positioned near the fluid outlet.

27. The biological soil detector of claim 25 further comprising a flow indicator, the flow indicator presenting a first appearance when the flow indicator is dry and a second appearance when the flow indicator has been exposed to the liquid.

28. The biological soil detector of claim 27 wherein the flow indicator is positioned near the specific indicator so that the second appearance of the flow indicator is an indication that the specific indicator has been exposed to the liquid.

29. A method for detecting bio soil associated with a surface, comprising:

Contacting the surface with a liquid;

After the liquid has contacted the surface, contacting the liquid with the solid support member and the specific indicator of the detector of claim 1;

and

Inspecting the solid support member for a detectable response to determine whether the specific indicator has interacted with biological soil.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the surface is a channel within a medical device.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the medical device is an endoscope.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the specific indicator comprises a material sensitive to one or more blood proteins.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the specific indicator comprises a material selected from the group consisting of compounds capable of reacting with the product of peroxide and heme, materials useful in immuno assay based tests, tagged antibodies and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the specific indicator comprises 3,3′

,5,5′

-tetramethylbenzidine.

35. A method according to claim 29 wherein inspecting the solid support member for a detectable response comprises visually examining the solid support for a change in color.

36. A method according to claim 29 wherein inspecting the solid support member for a detectable response comprises examining the solid support member for a change in fluorescence.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein inspecting the solid support member for a detectable response may be completed within 10 minutes following contacting the liquid with the solid support member and the specific indicator.

38. A biological soil detector, comprising:

A solid support member;

A specific indicator immobilized on the solid support member; and

The solid support and specific indicator positioned to facilitate contact with a liquid used to contact a surface.

39. The biological soil detector of claim 38 further comprising a retaining member supporting the solid support member and the specific indicator, the retaining member comprising a structure capable of channeling the liquid therethrough, the solid support and specific indicator positioned within the retaining member to facilitate contact between the liquid and the solid support member when the liquid is channeled through the retaining member.

40. The biological soil detector of claim 39 wherein the retaining member is a tubular member having a fluid inlet through which the liquid enters the retaining member and a fluid outlet through which the liquid exits the retaining member, the solid support and specific indicator positioned within the retaining member between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

41. The biological soil detector of claim 40 wherein the solid support and specific indicator are releasably positioned within the retaining member.

42. The biological soil detector of claim 40 further comprising a flow indicator, the flow indicator presenting a first appearance when the flow indicator is dry and a second appearance when the flow indicator has been exposed to the liquid.

43. The biological soil detector of claim 41 wherein the flow indicator is positioned near the specific indicator so that the second appearance of the flow indicator is an indication that the specific indicator has been exposed to the liquid.

44. The biological soil detector of claim 39 wherein the retaining member is a tubular member having a fluid inlet through which the liquid enters the retaining member and a fluid outlet through which the liquid exits the retaining member, the solid support and specific indicator positioned on the retaining member to facilitate contact between the liquid and the solid support member when the liquid is channeled through the retaining member.

45. The biological soil detector of claim 41 wherein the retaining member is a tubular member having a fluid inlet through which the liquid enters the retaining member and a fluid outlet through which the liquid exits the retaining member, the solid support and specific indicator positioned near the fluid inlet.

46. The biological soil detector of claim 45 wherein the solid support and specific indicator are releasably positioned near the fluid inlet.

47. The biological soil detector of claim 45 further comprising a flow indicator, the flow indicator presenting a first appearance when the flow indicator is dry and a second appearance when the flow indicator has been exposed to the liquid.

48. The biological soil detector of claim 47 wherein the flow indicator is positioned near the specific indicator so that the second appearance of the flow indicator is an indication that the specific indicator has been exposed to the liquid.