Robust system for screening enclosed spaces for biological agents
First Claim
1. A system for detecting hazardous particles within an enclosed volume, comprising:
- (a) a triggering sampler coupled in fluid communication with the enclosed volume, the triggering sampler being configured to detect particles within the enclosed volume, the triggering sampler generating a detection signal in response to the detection of such particles; and
(b) a detecting sampler in fluid communication with the enclosed volume and electrically coupled to respond to the detection signal from the triggering sampler, the detecting sampler, in response to the detection signal, collecting particles from within the enclosed volume, thereby obtaining a sample of particles, to enable an analysis to determine if particles within the enclosed volume are hazardous.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Items of mail are rapidly processed in a mail sampling system to determine if the mail is contaminated with a chemical or biological agent. The mail sampling system maintains a negative pressure in a containment chamber and includes a triggering sampler that makes a threshold determination regarding possible contamination, and a detecting sampler that obtains a sample for more detailed analysis in response to a signal from the triggering sampler. A sample of particulates collected from an item of mail is either removed for analysis or analyzed in the system to identify a contaminating agent. Optionally, the system includes an archiving sampler, which archives samples for subsequent processing and analysis, and a decontamination system, which is activated to decontaminate the mail if needed.
105 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for detecting hazardous particles within an enclosed volume, comprising:
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(a) a triggering sampler coupled in fluid communication with the enclosed volume, the triggering sampler being configured to detect particles within the enclosed volume, the triggering sampler generating a detection signal in response to the detection of such particles; and
(b) a detecting sampler in fluid communication with the enclosed volume and electrically coupled to respond to the detection signal from the triggering sampler, the detecting sampler, in response to the detection signal, collecting particles from within the enclosed volume, thereby obtaining a sample of particles, to enable an analysis to determine if particles within the enclosed volume are hazardous. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for detecting harmful contaminants in an enclosed volume, comprising:
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(a) a triggering sampler configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the enclosed volume, the triggering sampler being configured to detect particles in the enclosed volume, the triggering sampler generating a detection signal in response to the particles;
(b) a detecting sampler configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the enclosed volume and responsive to the detection signal, the detecting sampler being adapted to obtain a sample of particles from the enclosed volume in response to receiving the detection signal, to enable an analysis to detect particles of a contaminant that is harmful; and
(c) a control unit electrically coupled to the triggering sampler and to the detecting sampler to control the operation of the system, the control unit conveying the detection signal to the detecting sampler. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for detecting the presence of a chemical or a biological agent in an enclosed volume, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining a first sample of particles associated with the enclosed volume;
(b) determining at least one of a quantitative and a qualitative measure of the first sample of particles;
(c) in response to the at least one of the qualitative and the quantitative measure, obtaining a second sample of particles associated with the enclosed volume; and
(d) analyzing the second sample of particles, to determine if at least one of a chemical agent and a biological agent is associated with the enclosed volume. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification