PORTABLE CONTAMINANT SAMPLING SYSTEM

• US 20100180699A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microbial-Vac Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microbial-Vac Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: BRADLEY, BRUCE J., BRADLEY, JARED
• Application Number:
  US12/683,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180699A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.340
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2226 Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0618 of the filter type G01N15/0643 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0088 Biological contaminants; Fouling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0092 Monitoring flocculation or agglomeration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling

Abstract

The invention is a portable sampling system for sampling various media for contaminants. The media sample can include gases, liquids, and dry powders. The contaminant sample can include gaseous components, particulates of various kinds, and microorganisms. The system can be used to sample the surfaces of fruits and vegetables, meat carcasses, the interior of envelopes of other containers, gases in rooms or containers, and surfaces such as countertops, a vehicle exterior, skin, and clothing.

Claims

1. A portable contaminant sampling system, comprising:

a handheld sampling tool with a spray nozzle for directing rinse solution to a surface to be sampled, with a vacuum line to remove rinse solution and suspended sample particulates;

a rinse solution reservoir for supplying rinse solution to said sampling tool;

a rinse solution pump, for pumping rinse solution to said handheld sampling tool;

an air pump, for drawing said rinse solution, air and particles suspended in said rinse solution into said collection unit;

a power source for said air pump and said rinse solution pump;

said sample collection unit comprising a removable collection chamber and a hydrophobic filter to allow air to pass but to prevent rinse solution and suspended sample particulates to pass.

2. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 1, which further comprises a support equipment rack, for placement of said rinse solution reservoir, air pump, and power source, and convenience of storing and moving said sampling system.

3. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 2 which further comprises wheels attached to said support equipment rack, for transport of said rack.

4. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 1, in which said handheld sampling tool further comprises at least a first spray skirt surrounding said spray nozzle, with said first spray skirt comprising a plurality of air passages for air to enter said sample collection tube.

5. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 4, in which said handheld sampling tool further comprises a second spray skirt surrounding said first spray skirt with said second spray skirt comprising at least one air passage for allowing air to pass by said second spray skirt.

13. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 1 in which said air pump for sending rinse solution to said sampling unit is said rinse solution pump, and pumps air from said sample collection tube and also pressurizes a container with rinse solution.

14. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 1 in which said rinse solution pump is configured to pressurize a container with rinse solution, for pushing said rinse solution to said handheld sampling unit.

6. A portable contaminant sampling system, comprising:

a support equipment rack, for mounting components of said portable contaminant sampling system;

a handheld sampling tool with a spray nozzle for directing rinse solution to a surface to be sampled, with a vacuum line to remove rinse solution and suspended sample particulates;

a rinse solution reservoir mounted in said support equipment rack, for supplying rinse solution to said sampling tool;

a rinse solution pump, for pumping rinse solution to said handheld sampling tool;

an air pump, for drawing said rinse solution, air and particles suspended in said rinse solution into said collection unit;

a power source for said air pump and said rinse solution pump;

said sample collection unit comprising a removable collection chamber and a hydrophobic filter to allow air to pass but to prevent rinse solution and suspended sample particulates to pass.

7. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 6, in which said handheld sampling tool further comprises at least a first spray skirt surrounding said spray nozzle, with said first spray skirt comprising a plurality of air passages for air to enter said sample collection tube.

8. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 7, in which said handheld sampling tool further comprises a second spray skirt surrounding said first spray skirt with said second spray skirt comprising at least one air passage for allowing air to pass by said second spray skirt.

9. A portable contaminant sampling system, comprising:

a support equipment rack, for mounting components of said portable contaminant sampling system;

a handheld sampling tool configured for operative connection to a sample collection unit and to a rinse solution reservoir, with said handheld sampling tool connected to rinse solution reservoir by a flexible rinse solution delivery tube and to said sample collection unit by a flexible sample collection tube, said rinse solution delivery tube for delivering rinse solution to a spray nozzle for application to a sampling site adjacent to said handheld sampling tool, and said flexible sample collection tube for drawing said rinse solution and particles suspended in said rinse solution to said sample collection unit, with said handheld sampling tool further comprising a spray nozzle operatively connected to said rinse solution delivery tube for dispensing rinse solution to a surface to be sampled;

with said rinse solution reservoir mounted in said support equipment rack, for supplying rinse solution to said sampling tool;

a rinse solution pump, for pumping rinse solution to said handheld sampling tool;

an air pump, for drawing said rinse solution, air and particles suspended in said rinse solution into said collection unit, with said air continuing to travel toward sand air pump;

a power source for said air pump and said rinse solution pump;

said sample collection unit with an input and output air opening, with said output air opening operatively attached to said air pump, and with said sample collection unit further comprising a hydrophobic filter, for preventing rinse solution and particles suspended in said rinse solution for exiting said sample collection unit, while allowing a high flow of air from said sampling tool through said collection unit to said air pump, with said input air opening operatively attached to said handheld sampling tool,

a collection chamber removably attached to said sample collection unit, with said collection unit configured to hold a liquid, said collection chamber for capture and preservation of said contaminant of interest for later analysis, with said collection chamber located between said input and output openings.

12. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim 9 which further comprises a second spray skirt surrounding said first spray skirt with said second spray skirt comprising at least one air passage for allowing air to pass by said second spray skirt.

10. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim one in which said hydrophobic filter is comprised of a fibrous filter with fibers coated by a hydrophobic material.

11. The portable contaminant sampling system of claim one which further comprises a first spray skirt on said handheld sampling tool, surrounding said spray nozzle on said handheld sampling tool, with said first spray skirt comprising a plurality of air passages for air to enter said sample collection tube.

15. A portable contaminant sampling system, comprising:

a support equipment rack, for mounting components of said portable contaminant sampling system;

a handheld sampling tool configured for operative connection to a sample collection unit and to a rinse solution reservoir, with said handheld sampling tool connected to rinse solution reservoir by a flexible rinse solution delivery tube and to said sample collection unit by a flexible sample collection tube, said rinse solution delivery tube for delivering rinse solution to a spray nozzle for application to a sampling site adjacent to said handheld sampling tool, and said flexible sample collection tube for drawing said rinse solution and particles suspended in said rinse solution to said sample collection unit, with said handheld sampling tool further comprising a spray nozzle operatively connected to said rinse solution delivery tube for dispensing rinse solution to a surface to be sampled;

with said rinse solution reservoir is mounted in said support equipment rack, for supplying rinse solution to said sampling tool;

a rinse solution pump, for pumping rinse solution to said handheld sampling tool;

an air pump, for drawing said rinse solution, air and particles suspended in said rinse solution into said collection unit, with said air continuing to travel toward sand air pump;

a power source for said air pump and said rinse solution pump;

said sample collection unit with an input and output air opening, with said output air opening operatively attached to said air pump, and with said sample collection unit further comprising a hydrophobic filter comprised of a fibrous filter with fibers coated with a hydrophobic material, for preventing rinse solution and particles suspended in said rinse solution for exiting said sample collection unit, while allowing a high flow of air from said sampling tool through said collection unit to said air pump, with said input air opening operatively attached to said handheld sampling tool,

a collection chamber removably attached to said sample collection unit, with said collection unit configured to hold a liquid, said collection chamber for capture and preservation of said contaminant of interest for later analysis, with said collection chamber located between said input and output openings.

16. A portable contaminant sampling system, comprising:

a support equipment rack, for mounting components of said portable contaminant sampling system;

a handheld sampling tool configured for operative connection to a sample collection unit and to a rinse solution reservoir, with said handheld sampling tool connected to rinse solution reservoir by a flexible rinse solution delivery tube and to said sample collection unit by a flexible sample collection tube, said rinse solution delivery tube for delivering rinse solution to a spray nozzle for application to a sampling site adjacent to said handheld sampling tool, and said flexible sample collection tube for drawing said rinse solution and particles suspended in said rinse solution to said sample collection unit, with said handheld sampling tool further comprising a spray nozzle operatively connected to said rinse solution delivery tube for dispensing rinse solution to a surface to be sampled, with said handheld sampling tool further comprising a first spray skirt surrounding said spray nozzle on said handheld sampling tool, with said first spray skirt comprising a plurality of air passages for air to enter said sample collection tube, and a second spray skirt surrounding said first spray skirt with said second spray skirt comprising at least one air passage for allowing air to pass by said second spray skirt;

with said rinse solution reservoir is mounted in said support equipment rack, for supplying rinse solution to said sampling tool;

a rinse solution pump, for pumping rinse solution to said handheld sampling tool;

an air pump, for drawing said rinse solution, air and particles suspended in said rinse solution into said collection unit, with said air continuing to travel toward sand air pump;

a power source for said air pump and said rinse solution pump;

said sample collection unit with an input and output air opening, with said output air opening operatively attached to said air pump, and with said sample collection unit further comprising a hydrophobic filter, for preventing rinse solution and particles suspended in said rinse solution for exiting said sample collection unit, while allowing a high flow of air from said sampling tool through said collection unit to said air pump, with said input air opening operatively attached to said handheld sampling tool,

a collection chamber removably attached to said sample collection unit, with said collection unit configured to hold a liquid, said collection chamber for capture and preservation of said contaminant of interest for later analysis, with said collection chamber located between said input and output openings.