Solid phase microextraction field kit

• US 6,929,778 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Nunes, Peter J., Andresen, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US09/834,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20020150504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 422/61, 422/69, 422/99, 422/100, 422/101, 422/88, 436174-178, 436/808
• US Class Current: 422/430
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 1/52 Transportable laboratories; Field kits
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/005 Packages for mailing or similar transport of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/009 Extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/0095 Separation specially adapted for use outside laboratory, e.g. field sampling, portable equipments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/062 extracting sample from raw material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/808 Automated or kit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

A field kit for the collection, isolation and concentration of trace amounts of high explosives (HE), biological weapons (BW) and chemical weapons (CW) residues in air, soil, vegetation, swipe, and liquid samples. The field kit includes a number of Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) fiber and syringe assemblies in a hermetically sealed transportation container or tubes which includes a sampling port, a number of extra SPME fiber and syringe assemblies, the fiber and syringe assemblies including a protective cap for the fiber, and an extractor for the protective cap, along with other items including spare parts, protective glove, and an instruction manual, all located in an airtight container.

Claims

1. A field-deployable solid phase microextraction kit comprising:

a casing having a lid section;

a plurality of solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber/syringe assemblies; and

at least a plurality of hermetically sealed transport tubes located in said casing,

each transport tube for sealably and securely retaining one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies and preventing cross-contamination with another one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies retained in another transport tube when carried together in said casing,

wherein each of said transport tubes includes means located at an end of said transport tube for allowing sampling of an environment within said transport tube, to determine contamination of a retained SPME fiber/syringe assembly.

2. The kit of claim 1,

additionally include at least spare parts for said transport of tubes, at least one spare SPME fiber/syringe assembly, protective gloves and an instruction manual.

3. The kit of claim 1,

wherein said casing and said lid section are constructed so as to form an airtight interior.

4. The kit of claim 1,

wherein said transport tubes are constructed of anodized aluminum.

5. The kit of claim 1,

additionally including a tray containing a plurality of transport tubes removably positioned in said casing.

6. The kit of claim 1,

wherein said means located at an end of said transport tube for allowing sampling comprises a septum mounted in one end through which the interior of the transport tube may be tested.

7. The kit of claim 1,

wherein each of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies includes a fiber protective cap.

8. The kit of claim 1,

additionally including a fiber protective cap extraction tool.

9. The kit of claim 1,

wherein said transport tubes are composed of two interconnected sections constructed to be hermetically sealed, each of said two sections having openings therein constructed to secure one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies therein.

10. The kit of claim 9,

additionally including at least one seal in said two interconnected sections.

11. A field-deployable solid phase microextraction kit comprising:

a casing having a lid section;

a plurality of solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber/syringe assemblies; and

at least a plurality of hermetically sealed transport tubes located in said casing,

each transport tube for sealably and securely retaining one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies and preventing cross-contamination with another one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies retained in another transport tube when carried together in said casing,

said transport tubes being composed of two interconnected sections constructed to be hermetically sealed, each of said two sections having openings therein constructed to secure one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies therein, said two interconnected sections of said transport tubes being secured together by a twist/lock arrangement,

and wherein each of said transport tubes includes a septum mounted in one end through which the interior of the transport tube may be tested.

12. A field-deployable solid phase microextraction kit comprising:

a casing having a lid section, a plurality of solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber/syringe assemblies each having a fiber protective cap;

a tool for removing and inserting said fiber protective caps on said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies; and

at least a plurality of hermetically sealed transport tubes located in said casing,

each transport tube for sealably and securely retaining one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies and preventing cross-contamination with another one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies retained in another transport tube when carried together in said casing,

said transport tubes being composed of two interconnected sections constructed to be hermetically sealed, each of said two sections having openings therein constructed to secure one of said SPME fiber/syringe assemblies therein, and at least one seal in said two interconnected sections,

one of said two interconnected sections including an end section which extends into the other of said two interconnected sections, and wherein said seal comprises a pair of spaced O-ring mounted in its end section and constructed to contact an internal surface of said other said two interconnected sections.

13. The kit of claim 12,

wherein said tool comprises a housing having a spring mounted plunger therein, said plunger having an opening therein, and said housing having an opening constructed to align with said opening in said plunger, whereby a protective cap is retained in said openings in said housing and said plunger by movement of said plunger, is released from being retained in said housing and said plunger by movement of said plunger.

14. In a SPME kit having at least one solid chase microextraction (SPME) fiber/syringe assembly, the improvement comprising:

at least one hermetically sealed transport tube for a SPME fiber/syringe assembly,

said transport tube having a configured interior corresponding to an exterior of the SPME fiber/syringe assembly, whereby said assembly is secured within said transport tube; and

said transport tube including a seal in one end through which an interior of said transport tube could be tested to determine contamination of the SPME fiber syringe assembly when retained in said transport tube.

15. The improvement of claim 14,

wherein said at Least one transport tube includes two interconnected sections, means for securing said two sections together, and a sealing arrangement located intermediate said two interconnected sections.

16. The improvement of claim 14,

additionally including a protective cap for the fiber of said SPME fiber/syringe assembly.

17. The improvement of claim 16,

additionally including a tool for removing said protective cap from said fiber and reinstalling said protective cap on said fiber.