System and method for collecting DNA and fingerprints

• US 7,308,123 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Identification International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Identification International, Inc.
• Inventors: Fenrich, Richard K., Rancourt, James David, Robertson, Jennifer E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayat; Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/420,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 382/125, 382/124, 382/127, 382/128, 382/129, 382/140, 382/143, 435/6
• US Class Current: 382/125
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

A system and method is provided that simultaneously or consecutively collects DNA samples and ridge and valley signatures from the same subject during the same collection window that adds value to forensic data collection processes. The collection of the DNA samples and ridge and valley signatures occur during the same collection window to assured the DNA sample and ridge and valley signatures identify the same individual.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting at least one ridge and valley signature and at least one DNA sample of a test subject, said apparatus comprising:

at least one DNA capture film for collecting the at least one DNA sample non-invasively, wherein the DNA sample is of forensic quality;

an imaging system for collecting the at least one ridge and valley signature, wherein the imaging system comprises a platen and the platen is arranged in alignment with the DNA capture film, and wherein the ridge and valley signature is of forensic quality;

the DNA capture film comprising means for simultaneously collecting said at least one ridge and valley signature and said at least one DNA sample, and opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising adhesive, the film being removable on an individual basis; and

a ridge and valley signature is collected by said imaging system from an energy wave transmitted through the film;

means for specifying an identifier that links the collected at least one DNA sample with the collected at least one ridge and valley signature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the second surface comprising a material having a surface energy sufficient to adhere to a platen made of glass or transparent solid polymer such that presence of bubbles between the film and the platen is sufficiently avoided such that forensic quality fingerprints are capturable, said film being transparent and said imaging system being an optical imaging system for optically collecting a ridge and valley signature from a beam of light transmitted through a topological impression made by the person pressing on said film.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the second surface comprises silicone, the film being removable on an individual basis, said film being transparent and said imaging system comprising an optical imaging system for optically collecting a ridge and valley signature from abeam of light transmitted through a topological impression made by the person pressing on said film.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one DNA capture film is a transparent silicone film, said film being removable on an individual basis; and

a ridge and valley signature is optically collected by said optical imaging system from a beam of light transmitted through a topological impression made by said person pressing on said film.

5. A method for collecting at least one ridge and valley signature and at least one DNA sample from a test subject, said method comprising:

providing a DNA capture film wherein the DNA capture film has opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising adhesive; and

during a single collection window performing at least the following;

(a) positioning an area to be sampled over the DNA capture film,

(b) collecting a DNA sample and a corresponding ridge and valley structure thereon through pressure on the adhesive, and

(c) collecting an image of the ridge and valley structure from an energy wave passed through said film.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second surface comprises silicone, the film is transparent.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the film comprises a transparent silicone film.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein (a)-(c) are performed simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein (a)-(c) are performed simultaneously.