Air Sampling Method, Device and System for Microbiological Analysis

• US 20070269849A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pascale Coffinier, Pierre Bridenne
• Original Assignee: Pascale Coffinier, Pierre Bridenne
• Inventors: Coffinier, Pascale, Bridenne, Pierre
• Application Number:
  US11/662,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20070269849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence

Abstract

A method of using an air suction device is provided having a device equipped with a removable sampling head that is replaced between each sampling operation. Inside the head is a Petri dish containing a culture medium. Air is sucked through the head in order to impact on the culture medium. A device for implementing such a method includes a single-use head, in particular a head which must be destroyed in order to carry out the analysis. The device is especially suitable for use in a sampling system established in a fixed station in an industrial plant, clean room, work station, or operating area.

Claims

1. Method for carrying out an air sampling operation with a view to microbiological analysis such that:

an air suction device is used;

the device is equipped with a removable sampling head (4);

a Petri dish (3) containing a culture medium (30) is used, arranged inside the sampling head;

the air is sucked through the head in order to impact on said culture medium;

characterized in that once the sampling operation has been carried out, the head is destroyed and in that the head is replaced between each sampling operation.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Petri dish is provided fitted in the head.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that removal of the Petri dish causes the destruction of the head.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that means (34) for holding the Petri dish in the head must be broken in order to remove said dish from said head.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein prior to the fitting of the head, a cap is removed from a suction outlet of the head.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein prior to the sampling operation, a cap is removed from an air inlet of the head.

7. Sampling device comprising a single-use head to be used in a method according to claim 1, said device comprising means for fixing the head onto an air-suction device, and said head comprising at least one air inlet forming a screen.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a cap on the air inlet (13, 15, 18) and/or a cap on a suction outlet (12, 23), said cap being removable.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cap is not repositionable.

10. Device according to claim 7, wherein the head comprises destructible means making it unfit for more than one sampling operation.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the destructible means comprise means (31) for holding a Petri dish (3) in the head, said destructible means being designed to be destroyed during the removal of the dish.

12. Device according to claim 7, wherein a Petri dish is formed in a single piece with the head.

13. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the holding means comprise means (37) of fitting the dish into the head by clipping.

14. Device according to claim 11, wherein the holding means comprise a form of claw.

15. Device according to claim 7, wherein the sampling device comprises a cover forming an air inlet arranged to be fitted onto the head opposite a culture medium in the Petri dish.

16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the destructible means comprise means for fixing the cover.

17. Device according to claim 7, comprising adapting means for fixing the head onto the body of a bio-impactor of the prior art.

18. Device according to claim 7, comprising at least two heads a first of which comprises a suction outlet suitable for being fixed onto the body of a bio-impactor, and a second head, the first head and the second comprising respectively a complementary air inlet and suction outlet for fitting the suction outlet of the second head onto the complementary inlet of the first head.

19. Device according to claim 18, comprising at least two second heads comprising a complementary inlet and outlet for fitting one over the other.

20. Device according to claim 18, wherein the complementary inlets and outlets are substantially tapered.

21. Device according to 7, wherein the head comprises means for adapting an isokinetic sampling probe to it.

22. Device according to claim 7, suitable for being arranged in a flow of air, substantially without disturbing said flow of air.

23. Device according to claim 7, comprising two parts, a first part comprising an inlet for the air, the second part comprising a suction outlet, the two parts being able to be fitted one over the other in substantially airtight manner.

24. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the first part comprises means (31) for holding the dish.

25. Device according to claim 7, wherein the screen is opposite a surface of a culture medium, said device comprising means for adjusting a distance between said screen and said surface of the culture medium.

26. Air-sampling system, comprising a fixed pipeline and a suction pump, said