System and method for collecting DNA and fingerprints

• US 20080055586A1
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Identification International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Identification International, Inc.
• Inventors: Robertson, Jennifer, Rancourt, James, Fenrich, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/71
• 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;

imaging system for collecting the at least one ridge and valley signature; and

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

wherein at least one DNA capture film and the imaging system are in sufficient proximity for collecting the DNA sample and the signature for the test subject during a single collection window.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one ridge and valley signature and said at least one DNA sample are collected simultaneously.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said collection window is a continuous time slot of no more than forty-five minutes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the DNA sample is of forensic quality; and

the ridge and valley signature is of forensic quality.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an imaging system for collecting the at least one ridge and valley signature, wherein the imaging system is arranged in alignment with the DNA capture film.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the imaging system comprises a platen and the platen is arranged in alignment with the DNA capture film.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the DNA sample is of forensic quality; and

the ridge and valley signature is of forensic quality.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said film comprises means for simultaneously collecting said at least one ridge and valley signature and said at least one DNA sample.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one DNA capture film has 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.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one DNA capture film is a free standing DNA capture film comprising opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising adhesive and 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 is transparent and said imaging system comprises 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.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one DNA capture film has opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising adhesive the second surface comprising silicone, the film being removable on an individual basis,

said film is transparent and said imaging system comprises 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, 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.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said collection window is a continuous time slot of no more than forty-five minutes.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for improving the optical collection of ridge and valley signatures.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said improving means comprise an adhesive to reduce movement of the test subject and thereby reducing smudges and distortions.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for collecting said at least one ridge and valley signature is a LiveScan system.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for collecting said at least one ridge and valley signature is selected from the group consisting of a single digit capture device and a multiple simultaneous digit capture device.

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

providing a DNA capture film;

during a single collection window performing the steps of;

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

(b) collecting a DNA sample with said DNA capture film from the positioned area,

(c) collecting a ridge and valley signature from the test subject.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, repositioning the DNA film for collecting DNA from another area of the test subject and collecting a second ridge and valley from the test subject during said collection window.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the DNA capture film has opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising adhesive, and the collecting steps are combined by performing the steps of:

(b.1) collecting a DNA sample and a corresponding ridge and valley structure thereon through pressure on the adhesive, and

(b.2) collecting an image of the ridge and valley structure from an energy wave passed through said film.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second surface comprises silicone, the film is transparent, and the collecting steps are combined by performing the steps of:

(b.1) collecting a DNA sample and a corresponding ridge and valley structure thereon through pressure of the area on the film, and

(b.2) optically collecting an image of the obtained ridge and valley structure from a beam of light passed through said transparent adhesive silicone film.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the film comprises a transparent silicone film, and the collecting steps are combined by performing the steps of:

(b.1) collecting a DNA sample and a corresponding ridge and valley structure thereon through pressure of the area on the film, and

(b.2) optically collecting an image of the obtained ridge and valley structure from a beam of light passed through said transparent adhesive silicone film.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said collecting steps are performed simultaneously.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said collecting steps are performed simultaneously.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said collecting steps are performed simultaneously.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the DNA capture film comprises opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising adhesive and 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 to capture forensic quality fingerprints.

27. A free standing DNA capture film comprising opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface comprising adhesive and 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.

28. The DNA capture film of claim 27, wherein the material comprises silicone.