Systems and methods for biological and chemical detection

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/699,132, filed Jul. 14, 2005 entitled “BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL DETECTION SYSTEM” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/798,244 entitled “PARTICULATE DETECTION SYSTEM”, filed May 5, 2006, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates in general to systems and methods for the separation and collection of particulates from a fluid stream and in particular, to systems and methods for the collection, detection and/or analysis of sampled airborne biological and chemical particulates.

The monitoring of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has received an increasing amount of attention in recent years because of the potential impact of particulates on radiative and climatic processes, on human health and because of the role particles play in atmospheric transport and deposition of pollutants. For example, it may be desirable to analyze the air in a predetermined location for particulates that fall within a range of sizes that can be inhaled, such as naturally occurring or artificially produced airborne pathogens, allergens, bacteria, viruses, fungi and biological or chemical agents that are found in or are otherwise introduced into the location.

As another example, it may be desirable to detect the presence of particular airborne particulates in semiconductor clean rooms, pharmaceutical production facilities and biotechnology laboratories to verify that there has been no contamination produced in such environments that would create undesirable environmental exposures or adversely affect manufacturing, testing or experimental processes. Similarly, the ability to detect the presence of particular airborne particulates in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities may be beneficial to assist in preventing the spread of disease, infection or harmful bacteria.

The monitoring of atmospheric particulate matter further finds application for assessments of human health risk, environmental contamination and for compliance with National Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), e.g., to monitor the air in public and commercial building air purification and distribution systems, work sites such as mines, sewage facilities, agricultural and manufacturing facilities, outside areas such as street corners, flues and smokestacks and other locations where it is desirable to monitor environmental hygiene, such as residences exposed to microorganisms, plants or animals.

The various embodiments of the present invention provide biological and chemical detection systems that collect, detect and/or identify biological and chemical particulates of interest.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a biological and chemical detection system comprises a collector, an optical interrogation station and a processor. The collector is configured to deposit particulates drawn from a fluid stream onto a sample substrate to define a sample area. The optical interrogation station derives data relative to at least a portion of the sample area, which is analyzed by the processor to determine one or more target locations within the sample area. The optical interrogation station then interrogates the sample area at the determined target locations to produce interrogation data. For example, the target locations may each pinpoint a specific particulate of interest within a collected sample. The processor determines whether the sample area includes predetermined biological or chemical particulates of interest based upon an analysis of the interrogation data, e.g., by analyzing the targeted particulate(s), and triggers an event such as an alarm or message if the predetermined biological or chemical particulates of interest are identified.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a biological and chemical detection system comprises a storage station, a collection station, an optical interrogation station and a transport. The storage station is configured to store one or more sample substrates, which may comprise individual storage elements, or a continuous element such as a tape or ribbon. The collection station is configured to deposit particulates drawn from a fluid stream onto a sample substrate to define a sample area. The optical interrogation station is configured to analyze at least a portion of the sample area for particulates of interest, and the transport, e.g., a rotary stage or tape reel system, is configured to transport sample substrates between the storage station, collection station and optical interrogation station.

The collection station may comprise a collector having a nozzle that ejects a fluid stream towards the sample area such that the stream exiting the nozzle may be reversed and drawn back out through the collector. The collector may also be configured such that a flow rate of the stream is controlled by a size of the nozzle. For example, the collector may comprise an impactor operable to impact particulates between approximately 1 μm and 10 μm on the sample substrate.

The optical interrogation station comprises a first optical device and a second optical device. The first optical device interrogates and extracts first data relative to one or more sections of the sample area. A processor determines at least one target location from the first data, and the second optical device interrogates the sample area at each determined target location to produce interrogation data. For example, the target locations may each pinpoint a specific particulate of interest within a collected sample. The processor is further configured to determine whether the sample area includes predetermined biological or chemical particulates of interest based upon an analysis of the interrogation data, e.g., by analyzing the targeted particulate(s), and trigger an event if the predetermined biological or chemical particulates of interest are identified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a biological and chemical detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembly illustration of an exemplary collector that may be used with the biological and chemical detection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the collector of FIG. 2;

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