WO2009140330A1

WO2009140330A1 - Surface sample transfer system

Info

Publication number: WO2009140330A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/043704
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard R. Thomas
Original assignee: Innovative Biosensors, Inc.
Priority date: 2008-05-14
Filing date: 2009-05-13
Publication date: 2009-11-19

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for the collection and analysis of particulate biological samples are described. The apparatus include a sample accumulation funnel containing one or more projections. The sample accumulation funnel is capable of accepting a swab used to collect a particulate biological sample. An adaptor is used to connect the sample accumulation funnel to an instrument with a bioaerosol detector. The methods include collecting a sample on a swab, positioning the swab inside a sample accumulation funnel, and directing a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel. The apparatus optionally include means for directing gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel. Gas flow through the sample accumulation funnel creates an aerosol of particulate matter.

Description

Surface Sample Transfer System

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/053,128, filed on May 14, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety including all figures and claims.

BACKGROUND

Current apparatus and methods for the analysis of biological samples located on surfaces, whether the samples are wet or dry, involve wiping the surface with a device such as a swab then placing the wiping device in a buffer solution to elute and collect the sample. Thus, current sampling devices and methods include sample vials and buffer solutions.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for the collection and analysis of particulate biological samples. The apparatus include a sample accumulation funnel with a mouth portion that accepts a swab. The interior of the mouth portion may optionally have one or more projections. The sample accumulation funnel may be attached to an instrument with a bioaerosol detector by an adaptor or may be designed to attached directly to a bioaerosol detector. The apparatus for the collection and analysis of particulate biological samples also optionally include means for directing gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel. Also disclosed herein are methods for introducing a sample into an instrument.

The methods include collecting a sample on a swab, positioning the swab inside a sample accumulation funnel, and directing a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel. The swab optionally has a head and a shaft, and the sample accumulation funnel has a mouth portion with an interior optionally having one or more projections into which the swab head is accepted. Gas flow through the sample accumulation funnel directs the sample into the instrument. The details of the apparatus and methods are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sample accumulation funnel.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sample accumulation funnel shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an adaptor for connecting a sample accumulation funnel to an instrument.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a sample accumulation funnel positioned within an adaptor.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sample accumulation funnel positioned within an adaptor shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of an adaptor acting as an interface to an instrument.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a sample accumulation funnel positioned within an adaptor that is acting as an interface to an instrument. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatus for the collection and analysis of particulate biological samples are described herein. The apparatus include a sample accumulation funnel optionally containing one or more projections. The funnel is capable of accepting a swab used to collect a particulate biological sample. An adaptor is optionally used to connect the sample accumulation funnel to an instrument with a bioaerosol detector. The apparatus for the collection and analysis of particulate biological samples optionally include means for directing gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel.

Also disclosed herein are methods for introducing a sample into an instrument. These methods include collecting a sample on a swab, positioning the swab inside a sample accumulation funnel, and directing a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel. The sample accumulation funnel has a swab-accepting mouth portion with an interior including one or more projections. The swab is optionally moved within the sample accumulation funnel such that the swab contacts the projections. The gas flow through the sample accumulation funnel creates an aerosol of any particulate matter on the swab.

The swab of the current invention comprises a device that can be used to collect material from a surface and then be placed into the mouth portion of the current invention. For example, a swab of the current invention can be, but isn't limited to, a sponge, a pad, a brush, a wipe, a tape, or a liquid-containing wipe, each optionally attached to shaft. Further, the swab of the current invention is made of a material that allows for the collection of material from a surface and release of the material into the detection instrument upon placement of the swab in the mouth portion. Such materials can be, but aren't limited to, polymers, foams, fabrics, adhesives, or papers.

The sample accumulation funnel of the current invention comprises a mouth portion and a stem portion. The mouth portion can be of any shape or construction that allows for a swab to be tested by the instrument. For example, the mouth portion can be, but isn't limited to, a funnel, a screen, an enclosure, or a surface. Further, the mouth portion can be optionally substituted with devices that improve the aerolization of particulate matter contained within the swab. Such devices can include, but are not limited to, projections, heating or cooling devices, or liquid or air-dispensing devices.

Projections include, but are not limited to, ridges, prongs, bristles, threads, plates, hooks, scales, or knobs.

The stem portion of the accumulation funnel can be of any shape or construction that allows for entry of the aerolized particulates into the instrument. Further, the stem portion can be designed to directly connectable to the instrument or can be attached by an optional adaptor.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a sample accumulation funnel 10 for use with the current apparatus and methods. The sample accumulation funnel 10 includes a mouth portion 20 and a stem portion 30. The mouth portion 20 is generally frusto-conical with the base of the frustum forming the mouth opening 40 and the small end of the frustum 50 connected to the stem portion 30. The stem portion 30 is generally cylindrical with an opening end 70. The interior of the mouth portion 20 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 includes one or more projections 60. The projections 50 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are ridges that run from the mouth opening 40 to the small end of the frustum 50. Such ridges optionally run from the mouth opening 40 to the opening end 70 of the stem portion 30. The one or more projections 60 are optionally ridges as shown or other shapes projecting from the interior surface of the mouth opening 40, such as, for example, rounded bumps or discontinuous ridges. Further, combinations of different shapes are optionally used as projections 60. Generally, and without being intended to be bound by theory, the choice of the shape or shapes used for the one or more projections 60 is related to the efficiency with which a sample both is dislodged from a swab and transferred through the sample accumulation funnel 10. The sample accumulation funnel 10 is formed from any one of various materials including, for example, metal or plastic. The shape of the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 is designed to be connectable or attachable to an adaptor 100. Such an adaptor 100 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The adaptor 100 includes a sleeve portion 110 including an outer opening 120 for receiving the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 into the sleeve portion 110. The sleeve portion 110 extends longitudinally from the outer opening 120 to an inner opening 130. A flange portion 140 extends radially outwardly from the outer opening 120. The adaptor 100 is formed from any one of various materials including, for example, metal or plastic.

The shapes of the sleeve portion 110 of the adaptor 100 and the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 are designed relative to each other such that the sleeve portion 110 of the adaptor 100 will accept the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10. The sleeve portion 110 of the adaptor 100 and the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 are optionally designed such that the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 forms a full or partial seal against the inner wall 150 of the sleeve portion 110, the full or partial seal preventing or retarding gas exchange between the stem portion 30 and the inner wall 150 of the sleeve portion 110. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the sleeve portion 110 is optionally tapered toward the inner opening 130 of the adaptor 100 such that the opening end 70 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 contacts the inner wall 150 of the sleeve portion 110. The sleeve portion 110 of the adaptor 100 could also be adapted to receive an o-ring, such as by forming a counter-sunk channel around the inner wall 150 of the sleeve portion 110; in which case, the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 is optionally seated against the o-ring to form a seal. The sample accumulation funnel 10 is optionally connected or attached to the adaptor 100 through these sealing configurations or through other structural means or retaining the sample accumulation funnel 10 within the adaptor 100, such as, for example, by a compression fitting, by a strap or hook, by a retaining ring, or by a detent.

The shape and configuration of the flange portion 140 of the adaptor 100 is optionally adapted to suit the configuration of a particular instrument to which the adaptor 100 is attached to receive the sample accumulation funnel 10. As shown in Figs. 3-7, the flange portion 140 is, for example, a radial extension outward from the outer opening 120 of the adaptor 100. As shown in Fig. 7, an adaptor 100 interfaces with an instrument housing 160, for example, by overlapping with the flange portion 140. The interface of an adaptor, such as adaptor 100, with an instrument housing forms a full or partial seal that prevents or retards gas exchange between the interior of the instrument housing and the exterior of the instrument housing. The length of the sleeve portion 110 of the adaptor 100 and similarly the length of the stem portion 30 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 is optionally adjusted to suit a particular instrument design. The adaptor 100 is connected or attached to an instrument housing by structural means, such as, for example, by a compression fitting, by a strap or hook, by a retaining ring, by a detent, or by other fastener such as screws. An adaptor is optionally permanently attached to or integrally formed into the housing of an instrument such that the adaptor is not removable. Such a permanently attached or integrated adaptor retains the same attributes of the adaptor described herein. Further included in the apparatus for the collection and analysis of particulate biological samples are means to direct gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel 10. Directing gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel 10 is accomplished, for example, by creating a pressure differential between the mouth opening 40 and the opening end 70 of the sample accumulation funnel 10. Specifically, a lower pressure at the opening end 70 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 than at the mouth opening 40 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 forces ambient gas in the vicinity of the mouth opening 40 to flow from the mouth opening 40 toward the opening end 70 of the sample accumulation funnel 10. If the pressure is substantially equal at both ends of the sample accumulation funnel 10, directing gas to flow from the mouth opening 40 to the opening end 70 is accomplished, for example, by either raising the pressure at the mouth opening 40 (pushing) or lowering the pressure at the opening end 70 (pulling). Thus, one way to direct gas to flow from the mouth opening 40 to the opening end 70 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 is to create a vacuum within an instrument. As used herein, the term vacuum is intended to indicate a first region in which the ambient pressure is lower than the ambient pressure of a second region to which the first region is being compared such that gas will flow from the first region to the second region if a flow path is available. Thus, a vacuum within an instrument is intended to mean the ambient pressure within the instrument is lower than the ambient pressure outside the instrument. Means for creating a vacuum within an instrument housing are well known to those of skill in the art and include devices such as positive displacement pumps. The type of gas used includes ambient atmosphere, i.e., ambient air, or the instrument is maintained in a controlled atmosphere of the user's choice, such as, for example, a nitrogen atmosphere, or a humidity controlled atmosphere. As used herein a bioaerosol detector is a detector capable of detecting either a specific biological agent or multiple agents present in an aerosol form. An instrument with a bioaerosol detector is an instrument that provides an environment in which a bioaerosol detector functions as intended. A bioaerosol detector may use a variety of methods of detecting biological agents, including, but not limited to, bioluminescence, fluorescence, electrochemical, mass spectroscopy, ionization, chromatography, or biomolecular or cell-based detection methods. Biomolecular or cell-based detection methods include, but are not limited to, protein microarrays, or antibody-based, bacteria- based, or eukaryotic cell-based systems. An example of a bioaerosol detector is a self- contained biosensor containing surface-bound pathogen-specific antibodies, e.g., membrane -bound pathogen-specific antibodies, and calcium sensitive bioluminescent molecules. Recognition of minute amounts of a specific pathogen by the surface-bound antibodies creates elevated levels of intracellular calcium. The elevated levels of calcium cause the calcium sensitive bioluminescent molecules to luminesce. Such luminescence, which is a direct indication of the presence of the pathogen being monitored, is then detected and optionally quantified by a light meter, such as a luminometer. An example of this type of bioaerosol detector is described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,087,114, and 6,248,542, and 7,214,346, which are incorporated herein in their entirety at least for the detector and methods or making and using it. Examples of pathogens that could be detected with the appropriate antibody include B. anthracis, ricin toxin, botulinum toxin, Y. pestis, small pox virus, F. tularensis,, Brucella, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, stachybotrys, mycotoxins, and VEE. Antibodies to these toxins can be generated for a specific application using known techniques or obtained from commercial or government sources such as the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA) or from the U.S. Army Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (Department of the Army; Falls Church, VA).

Optionally, a bioaerosol detector is placed onto a surface 200, such as a slide or a disk, and the surface 200 is oriented within the path of a bioaerosol. Fig. 8 shows an adaptor 100 interfacing with an instrument housing 160 and further containing a sample accumulation funnel 10. Shown under this assembly and within the instrument housing 160 in Fig. 8 is a surface 200 onto which a bioaerosol detector 210 has been placed. In Fig. 7, the surface is shown as being perpendicular to the bioaerosol path as shown by dashed lines 215 which indicate gas flow through the sample accumulation funnel 10. The orientation of the bioaerosol path 215 to the surface 200 is optionally other than perpendicular.

Delivery of a sample to the sample accumulation funnel 10 for analysis by a bioaerosol detector is accomplished, for example, with a swab such as a foam swab. Such a swab will typically have a head portion, e.g., a foam head, for collecting a sample and a shaft, e.g., a wood or polymer shaft, for manually manipulating the head portion. Samples for bioaerosol formation are typically dry, though a wet sample is optionally collected and dried prior to delivery to the sample accumulation funnel 10. Different varieties of swabs are commercially available, such as, for example, Dacron swabs (Catalog No. 10065; Quicksilver Analytics, Inc.; Abingdon, MD). The shape of a swab is designed to efficiently interface with the interior of the mouth portion 20 of the sample accumulation funnel 10, or, conversely, the shape of the mouth portion 20 of the sample accumulation funnel 10 could be designed to efficiently work with a particular swab shape. Further, multiple sample accumulation funnels 10 are optionally provided to interact with different swab shapes depending on the application or characteristics of the sample being analyzed. Also disclosed herein are methods for introducing a sample into an instrument and for creating aerosol samples. These methods include collecting a sample on a swab, positioning the swab inside a funnel, e.g., a sample accumulation funnel, and directing a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel. As described above a sample accumulation funnel 10 has a swab-accepting mouth portion 20 with an interior including one or more projections. Also as described above, the gas flow through the sample accumulation funnel 10 creates an aerosol of particulate matter on the swab.

Collecting a sample on a swab involves manipulating the head of a swab, such as that discussed above, to collect a sample of a material to be analyzed. The head of the swab is swiped, rotated, rolled, scraped, mashed, dragged, or otherwise manipulated to contact an intended sample and to collect some of the sample onto the swab head. The sample is dry or wet. If a sample is wet when acquired, the sample is dried on the swab prior to positioning the swab inside a sample accumulation funnel 10.

Positioning the swab inside the sample accumulation funnel 10 involves placing the head of the swab into the sample accumulation funnel 10. The swab head is moved, swiped, rotated, rolled, scraped, mashed, dragged, or otherwise manipulated within the sample accumulation funnel 10 such that the surface of the swab head comes into contact with the interior surface of the mouth portion 20 of a sample accumulation funnel 10. When the swab head comes into contact with the interior surface of the mouth portion 20 it also comes into contact with one or more projections 60 extending from the interior surface of the mouth portion 20. The swab head coming into contact with the interior surface of the mouth portion 20 and/or the projections 60 helps dislodge sample particles from the swab head for formation of a bioaerosol.

As discussed above, directing a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel 10 to direct the sample into the instrument involves creating a relative pressure differential between the mouth opening 40 and the opening end 70 of the sample accumulation funnel 10. When the swab head containing a sample on its surface is placed within the sample accumulation funnel 10 and a gas is directed to flow through the sample accumulation funnel 10 an aerosol stream, i.e., a bioaerosol stream, containing the sample is created.

The apparatus and methods of the appended claims are not limited in scope by the specific apparatus and methods described herein, which are intended as illustrations of a few aspects of the apparatus and methods of the claims and any apparatus and methods which are functionally equivalent are within the scope of this disclosure. Various modifications of the apparatus and methods in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Further, while only certain representative combinations of the components of the apparatus and of the method steps disclosed herein are specifically described, other combinations of the apparatus components and method steps will become apparent to those skilled in the art and also are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Thus a combination of components or steps may be explicitly mentioned herein; however, all other combinations of components and steps are included, even though not explicitly stated. The term comprising and variations thereof as used herein is used synonymously with the term including and variations thereof and are open, non-limiting terms.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus comprising: a sample accumulation funnel, the funnel comprising a swab-accepting mouth portion with an interior optionally including one or more projections; and an instrument with a bioaerosol detector; and optionally an adaptor for connecting the sample accumulation funnel to the instrument.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior of the swap-accepting mouth portion comprises one or more projections.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adaptor for connecting the sample accumulation funnel to the instrument.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sample accumulation funnel comprises a stem portion and the stem portion is removeably attachable to the adaptor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bioaerosol detector comprises membrane-bound pathogen-specific antibodies as a detection means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bioaerosol detector comprises a B cell having antibodies which are expressed on the surface of the B cell and are specific for the antigen to be detected.

7. The apparatus of claims 3 or 4, wherein signal detection is via calcium- sensitive bioluminescent molecules.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means to direct a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for directing a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel comprises means for forming a vacuum inside the instrument.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gas is ambient atmosphere.

11. A method of introducing a sample into an instrument comprising: collecting a sample on a swab, the swab optionally comprising a head and a shaft; positioning the swab inside a sample accumulation funnel, the funnel comprising a swab-accepting mouth portion with an interior optionally including one or more projections; and directing a gas to flow through the sample accumulation funnel to direct the sample to the instrument.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the swab comprises a head and a shaft.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the interior of the swab-accepting mouth portion comprises one or more projections.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the swab within the sample accumulation funnel such that the swab contacts the projections.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein an aerosol stream containing the sample is created.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the swab head is foam.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the swab head is shaped complementary to the inner surface of the mouth portion of the sample accumulation funnel.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sample is dry.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the gas is ambient atmosphere.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sample accumulation funnel comprises a stem portion and the stem portion is attached to an instrument with a bioaerosol detector.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the gas is directed to flow through the sample accumulation funnel by a low pressure region inside the instrument.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the lower pressure region inside the instrument is created by a vacuum

23. The method of claim 11 , wherein the instrument comprises a bioaerosol detector.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the bioaerosol detector comprises a B cell having antibodies which are expressed on the surface of the B cell and are specific for the antigen to be detected.

25. A method of creating an aerosol sample comprising: collecting a sample on a swab, the swab optionally comprising a head and a shaft; positioning the swab inside a funnel, the funnel comprising a swab- accepting mouth portion with an interior optionally including one or more projections; and directing a gas to flow through the funnel to create an aerosol sample.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the swab comprises a head and a shaft.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the interior of the swab-accepting mouth portion comprises one or more projections.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising moving the swab within the funnel such that the swab contacts the one or more projections.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein an aerosol stream containing the sample is created.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the swab head is foam.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the outer surface of the swab head is shaped complementary to the inner surface of the swab-accepting mouth portion of the funnel.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the sample is dry.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the gas is ambient atmosphere.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the gas is directed to flow through the funnel by a pressure differential between a stem portion and a mouth portion.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the pressure differential is created by a vacuum.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the vacuum is created by a instrument.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the instrument is a bioaerosol detector.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the biodector comprises a B cell having antibodies which are expressed on the surface of the B cell and are specific for the antigen to be detected.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein the funnel comprises a stem portion and the one or more projections extend from the mouth portion into the tubular portion.