EP0458622A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for collection and analysis of desquamated skin particulates or other tissue
Assignee: Barringer Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1991-05-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A method of detecting the presence of substances in tissue from a subject comprises non-invasively removing tissue particulates from the exterior of the subject, eg. by vacuum collection of desquamated skin particles. The tissue particulates are then collected on a collection medium, for example filter paper, and subsequently analyzed to detect the presence of substances of interest. Such substances can be narcotics, explosives, etc. The substances sought may be detected by releasing them from the filter, for example by heating in an oven (4) to volatilize them, the vapour then being detected by means such as an ion mobility spectrometer (5).
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony R. Barringer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 00:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N27/00; G01N27/62; G01N27/622; G01N27/623; G01N1/22; G01N2001/002; G01N2001/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of detecting the presence of substances in tissue from a subject, the method comprising: 1) non-invasively removing tissue particulates from the exterior of the subject; 2) collecting the tissue particulates on a collection means; 3) analyzing the collected tissue particulates, to detect the presence of predetermined substances.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein prior to the step (3) the tissue particulates are separated from the collection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tissue particulates are desorbed by heating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, where the tissue particulates are desorbed by temperatures around 500°C, and a subsequent analysis in step (3) is carried out at a temperature up to 500°C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the components of the tissue particulates are separated from the collection means by solvent extraction and/or reaction with chemical reagents.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein following solvent extraction of the tissue particulates, the solvent is concentrated to concentrate the level of the tissue particulates therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tissue particulates are separated by laser ablation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the collection means comprises a filter and/or a plate electrode and/or an impact surface and/or an adhesive tape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein during step (1), the tissue particulates are removed by an air flow and during step (2) the air flow is passed through the filter to separate the tissue particulates therefrom and collect the tissue particulates on the filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein step (1) is effected by passing an air flow around the subject to gather tissue particulates, and then concentrating the tissue particulates in the air flow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the collection means comprises an elongate filter tape and tape transport means, with a sample for each individual subject being collected at a respective, discrete location on the tape, and wherein each sample is desorbed from the tape by heating the respective portion of the tape.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein step (3) is effected by utilizing one or more of: an ion mobility spectrometer; a mass spectrometer; a gas chromatograph; an optical emission spectrometer; an array spectrometer; and infrared analyzer or any other analytical system suitable for characterising the chemical species present in the particulates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein during step (3) the temperature of the apparatus used to analyze the tissue particulates is maintained at a sufficient level to prevent significant condensation and hence loss of vapours to be analyzed on walls of the apparatus.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the collected tissue particulates are separated from the filter means subsequent to step (2) by either heating the filter to generate vapours or by solvent extraction or by chemical reaction, and step (3) is effected using an ion mobility spectrometer or a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, 2, 9 or 10, wherein the analysis of step (3) is applied to detect the presence of narcotics and/or explosives and/or to detect abnormalities indicative of disease or illness in a subject.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of analyzing tissue from a subject to determine the presence of substances, the method comprising: 1) collecting a sample of tissue from a subject; 2) analyzing the tissue in one or more of a mass spectrometer, an ion mobility spectrometer, a gas chromatograph, an optical emission spectrometer, an array spectrometer and an infrared analyzer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for collecting and analyzing tissue particulates from a subject, the apparatus comprising: a housing defining a passage for air flow; a filter mounted extending across the passage; and pump means within the housing for drawing air into the passage and displacing the air along the passage and through the filter, thereby to collect tissue particulates on the filter; analysis means adapted to receive the filter from the housing and capable of separating the collected tissue particulates from the filter and subsequently analyzing the tissue particulates, to provide an indication of the components thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the analysis means is provided separately from the housing, and wherein the analysis means comprises an ion mobility spectrometer including an oven body, a location receiving the filter, means for heating the filter to vaporize and desorb collected tissue particulates, means for entraining the vapour in a flow of reagent gas to carry the vapour through the ionization chamber to an inlet of the drift region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the collector electrode of the drift region is connected to an amplifier and an electrometer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the apparatus is adapted for collecting air from around the exterior of a subject, and comprises means defining a passageway through which the subject passes and an opening for withdrawing air from the passageway and from the vicinity of subject in the passageway, the apparatus further including means for preconcentrating tissue particulates in the air flow.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, which includes a fan on the side of the passageway opposite the opening for blowing air around the subject towards the opening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, which includes a tape transport system for collecting tissue particulates from individual subjects, the tissue particulate sample from each subject being collected at a respective, discrete location on the tape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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