Fluid sampling device

Claim 2

A sample collection unit comprising in combination a hollow two piece cassette having a removable bottom member having an inlet port therein, a top member frictionally and imperviously engaging said bottom member and containing a valving structure means permitting unidirectional flow from said inlet port to said outlet port said top member having an outlet port therein, a filter capsule removably positioned in said cassette between said top and bottom members said filter capsule comprising at least two parts, one of said parts facing said inlet port of said cassette and consisting of a nonhygroscopic impervious shield having an aperture therein in registry with the inlet port of said removable bottom member, another of said parts comprising a filter mounted adjacent to and touching said shield in a region of the shield surrounding said aperture, the mounting of said filter with said shield causing a portion of its surface area to separate from said shield during flow conditions and to return to its original position when flow ceases, and means engaging the peripheral edge of said capsule to hold said capsule between the top and bottom members of said cassette.

Claim 3

The sample collection unit according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said filter unit is impervious in the area adjacent to the aperture of said shield, so that any particles entering said capsule are moved to its periphery during flow and are held between said shield and said filter when flow is discontinued.

Claim 4

The sample collection unit according to claim 1 wherein said shield is bent inwardly in the area surrounding said aperture and said inwardly bent portion contacts said filter at all times except during flow.

Claim 5

The sample collection unit according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a cover having a free end that is hingedly positioned over the aperture of said shield and said filter, said free end of said cover moving away from said shield during flow, and returning to its original position when flow is discontinued.

Claim 6

A sample collection unit according to claim 1 wherein said filter is sandwiched between an upper pervious support and a lower pervious support.

Claim 7

The sample collection unit according to claim 1 wherein said filter is sandwiched between an upper pervious support and a lower pervious support, and a portion of said filter is impervious in the area of said filter touching the aperture in said shield, so that any particles entering said capsule are moved to its periphery during flow and are held between said shield and said filter when flow is discontinued.

Claim 8

A sample collection unit according to claim 1 wherein said top member of said cassette contains a tamper proofing plate positioned some distance away from the outlet port of said cassette and above said valve means, said plate having an aperture, one side of said plate facing the outlet port of said top member, and engaged frictionally over part of its periphery to said cassette, said plate aperture positioned in a manner such that its location prevents accidental or intentional interference with elements positioned on the side of said plate opposite to the one facing the outlet port of said cassette.

Claim 9

In a fluid sample collection unit comprising a hollow two piece cassette, a lower member having an inlet port and an annular shoulder therein, a close fitting top member having an outlet port, an impactor plate retained in said lower member, said plate having a surface in alignment with the axis of said lower member inlet port, said surface facing said inlet port covered with adhesive, the improvement comprising the addition of four elements, said first element comprising a first aperture bearing retaining plate engaging said lower member along its interior surface and retaining said impactor plate against said shoulder and positioning said impactor plate a definite distance away from said inlet port, a second element comprising a removably positioned filter capsule located downstream of said first aperture bearing retaining plate and including a filter and a reinforcing member having an aperture in registry with the aperture of said first element, said filter capsule held between said lower and top members of said cassette, a third element comprising a valve means located downstream of said capsule for allowing one-way fluid flow from said inlet port to said outlet port, said valve means comprising a second aperture bearing retaining plate, a bursting mechanism, and a one way valve for controlling flow through said second retaining plate aperture, and a fourth element comprising an apertured tamper-proofing plate located downstream of said valve means, said casette allowing one-way flow of fluid entering said inlet port, impinging upon said impactor plate, flowing around said impactor plate, entering said first element aperture, entering said capsule, flowing through said valve means, flowing through said tamperproofing plate, and exiting through said outlet port, particulate matter carried by said flow being captured within said capsule.

Claim 10

In a fluid sample collection unit comprising a hollow two piece cassette, a lower member having an inlet port and an annular shoulder therein, a close fitting top member having an outlet port, an impactor plate retained in said lower member, said plate having a surface in alignment with the axis of said lower member inlet port, said surface facing said inlet port covered with adhesive, the improvement comprising the addition of four elements, said first element comprising a first aperture bearing retaining plate engaging said lower member along its interior surface and retaining said impactor plate against said shoulder and positioning said impactor plate a definite distance away from said inlet port, a second element comprising a removably positioned filter capsule located downstream of said first aperture bearing retaining plate and including a filter and a reinforcing member having an aperture in registry with the aperture of said first element, said filter capsule held between said lower and top members of said cassette, a third element comprising a valve means located downstream of said capsule for allowing one-way fluid flow from said inlet port to said outlet port, said valve means comprising a second aperture bearing retaining plate, a bursting mechanism, and a one way valve for controlling flow through said second retaining plate aperture, and a fourth element comprising an apertured tamper-proofing plate located downstream of said valve means, said casette allowing one-way flow of fluid entering said inlet port, impinging upon said impactor plate, flowing around said impactor plate, entering said first element aperture, entering said capsule, flowing through said valve means, flowing through said tamperproofing plate, and exiting through said outlet port, particulate matter carried by said flow being captured within said capsule.

Claim 11

In a fluid sample collection unit comprising a hollow two piece cassette, a lower member having an inlet port and an annular shoulder therein, a close fitting top member having an outlet port therein, an impactor plate retained in said lower member of said cassette, said impactor plate having a surface in alignment with the inlet port of said lower member, said impactor plate surface facing said inlet port covered with adhesive means, the improvement comprising the addition of five elements, said first element comprising a retaining cylindrical shell engaging said lower member along its interior surface and retaining said impactor plate against said shoulder positioning said impactor plate at a definite distance away from said inlet port, a second element located downstream of said first element and comprising a protective shield imperviously held at its peripheral edge of said lower and top members of said cassette, said shield having an aperture, a third element located downstream of said second element and comprising a removably positioned filter capsule held in registry with the peripheral edge of said shield between said lower and top members of said cassette, said third element comprising an aperture bearing structure and a filter element, a fourth element located downstream of said third element and comprising a valve means for allowing one-way flow, said valve means including an apertured plate, a flap, and a bursting mechanism, and a fifth element located downstream of said fourth element and comprising a tamperproofing plate having an aperture, said cassette allowing the unidirectional establishment of flow entering said inlet port, said flow impinging upon said impactor plate, flowing around said impactor plate, entering said capsule, flowing through said fourth element valve means, flowing through the aperture in said tamperproofing plate and exiting through said outlet port, particulate matter carried by said flow being captured within said capsule.

Claim 12

In a fluid sample collection unit comprising a hollow two piece cassette, a lower member having an inlet port and an annular shoulder therein, a close fitting top member having an outlet port therein, an impactor plate retained in said lower member of said cassette, said impactor plate having a surface in alignment with the inlet port of said lower member, said impactor plate surface facing said inlet port covered with adhesive means, the improvement comprising the addition of five elements, said first element comprising a retaining cylindrical shell engaging said lower member along its interior surface and retaining said impactor plate against said shoulder positioning said impactor plate at a definite distance away from said inlet port, a second element located downstream of said first element and comprising a protective shield imperviously held at its peripheral edge of said lower and top members of said cassette, said shield having an aperture, a third element located downstream of said second element and comprising a removably positioned filter capsule held in registry with the peripheral edge of said shield between said lower and top members of said cassette, said third element comprising an aperture bearing structure and a filter element, a fourth element located downstream of said third element and comprising a valve means for allowing one-way flow, said valve means including an apertured plate, a flap, and a bursting mechanism, and a fifth element located downstream of said fourth element and comprising a tamperproofing plate having an aperture, said cassette allowing the unidirectional establishment of flow entering said inlet port, said flow impinging upon said impactor plate, flowing around said impactor plate, entering said capsule, flowing through said fourth element valve means, flowing through the aperture in said tamperproofing plate and exiting through said outlet port, particulate matter carried by said flow being captured within said capsule.