SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE FROM A PASSENGER CABIN
A system for collecting a biological sample from a passenger cabin includes a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path. A method for collecting particulates from cabin air includes capturing particulates in at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path with a collector for a period of time. The method includes removing the collector from at least one of the passenger cabin or air outflow flow path for testing. The method includes placing a clean collector into at least one of the passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path for use during another period of time.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications with the following Ser. Nos. 63/114,330, 63/114,339, 63/114,350, 63/114,400, 63,114,064, 63/114,157, 63/114,386 and 63/114,366 all filed on Nov. 16, 2020. The contents of each of the aforementioned Provisional Applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present disclosure relates to collecting a biological sample and more particularly to systems and methods for collecting a biological sample representative of a passenger cabin on an aircraft using a collector.
2. Description of Related ArtThe spread progression of SARS-CoV-2 around the world has brought attention to the systemic risks of economic globalization. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic there is a need for better monitoring, detecting, and isolating ill passengers, specifically due to the detrimental impact on the global economy, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens during travel, e.g. air travel, rail travel or the like, due to closed borders, movement restrictions, and testing requirements.
The COVID-19 pandemic the air travel industry has proven that air travel can be safe and that aircraft cabins have a well-managed airflow that inhibits transmission of virus, and that being seated onboard an aircraft is safer than shopping in large stores. Governments and other authorities, however, need to assume that aircraft are contaminated until proven “clean”, as 25% of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic; but still contagious. To date, travelers and governments have relied on individual tests. Testing for viruses requires that samples be taken of various bodily tissues and/or fluids. An adequate concentration of material is needed, the concentration being determined by the type and sensitivity of the testing procedure. It could be difficult to get adequate samples from travelers for the purposes of virus detection, contact tracing in the event of an exposure, etc. It is also possible that the airline is required to certify the arriving aircraft as being “virus free”.
The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved monitoring, detecting, and isolating systems and methods. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.
SUMMARYA system for collecting a biological sample from a passenger cabin includes a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path.
In certain embodiments, the collector includes a continuous strip of collector material positioned along a lengthwise side of the passenger cabin between a hull wall and the passenger cabin. The collector can include a series of individual pieces of collector material spaced apart along a lengthwise side of the passenger cabin between a hull wall and the passenger cabin. Each individual piece of collector material can be spaced apart by a given number of rows of seats.
The collector can include a plurality of individual pieces of collector material below a row of seats. The plurality of individual pieces of collector material can be more proximate to a hull wall than a cabin aisle. The collector can include a group of individual pieces of collector material on a hull wall or a passenger seat back at a height more proximate to a top of a passenger seat than a cabin floor. The cabin air outflow flow path can be defined by a space between an aircraft hull and a cabin floor. The collector can be positioned within the cabin air outflow flow path. The outflow flow path can be defined at least in part through an in-flight entertainment system (IFE) filter racks. The collector can include a plurality of individual pieces of filter material. The cabin air outflow flow path can be a galley insert air outflow flow path. The collector can be positioned within the cabin air outflow flow path. The cabin air outflow flow path can be a cabin temperature outflow flow path.
The particulate samples can include droplets exhaled from passengers throughout a duration of a flight. The collector can be configured and adapted to be removed from the passenger cabin or cabin air outflow flow path for testing. The cabin air outflow flow path can be a general cabin outlet flow path and wherein the collector can be positioned across the general cabin outlet flow path. The system can include an aircraft galley proximate to the passenger cabin and a pathogen identifying testing unit within the aircraft galley. The pathogen identifying testing unit can include a communication unit for communicating results remotely. In certain embodiments, the pathogen identifying testing unit can include a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing unit.
In accordance with another aspect, a method for collecting particulates from cabin air includes capturing particulates in at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path with a collector for a period of time. The method includes removing the collector from at least one of the passenger cabin or air outflow flow path for testing. The method includes placing a clean collector into at least one of the passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path for use during another period of time.
The method can include conducting a pathogen identifying test on at least one particulate captured in the collector. The method includes relaying a result of the pathogen identifying test to a central data center. In certain embodiments, conducting the pathogen identifying test can include conducting a PCR test on at least one particulate captured in the collector.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a system monitoring cabin air in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
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A method for collecting particulates from cabin air includes capturing particulates in at least one of a passenger cabin, e.g. cabin 10 or 20, or a cabin air outflow flow path, e.g., cabin air outflow flow path 104 or 204, with a collector, e.g. collectors 102, 202, 106, 108, 110 or 120, for a period of time. The method includes removing the collector from at least one of the passenger cabin or air outflow flow path for testing. The method includes placing a clean collector into at least one of the passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path for use during another period of time. The method includes conducting a pathogen identifying test such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, e.g. with pathogen identifying testing unit 128, on at least one particulate captured in the collector. The method includes relaying a result of the PCR test to a central data center, e.g. central data center 133, with a communication unit, e.g. communication unit 130. The central data center can be at a destination airport, governmental agency, or the like. The systems 100 and 200 are configured and adapted to collect representative sample/s of airborne pathogens within the pressurized cabin using collector pieces, e.g. filter material pieces.
The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for systems for monitoring aircraft air with superior properties including allowing for the detection of a virus or other contaminant. The systems and methods of the present invention can apply to aircraft travel, or the like. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
Claims
1. A system for collecting a biological sample from a passenger cabin comprising:
- a collector for collecting particulate samples positioned within at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path.
2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector includes a continuous strip of collector material positioned along a lengthwise side of the passenger cabin between a hull wall and the passenger cabin.
3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector includes a series of individual pieces of collector material spaced apart along a lengthwise side of the passenger cabin between a hull wall and the passenger cabin
4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein each individual piece of collector material is spaced apart by a given number of rows of seats.
5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector includes a plurality of individual pieces of collector material below a row of seats.
6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of individual pieces of collector material are more proximate to a hull wall than a cabin aisle.
7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector includes a group of individual pieces of collector material on a hull wall or a passenger seat back at a height more proximate to a top of a passenger seat than a cabin floor.
8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector is positioned within the cabin air outflow flow path, wherein the cabin air outflow flow path is defined by a space between an aircraft hull and a cabin floor.
9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector is positioned within the cabin air outflow flow path, wherein the outflow flow path is defined at least in part through an in-flight entertainment system (IFE) filter racks.
10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector includes a plurality of individual pieces of filter material.
11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector is positioned within the cabin air outflow flow path, wherein the cabin air outflow flow path is a galley insert air outflow flow path.
12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector is positioned within the cabin air outflow flow path, wherein the cabin air outflow flow path is a cabin temperature outflow flow path.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the particulate samples include droplets and/or gases exhaled from passengers throughout a duration of a flight.
14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collector is configured and adapted to be removed from the passenger cabin or cabin air outflow flow path for testing.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the cabin air outflow flow path is a general cabin outlet flow path and wherein the collector is positioned across the general cabin outlet flow path.
16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an aircraft galley proximate to the passenger cabin and a pathogen identifying testing unit within the aircraft galley.
17. The system of claim 17, wherein the pathogen identifying testing unit includes a communication unit for communicating results remotely, and wherein the pathogen identifying testing unit is or includes a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing unit.
18. A method for collecting particulates from cabin air comprising:
- capturing particulates in at least one of a passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path with a collector for a period of time;
- removing the collector from at least one of the passenger cabin or air outflow flow path for testing; and
- placing a clean collector into at least one of the passenger cabin or a cabin air outflow flow path for use during another period of time.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising conducting a pathogen identifying test on at least one particulate captured in the collector.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising relaying a result of the pathogen identifying test to a central data center.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 3, 2021
Publication Date: May 19, 2022
Applicant: Koninklijke Fabriek Inventum B.V. (Nieuwegein)
Inventors: Arnau Castillo Gonzalez (Maarssen), Brian St. Rock (Andover, CT), Vanessa Gonzalez (Palma de Mallorca), Antonio Martinez-Murcia (Elche)
Application Number: 17/518,476