Rotating Patents (Class 209/59)
  • Patent number: 6938777
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing concentrated spots of collected particulates from an impact collection surface, and transferring those particulates into a container suitable for preparing a liquid sample. A jet of fluid can be utilized to remove and transfer the particulates. If a liquid jet is employed, care is taken to minimize the quantity of liquid to avoid unnecessarily diluting the sample. A mechanical scraper can alternatively be employed to remove and transfer the particulates into the container. The scraper can be rinsed with liquid or vibrated to remove the particulates. Alternatively, the portion of the surface containing a specific spot of particulates can be removed and placed into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: MesoSystems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Call, Patrick T. Call, Vanessa M. Kenning, Eric Hanczyc, Andrew Kamholz
  • Patent number: 6695146
    Abstract: The present invention employs a virtual impactor to separate a flow of fluid into a major flow and a minor flow, such that the minor flow contains a higher concentration of particulates of a desired size. The minor flow is directed toward an archival surface, causing the particulates to impact against and be deposited on the archival surface. Over time, the archival surface and the virtual impactor are moved relative to one another such that particulates collected at different times are deposited as spaced-apart spots on different portions of the archival surface. The particulates are stored on the archival surface until analysis of the particulates is required. The archival surface can be coated with a material that enhances the deposition and retention of the particulates and can further be coated with materials that sustain the life of biological organism particulates deposited on the archival surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: MesoSystems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Call, Patrick T. Call, Vanessa M. Kenning, Andrew Kamholz