Abstract:
A hand-held implement for removing microbiological matter from a surface to which the matter is adhered, and storing the matter for subsequent examination, includes a sonic wave generator for producing sonic waves for breaking up a film of the microbiological matter on the surface, a swab for contact with the surface and collecting the microbiological matter, a suction producing device for drawing the microbiological matter from the swab and into the implement, and a trap in the implement for receiving and retaining the drawn biological matter for subsequent examination thereof.

Description:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by the United States Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to implements for removing microbiological matter from surfaces to which the matter is adhered, and particularly to an implement which dislodges the matter from the surface, draws the dislodged matter into the implement, and stores the drawn-in matter for subsequent examination. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Devices for the collection of microbiological matter from surfaces, such as surfaces in food preparation areas, and on food itself, and on surfaces in medical areas, and the like, are known. Typically, swabs are used to scrub off the microbiological matter and are thereafter examined for harmful bacteria. In many instances, tough films of matter accumulate and harden on a surface, such that soft swabs, such as cotton, sponge, and other resilient materials, are of limited effectiveness in removing the matter from the surface. 
     Swabs may be soaked in a liquid adapted to aid in the removal of encrusted biological matter and/or may be rough textured to mechanically scrape away such material. Such measures have met with only limited success. 
     It has been found that sonic waves are effective in breaking up layers of microbiological matter which may then be swabbed up using an ordinary swab. While this represents an improvement in many instances over chemical and/or abrasive mediums, it is not convenient to utilize sonics and mechanical swabs requiring a two step operation followed by still having to test the accumulated matter on the swab, or alternatively, adding still another step of removing the matter from the swab and placing the matter in a test dish or other vehicle. 
     There is thus a need for an implement which is adapted to loosen microbiological matter adhered to a surface, swab up the loosened matter, and remove the swabbed-up matter from the swab and direct the matter to a collection point at which the matter is stored for handling and subsequent examination. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an implement having facility for loosening microbiological matter adhered to a surface, for swabbing up the loosened matter, and for transporting the matter from the swab to a collection point thereon at which the swabbed matter can be held for subsequent examination. 
     With the above and other objects in view, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a hand-held implement for removing microbiological matter from a surface to which the matter is adhered, and storing the matter for subsequent examination, the implement including a sonic wave generator for producing sonic waves for breaking up a film of the microbiological matter on the surface, a swab for contact with the surface and collecting the microbiological matter, a suction producing means for drawing the microbiological matter from the swab and into the implement, and a trap for receiving and retaining the drawn biological matter for subsequent examination thereof. 
     In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a sonic swab implement including a housing configured and sized for hand-held operation, a sonic wave generator mounted on the implement and adapted to produce sonic waves for breaking up microbiological material adhered to a surface, a swab mounted on the implement and adapted for engagement with the surface for removal of microbiological material from the surface, a suction producing means mounted on the implement and adapted to draw the microbiological material from the swab, and a trap mounted on the implement and adapted to receive the microbiological material for storage and subsequent examination thereof. 
     The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of an illustrative hand-held implement for removing biological matter from a surface and retaining the removed matter for subsequent examination; and 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged generally sectional view of a portion of the implement of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that an illustrative implement  10  includes a handle  12  adapted to be hand-held by an operator. The handle  12  may be generally conically shaped, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and may be provided with textured surface areas (not shown) to assist in gripping the handle. The handle  12  may, alternatively, be provided with a “pistol” grip, not shown but well known in conjunction with hand-held devices. 
     On a distal end  16  of the handle  12  there is mounted a sonic horn  18  adapted to emit sound-wave energy for breaking up encrusted or caked layers of microbiological matter disposed on surfaces. 
     A battery  20  is disposed in a battery compartment  22  in the handle  12 . A sonic horn switch  24  is mounted on the handle  12  and is in electrical communication with the battery  20  and the sonic horn  18  for selectively energizing the sonic horn  18 . 
     A disposable swab assembly  30  is adapted to be removably mounted on the sonic horn  18 . The swab assembly  30  includes an elongated hollow wand  32  having a proximal portion  34  for connection to the sonic horn  18 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a distal portion  36  having mounted thereon a swab  38 . 
     Disposed within the proximal portion  34  of the wand  32  is a capture filter  40  which extends in circumferential abutment with the internal walls of the proximal portion  34  of the wand  32 . 
     The wand  32  is provided with a weakened juncture  42  between the wand proximal portion  34  and distal portion  36 . The weakened juncture  42  is essentially a break point, that is, a point at which the portions  34 ,  36  of the wand  32  may be easily separated from each other by manual operation. 
     The swab  38  may be any type commonly used, varying from soft, absorbing, material to a rough-textured material, or a brush. In use, the swab is saturated at least in part with a suitable liquid, such as is currently used in such operations. 
     The handle  12  includes a further compartment  50  for housing a syringe  52 . A tube  54  extends from the syringe  52  to the core of the sonic horn  18  which is provided with a passageway  56  ( FIG. 2 ) extending therethrough and interconnecting the tube  54  and the wand  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , it will be seen that in an exemplary embodiment the swab assembly  34  includes a flaired annular portion  60  of the hollow wand proximal portion  34  and a cylindrically-shaped portion  62 . The sonic horn  18  is provided with a flexible distal end portion  64  configured to snugly receive and removably retain the wand proximal end portion  62 . The wand proximal annular flaired portion  60  is provided with internal inwardly-directed threads  66  which are engageable with the internal wall of the flaired annular portion of the wand proximal end  60 . 
     The sonic horn  18  is provided proximate the distal end thereof with a cylindrically-shaped barrel portion  70  and, distally thereof, a frusto-conically shaped portion  72 . 
     In affixing the swab assembly  30  to the handle  12 , the proximal end portion  34  is pushed onto the barrel portion  70  and frusto-conical portion  72  of the sonic horn  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The cylindrically-shaped portion  62  of the swab assembly proximal end portion  60  slides onto the sonic horn barrel portion  70  and the threads  66  engage the frusto-conically shaped portion of the sonic horn conical portion  72 . 
     The tube  54  extends from the syringe  52  to the sonic horn  18  and is attached thereto by being fitted over a threaded protrusion  74  extending from the sonic horn  18  and in alignment with the sonic horn core passageway  56 . 
     In use, a selected swab  38  is mounted on the distal end of the distal end portion  36  of the wand  32 . The swab is soaked with an appropriate liquid. The wand  32  is mounted on the handle  12 . 
     In the collection of microbiological matter, an operator grasps the implement  10  by the handle  12  and manipulates the implement such that the swab, soaked in a liquid, is drawn over the surface from which the microbiological matter is to be taken. 
     The switch  24  is turned on by the operator and the combination of sonics directed from the sonic horn  18 , through the swab assembly hollow wand  32  and through the swab  38 , and engagement by the wetted swab causes microbiological matter to be dislodged from the surface being tested and taken into the swab  38 . 
     The operator then manipulates the syringe  52  to draw the liquid, along with the newly acquired matter therein and/or thereon, through the wand  32 . The microbiological matter in the drawn liquid is, to a large extent, captured by the capture filter  40 , while the drawn liquid continues on through the tube  54  and into the syringe  52 . 
     The swab assembly  30  is then plucked from the sonic horn  18 , or handle distal end  16 . Pressure applied to the juncture  42  snaps the wand  32  into two portions, permitting easy handling of the proximal portion  34  of the wand  32  and removal of the capture filter  40  therefrom. 
     The capture filter  40 , or the proximal portion  34  of the wand  32  with the capture filter therein, can be moved to an examination and/or analysis location. 
     Optionally, the syringe  52  may be provided initially with the liquid desired for use with the swab  38 . Operation of the syringe forces the liquid through the tube  54  and into the wand  32  and thence into the swab  38 . Thus, the syringe may be used to wet the swab, as well as to draw in and hold microbiological matter-bearing liquid. 
     There is thus provided a hand-held implement which serves to capture microbiological matter off of a surface and retain the matter for subsequent examination. 
     It will be understood that changes in the details, steps, and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to establish the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.