Patent FR-2841989-A1 (FR)
Title: Device for receiving microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and/or microscopic parasites or other substances, present in ambient air at the end of analysis, treatment and/or destruction
Inventor: DEVIENNE FERNAND MARCEL
IPC: G01N1/22
Filed: 2002-07-08
Abstract: The base is a hollow receptacle under vacuum (1) which is sealed shut, with at least two operating openings (2, 2', 2). A condensation plate (3) bearing an adsorbant layer or plate can be placed opposite each opening. A pipe (4) extends from the receptacle, with at least one closeable air intake (4') connected to its inside, to the level of one of the operating openings : One of the operating openings forms an observation window for an observation and/or analysis apparatus (5), preferably non- destructive, such as an optical microscope or mass spectrometer. Another operating opening forms an access route for a beam or ray lethal to the adsorbed viruses, bacteria and/or parasites, provided by a corresponding generator (6) such as the bean delivered by an electron source or generator. The receptacle is parallelepiped in shape and has three operating openings in a line on the top face, preferably extended outwards by branch flanges (2'). A first opening is connected to the suction pipe (4); a second opening to the tube of an optical microscope and the third to the outlet of an electron source. The second and third openings are placed on either side of the first opening.The suction pipe extends vertically from the receptacle to form a base for four radial air intakes of calibrated diameter orientated along four directions which are spaced at equal angles around the axis of the pipe. These air intakes are arranged preferably two by two at different longitudinal placements along the pipe and the pipe is mounted to turn about its longitudinal axis and move telescopically. The condensation plate is supported and guided in translation by guides, slides or rails (7) fixed to opposite sides of the receptacle, at each operating opening corresponding to an indexed position for the plate. The controlled displacement of the plate is achieved manually or automatically. The receptacle is made of two parts assembled together in a sealed manner: a lower part and a cover, with one or more side connections each connected to a vacuum pump (9) with a filter (9') treating the air sucked into the receptacle before it is ejected. A computer (10) controls the operation of the observation and/or analysis apparatus, the generator of lethal beams or rays and/or the means of creating the vacuum, analysing the data from the observation and/or analysis apparatus and controlling the position of the pipe in rotation and/or extension. An independent claim is also included for an analysis and/or treatment process for a gaseous mixture, in particular air, in a given volume or in the open, using such a device. The mixture is sucked in for a given time and releasing one or more of the air intakes, orientating the pipe according to given data and carrying out a destructive treatment or non-destructive analysis of the substances adsorbed onto the active part of the condensation plate after positioning this correspondingly. The operation is repeated for another position of the condensation plate and the whole operation is repeated using another air intake, modifying the orientation of the pipe around its longitudinal axis and/or its extension.