JP2007187490A - Particle detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform wide-area monitoring and efficient, sure and quick detection of particles suspended in the air. <P>SOLUTION: In a particle detection system wherein a collection detection device 1 for detecting particles in a monitoring area is installed, the collection detection device 1 includes a sample sucking part 12 and a sucking means 18 communicated therewith; a sample accumulation medium 143 placed between the sample sucking part 12 and the sucking means 18, for accumulating temporarily the sample; an accumulation medium holding means 14 for holding the sample accumulation medium; an opening/closing port 15 provided for taking out the sample accumulation medium 143 to the outside; sample analysis means 191-197 provided adjacently to the sample accumulation medium, for analyzing the sample in the sample accumulation medium; and a transmission circuit 11 for converting an analysis result into an electric signal and transmitting it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a particle detection system that detects the presence or absence of fine particles floating in the atmosphere, and is particularly suitable for a rapid, labor-saving and wide-area monitoring.

  In general, the particles floating in the atmosphere include pollen, environmental substances and bacteria. As these typical detection methods, a portable air collector with a built-in suction pump is used to suck in air at an arbitrary location and take the particles into a storage medium such as a filter or water in the collector. . Thereafter, the collector or the storage medium itself is brought back to the examination room, and the presence or attribute of the target particle is analyzed with a stationary analyzer. As another method, air is continuously sucked by a collector installed outdoors, and particles are adsorbed to a storage medium such as a filter. The monitor collects the filter at regular intervals and takes it to the laboratory. There is a method for analyzing the presence and attributes of particles adsorbed on a filter. Furthermore, it is known that a floating substance is detected, and when a preset value is reached, an alarm is transmitted as a warning at a location away from the alarm.

JP-A-11-37534

As is apparent from the above description of the prior art, when a portable collector is used, it is necessary for a person to collect air and go around. It is necessary and requires a lot of labor. Moreover, in the case of an installation type collector, it is necessary for a person to collect the filter periodically, and as the number of installation places increases, these also require a great deal of labor for collection. In addition, in any collection form, whether or not the target microparticles are present in the collected sample can be determined only after a precise analysis in the laboratory. Therefore, it must be said that the monitoring work efficiency is low.
Especially when an accident such as the release of harmful bacteria into the atmosphere is assumed, the frequency of occurrence is extremely low because it is basically an accident that cannot be predicted. Need to be collected and analyzed in the laboratory. However, since most of the collected samples have no target particles, extremely inefficient monitoring work is forced. Furthermore, since the thing of patent document 1 only gives an alarm, it was inadequate to monitor the spreading condition of biological particles, such as bacteria and pollen, over a wide area, and to take countermeasures.

  An object of the present invention is to perform wide-area monitoring of particles suspended in the air and to perform detection efficiently, reliably and quickly.

  In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention is a particle detection system in which a collection detection device for detecting the presence or absence of fine particles floating in the atmosphere is installed in a monitoring area, and is installed in the monitoring area. The collection detection device includes a sample suction unit, a suction unit communicating with the sample suction unit, a sample storage medium between the sample suction unit and the suction unit, and temporarily stores a sample. A storage medium holding means for holding the sample storage medium; an opening / closing port provided for taking out the sample storage medium; and a sample in the sample storage medium provided adjacent to the sample storage medium A sample analysis means for analyzing the signal and a transmission circuit for converting the analysis result into an electric signal and transmitting it.

  According to the present invention, monitoring of fine particles floating in the air can be performed quickly over a wide area, and it is easy to take measures to minimize the influence on residents.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the monitoring system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the collection detection device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a sensor based on an antigen-antibody reaction, which is a particle analysis means of the collection detection device of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, collection detection devices 1 are installed at a plurality of locations for a monitoring area. The collection detection device is provided with a transmission circuit 11 for transmitting the detection result wirelessly. Radio waves from each collection detection device are connected to the receiver 21 of the information center 2. In addition, the information center is wired or wirelessly connected to the inspection center 3 having a function 31 for collecting the collection unit in each collection detection device and a function 32 for accurately analyzing the collected sample in the collection unit. It is connected. Next, the configuration of the collection detection device will be described with reference to FIG.

The collection detection device is provided with a sample suction nozzle (sample suction part) 12 outside thereof, and a first duct 13 is provided following the nozzle 12. The other end of the first duct 13 is connected to the inlet 141 of the sample container (storage medium holding means) 14. The sample container 14 is provided with an outlet 142, and the second duct 17 is connected to the outlet. The second duct 17 is connected to a suction pump (suction means) 18. The inlet 141 and the first duct 13 and the outlet 142 and the second duct 17 of the sample container 14 are easily detachable connections.
Further, a lid (opening / closing port) 15 for mounting or removing the sample container from the outside of the apparatus is provided in the apparatus outer shell. A liquid (sample storage medium) 143 for dissolving the particle sample is held in the sample container 14. As shown in the figure, the flow path connected to the inlet 141 is opened upward from the bottom of the sample container. There is a hole in the ceiling portion of the sample container 14 and it is connected to the air outlet 142. Further, the sample container 14 is provided with a sensor (sample analysis means) 19 (191 to 197) for easily measuring the kind and concentration of particles, and the sensitive part is immersed in the liquid 143 in the container. Yes. The output of the sensor 19 is connected to the transmission circuit 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor 19 passes through a light source 191, a light projecting fiber 192 for guiding light from the light source, and a window 196 provided in the sample container from the end of the light projecting fiber. A plate 193 provided at a distance, a gold thin film 1931 on the upper surface of the plate 193, a nanoparticle 1932 whose upper half is covered with a gold thin film, and an antibody molecule 1933 corresponding to the target particle 1944 bound to the nanoparticle surface A light receiving fiber 194 for receiving the reflected light from the plate, a spectroscope 195 for analyzing the light of the light receiving fiber, and for estimating the adhesion amount of the target particle to the antibody on the nanoparticle surface from the spectroscopic signal It consists of a signal processing circuit 197. A pair of the light projecting / receiving fiber and the plate is required for each measurement target. When the number of target particles is increased, a plurality of the light projecting / receiving fiber and the plate are installed according to the number.

The above configuration operates as follows. First, the suction pump periodically operates to suck air at a predetermined flow rate. The sucked air is guided to the lower part of the sample container through the first duct, and rises in the liquid 143 as bubbles. At this time, if particles are contained in the air, they are taken into the liquid 1143. Since the sensing part of the sensor 19 is immersed in the liquid, if there is a particle in the liquid, it reacts to cause a signal change. As a principle of the sensor 19, a method of identifying and identifying the surface antigen of the target particle by an antigen-antibody reaction, a method of identifying the property and size of the particle by light scattering, and the like can be used.
The measurement result obtained by the sensor 19 is transmitted to the information center 2 by the transmission circuit 11. In the information center 2, signals of measurement results are appropriately taken up from the collection detection devices 1 installed at a plurality of points. The information center 2 estimates the presence / absence of the particles and the existing area from these signals. When the existence is assumed, alarm information for collecting the position of the corresponding collection detection device and the sample container 14 in the device is issued to the inspection center 3. Upon receiving this information, the inspection center dispatches a collection team (dedicated vehicle and dedicated person) 31 to collect the sample container 14. The recovery team 31 goes to the corresponding apparatus, opens the cover 15 of the apparatus, replaces the sample container 14 with a new one, and then brings the old sample container back to the inspection center. At the inspection center, a liquid containing particles is taken out from the collected sample container, and a fine inspection 32 is performed to determine the type and concentration of the particles.

  Next, the operation of the sensor 19 using the antigen-antibody reaction method will be described with reference to FIG. When particles are taken into the liquid, it reacts with the antibody on the plate surface provided in the sample container, and the spectrum of the reflected light from the plate surface changes. The reflected light is captured by the light receiving fiber 194 and the optical spectrum is measured by the spectroscope 195. In the signal processing circuit 197, the concentration is calculated from the presence / absence of the target particles and, if they are attached, from the spectrum signal.

  The antigen-antibody reaction used in this sensor may cause a non-specific reaction with particles other than the target particles, and may not be used for definitive tests due to the possibility of false detection. Is possible. In contrast, a thorough examination performed in a laboratory or the like--for example, genetic testing in the case of microorganisms, mass spectrometry in the case of proteins, and colorimetry or emission spectrometry in the case of inorganic substances can be used as definitive tests. Yes, it takes time and effort to analyze. Therefore, in this embodiment, a monitoring system is provided in which a sample is selected in a screening manner by providing a sensor in the collection portion, and only a possible sample is subjected to a precise inspection. This eliminates the need for people to bring their collectors and collect air as in the past, and even when the particles are not floating, as in the case of stationary collectors It is not necessary to collect and analyze it. It only needs to respond when alarm information is sent, which contributes to rapid monitoring.

  In the above description, a signal is periodically transmitted from the collection detection device 1, and the presence / absence of particles is determined by the information center 2. However, when particles are measured during regular communication Will not be able to respond quickly due to a delay until the next regular transmission. Therefore, the transmission circuit 11 in the collection detection device 1 may have a function of determining the presence or absence of particles. By adopting a mechanism that emits information only when the presence of particles is estimated, it becomes possible to detect the occurrence of particles more quickly.

  Further, the sensor sensing portion is directly immersed in the sample container 14, but after the suction nozzle 12, the first duct 13 is divided into two systems, one for the sample container and the other for the flow path equipped with the sensor. You may make it the structure which guides. The flow path provided with the sensor can be provided with a separation column, a staining reaction container, and the like, and the target particles can be analyzed with higher accuracy.

  Further, as a method for capturing particles in the sample, a mode in which particles are dissolved in the liquid 143 in the sample container 14 has been described, but a physical adsorption filter may be used instead of the sample container 14.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the collection detection apparatus in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the sensor with which the collection detection apparatus in FIG. 2 was equipped.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Collection detection apparatus, 2 ... Information center, 3 ... Inspection center, 11 ... Transmission circuit, 12 ... Sample suction nozzle (sample suction part), 14 ... Sample container (storage medium holding means), 15 ... Opening / closing port, 18 ... suction pump (suction means), 143 ... liquid (sample storage medium), 191 to 197 ... sensors (sample analysis means).

Claims (4)

In the particle detection system that installs a collection detection device to detect the presence or absence of fine particles floating in the atmosphere for the monitoring area,
The collection detection device installed in the monitoring area, the collection detection device is located between the sample suction unit and the suction unit communicating with the sample suction unit, the sample suction unit and the suction unit, A sample storage medium to be stored; storage medium holding means for holding the sample storage medium; an opening / closing port provided for taking out the sample storage medium; and provided adjacent to the sample storage medium, A particle detection system comprising: sample analysis means for analyzing a sample in a sample storage medium; and a transmission circuit for converting an analysis result into an electrical signal and transmitting it.   The thing of Claim 1 WHEREIN: The said collection detection apparatus is installed in multiple units, the electrical signal transmitted from each said collection detection apparatus is received, the presence or absence of a specific sample is determined from the received information, and the said specific A particle detection system comprising an information center for transmitting position information and alarm information of the collection detection device when it is determined that a sample is present.   3. The particle detection system according to claim 2, wherein the alarm information includes a command for collecting the sample storage medium in the collection detection device. 2. The particle detection system according to claim 1, wherein the sample analysis means uses an antigen-antibody reaction.

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