Automatic microbial air sampling system and method

1. An automated remote microbial air sampling system for use with an isolator and sample containers, comprising:

a sampling and transfer enclosure adapted to be positioned outside of the isolator;

an atrium located the sampling and transfer enclosure for exposing the sample containers to a gas sample;

an infeed sample receiver for storing at least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling and transfer enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receiver to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium and adapted to be placed within the isolator and to receive the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium; and

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an inlet opening associated with the sampling and transfer enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the out feed sample receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the infeed sample receiver has a hollow infeed column portion oriented in the vertical direction for storing the sample containers, an inlet opening defining a top of the infeed column portion for receiving at least one fresh sample container, a side opening positioned along a length of the infeed column portion for providing hand access to the sample containers located within the infeed column portion, and wherein the outlet opening defines a bottom of the infeed column portion; and wherein the outfeed sample receiver has a hollow outfeed column portion oriented in the vertical direction for storing the sample containers, an outlet opening defining a top of the outfeed column portion for removal of the exposed sample containers, a side opening positioned along a length of the outfeed column portion for providing hand access to the sample containers located within the outfeed column portion, and wherein the inlet opening defines a bottom of the outfeed column portion; whereby the infeed and outfeed sample receivers are adapted to supply and remove sample containers from the air sampling system without interrupting the processing of the sample container within the sampling and transfer enclosure and to allow the first sample container supplied to the system to be the first sample container removed from the system after exposure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a liftable cover arm for removing a lid of the sample container within the enclosure to allow the atrium to expose the contents of the sample container to the gas sample.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cover arm includes a suction element.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cover arm is rotatable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the atrium has a cover portion that is vertically displaceable for lowering to cover a sample container.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an unload arm located within the sampling enclosure and adjacent to the atrium, including a forward face for moving the sample container from the atrium to a position adjacent to the inlet opening of the outfeed sample receiver when the unload arm is extended.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one latch positioned outside the inlet opening of the outfeed sample receiver which is repeatably deflectable permitting the exposed sample container to displace the latch and pass past the latch into the outfeed sample receiver, and which returns to a non-deflected position preventing the exposed sample container in the outfeed sample receiver from passing back into the sampling enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an outfeed elevator with an end portion for extending to remove the exposed sample container from the sampling enclosure and into the outfeed sample receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a particulate sampler located outside the sampling and transfer enclosure and connected in flow communication with the remote sampling device for receiving and analyzing the gas sample upstream from the atrium.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cam system driven by a motor that provides mechanical force and proper timing to moving parts of the air sampling system.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sampling and transfer enclosure includes an interior defined between a main housing and a cover.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a clean air supply system for providing positive air pressure to the interior of the sampling and transfer enclosure, the clean air supply system including a microbially retentive filter.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the filter is a 0.2 micron filter.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bypass conduit selectively connectable to the remote sampling device upstream of the atrium for permitting the gas sample to intermittently bypass the atrium.

16. An automated remote microbial air sampling system for use with an isolator and sample containers, comprising:

a sampling enclosure adapted to be positioned outside of the isolator;

an atrium located within the sampling enclosure for exposing the sample containers to a gas sample;

an infeed sample receiver for storing at least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receiver to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium and adapted to be placed within the isolator and to receive the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium; and

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an inlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the outfeed sample receiver;

wherein the infeed sample receiver includes a hollow column portion that has an outlet opening and an inlet opening disposed above the outlet opening.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the outfeed sample receiver includes a hollow column portion that has an inlet opening and an outlet opening disposed above the inlet opening.

18. An automated remote microbial air sampling system for use with an isolator and sample containers, comprising:

a sampling enclosure adapted to be positioned outside of the isolator;

an atrium located within the sampling enclosure for exposing the sample containers to a gas sample;

an infeed sample receiver for storing at least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receiver to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium and adapted to be placed within the isolator and to receive the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium; and

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an inlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the outfeed sample receiver;

and a load arm located within the sampling enclosure and adjacent to the inlet opening of the infeed sample receiver, including a sample retention surface for preventing the sample container from exiting the inlet opening when the load arm is in a mid position and allowing the sample container to exit the inlet opening when the load arm is in a retracted position, and a forward surface for moving the sample container to the atrium when the load arm is extended.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising an infeed elevator with an end portion for extending to engage the lowest most sample container in the infeed sample receiver, wherein the load arm has en elevator slot for permitting the load arm to pass about the infeed elevator while the infeed elevator is extended.

20. An automated remote microbial air sampling system for use with an isolator and sample containers, comprising:

a sampling enclosure adapted to be positioned outside of the isolator;

an atrium located within the sampling enclosure for exposing the sample containers to a gas sample;

an infeed sample receiver for storing at least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receiver to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium and adapted to be placed within the isolator and to receive the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium;

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an inlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the outfeed sample receiver;

and a lower explosive limit sensor connected in flow communication with the remote sampling device for receiving and analyzing the gas sample downstream from the atrium.

21. In combination with an isolator, an automated remote microbial air sampling system comprising:

a sampling enclosure associated with and positioned outside of the isolator;

an atrium located within the sampling enclosure for exposing a sample container to a gas sample drawn from the isolator;

an infeed sample receiver for storing a least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receive to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium and adapted to be placed within the isolator and to draw the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium; and

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an inlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the outfeed sample receiver.

22. An automated remote microbial air sampling system for use with an isolator and sample containers, comprising:

a sampling and transfer enclosure positioned outside of the isolator, the sampling and transfer enclosure being defined between a main housing and a cover;

an atrium located within the sampling enclosure for exposing the sample containers to a gas sample;

an infeed sample receiver for storing at least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receiver to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium and placed within the isolator to receive the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium; and

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an inlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the outfeed sample receiver.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the infeed sample receiver is attached to the cover of the sampling and transfer enclosure.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the infeed sample receiver is integrally formed with the cover of the sampling and transfer enclosure.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the outfeed sample receiver is attached to the cover of the sampling and transfer enclosure.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the outfeed sample receiver is integrally formed with the cover of the sampling and transfer enclosure.

27. An automated remote microbial air sampling system for use with an isolator and sample containers which have a microbe growth promoting media in a base portion and a removable lid portion, the system comprising:

a sampling enclosure positioned outside of the isolator;

an atrium located within the sampling enclosure for exposing the sample containers to a gas sample;

an infeed sample receiver for storing at least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receiver to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium an adapted to be placed within the isolator and to receive the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium;

a liftable rotatable cover arm for lifting, swinging and lowering the lid portion with respect to the base portion, and for holding the lid portion aloft within the sampling enclosure during exposure of the media in the base portion of the sample container to the gas sample; and

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an inlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the outfeed sample receiver.

28. An automated remote microbial air sampling system for use with an isolator and sample containers, comprising:

a sampling enclosure adapted to be positioned outside of the isolator;

an atrium located within the sampling enclosure for exposing the sample containers to a gas sample;

an infeed sample receiver for storing at least one sample container, including an outlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the infeed sample receiver to the atrium;

a remote sampling device connected in flow communication with the atrium and adapted to be placed within the isolator and to receive the gas sample from the isolator and pass it to the atrium; and

an outfeed sample receiver for storing at least one exposed sample container, including an outfeed inlet opening associated with the sampling enclosure for passing the sample container from the atrium to the outfeed sample receiver and an outfeed outlet located above the outfeed inlet opening.