Sample collector for particulate material and method
OwnerRoger J. Malcolm, Stuart Herseyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sample collector for extracting a particulate material specimen from a container includes a needle for puncturing the container and capturing an amount of specimen inside a chamber in mechanical communication with the needle. A spring-loaded continuously and progressively retractable and extendable sheath protects the tip of the needle from inadvertent contact with a human user and encloses the puncture site on the container during collection. A preliminary screening test for illicit substances can be conducted on part of the collected specimen to determine whether the container should be confiscated. Part of the collected specimen can be preserved for later confirmatory testing.
Claims20
A method for conducting a preliminary screening of bulk particulate material contained within a sealed container for the presence of a substance of interest, said method comprises:
- puncturing said container with a collector apparatus including a sheath covering a needle;
- wherein said puncturing comprises;
- automatically progressively retracting said sheath from said needle during said puncturing;
- capturing an amount of said material contacting said needle;
- conducting a preliminary screening test adapted to detect said substance on a first portion of said amount;
- and,
- obtaining a result of said conducting.
An apparatus which comprises:
- a body;
- a needle extending distally from said body along an axis, said needle having a sharpened distal tip;
- a chamber in physical communication with said needle, said chamber being dimensioned to contain an amount of particulate material;
- a protective sheath movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- said sheath comprising:
- a distal end extending beyond said distal tip when said sheath is in said extended position and exposing said distal tip when said sheath is in said retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.