SAMPLING DEVICE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE OF SAMPLING PROCEDURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid sampling assembly comprising a sampling device (1) for analysis of one or more substances in a fluid flow passing through the sampling device (1), a first device (3) comprising a flow meter for measuring the fluid flow, and a control unit (12) with communication means, wherein the control unit (12) is adapted to record information concerning the sampling, and to communicate the information to a memory (4, 7, 13). The invention further relates to a method for assuring quality of measurements using a sampling assembly.

Claims

1. A fluid sampling assembly comprising: a sampling device for analysis of one or more substances in a fluid flow passing through the sampling device, a first device comprising a flow meter for measuring the fluid flow, and a control unit with communication means, wherein the control unit is adapted to record information concerning the sampling, and to communicate the information to a memory.

2. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sampling device further comprises identification means.

3. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the memory is located on the sampling device, and the memory or the sampling device comprises communications means.

4. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second device communicating with the first device, said second device comprising features that may thereby be omitted on the first device.

5. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the memory is an inductively driven wireless circuit tag.

6. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 2, wherein the memory is located in network.

7. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 2, wherein the identification means comprises at least one of an inductively driven wireless circuit, NFC, QR, barcode, RFID, text, number, symbol, and electronic chip.

8. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the record information is information comprising at least one of time, flow, sampling device identification, processed flow data from the sampling, ambient pressure, temperature, back pressure, accelerometer data, concentration, deviation event, error reports, and event reports.

9. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a pump.

10. The fluid sampling assembly according to claim 1, further comprises a biometric sensor arranged to communicate with the control unit.

11. A method for assuring quality and validity of measurements of a fluid sampling assembly, the fluid sampling assembly comprising: a sampling device for analysis of one or more substances in a fluid flow passing through the sampling device, a first device comprising a flow meter for measuring the fluid flow, and a control unit with wireless communication means, wherein the method comprises: sampling the one or more substances in the fluid flow passing through the sampling device, recording information concerning the sampling, and communicating the information to a memory.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising identifying a unique identification of the sampling device.

13. The method according to claim 10, where recording information comprises preparing the information in a log file.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising communicating information to the memory.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising write protecting the information in the memory.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising checking if the sampling device has previously been used, by comparing first recorded use of the sampling device with current time or by checking if or when a digital sealing was broken.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 schematically shows how to automatically retrieve unique identification of a sampling device and tie it to the memory integrated in the device to be used for logging sampling session information,

[0026] FIG. 2 schematically shows how to automatically provide information about the sampling session stored in the memory integrated in the device to the instance which will evaluate the sampling results, and

[0027] FIG. 3 schematically shows how to automatically provide the information about the sampling session to the instance which will evaluate the sampling results by storing information on a remote memory on a network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Some expressions used throughout this application are defined as follows.

[0029] The expression sampling device refers to a device collecting compounds for evaluating an environmental condition, e.g. the concentration of certain hazardous compounds in environmental air.

[0030] The expression sampling procedure refers to the procedure of collecting compounds into the sampling device.

[0031] The expression sampling session refers to the timespan over which this procedure is performed.

[0032] The expression sample refers to the sampling device and the compounds it has been exposed to during the sampling session. The sample is the item sent to an instance (e.g. a laboratory) for evaluation.

[0033] The expression operator refers to the person responsible of the quality of the sampling procedure and collecting information of the sampling procedure. This is usually an occupational hygienist.

[0034] An example of a situation where the method the present invention may be used is when sampling hazardous compounds in environmental air, using an air pump 3 connected to a sampling device 1, enabling the air pump 3 to induce a flow of environmental air through the sampling device during a certain time, this previously referred to as the sampling procedure. The sampling device and air pump may be attached to a person (usually not the operator, but a person working in present environment), the sampling device following the person, being exposed to the same environment as the person. After completing this procedure, the sampling device will be sealed and sent to e.g. a laboratory 9 for evaluation. Parameters in this example that are of interest in concluding an evaluation can be, but not limited to: sampling duration, date and time, average air flow rate, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, characteristics of air flow rate such as pulsations and deviations of average air flow rate, delta pressure over sampling device. The log file 6 containing such information must be tied to the sampling device 1 exposed to that exact sampling procedure described by the log file 6.

[0035] The purpose of the present invention is to improve the collection of information of how a sampling session of a certain sample has been conducted, and to provide this information to the instance which will evaluate the sample, while minimizing the manual workflow needed for doing this, and thus both reducing the risk of human errors and reduce time required to gather, summarize, and provide sufficient data of sampling procedure.

[0036] An exemplary embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A sampling device 1 is provided to gather a certain sample of e.g. environmental air is equipped provided with a unique identification, that can be automatically read, e.g. an RFID tag, a QR or barcode tag, or a Near-Field-Communication (NFC)-tag as shown as 2 in FIG. 1. This identification can be either read-only (as in the RFID or QR example), or also have a memory 7 that is able to be programmed multiple times (as for the NFC example). By utilizing a first device 3 that automatically reads the identification and provides it to a log file on a memory 4, the log file becomes tied to the unique sampling device 1. The identification could also be read by an optional second device 5, communicatively connected to the first device, where the second device transfers the identification information to the first device. The second device could be a smartphone or tablet device, using readily available means on such devices for reading the identification tags.

[0037] To a further aspect, the sampling device may contain data which can be read automatically in a similar manner as previously described, the data containing information how the sampling procedure should be performed, e.g. sampling flow rate and duration. The first device may be able to automatically adjust settings thereafter, e.g. a flow control set point and a timeout where the duration specified in the data has elapsed.

[0038] The corresponding prior art workflow is having an operator enumerating the sampling device, writing down the enumeration on a paper protocol or manually to an electronic protocol. This current procedure is often a compromise between consuming time for the operator and performing a sufficiently reliable enumeration.

[0039] During the sampling session, the first device performs an automatic collection of information continuously throughout the sampling procedure, and appends it to the log file 6, 6. A sampling session may take several hours to complete. With the present invention, the operator can by evaluating the collected information assure the quality of the sampling procedure. To a further aspect, the first device 3 may detect an error in sampling procedure and signal the error to the operator. The error may either be signaled optically, by a sound signal or transferred via a wireless connection to the operator, thus reducing the requirement of the operator to closely monitor the sampling procedure throughout the sampling session.

[0040] When a sampling session is completed, either automatically due to the pre-programmed timeout or manually by the operator, the control unit 12 of the first device 3 summarizes the log file 6.

[0041] Should the sampling device used throughout the sampling session be equipped with a programmable memory 7, the log file 6 or a summary of the log file is programmed to the memory, either by using the first device 3 as programmer, or sending the log file to a secondary device 5, and then using the secondary device as programmer. The secondary device may also be used to transfer the log file to a database 13 available via a network 8, as e.g. the World Wide Web, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The laboratory 9 which will evaluate the results of the sampling device can use the unique identifier 2 of the sampling device 1 in order to access the log file 6 from the database, thus receiving all information about the sampling procedure of the sampling device in a local copy of the log file 6 at the laboratory 9.

[0042] On a further aspect, the operator may add his/her signature on the log file prior to program the log file to the memory and/or transfer the log file to the database. The signature may be a biometric signature 11 added by using biometric sensors readily available on smartphones and tablets.

[0043] It is understood that other variations in the present invention are contemplated and in some instances, some features of the invention can be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.