Integrated Device to Sample and Identify Surface Microorganisms

The accidental release of terrestrial biological contaminants into extraterrestrial environments or the possibility of unfamiliar biocontaminants entering Earth?s atmosphere via flight hardware poses a grave danger. Because the transport of extraterrestrial biological contamination during space flight missions could pose extreme global threats such as a fatal epidemic, reliable sampling and detection procedures are required. NASA does not possess an analytical method that performs real-time, rapid, highly sensitive analysis of biological contamination on flight hardware. Currently, a majority of the microbiological contaminants identified as a concern in space are not easily monitored because of the need to perform time consuming, laboratory-based analysis. Lynntech, Inc. is proposing a hand held vacuum sample collection device integrated with a portable micro-detection system based on electrochemical techniques. The vacuum system allows for efficient collection of microorganisms from a variety of different surfaces and it is anticipated that the collection efficiency will be increased by 80%. The unique design of the vacuum system allows for aseptic handling of the collected sample and reduces the chances for cross-contamination. The micro-components used in the fabrication of this hand held, battery operated vacuum system makes the unit highly portable. The detection unit will give real time, species specific information.