Method and system for isolating and testing biological contaminants in mail packages

Abstract

A method and system for encapsulating mail containers delivered to a building so as to prevent possible contaminants in the mail containers from contaminating the building. An opening is provided on a building wall that substantially separates indoor air circulation from the outdoor air for receiving the mail containers. A plastic tube having a closed end and an open end is used to encapsulate the mail containers. The open end is securely attached to the opening in the wall for receiving the mail containers into the tube, while preventing air circulation outside the building from entering the opening. A sealing device is used to seal the plastic tube for keeping the mail containers in separate sealed sections. A severing device is used to separate the sealed sections in the encapsulated packages so that the encapsulated packages can be tested for the possible contaminants.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is related to commonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “Method And Device For Collecting And Transferring Biohazard Samples” (Attorney Docket F-761) in the names of Douglas B. Quine, Ashwani Sharma, and John E. Massucci which is hereby incorporated by reference. [0002] The present application is related to commonly owned, co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “Method And Device For Isolating, Collecting And Transferring Biohazard Samples” (Attorney Docket F-774) in the names of Douglas B. Quine, Denis J. Stemmle, John E. Massucci, and Deborra J. Zukowski, which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to biohazard detection and, more particularly, to the isolation of unknown mail in a building for safety testing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] In late 2001, several United States postal offices and other buildings were contaminated with Bac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The present invention provides a method and system for isolating unknown incoming mail from the circulating air of a building. When a mail tray or a postal package is delivered, the mail tray or postal package is sealed in a controlled environment such that the exterior of the sealed package is not contaminated by the contaminants in the mail tray itself. The mail tray is maintained in a sealed condition within the building until it has been fully tested for any hazardous or suspicious materials. The sealed package can be transported within the building without the risk of contaminating the circulating air in the building, without the need for expensive negative pressure isolation chambers, and without the need to implement expensive decontamination procedures in the event that hazardous materials are discovered in the mail. Furthermore, the sealed package can be tested for biological contaminants without exposing the test operators to the mail.

Problems solved by technology

In late 2001, several United States postal offices and other buildings were contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores (anthrax) along the Eastern United States, resulting in anthrax infection and death among several individuals.

This incident was quite costly, not only in terms of the health-related impact, but also in the required decontamination efforts.

Cleanup following the anthrax contamination proved to be difficult, labor intensive, and expensive.

As this threat still exists, there exists a need to contain biological contaminants within the postal packages or other containers when the postal packages are delivered to a building suspected to be a target of contamination.

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