Passive air environmental dna sample collector

Abstract

The utility model provides a passive air environment DNA sample collector relates to environmental DNA collection field. Including main part shell, filter paper and filter paper pressure ring, be provided with airflow generating assembly in the main part shell, and the opposite side of main part shell along the relative side of airflow direction is provided with air inlet and air outlet; The side wall of main part shell perpendicular to airflow direction is provided with connecting lug, is used for installing the collector in the specified position, filter paper sets up in air inlet, and is compacted to the outer wall of main part shell through filter paper pressure ring, filter paper pressure ring is detachably connected in main part shell. The present application can solve the inconvenient installation of existing equipment, the problem that filter paper is not fixed firmly, the low collection efficiency and the sample is easy to pollute.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of environmental DNA collection, and more specifically, to a passive airborne environmental DNA sample collector. Background Technology

[0002] Environmental DNA technology enables rapid identification and monitoring of biological species by detecting DNA fragments left behind by organisms in the environment, and has significant application value in fields such as ecological surveys, species conservation, and disease control. As an important form of environmental DNA, the collection efficiency of airborne environmental DNA directly affects the accuracy and reliability of subsequent detection results.

[0003] Many existing airborne DNA collection devices suffer from unreasonable structural design: some devices lack a stable installation structure, making it difficult to fix them at the designated monitoring location and susceptible to external interference, leading to instability in the collection process; some devices have rudimentary filter paper fixing methods, making the filter paper prone to displacement or detachment under airflow, and the replacement operation is cumbersome, increasing the risk of sample contamination. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a passive airborne DNA sample collector that can solve the problems of inconvenient installation, unstable filter paper fixation, low collection efficiency, and easy sample contamination of existing equipment.

[0005] The embodiments of this utility model are implemented as follows: This application provides a passive airborne DNA sample collector, including a main body shell, filter paper, and filter paper retaining ring. An airflow generating component is disposed within the main body shell, and an air inlet and an air outlet are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the main body shell along the airflow direction. A connecting lug is disposed on the side wall of the main body shell perpendicular to the airflow direction for installing the collector at a designated location. The filter paper is disposed at the air inlet and is pressed against the outer wall of the main body shell by the filter paper retaining ring. The filter paper retaining ring is detachably connected to the main body shell.

[0006] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, the airflow generating component includes a fan and a control system, the fan being disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet, and the fan being electrically connected to the control system.

[0007] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, the air inlet is composed of a plurality of air holes arranged in the outer shell of the main body, and the area of ​​the air inlet is adapted to the area of ​​the filter paper.

[0008] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, the air inlet includes a central air hole and a plurality of edge air holes arranged circumferentially around the central air hole, wherein the diameter of the central air hole is larger than the diameter of the edge air holes.

[0009] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, the top of the filter paper pressure ring is provided with a stop cap extending toward the side away from the main body shell.

[0010] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, the stop cap is an arc shape that adapts to at least 1 / 2 of the arc of the filter paper pressure ring.

[0011] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, the connecting ears are respectively provided on opposite sides of the main body shell in the horizontal direction, and the connecting ears are in an outward protruding shape.

[0012] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned solution, the main body shell includes a housing and a rear cover, the air inlet is disposed on the housing, the air outlet is disposed on the rear cover, and the rear cover is detachably connected to the housing.

[0013] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, the filter paper is glass fiber filter paper.

[0014] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned scheme, a timer is also provided inside the main body shell, and the timer is electrically connected to the control system.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of this utility model have at least the following advantages or beneficial effects: This application utilizes an airflow generation component within the main casing to form a directional and stable airflow channel with the corresponding air inlet and outlet. This ensures a continuous flow of air through the collection area, providing the power basis for stable DNA sample capture and effectively avoiding incomplete collection due to airflow interruption. Connecting ears on the sidewall of the main casing perpendicular to the airflow direction provide a standardized installation interface, compatible with various connectors such as bolts and clips, allowing the collector to be flexibly fixed to designated locations in different environments, such as walls, monitoring brackets, and tree trunks. The filter paper is pressed tightly against the outer wall of the main casing at the air inlet by a detachable filter paper retainer. This ensures a tight fit between the filter paper and the air inlet, effectively preventing displacement, detachment, or edge lifting of the filter paper under airflow impact, thus preventing sample loss with leaking airflow and ensuring collection efficiency. Furthermore, the detachable design of the filter paper retainer simplifies filter paper replacement, allowing for quick and easy removal and placement without complex tools. This significantly reduces the time the sample is exposed to the external environment, lowering the risk of sample contamination during replacement and ensuring the accuracy of subsequent testing. This application can solve the problems of inconvenient installation of existing equipment, poor filter paper fixation, low collection efficiency, and easy sample contamination. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this utility model and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the passive airborne DNA sample collector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the rear side of the passive air environment DNA sample collector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a front explosion diagram of a passive airborne DNA sample collector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a front view of a passive airborne DNA sample collector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Icons: 1. Main body shell; 11. Shell; 12. Back cover; 2. Filter paper; 3. Filter paper pressure ring; 31. Baffle cap; 4. Air inlet; 41. Central air vent; 42. Edge air vent; 5. Air outlet; 6. Connecting ear; 7. Airflow generation component; 71. Fan; 72. Control system. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Please refer to Figures 1-4 The image shows a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a passive airborne DNA sample collector. This embodiment provides a passive airborne DNA sample collector, including a main body shell 1, filter paper 2, and filter paper retaining ring 3. An airflow generating component 7 is provided inside the main body shell 1, and an air inlet 4 and an air outlet 5 are respectively provided on opposite sides of the main body shell 1 along the airflow direction. A connecting ear 6 is provided on the side wall of the main body shell 1 perpendicular to the airflow direction for installing the collector at a designated position. The filter paper 2 is placed at the air inlet 4 and is pressed against the outer wall of the main body shell 1 by the filter paper retaining ring 3. The filter paper retaining ring 3 is detachably connected to the main body shell 1.

[0021] The following will further describe a passive airborne DNA sample collector according to this exemplary embodiment.

[0022] In some embodiments, the aforementioned main casing 1 serves as the core load-bearing structure of the device, providing installation space for internal components and ensuring overall structural strength. An airflow generating component 7 is installed inside the main casing 1, with an air inlet 4 and an air outlet 5 respectively located on opposite sides along the airflow direction. The airflow generating component 7 provides power for airflow, allowing external air carrying DNA samples to enter through the air inlet 4, be filtered and collected by the filter paper 2, and then exit through the air outlet 5, forming a stable airflow channel. The main body shell 1 is provided with a connecting ear 6 on the side wall perpendicular to the airflow direction, which is used to install the collector in a designated position. The perpendicularity to the airflow direction can avoid affecting the airflow after fixing, thereby avoiding affecting the collection of DNA samples by the filter paper 2.

[0023] Specifically, the main body shell 1 has protruding connecting ears 6 on opposite sides in the horizontal direction. The protruding structure can be adapted to various connectors such as bolts and buckles, making it easy to install the data collector in designated positions in different scenarios such as walls, monitoring brackets, and tree trunks. This avoids the data collection stability being affected by shaking or displacement during the data collection process. At the same time, the symmetrically arranged connecting ears 6 on both sides can evenly bear the weight of the equipment, further improving the structural stability after installation. In some embodiments, the filter paper 2 is disposed at the air inlet 4 and pressed against the outer wall of the main body shell 1 by the filter paper retaining ring 3. The filter paper retaining ring 3 is detachably connected to the main body shell 1. This detachable connection method (such as threaded connection or snap-fit ​​connection) not only achieves tight fixation of the filter paper 2, preventing the filter paper 2 from shifting or falling off under the action of airflow and ensuring the continuity of sample collection, but also facilitates quick replacement of the filter paper 2, reduces the exposure time during sample replacement, and reduces the risk of contamination. Specifically, it is preferable to use multiple circumferentially arranged bolts to thread the filter paper retaining ring 3 onto the main body shell 1, which improves its connection stability and makes it easy to disassemble and assemble.

[0024] The filter paper 2 is made of glass fiber, which has excellent adsorption performance and filtration accuracy, effectively trapping DNA fragments in the air. It also exhibits strong chemical stability, making it less likely to react with the sample, thus effectively improving sample collection volume and purity. During testing, the filter paper 2 is removed, and next-generation high-throughput sequencing is used to detect DNA in the air. The detachable design allows for the replacement of different sizes of filter paper 2 according to actual needs; for example, the original easily clogged 0.45-micron pore size and 47-millimeter diameter can be replaced with a larger size, such as a 1.0-micron pore size and 90-millimeter diameter.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the airflow generating component 7 includes a fan 71 and a control system 72. The fan 71 is positioned between the air inlet 4 and the air outlet 5 and is electrically connected to the control system 72. The control system 72 can control the fan 71 to start / stop, adjust its speed, and set its operating time. By controlling the fan 71's speed, the airflow velocity can be adjusted to suit the collection needs in different environments. The timing function enables unattended automatic collection, reducing manual operation costs. Simultaneously, the fan 71, located in the middle of the airflow channel, forms a uniform and stable airflow field, ensuring sufficient airflow through the filter paper 2 and improving collection efficiency. Understandably, the power of the fan's built-in motor can be adjusted according to environmental requirements. For example, increasing the motor's power can solve the problem of insufficient adsorption in traditional airborne DNA collection processes.

[0026] Understandably, a power supply is also provided inside the main body casing 1 to power the fan 71 and the control system 72, facilitating use in different scenarios. Furthermore, a charging interface electrically connected to the power supply is provided on the side wall of the main body casing 1 to maintain continuous battery life.

[0027] Furthermore, the aforementioned main body shell 1 is equipped with a wind speed adjustment setting, which is electrically connected to the control system. The wind speed of the fan can be adjusted according to environmental needs. In environments with more water vapor and particulate matter, it can be adjusted to a lower setting to prevent filter paper from clogging.

[0028] As a preferred embodiment, the air inlet 4 is composed of a plurality of air holes arranged in the main body shell 1, and the area of ​​the air inlet 4 is adapted to the area of ​​the filter paper 2, so that the filter paper 2 can completely cover the air inlet 4, avoid airflow leakage from the edge of the filter paper 2 and sample loss, and maximize the use of the effective collection area of ​​the filter paper 2.

[0029] Furthermore, the air inlet 4 includes a central air hole 41 and multiple peripheral air holes 42 arranged circumferentially around the central air hole 41. The diameter of the central air hole 41 is larger than that of the peripheral air holes 42. This differential aperture design can guide the airflow to form a gradient distribution. The slightly higher airflow velocity in the central area can enhance the core area collection capability, while the gentler airflow in the peripheral area can prevent the edge of the filter paper 2 from being damaged by excessive airflow impact. At the same time, the overall airflow distribution is more uniform, effectively improving the sample adsorption uniformity in each area of ​​the filter paper 2 and further improving the collection efficiency.

[0030] As a preferred embodiment, the top of the filter paper pressure ring 3 is provided with a baffle 31 extending toward the side away from the main body shell 1. The baffle 31 is arc-shaped, which is adapted to at least 1 / 2 of the arc of the filter paper pressure ring 3. The arc-shaped baffle 31 can form an effective shielding area, which can prevent rainwater, fallen leaves, dust and other external impurities from directly contacting the filter paper 2, avoiding impurities from contaminating the sample and affecting subsequent detection. At the same time, the arc-shaped structure will not excessively obstruct the air entering the air inlet 4, ensuring the smoothness of the airflow channel and balancing the protection effect and the collection efficiency.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the main housing 1 includes a housing 11 and a rear cover 12. An air inlet 4 is located on the housing 11, and an air outlet 5 is located on the rear cover 12. The rear cover 12 is detachably connected to the housing 11 (e.g., by threaded connection or bolt fixing). This split structure facilitates opening the rear cover 12 to inspect, maintain, or replace internal components such as the fan 71 and control system 72 without disassembling the entire device, thus reducing maintenance difficulty and cost. Simultaneously, the location of the air outlet 5 on the rear cover 12 also facilitates the replacement of rear covers 12 with different apertures to adjust the airflow discharge speed according to actual needs.

[0032] Furthermore, the aforementioned air outlet 5 is composed of multiple densely packed small holes or multiple parallel strip-shaped holes, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the air inlet 4, to prevent external dust and other impurities from entering the main body housing 11 and affecting the operation of its fan 71. A filter screen can also be installed on its exterior to intercept these impurities.

[0033] In use, the collector is fixed in the designated position via the connecting ear 6. After laying the glass fiber filter paper 2, it is pressed tightly with the filter paper retainer 3. The fan 71 is started via the control system 72, and outside air flows in through the air inlet 4 under the action of the fan 71. The DNA sample in the air is trapped and collected by the filter paper 2, and the filtered air is discharged from the air outlet 5. After the collection is completed, the filter paper 2 can be removed by removing the filter paper retainer 3 for subsequent testing. The operation is convenient.

[0034] As a preferred implementation, a timer is also installed inside the main body shell 1, and the timer is electrically connected to the control system. Since the DNA to be collected during the day and at night is different, by setting the timer, it can be turned on at a specific time each day, realizing automatic on and off in response to environmental changes.

[0035] The beneficial effects of this application embodiment are as follows: The protruding connecting ears 6 on both sides of the main body shell 1 enable stable installation of the collector in various scenarios, avoiding instability caused by equipment shaking during collection, improving the reliability of sample collection, and eliminating the need for handheld operation, thus achieving passive collection. The use of glass fiber filter paper 2 enhances sample adsorption capacity. Combined with the design of the air inlet 4 with differentiated pore sizes at the center and edges, and the stable airflow field formed by the fan 71, the airflow is evenly distributed across the entire area of ​​the filter paper 2, maximizing the utilization of the effective area of ​​the filter paper 2 and significantly improving the amount and efficiency of DNA sample collection. The arc-shaped cap 31 of the filter paper pressure ring 3 effectively prevents external impurities from contaminating the filter paper 2. The filter paper 2 is tightly fixed by the pressure ring and facilitates quick replacement, reducing the risk of sample exposure and contamination, and ensuring sample purity. The split structure of the main body shell 1 facilitates the inspection and maintenance of internal components. The detachable design of the filter paper pressure ring 3 simplifies the filter paper 2 replacement operation, reducing the cost of equipment use and maintenance.

[0036] Furthermore, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" in this application embodiment should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a detachable connection or a non-detachable connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. The terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," and "side," etc., are merely for reference to the direction in the accompanying drawings or the usual placement of the product during use. They are only for clearly describing this application and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They should not be construed as limitations on this application. The terms "first," "second," etc., are only used for distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; "multiple" refers to at least two. In this application embodiment, the limitations on relative positional relationships such as parallel, perpendicular, and aligned are all relative to the current technological level and are not absolutely strict limitations. Slight deviations are allowed; approximations of parallel, perpendicular, and aligned are all acceptable. For example, "A and B are parallel" means that A and B are parallel or approximately parallel, and the angle between A and B can be between 0 degrees and 10 degrees.

[0037] The above are only some embodiments and implementation methods of this application. The protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other. Any combination of features in different embodiments is also within the protection scope of this application. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A passive airborne DNA sample collector, characterized in that, The device includes a main housing, filter paper, and a filter paper retaining ring. An airflow generating component is disposed inside the main housing, and an air inlet and an air outlet are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the main housing along the airflow direction. A connecting lug is disposed on the side wall of the main housing perpendicular to the airflow direction for installing the collector at a designated location. The filter paper is disposed at the air inlet and is pressed against the outer wall of the main housing by the filter paper retaining ring. The filter paper retaining ring is detachably connected to the main housing.

2. The passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airflow generating component includes a fan and a control system. The fan is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet, and the fan is electrically connected to the control system.

3. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet is composed of a plurality of air holes arranged in the outer shell of the main body, and the area of ​​the air inlet is adapted to the area of ​​the filter paper.

4. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air inlet includes a central air hole and a plurality of edge air holes arranged circumferentially around the central air hole, wherein the diameter of the central air hole is larger than the diameter of the edge air holes.

5. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the filter paper pressure ring is provided with a stop cap that extends toward the side away from the main body shell.

6. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cap is an arc shape that fits at least half of the arc of the filter paper pressure ring.

7. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting ears are respectively provided on opposite sides of the main body shell in the horizontal direction, and the connecting ears are in an outward protrusion shape.

8. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body shell includes a housing and a rear cover. The air inlet is located on the housing, and the air outlet is located on the rear cover. The rear cover is detachably connected to the housing.

9. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter paper is glass fiber filter paper.

10. A passive airborne DNA sample collector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main body shell also contains a timer, which is electrically connected to the control system.

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