PORTABLE AIR SAMPLING AND PARTICLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM
Patent Information
- Application Number
- TR202609257U
- Authority / Receiving Office
- TR · TR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-06-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2036-06-10
Abstract
Description
1 TARIFF PORTABLE AIR SAMPLING AND PARTICLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM Technological Field: 5 The invention relates to the processing of airborne particles, bioaerosols and / or pathogens. Sampling of particles that may be present in a portable system, into the liquid phase obtaining, optically imaging and analyzing in a microfluidic environment It is related to a system that provides. 10 State of the Art: Current systems for air sampling and particle detection are generally passive and active. It is based on air sampling methods. Passive sampling methods involve sampling particles of 15°C. While we expect the sediment to naturally settle on surfaces, active systems such as pumps and fans It measures particle density by sampling a specific volume of air using various mechanisms. Commonly used methods in current systems include filtration, cyclone, impact, and optical. Detection methods, different techniques for particle collection and analysis. It offers. 20 Various commercial devices are available in this field. TSI Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Companies like Bertin Instruments and Met One Instruments offer air quality measurement and particulate matter solutions. It manufactures analysis systems. TSI AeroTrak and Thermo Scientific Andersen Aero The samplers can be cited as examples of commonly used systems. However, these 25 These systems are generally large, difficult to transport, and have limited real-time analysis capabilities. Furthermore, many of these systems integrate microfluidic technology with air sampling. It does not offer a compact and AI-powered solution. This invention is for air sampling. By combining the process with microfluidic systems, a faster, more portable and more precise 30 It aims to provide analysis and differs from existing techniques. 2 In passive air sampling methods used in the previous technique, specific particles... It is expected to naturally settle on surfaces or in collection media. This In these methods, the volume of air sampled is not actively drawn into the system because the air sample is not actively drawn into the system. Sufficient control cannot be exercised over it. This situation is particularly problematic at low density. This reduces the reliability of detecting the particles found and at different times or different 5 This makes it difficult to compare measurements taken in passive environments. Furthermore, passive methods are also problematic. Sampling is insufficient in situations where rapid results are required, because the particles It may take a long time to collect. In active air sampling systems, ambient air is drawn in by a fan, pump, or similar device. Sampling can be done through the devices. However, the existing active Some sampling devices only collect particles through filters, surfaces, or collection media. It collects on the surface; the resulting sample undergoes a separate laboratory process for analysis. This is necessary. Therefore, even if the sampling process is carried out in the field, the analysis phase... It is often performed outside the device and with a delay. This situation, 15 especially early detection of biological threats, infection control and emergency response This constitutes a significant disadvantage in air quality monitoring applications that require it. Traditional bioaerosol and pathogen detection methods often rely on culture-based analyses. is applied. In culture-based methods, 20 microorganisms taken from the air It is expected to multiply in suitable culture media, and results will only be obtained after a certain period. It can be obtained after the incubation period. This process can take hours, days or some In some cases, it may take longer. Therefore, these methods are not realistic. Providing results at a sufficient speed in applications where timely or rapid decision-making is required. It is unable to provide this. In addition, 25 that cannot reproduce in the culture environment or have lost their vitality. The inability to detect microorganisms also reduces the detection capacity of these methods. It restricts. Another problem encountered in current systems is the analysis of airborne particles. The difficulty lies in converting it into a usable, suitable sample form. 30 in air Direct optical examination of dispersed particles, medium conditions, particle density, irregularities in airflow, and focusing difficulties 3 Therefore, it does not always yield reliable results. For this reason, controlled particle analysis is necessary. Transferring the material to a liquid phase is important for increasing the sensitivity of the analysis. However, In known systems, airborne particles are analyzed in a closed, controlled manner with low sample loss. The transfer to the liquid phase is not always achieved with sufficient efficiency. The need for manual processes during sample preparation was also a disadvantage of the previous technique. This presents a significant technical problem. Taking the sample through the filter, the liquid... transfer to the medium, placement in laboratory equipment, or microscopic examination. Processes such as preparation require user intervention. Manual intervention, This increases both processing time and the risk of user error, cross-contamination, and sample loss. This increases the risks, especially in the analysis of bioaerosols that may contain pathogens. Contact between the sample and the external environment or the user is also a safety issue. This can lead to undesirable consequences. Patent application number US8806915 describes a microfabricated particulate matter monitor 15 This document describes environmental dust particles (PM2.5 / PM10) on a mass basis. It describes a palm-sized device that uses an FBAR crystal for detection. is doing. Patent application number US11658021 describes the rapid and autonomous delivery of aerosol particles. Systems and methods for detection are described. This document is based on the principle of laser scattering. Based on temperature and humidity sensors, it measures PM1.0 / PM2.5 / PM10 concentrations. It describes a compact, battery-powered device with Bluetooth connectivity. Patent application number US11054357B2 describes a mobile 25 for monitoring air quality. The microscopy system is described. The system described in the document collects air samples using vacuum assistance. by impacting a transparent surface with an impactor, a hologram of the resulting particle layer is obtained. It records using a CMOS sensor. Two-dimensional holograms are digitally reproduced. It is converted and classified with the help of machine learning. The sample is in the dry phase. It remains, does not involve condensation or transfer to a liquid medium. 30 4 Patent application number EP4085246B1 describes a method for detecting the presence of pollen in the air. The device and its associated detection method are described. The document explains how to detect pollen using four laser beams. measuring the scattered light profiles of particles and vector-based features It transfers the sample to the classifier. The device is fixed on a tripod. The sample is dried. It is in phase 5 and is solely aimed at pollen analysis. Document number US10859473B2 outlines the usage methods for bioaerosol detection systems. It has been explained. In the system described in the document, after concentrating biological particles in the air... Then, analysis is performed by laser-stimulated detection in a microfluidic cartridge, labeled with fluorescent dye. A system with a total processing time of 8-12 minutes has been described. Reagent cartridges 10 And the washing steps are mandatory. The systems mentioned above are predominantly dry-phase, and generally stationary. Developed for on-site or desktop use, based on unique technologies. These systems are mostly based on laser scattering and resonance. The focus is on measurement, fluorescent staining, or holographic imaging methods; However, none of these involved systematic sampling, phase transformation, or liquid medium sampling. Multi-component systems such as alignment, microscopic imaging, and real-time classification. It is not possible to offer all these elements together in one structure. In conclusion, a new system that can overcome the aforementioned disadvantages. Technology is needed. Description of the invention: The primary purpose of the invention is to analyze airborne particles, bioaerosols and / or The rapid, controlled transport of potentially pathogen-containing particles within a portable system. The aim is to ensure reliable sampling and analysis. In this context, the invention, The need for passive sampling, encountered in the previous technique, is prolonged due to the dependence on the culture medium. Analysis times, need for manual sample preparation, unsuitable for field use 30 large instrument structures, sample loss, risk of contamination, and real-time It eliminates technical problems such as lack of evaluation. The system analyzes the air sample. actively taking up the particles, transferring them to the liquid phase, and the resulting liquid sample optical imaging within the microfluidic chip and from the images by enabling analysis, the air sampling and particle detection processes are integrated and It is carried out within a portable structure. One of the key advantages of the invention is that instead of passively waiting for the ambient air to cool down, It involves the controlled intake of air into the device through an active air collection unit. This structure... Thanks to this, the sampling process becomes more organized, repeatable, and measurable. By using a fan, micro pump or similar flow-generating element for a certain period of time The volume of air taken in can be controlled, so not only the presence of particles but also 10 The particle density in a given volume of air can also be estimated. This situation, the system's environmental monitoring, biosafety, healthcare facilities and industrial air quality contributes to producing more meaningful and comparable results in applications. It provides. The invention uses nebulization instead of directly analyzing airborne particles in a dry state. Thanks to the assisted particle capture unit, these particles are taken into the liquid phase. It provides this. The capture fluid is microscopically vibrated by a piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration element. the air is formed into droplets and the sampled air is then mixed with this cloud of microdroplets. Through contact, particles carried in the air currents become 20 within liquid droplets. This allows particles dispersed in dry air to be analyzed. It is transferred into a liquid sample and then prepared for the next optical analysis stage. A suitable sample form is obtained. Nebulization-assisted particle capture structure, culture medium and manual sample 25 It also offers a significant advantage in terms of reducing the need for preparation steps. This provides results. It takes a long time to achieve results with traditional culture-based methods. While it may require other methods, in this invention, particles are directly introduced into the liquid phase for microfluidic analysis. It is directed to the line. This speeds up the analysis process and eliminates user intervention. This reduces the number of manual operations and provides a more practical measurement option in the field. 30 Reducing the number also reduces the possibility of user-related errors. It lowers it. 6 The system described in the invention collects airborne particles using piezoelectric ultrasonic technology. This is done using a nebulizer that utilizes vibration technology. The technology produces micro-sized liquid droplets, causing airborne particles to circulate within the liquid. This ensures its suspension. The resulting bioaerosol is placed in a 5-inch glass container containing a Peltier cooler. It is directed to the concentrating system. The Peltier element operates on the thermoelectric principle. By working, it liquefies the water vapor in the bioaerosol and the resulting condensed sample The fluid is delivered into a microfluidic chip. This microfluidic chip precisely controls the fluid. orienting the particles in such a way and positioning them in a suitable location for optical analysis It ensures retention. Specifically designed for microfluidic systems, it is transparent 10 The optical observation process has been optimized by using this material. The low-cost production process is much better compared to traditional laboratory systems. It offers an economical solution. The system includes AI-powered model updates. It can produce more accurate results over time and has the capacity for continuous self-improvement. 15 It has. Explaining the Figures: The invention will be described by referring to the attached figures, so that the features of the invention are defined in 20 It will be understood and appreciated more clearly, but the purpose of this invention is this obvious It is not about limiting it with regulations. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the accompanying claims. all alternatives, modifications, and options that could be included within the defined area The aim is to cover their equivalences. The details shown are only for the present invention. It was shown to illustrate the preferred arrangements and both methods 25 shaping, as well as the most useful and conceptual features of the invention's rules and principles It should be understood that these drawings are presented to provide an easily understandable definition. In these drawings; Figure 1 is a basic schematic illustrating the operation of the system described in the invention. It is a diagram. 30 7 Illustrations that will help understand this invention are shown in the attached image. They are numbered and their names are given below. Explanation of References: 10. Air sampling and particle analysis system 11. Device housing 20. Air intake opening 30. Active air collection unit 40. Nebulization-assisted particle capture unit 10 50. Flow routing channel 60. Concentration unit 70. Liquid transport channel 80. Microfluidic chip 90. Digital microscope 15 100. Control and analysis unit 110. Power supply unit Detailed Description of the Invention: The terminology used here is intended solely to describe specific applications. and does not limit the scope of the invention. Used here The term "and / or" refers to any of the items listed as related. It includes one and all combinations thereof. Also, the singular "one" used here, "one" The terms "number" and "specified" are used in their plural forms unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. 25 It is designed to include singular forms such as those mentioned above. Furthermore, the terms used in this specification... The terms "includes" and / or "contains" refer to the specified features, steps, processes, It indicates the presence of elements and / or components, but one or more other features, steps, processes, elements, components and / or groups thereof It will be understood that it does not exclude its existence or addition. 30 8 Unless otherwise noted, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms), in the sense that a person with general knowledge in the field to which this invention belongs would generally understand it They have the same meaning. Furthermore, as defined in commonly used dictionaries... The terms will have a meaning consistent with the context of the relevant field and this explanation. It should be interpreted as such, unless otherwise explicitly defined here, idealized 5 or it will be understood that it will not be interpreted in an overly formal sense. The description of the invention will reveal a series of techniques and steps involved. These are: Each of them provides benefits individually, and at the same time, one or more of them can be used together. In some cases, all of the other techniques described may be used in combination. Accordingly, 10 To ensure clarity, each step in the disclosure of the invention should be presented as accurately as possible. By doing this, unnecessary repetition of all combinations will be avoided. Together, the specification and claims, such combinations fully constitute an invention and claims. It should be read with the understanding that it falls within its scope. This section discusses a portable air sampling and particle analysis system. Below... The statement outlines several specific requirements to ensure a full understanding of the current invention. Details have been provided. However, even without these details, the present invention... Its applicability will be clearly understood by experts in the field. The invention relates to the processing of airborne particles, bioaerosols and / or pathogens. sampling of particles that may be present in the liquid phase within a portable device obtaining, optically visualizing within a microfluidic channel structure, and Portable aerial sampling system that enables classification of the acquired images. and is related to the particle analysis system. 25 The system described in the invention generally consists of a device housing, and on that device housing... or an air intake unit located within it, active components connected to the air intake unit The air collection unit is a nebulizer that enables airborne particles to be drawn into the liquid phase. The supported particle capture unit captures 30 of the liquid sample containing the captured particles. Peltier-assisted systems that enable concentration and / or collection in liquid form. the concentration unit, where the liquid sample in question is advanced in a controlled manner 9 microfluidic chip, digital display of particles within the microfluidic chip microscope unit, control and analysis unit that processes the images, and power supply. It consists of units. Air sampling and particle analysis system (10) enables the taking of air samples from the outside environment. It has an air inlet opening (20) which provides air intake. The air inlet opening (20) is located on the device body. (11) is located on the outer surface and allows the ambient air to enter the device in a controlled manner. It allows the air to be taken in. On the air inlet opening (20), preferably coarse dust, fibers or limiting the entry of large foreign objects that could damage the internal components of the device A protective grid or front retaining structure may be present. This structure constitutes the basic working principle of the invention. It increases the reliability of the device in field use without changing its underlying principle. The active air collection unit (30) is located after the air inlet opening (20). The active air collection unit (30) draws ambient air into the device only passively. Instead of waiting for it to enter, the fan, micro 15, ensures that it is drawn in with a specific flow rate. It may include a pump or similar flow-generating element. Flow-generating element This allows the volume of air taken into the device to be controlled, thus limiting its lifespan. The amount of air sampled can be calculated. This is based solely on the presence of particles. not only the detection, but also the particle density in a given volume of air It also makes it possible to predict. Active air collection unit (30), preferably air 20 It can work in conjunction with a flow sensor that monitors the flow rate. Air taken in by the active air collection unit (30) is captured using nebulization-assisted particle capture. It is directed to the unit (40). Nebulization-assisted particle capture unit (40), invention It is an important subsystem in terms of this. This unit directly removes airborne particles to dry 25 Instead of trying to analyze them in that state, the particles in question are taken into the liquid phase. For this purpose, the particle capture unit (40), capture fluid reservoir, piezoelectric It includes an ultrasonic vibrating element and a closed capture chamber. The capture fluid reservoir contains water, buffer solution, physiological saline, or analysis fluid 30 Another carrier / trapping liquid suitable for the type of particle to be targeted may be available. The piezoelectric ultrasonic vibrating element captures the fluid in very small amounts. by forming droplets, a microdroplet inside a closed trapping chamber. It forms a cloud. Thanks to this arrangement, the air taken from the air inlet opening (20) and active Air directed by air collection unit (30), closed capture chamber It comes into contact with microdroplets contained within. Particles carried in the airflow, Collision, adhesion, diffusion, humidification and / or surface interaction with microdroplets 5 It is held within liquid droplets via this route. Thus, it remains dispersed in the dry air. The particles found are transferred into an analyzable liquid sample. This structure, Without using culture medium and without the need for manual sample preparation steps, It enables the transfer of airborne particles into the liquid phase. The enclosed trapping chamber is a volume that does not have direct contact with the outside environment. This is designed to prevent the capture fluid from splashing outside the device, thus protecting the user. Security is increased and sample contamination is reduced. Inside the capture chamber. The resulting particle-laden microdroplets pass through the flow guiding channel (50). It is transferred to the Peltier-assisted condenser unit (60). 15 Peltier-assisted condensation unit (50), particle-loaded microdroplets and / or A condenser structure that enables the conversion of a moist aerosol stream into a liquid sample. It functions as follows: This unit consists of a Peltier element and a cold surface of the Peltier element. The condensation surface, which is in thermal contact with the Peltier element, is located on the hot side of the 20° an aluminum plate or heat spreader block that dissipates heat, and with this heat spreader block It may include an associated fan. The Peltier element provides cooling on one of its surfaces when electrical energy is applied. It creates an effect. The cooled condensation surface attracts particle-laden microdroplets. and / or helps to collect moist aerosols in the liquid phase. The condensation surface should preferably be designed to allow the liquid to flow in a specific direction. It can be arranged with a sloping, grooved, or channel connection. Thanks to this structure... concentrated liquid containing particles, gravity, capillary force, micropump effect or The liquid is transferred to the liquid collection channel (70) with the help of flow direction pressure. Liquid collection The channel transmits the concentrated sample to the input port of the microfluidic chip (80). Thus, 30 A particle-laden liquid sample obtained from an air sample is placed outside in a closed system. It is transferred to the microfluidic analysis line without coming into contact with the environment. 11 For efficient operation of the Peltier-assisted condensing unit (60), the Peltier element It is important to remove the heat generated on the hot side. Therefore, aluminum plate or the hot side of the Peltier element can be heated using a heat spreader block and fan together. is cooled. Sufficient cooling of the hot side prevents condensation on the cold side. This ensures that the surface remains at a more stable temperature. This, in turn, improves condensation efficiency. the amount of liquid sample sent to the microfluidic chip (80) is increased and made more controlled. income. Microfluidic chip (80), particle-containing liquid from condensation unit (60) 10 the sample was advanced in a controlled manner and made suitable for optical imaging It is a structure. The microfluidic chip (80) consists of an input port, a microfluidic channel, an optical observation area and It includes an outlet port. The microfluidic channel allows for the handling of very small volumes of liquid sample. This ensures that the liquid moves with a consistent flow profile. certain 15 particles that can be viewed by the digital microscope (90) unit It is passed through the observation plane. Digital microscope unit (90), optical observation area of microfluidic chip (80) It is positioned in an aligned manner. Digital microscope unit (90), optical sensor, It may include an optical lens assembly and an illumination unit (light source). The illumination unit contains liquid 20 light on the microfluidic chip (80) to increase the contrast of the particles inside. It sends the images received by the optical sensors to the control and analysis unit. (100) is transferred. Control and analysis unit (100), images from digital microscope unit (90) 25 It applies image processing steps to the image. These steps improve the clarity and contrast correction, background separation, particle candidate detection particle identification, particle boundary determination, particle size calculation, particle extracting the shape, determining the particle density, and, if necessary, analyzing the particle may include monitoring of movement. Control and analysis unit (100) employee classification 30 The software uses these image characteristics to determine the size, shape, and optical properties of the particles. They can be classified according to their appearance and / or movement characteristics. Additionally, control and... 12 Analysis unit (100) AI-assisted classification in the analysis of incoming images They can also apply this method. The system in question operates with an energy supply unit (110), and this unit (110) It may be a portable battery or power pack. This unit (110) makes the system (10) portable. It provides. 15 25
Claims
13 REQUESTS 1- The invention relates to the use of airborne particles, bioaerosols and / or pathogens a portable device for sampling and analyzing particles that may be present air sampling and particle analysis system (10) and its feature is; 5 a device housing (11), Enables the taking of air samples from the external environment and is located on the device body (11) at least one air intake opening located (20), connected to the air inlet opening (20) and the ambient air to the device body (11) at least one active air collection unit (30) that allows it to be taken in, 10 The particles in the air taken in by the active air collection unit (30) are converted into liquid phase at least one nebulization-assisted particle capture unit that enables its collection. (40), Concentration of liquid samples containing particles and / or in liquid state at least one Peltier-assisted condenser unit (60) that enables the collection, 15 Particle-containing liquid obtained with Peltier-assisted condensation unit (60) at least one microfluidic chip (80) in which the sample is advanced in a controlled manner, particles in the liquid sample inside the microfluidic chip (80) at least one digital microscope unit displaying (90), at least one control unit that processes images taken from the digital microscope unit (90) and 20 analysis unit (100), and at least one power supply unit that provides electrical energy to the system (110) It includes. 2- The analysis system mentioned in Claim 1 is (10), and its feature is that the active air collection unit is 25 (30) enables ambient air to be drawn into the device housing (11) with a certain flow rate. It is characterized by having a fan, micropump, or similar flow-generating element. It is done. 3- The analysis system mentioned in Claim 1 or Claim 2 is (10), and its feature is; active air 30 the collection unit (30), the volume of air taken into the device and / or the air flow rate It is characterized by including a flow sensor for determining the flow rate. 14 4- The analysis system mentioned in Claim 1 is (10), and its feature is; nebulization supported. The particle capture unit (40) has a capture fluid reservoir, a piezoelectric It is characterized by containing an ultrasonic vibrating element and a closed capture chamber. It is done. 5 5- The analysis system mentioned in Claim 4 is (10), and its feature is that the catching liquid is placed in the device It will be enclosed in a way that prevents it from scattering and will not come into direct contact with the outside environment. It is characterized by having an enclosed capture chamber organized as a single volume. It is done. 10 6- The analysis system mentioned in Claim 1 is (10), and its feature is; nebulization supported. Between the particle capture unit (40) and the Peltier-assisted concentration unit (60), Peltier-assisted design for particle-laden microdroplets and / or moist aerosol streams. 15 by having a flow routing channel (50) that directs to the condensation unit (60). It is the characterization of the situation. 7- The analysis system mentioned in Claim 1 is (10) and its feature is Peltier-assisted. the condensation unit (60); a Peltier element, the cold surface of the Peltier element A condensation surface in thermal contact, 20 on the hot side of the Peltier element an aluminum plate or heat spreader block that removes heat, and the aluminum in question It is characterized by containing a fan associated with a heatsink or heat spreader block. 8- The analysis system mentioned in Claim 1 is (10), and its feature is Peltier-assisted. 25 of the concentrated unit (60), the liquid containing particles collected on the concentrated surface a liquid collection channel (70) that conveys the sample to the input port of the microfluidic chip (80) It is characterized by its inclusion.