Systems and methods for cleanroom management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cleanroom management techniques are cumbersome and prone to human error, particularly in ensuring compliance with FDA standards, due to reliance on paper forms and manual comparison of particle and microbial data against regulatory criteria.

Innovation Solution

An electronic system for cleanroom management that includes automated data management, particle and microbial counting, and Business Intelligence analytics, utilizing sensors and cloud-based technologies to streamline data collection, processing, and compliance verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If paper forms and manual comparison methods are used for cleanroom compliance verification, then the process is simple to implement, but it is time-consuming and prone to human error

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance verification accuracyVSAvoidtime for compliance verification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual paper-based compliance verification with an automated electronic system that uses sensors to detect particles and microbes, processes data through a processor, and generates compliance certificates automatically. This substitution eliminates manual comparison operations and reduces human error while accelerating the verification process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-verification by automatically comparing detected particle and microbe counts against predefined compliance criteria, generating pass/fail determinations and certificates without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability significantly reduces both time and human error in compliance verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual data collection and comparison processes are used, then the system complexity is low, but the productivity of cleanroom certification is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleanroom certification efficiencyVSAvoidelectronic system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cleanroom monitoring system into distinct functional modules: particle detection sensors, microbe detection sensors, data processing unit, compliance criteria storage, and certificate generation components. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall certification productivity while managing system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic system is designed to handle multiple functions within a single integrated platform: detecting various types of particles and microbes, storing compliance criteria for different cleanroom standards, performing data analysis, and generating certification documents. This multi-functionality increases productivity by consolidating multiple manual processes into one automated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If automated sensors and data processing systems are deployed, then measurement precision of particle and microbe detection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle and microbe detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor and processing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a processor as an intermediary between the sensors and the compliance verification process. The processor receives raw detection data from multiple sensors, performs standardized analysis against stored compliance criteria, and generates interpretation results. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the complex data processing logic while maintaining high measurement precision through dedicated sensor components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240328644A1Systems and methods for cleanroom management
Publication Date: 2024.10.03 CLEAN SPACES APP LLC
  • US20240328644A1 patent drawing
  • US20240328644A1 patent drawing
  • US20240328644A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for cleanroom management configured for the electronic detection and processing of airborne and/or surface particle content in which the input of data is taken and the output produces an audit log, a pass/fail certification, a microbe count, a particle count, and/or the use and/or measure of Business Intelligence (BI) data analytics. The gathering of the type of class of cleanroom being certified occurs along with the input the number of people, number of devices to be cleaned, and/or cleaning solutions.