Automated Bacterial Reduction System with Instantaneous Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reducing bacterial count in confined environments rely on manual procedures, leading to human error, health risks, and lack of scientific validation, as they require extensive manual operations for monitoring and documentation.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes an environment identification device, a micronizing device for uniform distribution of decontaminant substances, and an instantaneous bacterial analysis sensor, which provides automatic and error-free traceability and certification of bacterial reduction, using a central server to process data and generate reports, thereby reducing human intervention and ensuring quantitative and qualitative objectives are met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual operating procedures are used for disinfection and sanitization, then operational flexibility is maintained, but human error increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfection reliabilityVSAvoidmanual operation level
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-monitoring and self-documentation of disinfection operations. Sensors automatically detect bacterial counts and operational parameters, while the control unit generates traceability records without human intervention, eliminating transcription errors and operator exposure risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual monitoring and documentation activities are replaced by an automated electronic system comprising sensors, a control unit, and a database. The mechanical/manual process of operators recording data is substituted with automatic data capture and storage, improving reliability while reducing human involvement

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

2Productivity

If manual monitoring and documentation are performed, then operational simplicity is maintained, but time consumption increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfection efficiencyVSAvoidmonitoring time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous automatic monitoring of bacterial counts and disinfection parameters without interruption. Sensors continuously measure environmental conditions and bacterial levels, eliminating the need for periodic manual sampling and documentation, thereby increasing productivity while reducing time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If extensive manual operations are required for monitoring, then measurement thoroughness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacterial count monitoring accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives data from various sensors, processes bacterial count information, generates traceability records, and interfaces with the database. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single integrated system, maintaining measurement precision while managing complexity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between sensors and the database, automatically processing and transmitting data. This intermediary function eliminates the need for manual data transfer operations while maintaining thorough monitoring, as the control unit systematically collects and stores all relevant parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system ensures accurate and automatic monitoring and certification of bacterial reduction, reducing human error and health risks, while providing a comprehensive database for statistical analysis and cost evaluation, ensuring optimal bacterial quality standards without the need for external sampling.

Implementation Method 1

a device for micronizing decontaminant substances (3), said device for micronizing decontaminant substances (3) being adapted to distribute a decontaminant substance uniformly within the confined environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization: Aerosol

Implementation Method 2

a detection sensor (4) arranged to detect the concentration of the decontaminant substance delivered into the confined environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConcentration detection: Absorption Spectroscopy

Implementation Method 3

an instantaneous bacterial analysis sensor (5) capable of determining the exact quantitative and qualitative bacterial level before and after the use of the method for reducing the bacterial count

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBacterial analysis:

Data Source

PatentEP2869853B1System for the execution, traceability, monitoring and control of a method of reducing the bacterial count in a confined environment
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 WORKINPROGRESS ITAL SRL
  • EP2869853B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2869853B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2869853B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

System (1) for the execution, traceability, monitoring and control of a method of reducing the bacterial count in a confined environment, comprising: - an environment identification device (2) arranged to contain information relating to the confined environment; - a device (3) for micronizing air-dispersed decontaminant substances arranged to diffuse through a diffuser (9) a decontaminant substance (12) by air and in the form of dry fog, based on the information contained in the environment identification device (2); - a detection sensor (4) adapted to detect the concentration of the decontaminant substance (12); - an instantaneous bacterial analysis sensor (5) arranged to determine the quantitative and qualitative bacterial concentration; - a central server (6) arranged to process data received from the diffuser (9), from the detection sensor (4) and from the instantaneous bacterial analysis sensor (5), so as to identify anomalies with respect to a desired quantitative and qualitative bacterial objective and certify the bacterial result obtained as a result of the diffusion of the decontaminant substance (12).