Continuous Flow Centrifuge with Charged Core for Pathogen Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for concentrating multiple waterborne pathogens from large volumes of liquid are inefficient, labor-intensive, and not suitable for rapid response or portable use, as they often require expensive and cumbersome equipment and protocols.
Innovation Solution
An automated portable continuous flow centrifuge that uses a disposable separation bowl with a positively charged core to concentrate and elute pathogens, allowing for simultaneous concentration of viruses, protozoa, bacteria, and toxins from large volumes of liquids, and is designed for easy operation and scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ultrafiltration methodology is used to concentrate multiple microorganisms from large water volumes, then simultaneous concentration of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa is achieved, but the method becomes cumbersome and requires systematic evaluation for much larger volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple concentration mechanisms into a single filter system: size exclusion filtration for particle separation and electrostatic attraction for enhanced pathogen capture. This merging allows simultaneous concentration of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa while simplifying operation compared to multiple separate filtration steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system is designed to handle multiple types of microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, protozoa) and large water volumes through a single device that performs both size-based filtration and charge-based attraction, making it universally applicable to various pathogen types without requiring method changes.
2Productivity
If electropositive filters are used to capture viruses from large water volumes by electrostatic attraction, then virus concentration is improved, but recovery of bacteria and protozoa remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The filter employs different mechanisms at different scales: electrostatic attraction dominates for small viruses, while size exclusion filtration handles larger bacteria and protozoa. This local differentiation of capture mechanisms ensures high recovery across all pathogen types without compromising virus concentration efficiency.
3Productivity
If continuous flow centrifugation is used to enable large scale collection of particles, then collection efficiency is improved, but the equipment becomes less portable and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical centrifugation system with a filtration-based approach using charged filters. This substitution achieves large-scale pathogen collection through electrostatic attraction and size exclusion in a simpler, more portable device that does not require high-speed rotation or complex mechanical components.
4Reliability
If stationary bench-top blood cell separators are used to concentrate multiple microorganisms, then recovery is improved, but the protocol becomes costly and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable charged filters that can be quickly replaced, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and sterilization protocols associated with stationary blood cell separators. This disposable approach maintains high recovery rates while dramatically simplifying the operational protocol and reducing labor requirements.
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 solution enables efficient, automated, and portable concentration and elution of pathogens, achieving high recoveries (up to 50%) from large volumes, making it suitable for rapid response and field monitoring of water quality and biothreat agents.
Implementation Method 1
A centrifugal force is applied to the separation bowl. The water sample is concentrated to remove large particles of the toxins in the bowl due to the centrifugal forces.
Implementation Method 2
The concentrated water sample is passes through the positively charged inner core to capture any remaining concentrated targets by electrostatic forces
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the simultaneous concentration of multiple toxins from large volumes of water. The method includes the steps of providing a disposable separation centrifuge bowl, the centrifuge bowl including a positively charged material at it's inner core. A large water sample contaminated with toxins from a group consisting of protozoa, bacteria, bacterial spores, and toxins is delivered to the centrifuge bowl. A centrifugal force is applied to the separation bowl. The water sample is concentrated to remove large particles of the toxins in the bowl due to the centrifugal forces. The concentrated water sample is passes through the positively charged inner core to capture any remaining concentrated targets by electrostatic forces and the concentrated targets are eluted.