Conductive Polymer Airborne Contaminant Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack real-time monitoring solutions for airborne contaminants like nicotine and formaldehyde, relying on large air sampling devices that require complex laboratory procedures, which impede immediate feedback and are not suitable for real-time monitoring.

Innovation Solution

The development of sensing devices using protonated, electrically conductive materials that bind with airborne contaminants, generating signals indicative of their presence, and systems with data centers to notify users of abnormal contaminant levels, enabling real-time detection and feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional air sampling devices are used to measure nicotine and particulate matter, then measurement capability is achieved, but device size becomes large and real-time feedback is lost due to complex laboratory procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenicotine detection capabilityVSAvoidsampling device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the detection function from complex laboratory equipment and implements it in a simplified sensor device using conductive polymer films that directly detect nicotine vapor in real-time, eliminating the need for large air sampling devices and complex lab procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical air sampling systems with chemical sensing mechanisms where conductive polymer films undergo deprotonation reactions upon exposure to nicotine, generating direct electrical signals that eliminate the need for mechanical sampling and laboratory analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If conventional air sampling devices are used to measure airborne contaminants, then measurement capability is achieved, but response time is delayed due to complex laboratory procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant detection accuracyVSAvoidfeedback time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous real-time detection using conductive polymer sensors that continuously monitor airborne contaminants and provide immediate feedback, eliminating the intermittent and delayed nature of conventional batch laboratory analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical air sampling and laboratory procedures with direct chemical sensing that produces immediate electrical signals, reducing detection time from days to seconds while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables real-time monitoring and notification of airborne contaminants, facilitating immediate action to avoid health risks and reduce exposure to hazardous substances.

Implementation Method 1

a protonated, electrically conductive sensing material with an affinity for binding with, and capable of being deprotonated by, the airborne contaminant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeprotonation:

Implementation Method 2

sensing material with an affinity for binding with... the airborne contaminant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

an electrically conductive polymer film in contact with the reactive polymer film. The electrically conductive film has electrical property sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the reactive polymer film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conductivity change:

Data Source

PatentUS10451598B2Devices for detecting airborne contaminants, and associated methods

Publication Date: 2019.10.22 TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE THE

AI summary

A device for detecting an airborne contaminant includes (a) a reactive polymer film having affinity for binding with the airborne contaminant, (b) an electrically conductive polymer film in contact with the reactive polymer film and having electrical property sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the reactive polymer film, and (c) two electrodes in electrical contact with the electrically conductive polymer film for measuring the electrical property to detect the binding of the airborne contaminant to the reactive polymer film. Another device for detecting an airborne contaminant includes (a) a polymer film molecularly imprinted with the airborne contaminant, and (b) color reporting molecules having color sensitive to binding of the airborne contaminant to the polymer film. A method for manufacturing a device for detecting an airborne contaminant includes depositing, using one or more inkjet print heads, a polymer film and at least two electrodes onto a substrate.