Air-Permeable Cryo-Sprout Container for Pathogen-Resistant Growth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for growing sprouts and microgreens are prone to contamination by pathogenic organisms, such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria, which can compromise food safety and quality, and current containers allow for the introduction and multiplication of these pathogens during the growth and storage phases.
Innovation Solution
A covered container system with a membrane-supported design and air-permeable seal is used for growing cryo-sprouts, featuring vent slots for respiration and water evaporation, which is incubated at a pathogen antagonistic temperature (35-45°F) to inhibit pathogen growth and extend shelf-life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If seeds are placed in containers with open irrigation holes for growth, then water can be added during growth, but pathogenic organisms can be introduced and multiplied easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a membrane as a flexible thin film that allows water to pass through while blocking pathogenic organisms. The membrane is positioned above the irrigation holes, creating a barrier that prevents contamination while maintaining water delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary element between the irrigation system and the seeds. It mediates the interaction by allowing water to pass through while preventing direct contact between pathogens and the seeds, thus solving the contradiction between watering convenience and pathogen prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If containers are capped with lids for storage, then sanitary conditions are improved, but air permeability for respiration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane used in the invention is permeable to air and water vapor, allowing respiration to occur while maintaining a closed container structure that prevents pathogen entry. This flexible film approach resolves the contradiction by providing both protection and gas exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is designed with porous or micro-perforated structures that allow air and water vapor to pass through while blocking larger pathogenic organisms. This porous design enables respiration and evaporative cooling while maintaining sanitary conditions.
3Productivity
If seeds are irrigated periodically via holes in the container, then water can be delivered to seeds, but pathogenic organisms can be introduced during irrigation
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is positioned over the irrigation holes and allows water to pass through to the seeds while blocking pathogenic organisms from entering the container during irrigation. This maintains irrigation efficiency while preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves as an intermediary barrier between the irrigation system and the seeds. It mediates water delivery while preventing direct introduction of pathogens, thus resolving the contradiction between irrigation efficiency and pathogen prevention.
4Adaptability or versatility
If containers are used for both growth and storage, then convenience is improved, but pathogen multiplication can occur during storage phase
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane provides continuous protection throughout both growth and storage phases, allowing the same container to be used for both purposes while preventing pathogen multiplication. The membrane maintains sanitary conditions during storage when the container would otherwise be vulnerable.
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 effectively reduces pathogenic bacteria levels and extends the shelf-life of cryo-sprouts to at least 21 days by maintaining controlled growth conditions that are unfavorable for pathogen proliferation.
Implementation Method 1
The openings are configured for respiration and water evaporation during germination of seeds and growth into cryo-sprouts in the covered container
Implementation Method 2
a membrane supported above the floor of the container on internal supports... The covered container may be permeable to air during germination of seeds and growth into cryo-sprouts
Data Source
AI summary
Containers for growth of cryo-sprouts with reduced numbers of pathogenic organisms. The covered containers have an air-permeable seal and may also have additional openings to increase the air permeability rate of the covered container. The air permeability rate is balanced to have sufficient air exchange but with an evaporation rate that is low enough to avoid addition of water during germination and growth of the cryo-sprouts. The seeds and sufficient water are added to the container and covered with a lid to form an air-permeable covered container. The seeds germinate and grow in the covered container at pathogen antagonistic temperature without the removal of the lid until use by consumer. This results in cryo-sprouts that have reduced numbers of pathogenic organisms, are greener, and have an extended shelf-life.