Disposable Polymer Liquid Impingers for Compact, Low-Contamination Sampling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particle sampling systems, particularly liquid impingers, face challenges in achieving high collection efficiency for viable biological particles while minimizing false positives and handling-related contamination, and are often too large for optimal placement in cleanroom environments.
Innovation Solution
Development of single-use, polymer-based liquid impingers and bubblers that integrate sampling, sterilization, and analysis in a closed configuration, using polymeric materials to minimize human contact and reduce false positives, with optimized nozzle designs for efficient gas-liquid interaction and smaller form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional liquid impingers are used for sampling viable biological particles, then collection efficiency can be achieved, but the device size becomes too large for optimal placement in cleanroom environments
Solution Approach 1:
The impinger device is divided into multiple components including a body, lid, and integrated nozzle assembly that can be separately manufactured and sterilized. This segmentation allows for optimized sizing of each component while maintaining overall collection efficiency, enabling the device to fit in space-constrained cleanroom environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle assembly is integrated within the impinger body structure, with the gas inlet tube nested inside the vessel. This nested configuration maximizes the collection efficiency by ensuring proper gas-liquid interaction while minimizing the external dimensions of the device for optimal placement in cleanrooms.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling of growth medium is performed during installation and removal, then flexibility is maintained, but false positives occur due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The impinger device is designed as a single-use disposable unit that is pre-filled with sterile growth medium. After one sampling operation, the entire device is discarded, eliminating the need for repeated sterilization and manual handling of growth medium. This prevents contamination-related false positives while maintaining ease of operation through simple install-and-forget usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The growth medium is pre-sterilized and pre-filled into the impinger device before delivery to the customer. This preliminary action ensures that the growth medium is already sterile when the device is installed in the cleanroom, eliminating the risk of contamination during installation and removal operations.
3Strength
If glass impingers are used for sampling, then durability is achieved, but sterilization becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The impinger device uses a composite construction with a polymeric body and lid that can be sterilized more easily than glass. The polymeric materials are selected to withstand autoclaving and other sterilization methods while maintaining structural integrity, simplifying the sterilization process compared to traditional glass impingers.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a disposable single-use unit that does not require sterilization between uses. Each device is pre-sterilized during manufacturing and then discarded after one use, eliminating the complex and time-consuming sterilization process entirely while maintaining adequate durability for the single sampling operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple handling steps are performed with the growth medium, then adjustments can be made, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-filled disposable impinger device eliminates multiple handling steps by providing a ready-to-use sampling unit. The device is installed in the cleanroom, used for sampling, and then removed and discarded as a single unit, preventing contamination that would occur during repeated handling, transfer, and storage of growth medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The growth medium is extracted from the complex handling process and pre-filled into the impinger device during manufacturing under controlled conditions. This extraction removes the growth medium from subsequent handling operations in the cleanroom, eliminating the contamination risk associated with multiple handling steps while maintaining process adaptability.
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 provides efficient sampling and analysis of viable biological particles with reduced false positives and contamination risks, enabling faster results and suitable placement in space-constrained environments.
Implementation Method 1
transporting a gas comprising analytes along the gas flow path and into contact with, and optionally through, the liquid, and transferring at least a portion of the analytes from the gas into the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a liquid impinger, for example a liquid impinger, particularly a disposable liquid impinger. The liquid impinger comprises, for example, at least one nozzle positioned in the interior and attached to the bottom portion. In some aspects, the liquid impinger comprises a polymeric material. Also disclosed are methods of making the liquid impinger comprising, for example, forming at least two components, assembling the at least two components into the liquid impinger, filling the liquid impinger with liquid, and exposing the filled liquid impinger to radiation for sterilization prior to use. Also disclosed are methods of using the liquid impinger, for example, by transporting a gas comprising analytes through the liquid impinger and transferring at least a portion of the analytes from the gas into the liquid contained therein. The method further comprises, for example, after transferring analytes form the gas into the liquid, incubating and/or detecting at least a portion of the analytes in the liquid without removing the liquid from the liquid impinger.