Electrochemical Probe for Killing Soft Tissue Organisms in Salt Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for eliminating anemones and other soft tissue organisms from salt water aquariums are ineffective and often harm other marine life, as they are resilient to eradication techniques and can reproduce quickly, spreading spores that lead to new anemones.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an elongate tubular housing and a conductive element, coupled with a probe that uses electric current to create an electrochemical reaction in the salt water environment, releasing chlorine and hydrogen gas to kill the organisms, while minimizing impact on other marine life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional eradication techniques (boiling vinegar, boiling saline water, hypodermic needle injection) are used to kill anemones, then some level of pest control is achieved, but the anemones prove resilient and often reproduce faster or spread spores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical eradication methods (needle injection, physical boiling) with an electrochemical system. Two conductive elements deliver electric current through the salt water to generate localized electrochemical reactions that produce toxic gases (chlorine, hydrogen) at the target anemone site, achieving reliable killing without the resilience issues of mechanical methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of eradication from thermal/mechanical to electrochemical. By applying electric current through conductive elements in salt water, the system generates localized chemical reactions that produce toxic gases in situ, fundamentally changing how the eradication process works to overcome anemone resistance to traditional methods
2Productivity
If strong eradication methods are applied to kill anemones quickly, then reproduction is prevented, but other marine life in the aquarium is also harmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies eradication action locally rather than globally. The two conductive elements are positioned to deliver electric current specifically to the target anemone location, creating a localized zone of toxic gas production. This localized approach allows rapid killing of the target while minimizing exposure and harm to other marine life in the aquarium
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses salt water as an intermediary medium to deliver electric current and facilitate electrochemical reactions. The salt water conducts electricity between the two conductive elements and enables the generation of toxic gases (chlorine, hydrogen) through electrolysis, providing a controlled mechanism for localized eradication that spares surrounding organisms
3Measurement precision
If hypodermic needle injection with toxins is used to eliminate anemones, then targeted delivery is achieved, but the anemones sometimes reproduce faster due to stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical needle injection system with an electrochemical system. Instead of physically penetrating the anemone with a needle, two conductive elements deliver electric current through the salt water to the target area, generating toxic gases that eliminate the anemone without causing stress-induced reproduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses salt water as an intermediary to deliver the eradication agent (electric current) to the target. This indirect delivery method through the water medium achieves precise targeting without the mechanical trauma and stress associated with needle injection, preventing stress-induced reproduction while maintaining targeted effectiveness
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
Effectively kills soft tissue organisms like anemones without harming other aquatic creatures by creating a localized toxic environment that disintegrates the target organisms, ensuring targeted eradication and preventing reproduction.
Implementation Method 1
uses electric current to create an electrochemical reaction in the salt water environment, releasing chlorine and hydrogen gas
Data Source
AI summary
According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus for killing a soft tissue organism in a salt water environment. The apparatus includes an elongate tubular housing, a probe and a conductive element. The elongate tubular housing reaches from outside a salt water environment to at least a portion of a soft tissue organism disposed within the salt water environment. The elongate tubular housing includes a proximal end and a distal end. The probe targets the soft tissue organism, The probe protrudes from the distal end of the housing, wherein the probe is exposed to the salt water environment when the distal end is submerged therein. The conductive element is rigidly supported by the housing between the distal end and the proximal end. The conductive element is exposed to the salt water environment when the housing distal end is submerged therein. The probe and the conductive element being operatively coupled to a source of electric current, such that the salt water environment provides a circuit coupling between the probe and the conductive element for killing the soft tissue organism.