Fiber Mat Bioaerosol Sampler with Viability Enhancer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air sampling technologies for bioaerosols face challenges in maintaining the viability of collected biological particles due to desiccation, limited sampling time, and compatibility with analysis techniques, particularly for fragile organisms.
Innovation Solution
A bioparticle collection device featuring a fiber mat with a viability enhancing material provider, which saturates aerosol particles with a biocompatible liquid and uses electrospun nanofibers to maintain the viability of collected bioparticles through a moisture-rich environment, enabling extended sampling and improved compatibility with analysis methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional filtration methods are used to collect bioaerosols, then collection efficiency is achieved, but organism viability is lost due to desiccation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a viability enhancing material as an intermediary substance between the collected bioaerosol organisms and the filter medium. This material provider delivers protective agents that prevent desiccation and maintain organism viability during collection and storage, directly resolving the contradiction between collection efficiency and viability preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical and physical parameters of the collection environment by incorporating viability enhancing materials that modify the moisture content, pH, and nutritional properties of the filter surface. These parameter changes create a favorable microenvironment that prevents desiccation while maintaining high collection efficiency
2Quantity of substance
If extended sampling time is used to increase sample volume, then more particles are collected, but organism viability decreases due to prolonged exposure to harmful conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous protection of organism viability throughout the extended sampling period by maintaining a sustained release mechanism for viability enhancing materials. This continuous action prevents cumulative desiccation damage, allowing extended sampling times to accumulate larger sample volumes while preserving organism viability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-loading the filter medium with viability enhancing materials before sampling begins. This prior protection creates a buffer that shields organisms from desiccation stress during the entire extended sampling duration, enabling both large sample volumes and high viability to be achieved simultaneously
3Reliability
If liquid impingers are used to maintain organism viability, then viability is preserved, but the system complexity and fluidics requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential viability-enhancing function from complex liquid impinger systems and concentrates it into a simplified solid-phase material provider integrated directly into the filter. This extraction eliminates the need for complex fluidics systems while maintaining the critical function of preserving organism viability through contact with protective materials
4Quantity of substance
If submicrometer particles are collected using conventional filters, then collection efficiency is reduced, but using finer filters increases pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the filter medium by incorporating viability enhancing materials that modify the surface properties and pore structure. These modifications enable the filter to maintain low pressure drop while enhancing capture efficiency for submicrometer particles through improved surface interactions and reduced flow resistance
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 extends the viability of collected bioparticles for several days, enhances their recovery, and improves compatibility with laboratory analysis techniques, such as PCR, while reducing the need for extensive fluidics systems and minimizing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a collection medium including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat and configured to collect bioparticles thereon
Implementation Method 2
saturates aerosol particles with a biocompatible liquid and uses electrospun nanofibers to maintain the viability of collected bioparticles through a moisture-rich environment
Implementation Method 3
uses electrospun nanofibers to maintain the viability of collected bioparticles through a moisture-rich environment
Data Source
AI summary
A bioparticle collection device and an aerosol collection system. The bioparticle collection device includes a collection medium including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat and configured to collect bioparticles thereon, and includes a viability enhancing material provider disposed in a vicinity of the plurality of fibers and configured to provide a viability enhancing material to the collected bioparticles to maintain viability of the bioparticles collected by the fiber mat. The aerosol collection system includes an aerosol pumping device configured to entrain particles in an gas stream, an aerosol saturation device configured to saturate the particles in the gas stream with a biocompatible liquid, and an aerosol collection medium downstream from the aerosol saturation device and including a plurality of fibers formed into a fiber mat for collection of the saturated aerosol particles.