Incubator Filter Decontamination via Backwash Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing incubator systems face challenges in creating an optimal sterile environment due to residual decontamination gas on filters, which can contaminate the culture space when water is humidified, and require additional sampling circuits for filter sterilization, increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
An incubator system with a decontamination gas suction unit and open air introduction unit, where decontamination gas is sucked from the culture space, passed through filters, and then backwashed with open air to remove residual decontamination gas, using a single gas supply/exhaust passage and pump, optionally with a catalyst for detoxification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If decontamination gas is introduced into the culture space to sterilize filters, then the filters are sterilized, but residual decontamination gas remains on the filters and can contaminate the culture space when water is humidified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces open air through the open air introduction unit before or during the decontamination gas introduction to pre-flush the supply passage and reduce residual decontamination gas accumulation on filters. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect of residual gas contaminating the culture space during subsequent humidification operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses open air as an intermediary substance to displace and remove residual decontamination gas from the supply passage and filters. The open air acts as a mediator between the decontamination process and the culture environment, preventing direct contact between residual decontamination gas and the culture space during humidification.
2Reliability
If a sampling circuit is provided for decontamination of filters, then filters can be sterilized, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the supply passage multi-functional by using it for both environment-adjusting-medium supply and decontamination gas introduction. The open air introduction unit utilizes the existing supply passage infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate sampling circuits while maintaining filter decontamination capability. This universal usage reduces device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the decontamination function with the existing environment-adjusting-medium supply system. By combining the decontamination gas supply unit with the environment-adjusting-medium supply unit and using the same supply passage for both purposes, the patent eliminates redundant components like separate sampling circuits, thereby reducing device complexity.
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
This approach effectively removes decontamination gas from filters, preventing contamination of the culture space and eliminating the need for additional sampling circuits, thus maintaining a sterile environment without increasing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the decontamination gas, which has sterilized filters, does not remain on the filters
Data Source
AI summary
An incubator includes filters in supply passages for supplying an environment-adjusting-medium. Divergent passages are connected to portions of the supply passages upstream from the filters. The divergent passages converge to a single supply/exhaust passage, which is provided with a pump. By driving the pump in a forward or reverse direction, decontamination gas is pumped from a culture space and discharged outside, and open air is introduced into the culture space. After sucking the contamination gas to adsorb it on the filter, open air is introduced so that the contamination gas is discharged into the culture space 6.