Indoor Microbiome Management via Selective Light Spectra
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for indoor microbiome management are inadequate in promoting a healthy balance of microbes indoors, as they often rely on disinfection methods that can harm beneficial microbes and fail to effectively introduce beneficial outdoor microbes into indoor environments.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system comprising a light generating device and a microbe dispenser device, where the microbe dispenser device emits beneficial microbes and the light generating device provides radiation that promotes the growth and persistence of these beneficial microbes relative to harmful ones, thereby creating a competitive advantage for the beneficial microbes in indoor environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If disinfection methods are used to eliminate harmful microbes, then pathogen reduction is improved, but beneficial microbes are also harmed and killed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different spectral qualities of light to different microbial targets: specific wavelengths (e.g., 222 nm UV-C) are used to inactivate pathogens while longer wavelengths (e.g., 400-700 nm visible light) promote the growth of beneficial microbes. This local differentiation of spectral quality allows selective action on different microbial populations without uniformly harming all microbes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts spectral parameters (wavelength distribution, intensity) and temporal parameters (timing, duration) of light exposure to differentiate between pathogen inactivation and beneficial microbe promotion. By changing these parameters, the system can target specific microbial populations with appropriate light conditions without cross-harm.
2Quantity of substance
If outdoor air is pumped indoors to introduce beneficial microbes, then microbial diversity is improved, but filtering removes beneficial microbes and pollution may remain
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary enrichment of beneficial microbes in controlled outdoor or artificial environments before introducing them indoors. Microbe dispenser devices pre-colonize surfaces with selected beneficial microbial communities, allowing these microbes to establish themselves before facing competition from outdoor airborne microbes, thus ensuring beneficial populations are not overwhelmed or removed by filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light as an intermediary mechanism to protect and promote beneficial microbes after they are introduced indoors. Specific spectral compositions create a protective environment that enhances beneficial microbe survival and establishes them before outdoor airborne microbes can compete, effectively using light as a mediator between introduction and establishment phases.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If buildings are kept extremely clean to prevent disease, then pathogen exposure is reduced, but harmful germs grow quickly on clean surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the environmental parameters of clean surfaces by exposing them to specific light spectral compositions that promote beneficial microbe growth. This transforms the surface environment from one that allows rapid pathogen proliferation to one that actively cultivates protective microbial communities, fundamentally altering the growth dynamics without compromising cleanliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary light treatment to surfaces to establish beneficial microbial colonies before pathogens can colonize. This preemptive action creates a protective biological barrier on clean surfaces, preventing pathogen establishment before it occurs rather than responding after contamination.
4Reliability
If probiotic microorganisms are applied to surfaces, then protection against pathogenic microbes is improved, but the probiotics struggle to settle in indoor environments with established microbes
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the environmental parameters of indoor surfaces by applying specific light spectral compositions that create favorable conditions for probiotic microbe settlement and growth. This changes the competitive balance in favor of introduced probiotics, allowing them to establish themselves despite the presence of established indoor microbial communities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary light treatment to prepare surfaces for probiotic settlement by creating optimal growth conditions beforehand. This preliminary environmental preparation enhances probiotic survival and establishment success when they are introduced to competitive indoor environments.
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 enhances microbial diversity indoors by promoting the growth of beneficial microbes while inhibiting the growth of harmful ones, thereby improving indoor air quality and reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Implementation Method 1
a spectral power distribution of the first device radiation is selected for promoting persistence, especially growth, of the first microbes relative to second microbes
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention provides a lighting system (1000) for indoor microbiome management, wherein the lighting system (1000) comprises a light generating device (100) and a microbe dispenser device (400); wherein: the microbe dispenser device (400) is configured to provide in a microbic application mode an emission (407) of first microbes (7), wherein the microbe dispenser device (400) has a microbe emission region (415); the light generating device (100) is configured to provide in a microbic lighting mode a first beam (115) of first device radiation (111); a spectral power distribution of the first device radiation (111) is selected for promoting persistence of the first microbes (7) relative to second microbes, other than the first microbes; and the microbe emission region (415) and the first beam (115) at least partly spatially overlap.