Insect Trap With Heatable Container and Adhesive Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring mosquito populations, such as the Human Landing Catch, are labor-intensive, expose collectors to infection, and are not ethically acceptable, while alternative traps are inefficient in catching malaria mosquitoes and providing reliable data.
Innovation Solution
An insect trap with a heatable container and adhesive or insecticide material, designed to attract and trap mosquitoes using human or animal odors, body heat, and visual contrast, allowing for large-scale mosquito capture without human exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Human Landing Catch method is used to monitor mosquito populations, then reliable data on mosquito biting behavior and pathogen transmission can be obtained, but the method is labor-intensive, expensive, and exposes collectors to infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary trap device that mediates between the mosquito attraction process and data collection. The trap employs adhesive or insecticide-treated surfaces as intermediaries to capture mosquitoes, eliminating the need for human collectors to be directly exposed to biting mosquitoes while still obtaining reliable population data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the human landing catch methodology using artificial attractants and trapping surfaces. Instead of humans directly catching mosquitoes, the system uses simulated human characteristics (odor, heat, visual contrast) to attract mosquitoes to artificial trapping surfaces, reproducing the data collection function without the biological risk
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative trapping methods are used instead of Human Landing Catch, then human exposure to pathogens is eliminated, but the methods catch fewer mosquitoes and provide unreliable data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters of the trap simultaneously: using body temperature (37°C) to simulate human heat signature, applying adhesive or insecticide surfaces with appropriate viscosity and coverage, positioning traps at optimal heights and orientations, and using contrasting colors to enhance visibility. These parameter changes collectively increase mosquito capture efficiency while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite trapping surfaces that combine adhesive materials with insecticide treatments in a single integrated layer. This composite approach ensures that mosquitoes contacting the surface are both captured and killed, maximizing productivity while maintaining the safety advantage of alternative methods
3Object-generated harmful factors
If indoor residual spraying or insecticide-treated bednets are used for mosquito control, then mosquito populations can be reduced, but these methods only work for mosquitoes that enter houses and do not address outdoor biting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mosquito control approach into separate functional components: the trap body provides structural support and positioning, the adhesive/insecticide surface provides the killing mechanism, and the attractant system (odor, heat, visual contrast) provides the detection and attraction function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for outdoor 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
The trap effectively captures a higher number of mosquitoes than existing methods, providing reliable data without exposing humans to infection, and can be used for outdoor mosquito control, improving monitoring efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a heatable container comprising either: (i) adhesive material for trapping an insect, or (ii) material comprising insecticide for killing an insect
Implementation Method 2
adhesive material for trapping an insect
Data Source
AI summary
An insect trap (100) and method for trapping and/or killing insects are disclosed. The insect trap comprises an enclosure (10) for receiving a human or an animal, and comprising an opening (12) configured to allow air to flow out of the enclosure and prevent insects from entering the enclosure, and a trapping unit (30) outside of the enclosure and in fluidic communication with the opening. The trapping unit comprises a heatable container (32) comprising either an adhesive material (31) for attracting and trapping an insect or a material comprising insecticide for killing an insect.