Isolator Decontamination Gas Supply Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
In isolators used for handling living-organism-derived materials, the adsorption of decontaminating gases like hydrogen peroxide by air filters leads to inefficiency, as more gas is required to ensure absorption, and without filters, the air intake filter cannot be sufficiently decontaminated.
Innovation Solution
The isolator design includes a decontaminating gas supply unit that directly introduces hydrogen peroxide gas into the chamber without flowing through intake and discharge filters, using a third flow path to discharge gas through the intake filter, allowing efficient decontamination while minimizing gas consumption and ensuring filter decontamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If decontaminating gas is supplied through the inlet with intake filter, then the chamber can be decontaminated, but the air filter adsorbs the decontaminating gas leading to inefficiency and increased gas consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gas supply path into separate segments: a first flow path for ordinary air through filters, and a second flow path for decontaminating gas that bypasses the filters. This segmentation allows decontaminating gas to be supplied directly to the chamber without being adsorbed by filters, resolving the contradiction between decontamination effectiveness and gas consumption efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third flow path that serves as an intermediary for discharging decontaminating gas through the intake filter. This allows the filter to be decontaminated without affecting the main decontamination process, and enables safe discharge of residual decontaminating gas while maintaining filter functionality
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air filters are installed at inlet and outlet, then impurities can be removed from gas, but decontaminating gas is adsorbed by filters requiring excessive gas supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gas flow paths to separate ordinary air filtration (first flow path through intake/discharge filters) from decontaminating gas supply (second flow path bypassing filters). This allows impurity removal to be maintained for ordinary air while decontamination efficiency is improved by direct gas supply without filter adsorption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different flow path configurations to different locations: the first flow path maintains filter protection for ordinary air, while the second flow path provides direct decontaminating gas supply to the chamber. This local differentiation allows each path to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other
3Loss of substance
If decontaminating gas is supplied without air filters, then gas consumption is efficient, but the air intake filter cannot be sufficiently decontaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third flow path as an intermediary that specifically routes decontaminating gas through the intake filter for its decontamination. This separate path allows the filter to be adequately exposed to decontaminating gas without affecting the main decontamination process efficiency or requiring additional gas consumption in the primary path
Solution Approach 2:
The third flow path enables preliminary decontamination of the intake filter before normal operation resumes. By pre-decontaminating the filter through this dedicated path, the system ensures the filter is clean before it needs to handle ordinary air again, maintaining reliability without compromising efficiency
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 enables efficient decontamination of the working chamber and filters by directly supplying hydrogen peroxide gas, reducing unnecessary gas consumption and ensuring thorough decontamination of both the chamber and filters.
Implementation Method 1
a decontaminating gas supply unit configured to supply decontaminating gas into the chamber to be decontaminated without flowing through the intake filter and the discharge filter
Implementation Method 2
a third flow path through which the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated is discharged via the intake filter when the decontaminating gas is supplied into the chamber to be decontaminated
Implementation Method 3
a blower configured to take in the outside air to the chamber to be decontaminated through the first flow path, as well as produce an air current to discharge the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated through the second flow path
Data Source
AI summary
An isolator includes: a chamber to be decontaminated including an inlet provided with an intake filter and an outlet provided with a discharge filter; a first flow path through which outside air is taken into the chamber via the intake filter; a second flow path through which gas in the chamber is discharged via the discharge filter; a blower configured to take in the outside air to the chamber through the first flow path, as well as produce an air current to discharge the gas in the chamber through the second flow path; a decontaminating gas supply unit configured to supply decontaminating gas into the chamber without flowing through the intake filter and the discharge filter; and a third flow path through which the gas in the chamber is discharged via the intake filter when the decontaminating gas is supplied into the chamber.