Airborne Pathogen Simulants for Indoor Mobility Risk Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack effective methods to simulate and assess the airborne mobility of pathogens, such as SARS-COV-2, in indoor environments, leading to inadequate risk assessment and potential widespread infection due to insufficient data on airflow patterns and pathogen transmission.

Innovation Solution

A saliva simulant comprising a DNA taggant, water, and a carrier, such as polysaccharides or proteins, is used to mimic the behavior of human respiratory droplets, allowing for controlled release and collection to model pathogen spread, with detection via PCR technology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If real pathogens are used to study airborne transmission, then transmission data can be obtained, but safety risks and ethical constraints prevent such studies in occupied spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission data accuracyVSAvoidsafety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pathogen simulants that replicate the physical and chemical properties of actual pathogens (size, density, evaporation rate) without containing live pathogens. These simulants are tagged with fluorescent markers or DNA sequences for detection, allowing researchers to study airborne transmission dynamics in occupied spaces while eliminating safety risks associated with real pathogens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces tracer gases or fluorescently tagged particles as intermediaries to visualize and measure airflow patterns and pathogen dispersion. These intermediaries provide indirect measurement data about pathogen transmission without requiring direct exposure to harmful pathogens, enabling safe research in real-world environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If HVAC systems are designed without accurate airflow data, then design process is simpler, but infection risk assessment becomes inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection risk assessmentVSAvoidtesting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs airflow characterization testing before HVAC system installation or modification. By releasing pathogen simulants at known concentrations and measuring their dispersion using fluorescent detectors or PCR analysis, the system establishes baseline airflow data that guides HVAC design decisions, ensuring adequate infection risk mitigation is built-in from the start.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback loop where pathogen simulant dispersion data is used to adjust and optimize HVAC system performance. By continuously monitoring simulant concentrations at different locations and comparing them against infection risk thresholds, the system provides feedback for real-time HVAC control adjustments to maintain safe airflow patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple airflow paths are tested simultaneously, then comprehensive data is obtained, but testing time and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow data comprehensivenessVSAvoidtesting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the building or enclosed space into distinct airflow zones or pathways, releasing pathogen simulants at different locations simultaneously. Each zone is characterized independently using segmented sampling points and detection stations, allowing comprehensive airflow mapping to be achieved through parallel testing rather than sequential testing of each path individually.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional single-point airflow measurement to multi-dimensional spatial mapping by using fluorescently tagged simulants that can be detected throughout three-dimensional space. This allows simultaneous characterization of multiple airflow paths at different heights and locations through a single release event, dramatically reducing testing time while maintaining comprehensiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables precise simulation and risk assessment of airborne pathogen mobility, facilitating targeted remediation measures to reduce infection risk and improve HVAC systems, providing a standardized method for certifying and monitoring indoor environments.

Implementation Method 1

detection via PCR technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction):

Data Source

PatentUS20250361571A1Airborne Pathogen Simulants and Mobility Testing

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 SAFETRACES INC

AI summary

Airborne pathogen mobility and the airborne mobility of respiratory droplets, such as saliva, and testing thereof, can be monitored by tracking detectable compounds and measuring concentrations. A display can be presented including a building layout and simulant concentrations released and collected at various locations within a space.