Pathogen eliminating article

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antimicrobial agents, both chemical and metallic alloys, face challenges such as environmental harm, short effectiveness due to microbial resistance, and susceptibility to oxidation and damage, particularly in food preparation settings where contamination risks are high.

Innovation Solution

An antimicrobial article featuring a core material with at least 50% copper, silver, or molybdenum alloy encased in a non-antimicrobial stainless steel shield, utilizing a 'halo effect' to disinfect surfaces without direct contact, providing durability and extended pathogen elimination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical antimicrobial agents are used, then pathogen elimination is achieved, but environmental harm and short effectiveness occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen elimination effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical antimicrobial agents with a physical mechanism - the oligodynamic effect of metallic alloys (copper, silver, zinc). This substitution eliminates environmental harm associated with chemical disinfectants while maintaining reliable pathogen elimination through the natural antimicrobial properties of metals that disrupt microbial cell membranes and metabolic processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structures combining multiple metallic alloys (copper, silver, zinc) in specific ratios to enhance antimicrobial effectiveness. The composite alloy leverages the synergistic effects of different metals, where copper provides structural stability, silver enhances antimicrobial activity, and zinc prevents oxidation, thereby achieving reliable and sustained pathogen elimination without chemical agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If antimicrobial metallic alloys are used, then pathogen elimination is achieved, but oxidation and susceptibility to damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen elimination effectivenessVSAvoidresistance to oxidation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite metallic alloy materials combining copper, silver, and zinc in specific proportions. This composite structure provides resistance to oxidation and damage - the zinc component specifically protects against oxidation, while the overall alloy composition maintains structural integrity and antimicrobial effectiveness over time, resolving the contradiction between pathogen elimination and compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If direct contact with antimicrobial surface is required, then pathogen elimination is achieved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen elimination effectivenessVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the oligodynamic effect - that allows antimicrobial action without direct contact between the metallic alloy surface and pathogens. The alloy emits antimicrobial ions and compounds that neutralize pathogens in the surrounding environment, eliminating the need for direct contact and thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining pathogen elimination effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 antimicrobial article effectively neutralizes pathogens like MRSA and other food-borne bacteria within 2-3 hours, maintaining effectiveness up to 50 cm distance and demonstrating 70% pathogen reduction, independent of shielding material thickness, while protecting the core from environmental exposure.

Implementation Method 1

Such alloys use a natural oligodynamic effect to reduce or eliminate the microbes that directly contact the surface of the alloy.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOligodynamic effect:

Implementation Method 2

The antimicrobial core includes an antimicrobial property due to a 'halo effect' from electromagnetic energy produced by the protected antimicrobial alloy core that disinfects the surface of the shield opposite the antimicrobial core without the core directly contacting the pathogens located on the shield surface.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHalo effect:

Data Source

PatentUS10472157B1Pathogen eliminating article

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 CLAW BIOTECH HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

An article including a first layer of a shielding material comprising a first surface and an opposite second surface. The article also includes an core material coupled to the first surface, wherein the core material is configured to eliminate pathogens located on the second surface.