Sieving Device for Mosquito Pupae Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sieve devices, such as those using wire or plastic mesh, and parallel glass plates, face challenges in separating insect pupae due to physiological structures and operational difficulties, resulting in low throughput and yield, especially in Sterile Insect Technique programs.
Innovation Solution
A sieving apparatus comprising a frame, a sieving device with elongate openings sized to match the cephalothorax width of mosquitoes, and an actuation system that moves the sieving device vertically and laterally to separate pupae based on size, allowing for efficient separation of male and female pupae by cycling the sieve surface in and out of water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional mesh screens are used to separate pupae, then the separation process can be performed, but the throughput and yield are prohibitively low due to pupae physiological structures
Solution Approach 1:
The sieve surface is segmented into multiple elongate openings arranged in parallel rows, where each opening is designed with a specific length and width dimension. This segmentation allows different sized pupae to pass through different openings, achieving size-based separation while maintaining high throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The sieve surface has non-uniform opening dimensions - elongate openings with length greater than width are used specifically in regions where size-based separation is needed. This local quality variation optimizes separation effectiveness for different pupae sizes while maintaining overall system productivity
2Productivity
If conventional mesh screens are used to separate pupae, then the separation process can be performed, but the yield is prohibitively low due to pupae physiological structures
Solution Approach 1:
The sieving device is made dynamic through automated vertical oscillation and lateral movement. The actuation system oscillates the sieve surface vertically at controlled frequencies and moves it laterally between basins, eliminating manual operation challenges and consistently achieving high yield through repeatable dynamic motion
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical operation is replaced with an automated actuation system that uses controlled oscillation and movement. This substitution eliminates operational inconsistencies and physical challenges associated with manual sieving, achieving consistent high yield automatically
3Productivity
If parallel glass plates are used to separate insects, then separation can be performed, but the devices are difficult to operate and require user interaction, resulting in low throughput
Solution Approach 1:
Manual manipulation of parallel glass plates is replaced with an automated actuation system that controls the sieving device's vertical oscillation and lateral movement. This eliminates the need for user interaction and difficult manual operations, achieving high throughput through automated controlled motion
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs separation automatically through self-contained actuation mechanisms. The device oscillates itself vertically and moves itself laterally between basins without requiring external user interaction, enabling high throughput operation
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 apparatus achieves high separation rates, with the ability to process hundreds of thousands of pupae per hour, minimizing entanglement and improving yield by using elongate openings that correspond to the natural orientation and size of pupae, enhancing the efficiency of insect separation processes.
Implementation Method 1
The actuation system is configured to move the sieving device along a substantially vertical lifting axis between a first position within the basin and a second position within the basin
Implementation Method 2
Moving the sieving device along the substantially vertical lifting axis between the first and second position is configured to separate a population of mosquitos within the liquid based on cephalothorax size
Implementation Method 3
The width dimension corresponds to a cephalothorax width of a mosquito. The length dimension is greater than the width dimension
Data Source
AI summary
A sieving method for separating insect pupae is described. The method may include causing an actuation system of a sieving apparatus to cycle between a first elevation and a second elevation to cyclically submerge a sieve surface of a sieving device in a liquid held within a basin so as to separate a population of insect pupae present in the sieving device with respect to size. The method may also include causing actuation of one or more valves to drain the liquid from the basin in order to retrieve a first part of the population of insect pupae. Corresponding computer-readable devices and systems that perform the sieving method are also described.