Tangential Flow Filter Aerosolization for Microorganism Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and controlling harmful contaminants like bacteria, fungi, and mold in liquids, particularly in water and laboratory samples, face challenges in efficiently concentrating and detecting microorganisms at low concentrations, leading to potential health risks and inefficiencies in industrial processes.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and process that utilize a tangential flow filter to concentrate contaminants, followed by aerosolization and drying to separate and collect microorganisms, allowing for automated liquid sample collection and analysis, thereby enhancing detection accuracy and reducing labor and time to results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional filtration methods are used to concentrate microorganisms in liquid samples, then the detection sensitivity is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the concentration process into two distinct stages: crossflow filtration for initial concentration and tangential flow filtration for final concentration. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, achieving high detection sensitivity while maintaining efficient processing time through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary concentration actions by pre-filtering large volumes of liquid through crossflow filtration before the final tangential flow filtration stage. This preliminary action removes the bulk of contaminants early, reducing the load on the final concentration stage and overall processing time.
2Device complexity
If manual sample collection and analysis procedures are used, then the equipment complexity is reduced, but the labor intensity and time to results increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the controller automatically manages the entire workflow: activating pumps, controlling valve positions, monitoring flow rates, and coordinating between concentration stages. This eliminates manual intervention while maintaining straightforward operation through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The tangential flow filter system serves multiple functions: it acts as both a concentration device and a sample preparation device, while the same apparatus can handle different liquid volumes and contaminant types. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate equipment while maintaining ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If large volumes of liquid are processed to detect low concentration contaminants, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the resource consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the target microorganisms from large volumes of liquid through selective filtration. The crossflow and tangential flow filters selectively retain microorganisms while allowing liquid to pass, effectively extracting the contaminant of interest from bulk liquid without processing the entire volume to completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow parameters dynamically: using high flow rates during crossflow filtration for rapid bulk processing, then switching to lower flow rates during tangential flow filtration for precise final concentration. This parameter optimization allows processing large volumes efficiently while achieving the concentration needed for accurate detection.
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 solution effectively increases the concentration of microorganisms, enabling precise detection and identification, improving the monitoring of liquids and reducing the risk of contamination, while also streamlining industrial processes by automating the concentration, aerosolization, and analysis of liquid samples.
Implementation Method 1
a tangential flow filter that accepts the initial liquid volume, collects the material from the initial liquid volume
Implementation Method 2
an aerosolizing stage that converts the concentrated liquid into an aerosol
Implementation Method 3
a drying stage that dries the aerosol to separate and collect microorganisms
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for extracting a material from a liquid includes a concentration stage having a tangential flow filter, a first path from the tangential flow filter, and a second path from the tangential flow filter. Under this configuration, the concentration stage accepts an initial liquid volume. A first liquid not having material collected by the tangential flow filter is passed along the first path, and concentrated liquid having material therein, which is entrapped by the filter, is directed to the second path. The apparatus also includes an aerosolizing stage coupled to the concentration stage that converts the concentrated liquid into an aerosol and a drying stage that dries the aerosol such that material extracted from the aerosol onto a material substrate.