US 11,597,980 B2 · System and method for detecting pathogens in an environment via an electrostatic air sampler

Abstract

One variation of a pathogen detection system includes an air sampler and a cartridge. The air sampler includes: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a tunnel arranged within the housing and extending between the inlet and the outlet; a charge electrode arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet; a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal; and a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the charge electrode and the cartridge terminal. The cartridge includes: a substrate; a collector plate arranged on the substrate and configured to collect charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel; and a connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate and the collector plate within the tunnel and electrically couple the collector plate to the cartridge terminal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

an air sampler comprising:
a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;
a tunnel extending between the inlet and the outlet within the housing;
a charge electrode arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet;
a cartridge receptacle arranged within the housing, proximal the outlet, and comprising a cartridge terminal;
and
a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the charge electrode and the cartridge terminal to generate an electric field within the tunnel and charge bioaerosols in air flowing through the tunnel;
and
a replaceable cartridge comprising:
a substrate;
a collector plate arranged on the substrate and configured to attract charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel onto a surface of the collector plate;
and
an electrical connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate and the collector plate within the tunnel and electrically couple the collector plate to the cartridge terminal.

10 more elements

A system comprising:

an air sampler comprising:
a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;
a tunnel extending between the inlet and the outlet within the housing;
a set of charging elements arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet;
a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal;
and
a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the set of charging elements and the cartridge terminal;
and
a replaceable cartridge comprising:
a substrate;
a set of collector plates arranged on the substrate, each collector plate, in the set of collector plates, configured to collect pathogen samples of charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel;
an electrical connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate within the tunnel and electrically couple the set of collector plates to the cartridge terminal;
and
a set of sensors configured to generate a set of signals representing presence of a set of pathogens in pathogen samples collected on the set of collector plates;
and
a controller configured to interpret presence of the set of pathogens in air flowing through the tunnel based on the set of signals.

13 more elements

A system comprising:

an air sampler comprising:
a housing defining an inlet and an outlet;
a tunnel extending between the inlet and the outlet within the housing;
a set of charging elements arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet;
a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal;
and
a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the set of charging elements and the cartridge terminal;
a first replaceable cartridge configured to transiently couple to the air sampler during a first sampling period and comprising:
a first substrate;
a first collector plate arranged on the first substrate and configured to attract charged bioaerosols, moving through the tunnel, onto a surface of the first collector plate to collect a first pathogen sample during the first sampling period;
a first electrical connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the first substrate within the tunnel and electrically couple the first collector plate to the cartridge terminal;
and
a first sensor configured to generate a first signal representing presence of a first set of pathogens in the first pathogen sample;
and
a second replaceable cartridge configured to transiently couple to the air sampler during a second sampling period, distinct from the first sampling period, and comprising:
a second substrate;
a second collector plate arranged on the second substrate and configured to attract charged bioaerosols, moving through the tunnel, onto a surface of the second collector plate to collect a second pathogen sample during the second sampling period;
a second electrical connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the second substrate within the tunnel and electrically couple the second collector plate to the cartridge terminal;
and
a second sensor configured to generate a second signal representing presence of a second set of pathogens in the second pathogen sample.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for detecting pathogens in an environment via an electrostatic air sampler

Life of this patent

System and method for detecting pathogens in an environment via an electrostatic air sampler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20