Method and Apparatus to Induce Detachment of Flagella Propelled Micro Organisms from Walls and to Countermeasure Their Ability to Swim Upstream

Abstract

Medical catheters and catheter drainages can be difficult to disinfect. Infections produced by microorganisms swimming upstream through said catheters and catheter drainages are thus difficult to eliminate. A method to detach flagella propelled microorganisms from walls and to countermeasure their ability to swim upstream against the velocity of the fluid in ducts is described. Observations show that flagella propelled microorganisms require the forces and torques induced by the proximity of a wall and also by a velocity gradient produced near the wall of said ducts. The method is based on detaching said flagella propelled microorganisms from the walls by means of sharp edges. The flagella propelled microorganism can not change its swimming direction so abruptly to follow the geometry of said sharp edge and therefore it detaches from the wall. Once said microorganism is detached from the wall, it is flushed downstream by the velocity of the fluid which is stronger once far from the wall. As a result, flagella propelled microorganisms are prevented from swimming upstream.

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