# US 9,433,883 B2 · Device and method for collecting airborne microorganisms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,883 B2 - Document ID: US9433883B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/985,708 - Filed: 2011-02-22 - Published: 2013-12-05 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-22 - Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd. - Applicants: Kei Takenaka; Yasuhiko Sasaki; Shigenori Togashi - Inventors: Kei Takenaka; Yasuhiko Sasaki; Shigenori Togashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433883B2 ## CPC - B01D 45/08: by impingement against baffle separators - G01N 1/2208: {with impactors} - G01N 1/2273: {Atmospheric sampling} - G01N 2001/245: {Fans} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The present invention provides an impaction-based microorganism collecting device in which microorganisms are captured by the capture surface of a collection plate. The microorganism collecting device is designed to reduce the influence of the lateral wind flowing over the perforated plate having multiple nozzles and also prevent warpage of the perforated plate. Multiple air vents are formed around the circumference of the capture surface and through the capture surface so that air that has flowed through the nozzles of the perforated plate onto the capture surface can be discharged. This allows the air to flow in multiple directions over the capture surface, thereby reducing the speed of the air and increasing the microorganism capture rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microorganism collecting device comprising: a perforated plate having a plurality of nozzles that allow passage of air containing microorganisms; a collection plate facing the plurality of nozzles and having a capture surface for capturing the microorganisms; a collection plate holder for holding the collection plate; a fan for allowing the air to flow from the perforated plate toward the collection plate; a housing for holding the perforated plate, the collection plate holder, and the fan; and an air vent located in a space between the housing and circumferentially outer sections of the collection plate and the collection plate holder, wherein the device further has a second air vent formed at circumferentially inner sections of the collection plate and the collection plate holder, wherein ring-shaped convex portions are placed on the collection plate such that the convex portions are directly below the nozzles, wherein the top surfaces of the convex portions act as capture surfaces of the collection plate, and wherein the spaces between the convex portions communicate with the air vents. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microorganism collecting device of claim 1 wherein the distance between the perforated plate and the collection plate is ⅓ to 15 times the diameter of the nozzles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microorganism collecting device of claim 1 wherein the perforated plate is a metal plate that is 0.01 to 2 mm in thickness and 5 to 200 mm in diameter, and wherein the nozzles of the perforated plate are 1,000 to 10,000 in number and each circular with the diameter of the nozzles being 50 to 200 μm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The microorganism collecting device of claim 2 wherein the collection plate is formed from a solid medium selected from the group consisting of glass, quartz, resin (polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, polymethacrylic acid methyl ester or other acrylic resin, polydimethylsiloxane), metal (iron, aluminum, copper, tin, gold, silver, alloy steel, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, nickel alloy gelatin, and agar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microorganism collecting device of claim 1 wherein the collection plate includes concentric ring structures of different sizes whose top surfaces act as capture surfaces of the collection plate, and wherein the spaces between the concentric ring structures act as air vents. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microorganism collecting device of claim 1 wherein the areas of the top surfaces of the convex portions are each about 1 to 4 times the area of each of the nozzles, and wherein the height of the convex portions is about 1 to 5 times the diameter of each of the convex portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The microorganism collecting device of claim 1 wherein one or more support columns are formed on the collection plate to support the perforated plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method for collecting airborne microorganisms that involves the use of the microorganism collecting device of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: causing the air to flow through the nozzles of the perforated plate toward the capture surface(s) of the collection plate; causing the capture surface(s) to capture the microorganisms contained in the air; and causing the air to flow toward both the air vent and the second air vent after flowing past the nozzles. ### Claim 9 A microorganism collecting device comprising: a perforated plate having a plurality of nozzles that allow passage of air containing microorganisms; a collection plate facing the plurality of nozzles and having a capture surface for capturing the microorganisms; a collection plate holder for holding the collection plate; a fan for allowing the air to flow from the perforated plate toward the collection plate; a housing for holding the perforated plate, the collection plate holder, and the fan; and an air vent located in a space between the housing and circumferentially outer sections of the collection plate and the collection plate holder, wherein the device further has a second air vent formed at circumferentially inner sections of the collection plate and the collection plate holder, and wherein one or more support columns are formed on the collection plate to support the perforated plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The microorganism collecting device of claim 9 wherein the distance between the perforated plate and the collection plate is ⅓ to 15 times the diameter of the nozzles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The microorganism collecting device of claim 9 wherein the perforated plate is a metal plate that is 0.01 to 2 mm in thickness and 5 to 200 mm in diameter, and wherein the nozzles of the perforated plate are 1,000 to 10,000 in number and each circular with the diameter of the nozzles being 50 to 200 μm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The microorganism collecting device of claim 10 wherein the collection plate is formed from a solid medium whose primary materials include glass, quartz, resin (polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, polymethacrylic acid methyl ester or other acrylic resin, polydimethylsiloxane), metal (pure metals such as iron, aluminum, copper, tin, gold, silver, and the like and alloys such as alloy steel, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, nickel alloy, and the like), gelatin, and agar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The microorganism collecting device of claim 9 wherein the collection plate includes concentric ring structures of different sizes whose top surfaces act as capture surfaces of the collection plate, and wherein the spaces between the concentric ring structures act as air vents. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A method for collecting airborne microorganisms that involves the use of the microorganism collecting device of claim 9, the method comprising the steps of: causing the air to flow through the nozzles of the perforated plate toward the capture surface(s) of the collection plate; causing the capture surface(s) to capture the microorganisms contained in the air; and causing the air to flow toward both the air vent and the second air vent after flowing past the nozzles.