Patent Application
20220331471
The embodiments of the present invention relate to viruses generally and how to detect their presence, capture them and/or kill them (i.e., disinfect the air carrying them).
Many destructive outbreaks in human history, such as the flus of 1918, SARS, MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19 are all caused by viruses.
Table 1 below summarizes the number of hours different coronaviruses survive in air and on different surfaces.
Covid-19 is a relatively new species to humans, many disinfectants such as soap, bleach (sodium hypochlorite), surgical spirits, antiseptic, hand sanitizers, and hydrogen peroxide, are used to neutralize coronaviruses. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and steam sterilization with moist heat are used to decontaminate N95 face masks.
Authorized assays for viral testing include those that detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid or antigen. Viral (nucleic acid or antigen) tests check samples from the respiratory system (such as nasal swabs) and identify if an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is present. Viral tests are recommended to diagnose acute infection. Some tests are point-of-care tests, meaning results may be available at the testing location in less than an hour. Other tests must be sent to a laboratory to analyze, the results of which may take 1-2 days to evaluate once received by the laboratory. The diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requires detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which is more precise when nasopharynx samples are tested compared to throat samples.
A new wave of innovative diagnostic methods for virus detection have emerged and are listed in table 2.
Unfortunately, the detection methods listed in Table 2 offer little help for people in public or private gatherings needing to find out immediately (i.e., in a few seconds) if the person is an asymptomatic virus carrier and may spread viruses to others. Moreover, capturing and disinfecting viruses is needed.
It would be advantageous to develop systems and methods for detecting, capturing and disinfecting viruses so that their spread may be curtailed.
Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention is directed to a water trap system comprising a water-filled container through which air, in the form of bubbles, is introduced, via an air pump, at a bottom of (or anywhere beneath the upper surface of the liquid) the water-filled container. Positively charged viruses (e.g., COVID-19), bacteria and other contaminants become trapped in the water-filled container as they are entrapped by negatively charged oxygen atoms. The water serves to filter (i.e., capture using water molecules) the virus from the air.
A second embodiment of the present invention is directed to the use of an electric field created by a pair of electrodes with an outer surface heated to a threshold temperature significant enough to disinfect viruses that come into contact therewith.
A third embodiment of the present invention is directed to a portable inhaler configured to detect the polarity of airborne virus and count the positive and negative electrical charges of airborne viruses with tolerances of a few charged particles per cubic centimeter by sampling several hundred cubic centimeters of air per second for a few seconds of time. Consequently, the portable inhaler is capable of quickly and efficiently detecting whether a person has contracted the COVID-19 virus.
Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.
The individual parts of the various systems detailed herein may be made of any suitable materials including, but not limited to, metals, plastics, composites, alloys, polymers, and combinations thereof. The individual parts and components of the various systems detailed herein may be fabricated using suitable techniques including, but not limited to, molding, machining, rapid prototyping, casting and combinations thereof.
While the term “virus” is referenced below, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the present invention may be used to detect, capture and/or kill bacteria and other airborne contaminants as well. The term “airborne pathogens” is used herein to describe the family of viruses, bacteria and containments. In broadest terms, the systems and methods detailed herein serve to detect, capture and/or kill airborne pathogens.
In practice, the air pump 125 brings in air and forces it into the liquid container 105 via tubing 130. The air entering the water container 105 presumably contains airborne pathogens which need to be filtered out. Such filtering relies on water molecules which contain hydrogen and oxygen atoms held together by covalent bonds. Oxygen atoms carry a negative charge while hydrogen atoms carry a positive charge.
Coronaviruses, such as COVID-19 carry electrical charges (e.g., positive) on their surface spikes via arginine (C6H14N4O2)—an α-amino acid such that when the virus passes through the water in container 105, the individual viruses become entrapped by a plurality of oppositely charged oxygen atoms (e.g., negative). Consequently, clean filtered air passes though the water container 105 and released back into the environment via air vent 115 while the airborne pathogens are trapped in the water container 105.
In another embodiment, to enhance virus trapping efficiency in water, salts (NaCl) are added to form a solution rich in Na+ and Cl− ions, which, along with the oxygen atoms, trap oppositely charged viruses passing through the water. Other halogen elements, such as potassium iodide and fluorochlorobromide iodine, may also be added to enhance virus trapping efficiency in water. In general, the viruses may be passed through any suitable ionic compounds containing water or other liquids. In addition to water, other liquids and even solids with the correct polarity in their molecular structure may be utilized to entrap viruses.
In another embodiment, a detection device detects the polarity of viruses before they are forced into the liquid within container 105
The primary mode of transmission with COVID-19 is respiratory droplets that form when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Most cases of infection happen when people do not maintain a safe distance of 6 ft from each other. But, in cases where the infected person is in a small, enclosed place (airplane cabin or elevator), the virus can linger in the air for extended periods of time. In these cases, air needs to either be ventilated out or recirculated.
With the embodiments of the present invention, an air passageway (formed of ducting, tubing, piping, etc.) incorporates an inner electrode (collector) and outer electrode thereby creating an electric field within the air passageway. In this instance, the inner electrode is heated to a threshold temperature sufficient to disinfect a target virus upon contact. In one embodiment, the air passageway 215 is S-shaped as shown in
For purposes of calculating system parameters, the specifications for SARS-CoV-2 virus were as follows: (i) a molecular weight of about 114 kDa (1.893*10−19 g); (ii) a molecule diameter ranging from 60-140 nm (1.13*105-1.44*106 nm3) and (iii) the accumulated positive charge on a Covid-19 virus caused by arginine (C6H14N4O2) on each spike is approximately 1.27×10−18, which may vary due to factors such as moisture and pH levels. Taking this into consideration, the inventor treats COVID-19 respiratory droplets as ions which attract to the collector electrode. For the safe fabrication of the system detailed herein, it is important to consider how long the electrodes need to be to properly remove all air contaminants; and the distance between the electrode plates be to maximize efficiency while also considering space limitations.
Since the mass (m) and charge (q) of Covid-19 is known, the inventor was able to measure the virus flowrate (v0), from human breath for example, at the entry of the detecting device and capture the positively charged Covid-19 virus with a known electrical field (E) created by a pair of electrodes at a given voltage (V). The colliding distance (s) of a Covid-19 virus on the negatively charged electrode from the entry point is governed by the equations below.
E=V/d
F=q×E=m×a
F
g
=m×g
s=v
0
×d×(m/(Vq))1/2
where F is the force on an airborne virus, a is acceleration on the airborne virus, g is gravity, vy is velocity in the vertical (y) direction, d is distance between two electrodes, s is the 1st colliding distance on the electrode.
In case the bottom electro-plate is negatively charged, a and g are in the same direction,
v
y=(2(a+g)*d/2)1/2
s
1
=v
0*(2*d/(2/(a+g))1/2
s
2
=s
1+(2*e*vy/(a+g))*v0
s
3
=s
2+(2*e*e*vy/(a+g))*v0
s
4
=s
3+(2*e*e*e*vy/(a+g))*v0
Where s1 is the 1st colliding distance on the electrode, s2 is the 2nd colliding distance after bouncing, s3 is the 3rd colliding distance after 2nd bounce if it happens, s4 is the 4th colliding distance after 3rd bounce if it happened, and e is coefficient of restitution, e=vy′/vy (The coefficient of restitution is the ratio of the final to the initial relative velocity between two objects after they collide. In this instance, the virus particles bounce off a stationary electrode)
In case the top electro-plate is negatively charged, a and g are in the opposite directions,
v
y′=(2(a−g)*d/2)1/2
s
1
=v
0*(2*d/(2/(a−g))1/2
s
2
=s
1+(2*e*vy/(a−g))*v0
s
3
=s
2+(2*e*e*vy/(a−g))*v0
s
4
=s
3+(2*e*e*e*vy/(a−g))*v0
In case different airborne viruses enter the device, their different mass and charge lead to different colliding distances on the electrode from Covid-19 viruses, hence they can be detected/separated by their colliding distances. If two (or more) viruses possess the same type of charge (both positive or both negative), they collide on the same electrode at different distances and hence are separated and can be identified. If two viruses possess different charges, they collide on different electrodes at distances governed by the equations given above. Using colliding distances on each electrode, airborne viruses can be fingerprinted accordingly.
In a real test environment, many airborne viruses from human breath contain some level of moisture, which alters their mass (weight) and only a portion of them collide at the distance given by equation 1. The rest are trapped in aerosols, which are mostly in size of microns or larger. A filter/mask with pores, such as of 0.3 micron, can be placed at the entry point of the device to block aerosols but allow airborne viruses to pass. In another embodiment, a pair of different pore-sized filters allow certain sized aerosols to pass through the filters to enter the detecting device. Therefore, equation 1 can be used to identify viruses.
The air damping effect can be considered in the calculation of colliding distance for Covid-19 with the formula below, to identify the actual colliding distance for viruses with different moistures.
F
D=(½)·CD·ρv2
Where:
Table 4 is a calculation of the maximum distance, using the equations above, until the viruses inevitably collide with the electrode. In Table 4, viruses such as SARS, HPV-5, HPV-16, Influenza A, and Influenza B were calculated in addition to Covid-19 virus. Properties for each virus are given in Table 5.
In one embodiment, as shown in
Since the currents detected are extremely low (e.g., 10−10 to 10−15 A), it is important to eliminate or significantly reduce the influence of ambient electric charge. This is accomplished using an active shielding to obtain high insulating resistance wherein the active shielding is generated by an electromagnetic field produced by the circuitry of the system. The active shielding increases the insulating resistance of the polarizing voltage source and leakage resistance of the inner and outer electrodes.
For purposes of experimentation: (i) a known amount of human breath (M) is blown by fan 325 through the tubular housing 305 of the inhaler 300 and (ii) the inner electrode 310 was polarized by a DC adjustable voltage (U) so an electrical field with nonhomogeneous intensity appears. In this scenario, positively charged viruses are attracted to the negatively charged inner electrode 310. As one virus impacts the inner electrode 310 a current (I) is generated. Because of the high value of inner impedance of the inner electrode 310, the value of I is small and measured by an electrometer. When the voltage (U) is high enough, the current (I) is saturated and directly proportional to the virus concentration, which can be obtained by solving equation:
where n is the virus concentration in breath (charge·m−3); M=S·v is volume rate flow of breath through the aspiration condenser (m3s−1); S=π(r22−r12) is area of cross-section of the condenser (m2); r2, r1 are diameters of outer and inner electrodes (m); e is charge of an electron or a positron, 1.602·10−19.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that leakage resistances RAK of the inhaler tubular housing 305, leakage resistances and capacitance of the pA-meter input (REH, CEH, REL, CEL), and insulation resistance (RV) of the inhaler collector voltage source 320 are important factors in the system design in order to reduce errors in current measurement. In addition, the current measured is also affected by the input resistance of pA-meter and the input resistance of voltage source (RU, CU) 320. In general, RAK and RV should be much larger than RI, and REH, and REL should be much larger than ROUT to minimize the measurement error. Also, time constant RUCU needs to be much larger than the measuring time.
In one embodiment, as the measured current intensity depends on polarization voltage, which is related to the dimension and parameters of inhaler tubular housing 305 and virus concentration level, and often in the range of 10−10 A-10−15 A, a transimpedance amplifier is used for the conversion and amplification.
In one embodiment, the transimpedance amplifier can be realized with an INA 116 op amp. The INA 116 has low input bias current Ib,max=100 fA. The first stage has transimpedance RT=10 GΩ. The second stage is a variable-gain amplifier. The gain is set by resistor RG. The resulting current-to-voltage conversion constant can be set to 0.1-1-10 pA/V.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63/118,838 filed Nov. 27, 2020 and which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63118838 | Nov 2020 | US |
