Mobile monitoring device for controlled contamination areas
Inventors
SCIALÒ, Giovanni • RECCHIA, Davide • Bechini, Claudio
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11540248-B2
Publication Date
2022-12-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A mobile monitoring device for monitoring controlled contamination areas may include a motorized mobile structure, a sampling unit, and a central management and control unit. The motorized mobile structure is configured to move within an area to be monitored. The sampling unit is positioned on said mobile structure, and configured to perform sampling operations of air and/or surfaces of said area and obtain sampling data. The central management and control unit is operatively connected to the mobile structure and to said sampling unit. The mobile structure may be controlled by the central unit to reach predefined points of the area to be monitored. The sampling unit may be selectively activated and/or deactivated by said central unit in correspondence with said predefined starting points of said sampling operations.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a mobile monitoring device for monitoring controlled contamination areas. The device includes a motorized mobile structure configured to move within a cleanroom, and a sampling unit positioned on the motorized mobile structure to perform sampling operations of air and/or surfaces and obtain sampling data. A central management and control unit is operatively connected to the motorized mobile structure and to the sampling unit.
The motorized mobile structure is controlled by the central management and control unit to reach predefined points of the cleanroom area, and the sampling unit is selectively activated and/or deactivated in correspondence with the predefined points. The device further includes a transceiver operatively connected to the central management and control unit, configured to place the central management and control unit in communication with one or more external peripheral devices located outside the cleanroom. At least one robotic arm is installed on the mobile structure to interact with at least one sampling element usable in the sampling operations.
The invention further encompasses embodiments as a monitoring system. The system comprises at least one mobile monitoring device, a data network in operational communication with the mobile monitoring device, and an external peripheral device outside the cleanroom connected to the data network. The system further includes at least one sanitizing station operatively communicating with the device and configured to sanitize and/or sterilize the device.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claim types: a mobile monitoring device and a monitoring system. The independent features cover device mobility within a cleanroom, point-based selective sampling activation/deactivation, central management communication architecture with external peripheral devices, robotic arm interaction with sampling elements, and, in the system claim, a data network plus sanitizing/sterilization stations.
Motorized mobile structure controlled to predefined points and selectively activated sampling unit
A motorized mobile structure configured to move within a cleanroom; a sampling unit positioned on said motorized mobile structure, configured to perform sampling operations of air and/or surfaces of said cleanroom and obtain sampling data; and a central management and control unit operatively connected to said motorized mobile structure and to said sampling unit, wherein said motorized mobile structure is controlled by said central management and control unit to reach predefined points of said area; and wherein said sampling unit is selectively activated and/or deactivated by said central management and control unit in correspondence with said predefined points of said area.
Transceiver communication with external peripheral devices outside the cleanroom
A transceiver operatively connected to said central management and control unit and configured to put said central management and control unit in communication with one or more external peripheral devices, wherein said one or more external peripheral devices are located outside the cleanroom.
Robotic arm interaction with sampling elements on the mobile structure
At least one robotic arm installed on said mobile structure, configured to interact with at least one sampling element usable in said sampling operations.
Monitoring system with data network, external peripheral device, and sanitizing station
A monitoring system for monitoring controlled contamination areas comprising at least one mobile monitoring device comprising a motorized mobile structure configured to move within a cleanroom; a sampling unit positioned on said motorized mobile structure, configured to perform sampling operations of air and/or surfaces of said area and obtain sampling data; a central management and control unit operatively connected to said mobile structure and to said sampling unit; wherein said motorized mobile structure is controlled by said central management and control unit to reach predefined points of said area; wherein said sampling unit is selectively activated and/or deactivated by said central management and control unit in correspondence with said predefined starting points of said sampling operations; a data network in operational communication with the at least one mobile monitoring device; an external peripheral device operationally connected to the data network, wherein the external peripheral device is located outside the cleanroom; and at least one sanitizing station operatively communicating with said device and configured to sanitize and/or sterilize the device.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on a central-management-controlled mobile cleanroom monitoring device that travels to predefined points and selectively activates/deactivates a sampling unit for air/surface sampling, with transceiver-based communication to external peripheral devices and robotic arm interaction with sampling elements; the system claim further adds a data network, an external peripheral device outside the cleanroom, and sanitizing/sterilization stations for the device.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?