Electrokinetic device for capturing assayable agents in a dielectric fluid utilizing removable electrodes
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Publication Number
US-9360402-B2
Publication Date
2016-06-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Electrokinetic devices and methods are described with the purpose of collecting assayable agents from a dielectric fluid medium. Electrokinetic flow may be induced by the use of plasma generation at high voltage electrodes and consequent transport of charged particles in an electric voltage gradient. In one embodiment, an ionic propulsion device for providing a sample for a bio-specific assay of aerosol particles comprises a housing receiving a sample of aerosol particles and enclosing a high voltage electrode to generate a plasma of electrically charged particles. A carrier assembly is removably receivable in the housing, the carrier assembly comprising a non-conductive carrier and an electrode removably secured to the carrier. Incident to the carrier assembly being received in the housing, the electrode is subject to a voltage so that flow of charged aerosol particles generates a net air flow through the housing and said charged aerosol particles are deposited on the electrode, and said electrode can be removed from said carrier and placed in an extraction vessel for a bio-specific assay.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for analyzing aerosol particles using an electrokinetic propulsion device including a housing enclosing a high voltage electrode to generate a plasma of electrically charged particles. A carrier assembly removably receivable in the housing includes a non-conductive carrier and a capture electrode removably secured to the carrier. Aerosol particles are deposited on the capture electrode from a volume of air propelled electrokinetically through the device.
After deposition, the capture electrode is removed from the carrier and placed in an extraction vessel. A predetermined volume of extraction fluid is added to the extraction vessel, and the capture electrode is agitated in the extraction fluid for a predetermined time. All or part of the extraction fluid is added to a reaction mixture for analysis of the aerosol particles.
A further aspect of the invention is the removable integration of the capture electrode with the electrokinetic propulsion device, including removing the capture electrode from the carrier and placing it in an extraction workflow for analysis. The disclosed arrangement supports moving from electrokinetic deposition to extraction-vessel processing by using a removable capture electrode that is aligned with counter electrode(s) in the device.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. The first claim focuses on electrokinetic deposition onto a removable capture electrode followed by extraction with an extraction fluid and addition of all or part of that extraction fluid to a reaction mixture. The second claim focuses on depositing aerosol on a removable capture electrode for a select period of time, extracting the captured aerosol particles, and analyzing to determine particle concentration.
Electrokinetic propulsion device with removable capture electrode carrier assembly
Providing an electrokinetic propulsion device including a housing enclosing a high voltage electrode to generate a plasma of electrically charged particles, and a carrier assembly removably receivable in the housing, the carrier assembly comprising a non-conductive carrier and a capture electrode removably secured to the carrier.
Electrokinetic deposition of aerosol particles on the capture electrode
Depositing aerosol particles on said capture electrode from a volume of air propelled electrokinetically through said device.
Extraction-vessel workflow using extraction fluid added to a reaction mixture
Removing said capture electrode from said carrier and placing said capture electrode in an extraction vessel; adding a predetermined volume of extraction fluid to said extraction vessel; agitating said capture electrode in said extraction fluid for a predetermined time; wherein all or part of said extraction fluid is added to a reaction mixture for analysis of said aerosol particles.
Electrokinetic deposition for a select period, extraction, and concentration determination
Depositing aerosol particles on said capture electrode from a volume of air propelled electrokinetically through said device for a select period of time; removing said capture electrode from said carrier and extracting the captured aerosol particles from the capture electrode; and analyzing the captured aerosol particles to determine particle concentration in the volume of air.
Latch-based removability of the capture electrode
Removing said capture electrode using a carrier assembly with a latch slidably received on the carrier to removably secure the capture electrode.
Functional alignment of capture electrodes with counter electrode(s)
Aligning capture electrodes with counter electrode(s) in the device by engaging the carrier assembly with the housing.
Overall, claim coverage centers on an electrokinetic propulsion device that generates a plasma of electrically charged particles, electrokinetic deposition of aerosol particles onto a removable capture electrode carried by a non-conductive carrier, and downstream analysis enabled by removing the capture electrode into an extraction vessel with extraction fluid for addition to a reaction mixture or by extracting and analyzing captured particles to determine particle concentration. Dependent refinements further specify latch-based capture-electrode retention/removal and alignment of the capture electrodes with counter electrode(s) within the housing.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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