A small area electrostatic aerosol collector combines electrostatic collection of aerosol particles and electrohydrodynamic spraying of fluid so that a sample collected electrostatically can have fluid applied thereto. The fluid may assist with disaggregation and/or desalinization of biological mate
A small area electrostatic aerosol collector combines electrostatic collection of aerosol particles and electrohydrodynamic spraying of fluid so that a sample collected electrostatically can have fluid applied thereto. The fluid may assist with disaggregation and/or desalinization of biological material collected onto a sample substrate. A controller associated with the collector may control an electrostatic charge device and a spraying device such that the charge device and spraying device may operate in alternating fashion, or the charge device and spraying device may operate simultaneously. Further, mechanical systems are provided, for the disaggregation of particulate clusters collected onto a sample substrate.
대표청구항▼
1. An electrostatic aerosol collector comprising: a collector housing;an aerosol entry port that provides an inlet for air to flow from outside of the collector housing to the inside of the housing, wherein the aerosol entry port is open to atmosphere;a sample substrate receiving area within the col
1. An electrostatic aerosol collector comprising: a collector housing;an aerosol entry port that provides an inlet for air to flow from outside of the collector housing to the inside of the housing, wherein the aerosol entry port is open to atmosphere;a sample substrate receiving area within the collector housing that receives a sample substrate including a collection area upon which particulates are collected;a passageway defined by ductwork that directly connects the aerosol entry port to the sample substrate receiving area;a pump that draws ambient air into the aerosol entry port and through the passageway defined by the ductwork;a charging device having an electrode at least partially positioned within the passageway;a high voltage power source coupled to the charging device; anda spraying device having a spray nozzle, the spraying device at least partially positioned within the passageway;wherein: a tip of the electrode creates an electric field defining a charging point in the passageway through which the air passes;the sample substrate is held at an electric potential that is different from the electric potential of the charging point during particulate collection; andthe spraying device sprays a fluid from the spray nozzle over the collection area of the sample substrate, where the fluid is specifically selected to prepare the collected sample for subsequent evaluation. 2. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: a collection needle holder that supports the electrode within the collector housing;wherein: the collection needle holder includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust the positioning of the electrode within the ductwork. 3. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment mechanism allows for user-adjustable control of the angle of the electrode and the positioning of the electrode within the ductwork. 4. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: an electrohydrodynamic nozzle holder that passes through the body of the collector housing and supports the spraying device within the collector housing;wherein: the electrohydrodynamic nozzle holder includes an adjustment device to adjust the position of the spray nozzle within the ductwork. 5. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment device allows for user-adjustable control of the angle of the of the spray nozzle and the amount of penetration of the nozzle within the ductwork. 6. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: a collection needle holder that supports the electrode within the collector housing, wherein: andthe collection needle holder includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust the positioning of the electrode within the ductwork; andan electrohydrodynamic nozzle holder that passes through the body of the collector housing and supports the spraying device within the collector housing, wherein: andthe electrohydrodynamic nozzle holder includes an adjustment device to adjust the position of the spray nozzle within the ductwork. 7. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: a controller that controls the charging device and the spraying device such that the charging device and spraying device operate in alternating fashion, wherein: the controller holds the charging device at a high voltage when the spraying device is being operated at an operating potential of the spraying device, andthe controller holds the spraying device at a high voltage when the charging device is being operated at an operating potential of the charging device. 8. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 7, wherein: the high voltage set by the controller to hold the charging device is less than the operating potential of the charging device; andthe high voltage set by the controller to hold the spraying device is less than the operating potential of the spraying device. 9. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: a controller that controls the charging device and the spraying device such that the charging device and spraying device operate substantially simultaneously. 10. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: a high voltage source is coupled to the spraying device; andat least six millimeters separates the spray nozzle from the electrode. 11. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: the spray nozzle of the spraying device includes a bend therein;the bend of the spray nozzle is along the length of the spray nozzle;the spray nozzle is positioned within the passageway such that the spray nozzle enters the passageway at a non-zero and non-ninety degree angle with reference to the passageway; andan exit of the spray nozzle points substantially down towards the collection area of the sample substrate. 12. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: the tip of the electrode is positioned within the passageway; andthe spray nozzle is positioned within the passageway below the tip of the electrode, such that an exit of the spray nozzle is closer to the collection area of the sample substrate than a tip of the electrode. 13. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: the electrode and the spray nozzle enter the passageway from substantially opposite sides of the passageway such that only a tip of the electrode and an exit of the spray nozzle extend at least substantially to the center of the passageway, above of the sample collection area. 14. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: the spray nozzle is in a closed space, positioned within at least two concentric cylinders, including an inner concentric cylinder that is a non-conductive cylinder arranged to insulate the charged spray nozzle and the outer concentric cylinder comprises a conductive cylinder. 15. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 14, wherein the outer concentric cylinder defines a grounded sleeve that is spaced from the inner cylinder and surrounds an exit of the spray nozzle. 16. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: the fluid injected by the spraying device comprises at least water and ethanol;the fluid sprayed by the spraying device performs at least one of: disaggregates clusters of the collected biological material; anddesalinizes the collected biological materials collected within the collection area of the sample substrate; anda spray pattern of the spraying device is controlled by at least one of: the flow rate of the corresponding fluid;the angle of the needle implementing the spray nozzle; andthe geometry of the exit of the spray nozzle. 17. The electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: a disaggregation holder assembly positioned so as to be able to transfer vibrational energy to the sample substrate, the disaggregation holder assembly comprising:a top plate that secures to a bottom plate such that a channel is positioned between the top plate and the bottom plate;an eccentric mass vibrator motor received in the channel between the top plate and the bottom plate; anda spring plunger fed through the bottom plate so as to allow for variable vibration and amplitude control of the eccentric mass vibrator motor. 18. The small area electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: a holder positioned so as to be able to transfer vibrational energy to the sample substrate, the holder comprising:a mounting block that holds a vibrator motor; anda vibrator cap supported by the mounting block over the motor, wherein the vibrator cap further comprises: an extrusion that localizes vibrations to the collection area of the sample substrate and further minimizes vibration induced into the collector;an edge that sits the housing to prevent vibrations from walking around the holder; andan upper edge that retains the motor in the holder. 19. The small area electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1 further comprising: an assembly positioned so as to be able to transfer vibrational energy to the sample substrate, the assembly comprising: a mounting block having a substrate mounting surface that couples to the sample substrate and a vacuum chuck groove;a vibrator motor held by the mounting block;a vibrator cap supported by the mounting block that retains vibrations of the vibrator motor and localizes vibrations to the area of the sample substrate; anda spring plunger that retains the vibrator motor with respect to the mounting block and allows for variable vibration and amplitude control of the vibrator motor. 20. The small area electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: the tip of the electrode is positioned within the passageway; andthe spray nozzle is positioned within the passageway between the tip of the electrode and the sample substrate receiving area. 21. The small area electrostatic aerosol collector according to claim 1, wherein: the electrode passes through the ductwork at an angle such that the tip of the electrode is positioned in the passageway; andthe spraying device passes through the ductwork such that the spray nozzle of the spray device is positioned in the passageway. 22. An electrostatic aerosol collector comprising: a collector housing;an aerosol entry port that provides an inlet for air to flow from outside of the collector housing to the inside of the housing;a sample substrate receiving area within the collector housing that receives a sample substrate including a collection area upon which particulates are collected;a passageway defined by ductwork that directly connects the aerosol entry port to the sample substrate receiving area;a charging device having an electrode at least partially positioned within the passageway;a high voltage power source coupled to the charging device; anda spraying device having a spray nozzle, the spraying device at least partially positioned within the passageway, wherein the spray nozzle is enclosed in close proximity to a nonconductive cylinder and the nonconductive cylinder is positioned within a conductive cylinder;wherein: a tip of the electrode creates an electric field defining a charging point in the passageway through which the air passes;the sample substrate is held at an electric potential that is different from the electric potential of the charging point during particulate collection; andthe spraying device sprays a fluid from the spray nozzle over the collection area of the sample substrate, where the fluid is specifically selected to prepare the collected sample for subsequent evaluation. 23. An electrostatic aerosol collector comprising: a collector housing;an aerosol entry port that provides an inlet for air to flow from outside of the collector housing to the inside of the housing;a sample substrate receiving area within the collector housing that receives a sample substrate including a collection area upon which particulates are collected;a passageway defined by ductwork that directly connects the aerosol entry port to the sample substrate receiving area;a charging device having an electrode at least partially positioned within the passageway;a high voltage power source coupled to the charging device;a spraying device having a spray nozzle, the spraying device at least partially positioned within the passageway; anda motor positioned under the sample substrate that is operable to vibrate so as to cause disaggregation of clusters of the collected biological material collected within the collection area of the sample substrate;wherein: a tip of the electrode creates an electric field defining a charging point in the passageway through which the air passes;the sample substrate is held at an electric potential that is different from the electric potential of the charging point during particulate collection; andthe spraying device sprays a fluid from the spray nozzle over the collection area of the sample substrate, where the fluid is specifically selected toprepare the collected sample for subsequent evaluation.
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