KR20240126921A - Device for evaluation of infectious organisms using bio-aerosol and evaluation method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an infectious pathogen evaluation device using a bioaerosol and an infectious pathogen evaluation method using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to an infectious pathogen evaluation device which maintains the inside of a test chamber at a constant temperature and humidity after spraying a bioaerosol containing an infectious pathogen, and evaluates the survival rate of a pathogen according to a material to which the pathogen is attached and the survival rate of a pathogen floating in a test chamber space at a temperature and humidity set by a user, and an evaluation method using the same.

Description

Device for evaluation of infectious organisms using bio-aerosol and evaluation method using the same

The present invention relates to an infectious pathogen evaluation device using a bioaerosol and an infectious pathogen evaluation method using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to an infectious pathogen evaluation device which maintains the inside of a test chamber at a constant temperature and humidity after spraying a bioaerosol containing an infectious pathogen, and evaluates the survival rate of a pathogen according to a material to which the pathogen is attached and the survival rate of a pathogen floating in a test chamber space at a temperature and humidity set by a user, and an evaluation method using the same.

From the SARS outbreak in 2002, to the MERS outbreak in 2016, to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak in 2019, the issue of airborne human infection has been continuously increasing. In particular, the market size for quarantine products such as antibacterial, sterilization, and disinfection has been continuously increasing in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, and along with the recent increase in interest in airborne pathogens, the development of various antibacterial and antiviral products reflecting this is also increasing.

The need for evaluating the viability and inactivation performance of bioaerosols, which are essential for the development of antibacterial and antiviral components for air conditioning equipment used to suppress airborne infectious diseases, has recently increased, but the development of related evaluation devices is very insufficient. In particular, when the test environment, such as temperature and humidity to which the bioaerosol is exposed, cannot be precisely controlled, or when using bioaerosols containing highly contagious pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, accurate evaluation is difficult due to the risk exposure of the user.

As a conventional technology, a device for evaluating the performance or characteristics of a microbial detection device (adhesive sheet) used for capturing microorganisms floating in the air has been developed. For example, a detection device for microorganisms to be evaluated is installed in a closed space such as a chamber device, microorganisms or a microbial suspension are sprayed into the closed space, and a predetermined amount of microorganisms captured by the microbial detection device is tested, thereby evaluating the reliability of the microbial test and evaluating the performance of the microbial detection device at the same time.

However, in the conventional evaluation method of a microbial test environment, it is difficult to secure the stability of the bioaerosol test environment, the reliability of the evaluation result, and the accuracy of the evaluation because fungi (e.g., airborne fungi such as bacteria and fungi) that collide with the inner wall surface of the chamber device used for the bioaerosol test or fungi attached to the inner wall surface affect the test results.

As a background technology of the present invention, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-135476 describes a method for identifying microbial attachment characteristics using a detection device for airborne microorganisms equipped with an impactor collecting means on a portion of an inner wall surface.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an infectious pathogen evaluation device equipped with a bioaerosol injection device to inject bioaerosol containing pathogens into a space separated from the outside and to precisely control the temperature and humidity to a set level, in order to evaluate the survival rate of pathogens according to changes in temperature, humidity, and attachment surface material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for evaluating infectious pathogens in which pathogens sprayed into a chamber are not exposed outside the chamber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for evaluating infectious pathogens, in which a test chamber into which the pathogen is sprayed is detachable and easy to clean internally.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for evaluating infectious pathogens that allows repeated experiments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an infectious pathogen evaluation device including a sampler capable of capturing bioaerosol floating in a space inside a test chamber and evaluating the survival rate of pathogens in the bioaerosol.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention, the claims and the drawings which follow.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a device for evaluating infectious pathogens is provided, comprising: an insulation chamber including a test chamber; and a temperature and humidity control means having the test chamber inside and controlling the temperature and humidity of the test chamber; and an injection unit for injecting bioaerosol; wherein the test chamber includes: an inlet unit into which the bioaerosol is introduced; a deposition unit to which floating pathogens in the bioaerosol are attached; and an exhaust unit for discharging internal air to the outside of the test chamber.

According to one embodiment, the test chamber is equipped with a temperature and humidity sensor, and the temperature and humidity control means of the insulation chamber can control humidity by mixing dry air into moist air formed using a bubbler based on the temperature and humidity measured by the temperature and humidity sensor.

According to one embodiment, the temperature and humidity sensor is located inside the sintered filter, and the sintered filter can be removed, cleaned, and replaced.

In one embodiment, the test chamber can maintain constant temperature and humidity even after bioaerosol introduction.

According to one embodiment, the humidity may be controlled by mixing dry air into the bioaerosol by the temperature and humidity control means.

According to one embodiment, the test chamber may be one or more test chambers removably mounted on the insulation chamber.

In one embodiment, the inlet may include a control means for controlling the inlet of bioaerosol at a predetermined flow rate and pressure.

According to one embodiment, the exhaust portion may further include exhaust means for exhausting air inside the test chamber in proportion to the flow pressure introduced from the inlet portion.

In one embodiment, the discharge portion may be connected to a sampling portion capable of capturing bioaerosol.

In one embodiment, the sampling unit may be a condensation growth sampler.

According to one embodiment, the test chamber and the insulation chamber each have a viewing window on at least one side, and the viewing window surface of the insulation chamber may be surrounded by an openable insulating member.

In one embodiment, the floating pathogen sprayed inside the test chamber may not be released outside the test chamber.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for evaluating an infectious pathogen using an evaluation device for evaluating an infectious pathogen, the method comprising: a) a preparation step of setting a temperature and humidity desired by a user; b) an injection step of injecting a bioaerosol; c) a setting maintenance step of maintaining the set temperature and humidity for a set time to evaluate a pathogen survival rate over time while maintaining the temperature and humidity constant after the bioaerosol injection; d) an exhaust step of exhausting air inside a test chamber to the outside of the test chamber to sample the air to capture bioaerosol floating inside the test chamber; and e) an evaluation step of obtaining a deposition piece inside the test chamber and evaluating at least one of a deposition degree, a survival rate, a decrease in the survival rate, and an inactivation degree of an infectious pathogen.

According to one embodiment, in the setting maintenance step c), the ratio of wet air and dry air for humidity control may be controlled by a program.

According to one embodiment, the discharge step d) may include a step of introducing bioaerosol in the discharged air into a sampling unit and sampling it through a condensation growth unit.

According to one embodiment, the present invention comprises a sampling unit that captures deposited particles and floating infectious pathogens, thereby enabling more accurate measurement of biological characteristics of infectious pathogens according to the material and temperature and humidity of the deposited particles of infectious pathogens.

In one embodiment, the efficiency of temperature and humidity control can be improved by using a dual chamber.

According to one embodiment, by mixing dry air and wet air and controlling the mixing ratio and total flow rate of the dry air and wet air, the constant temperature and constant humidity can be precisely controlled even after the bioaerosol is sprayed. In particular, the temperature and humidity set by the user can be maintained for a certain period of time, enabling more accurate evaluation of infectious pathogens.

According to one embodiment, the infectious pathogen evaluation device of the present invention can accurately evaluate infectious pathogens safely without exposing users to risk, since pathogens sprayed into the chamber are not exposed to the outside of the chamber.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a sintered filter, a replaceable temperature and humidity sensor, and a detachable test chamber, so that internal sterilization is easy, and the degree of pathogen deposition and survival can be confirmed precisely and accurately.

In one embodiment, the infectious pathogen evaluation device of the present invention may be provided with multiple test chambers to enable repeated experiments.

In one embodiment, the temperature and humidity inside the experimental chamber can be directly monitored in real time through the viewing window and controlled through feedback.

According to one embodiment, since wet air is generated using a bubbler rather than directly heating water, safety can be ensured compared to a method using a heater.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a device for evaluating infectious pathogens according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method for evaluating infectious pathogens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The terminology used in this application is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In this application, it should be understood that terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

In this application, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this does not mean excluding other components unless otherwise specifically stated, but rather that other components may be included. In addition, throughout the specification, "on" means located above or below the target part, and does not necessarily mean located on the upper side based on the direction of gravity.

In this specification, the description using the word “for example” or the like should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present invention by any means, including but not limited to, variations in tolerances, measurement errors, limitations of measurement accuracy, and other commonly known factors, as well as the information presented, such as cited characteristics, variables, or values, may not be exact matches.

The present invention can be modified in various ways and has various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are included. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this document, the term pathogen includes microorganisms that cause diseases in humans or animals, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and rickettsia. In the broadest sense, it includes anything that can cause diseases.

The term “airborne pathogen” as used herein refers to a pathogen floating in the air, which is incorporated into a bioaerosol and sprayed into the test chamber of the present invention. The term “attached pathogen” as used herein refers to a pathogen that can exist and/or be attached to a surface of a specific space, including a deposit within the test chamber of the present invention.

Despite the development and launch of various quarantine-related products, research on the change in the state of pathogens according to temperature and humidity of each material of pathogens, especially research on the change in the state of viruses according to temperature and humidity of each material, is very insufficient. In addition, the reliability of the evaluation results is low even in the conventional evaluation method. Therefore, the present inventors have provided an infectious pathogen evaluation device and an infectious pathogen evaluation method that can objectively evaluate the state changes that floating pathogens exhibit according to temperature and humidity of each material.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an infectious pathogen evaluation device capable of evaluating changes in the state of a pathogen by material through precise temperature and humidity control of a bioaerosol containing a pathogen according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an infectious pathogen evaluation device (300) provided according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a test chamber (100); and an insulation chamber (200) including a temperature and humidity control means having the test chamber (100) inside and controlling the temperature and humidity of the test chamber (100); and an injection unit for injecting bioaerosol.

The test chamber (100) includes an inlet (110) into which the bioaerosol is introduced; a deposition piece (120) to which the bioaerosol is attached; and an outlet (140) for discharging internal air to the outside of the test chamber (100). The infectious pathogen evaluation device according to the present invention is configured as a dual chamber having a test chamber (100) inside an insulation chamber (200), so that the temperature and humidity of the test chamber (100) can be precisely controlled without being affected by the temperature and humidity outside. In addition, since the pathogen sprayed inside the test chamber (100) is not exposed to the outside, the user can accurately evaluate the degree of decrease in the survival rate of the infectious pathogen, etc. safely without being exposed to danger.

In addition, the infectious pathogen evaluation device according to the present invention can precisely control the temperature and humidity of the test chamber (100) through the temperature and humidity control means provided in the insulation chamber (200), and after spraying bioaerosol from the spraying unit, the temperature and humidity can be maintained at the same temperature and humidity as before spraying and/or at the temperature and humidity set by the user for a period of time set by the user.

The above temperature and humidity control means is included in the control device (260), and the control device (260) is connected to the temperature and humidity sensor (160), the air and flow control module (216a), the pump (220a), the regulator (220b), the cooler (240), and the heater (240') of the test chamber, as shown in Fig. 1, and can be controlled through these. Specifically, the initial temperature and humidity of the test chamber (100), the bioaerosol pressure and injection amount when injecting bioaerosol, the temperature and humidity after injecting bioaerosol, and the set temperature and humidity maintenance time can be controlled by the control device (260).

The above temperature and humidity control means includes a temperature control unit and a humidity control unit, and the temperature control unit is not limited thereto, but can control the internal temperature of the test chamber (100) using a thermoelectric element and/or a film heater.

The humidity control unit is not limited thereto, but may be composed of an air and mass flow control module (Mass Flow Controller, MFC) (216a), a bubbler (216b), a mixer (Mixer, 216c), and an adsorption dryer (216d). The air and mass flow control module (216a) is a device that measures and controls the flow of gas, and may be used to control the supply flow rate and concentration of the aerosol by adjusting the mixing ratio and total flow rate of dry air and wet air. The air and mass flow control module (216a) is not limited thereto, but may be controlled by a user or an artificial intelligence module as a program. In addition, the present invention may control the concentration of the bioaerosol by humidifying using the bubbler (216b). Specifically, dry air that enters the insulation chamber (200) through a compressor (210) that generates dry air and drives an aerosol generator is mixed with wet air generated using a bubbler (216b) at a ratio set by an air and flow rate control module (216a) through a mixer (216c), which is an internal structure of a fluid movement pipe. Thereafter, the wet air can pass through an adsorption dryer (216d) and be discharged to the outside.

According to one embodiment, the test chamber (100) may be equipped with a temperature and humidity sensor (160), and the temperature and humidity control means equipped in the insulation chamber (200) may control humidity by mixing dry air into moist air formed using a bubbler based on the temperature and humidity measured by the temperature and humidity sensor (160). The temperature and humidity sensor (160) is not limited thereto, but may include a temperature and humidity sensor equipped with a humidity measuring unit that measures a change in humidity using a resistance value between two electrodes; and a temperature measuring unit that detects a change in the resistance value of a material according to temperature and measures a change in temperature.

The inlet (110) into which the bioaerosol is introduced is connected to a spraying unit that sprays the bioaerosol, and the bioaerosol spraying unit is not limited thereto, but may include a pump (220a), an electropneumatic regulator (220b), and a nebulizer (220c). The electropneumatic regulator (220b) maintains the pressure of the compressed air at a set pressure, and controls the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the nebulizer (220c), thereby spraying the bioaerosol at a constant flow rate and pressure. The nebulizer (220c) can generate and spray an aerosol of a constant size using the compressed air.

The above-mentioned sprayed bioaerosol is introduced into the test chamber (100) through the inlet (110), and may be attached to the deposition piece (120) or discharged to the outside of the test chamber (100) through the discharge portion (140).

The term “deposition piece (120)” according to the present invention refers to a specimen for biological and chemical analysis to which a bioaerosol can be attached, and a sample can be settled on the deposition piece (120) by spraying a bioaerosol or applying a sample. The deposition piece (120) is not limited thereto, and may be composed of, for example, wood, fabric, paper, wood, stainless steel, etc., and is not limited thereto as long as it is a material to which a bioaerosol containing an infectious pathogen can be attached. The deposition piece (100) is not limited thereto, but may be a bioaerosol collision collecting means arranged at a certain interval inside the test chamber (100). The deposition piece (100) is not limited thereto, but may have a width and length of 1 cm to 10 cm, and a thickness of the deposition piece (100) of 1 mm to 3 cm may be most appropriate.

Conventional methods for evaluating microbial test environments have made it difficult to secure the reliability and accuracy of evaluation results due to fungi colliding with or attaching to the inner wall surface of an evaluation device used for a bioaerosol test. However, the present invention places a deposition piece (120) at a certain distance from the inside of a test chamber (100) and evaluates the degree of deposition, survival rate, degree of decrease in survival rate, and/or degree of inactivation of an infectious pathogen attached depending on the material of the deposition piece (120). As a result, the evaluation results are not distorted due to fungi colliding with or attaching to the inner wall surface of the evaluation device, and reliable evaluation results can be secured.

According to one embodiment, the temperature and humidity sensor (160) is located inside the sintered filter, and the sintered filter is detachable, so that it can be easily washed and replaced. With the above structure, the temperature and humidity sensor is not affected by contamination due to pathogens attached to the surface of the temperature and humidity sensor due to washing and replacement during sampling, so that the reliability of the infectious pathogen evaluation can be increased.

According to one embodiment, the test chamber (100) can be maintained at a constant temperature and humidity even after the bioaerosol is introduced. The present invention can control the temperature and humidity inside the test chamber (100) to a constant temperature and humidity by using a temperature and humidity control means provided in an insulation chamber (200) surrounding the test chamber (100). Specifically, when the bioaerosol is introduced into the test chamber (100) through the inlet (110), the humidity, temperature, and pressure inside the test chamber (100) are measured using a temperature and humidity sensor (160) and a pressure control unit provided inside the test chamber (100). Thereafter, based on the measured humidity, temperature, and pressure inside the test chamber (100), the ratio of wet air and dry air and the set flow rate of the mixed air are set through the air and flow rate control module (214a) so as to achieve a preset humidity, and the set flow rate is introduced through the inlet (210), so that the humidity inside the test chamber (100) can be maintained constant. In addition, the temperature control can be controlled by a cooler or heater within the insulation chamber (200), but is not limited thereto. By using the test chamber (100) of the present invention maintained at constant temperature and humidity in this manner, the degree of pathogen deposition, survival rate, degree of decrease in survival rate, and/or degree of inactivation according to the deposition piece (120) material can be more accurately evaluated at the temperature and humidity set by the user.

The above test chamber (100) can be maintained at constant temperature and humidity at a relative humidity range of 10 to 90% and a temperature range of 10 to 40°C, but is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment, the test chamber (100) may be one or more test chambers detachably provided in the insulation chamber (200). The infectious pathogen evaluation device according to the present invention has improved the problem that conventional microbial evaluation devices are fixed inside, making it difficult to sterilize and clean the inside of the evaluation device. The test chamber (100) according to the present invention is detachably provided in the insulation chamber (200), so that when sterilizing, cleaning, or replacing the inside of the test chamber (100), only the test chamber module (100) can be separated, thereby maximizing the convenience of the user. In addition, by using two or more test chambers (100), the survival rate of a pathogen over time can be evaluated or repeated experiments can be performed.

According to one embodiment, the inlet (110) may include a control means for controlling the introduction of bioaerosol at a constant flow rate and pressure. By using the control means, bioaerosol can be sprayed at a constant flow rate and pressure into a closed test chamber (100), thereby limiting and defining the variables of the bioaerosol as a function of the spray amount.

According to one embodiment, a pressure control unit for controlling the pressure of the test chamber (100) may be further included. The pressure control unit may measure the amount of change in pressure that increases when bioaerosol is introduced into the test chamber (100) and control the pressure by discharging a constant flow rate through the discharge unit (140).

According to one embodiment, the discharge unit (140) may further include a discharge means for discharging air inside the test chamber in proportion to the flow pressure introduced from the inlet unit (110). The discharge means maintains the pressure inside the sealed test chamber (100) constant, thereby enabling more precise control of the temperature and humidity of the test chamber (100).

According to one embodiment, the discharge unit (140) may be connected to a sampling unit (280) capable of capturing and sampling bioaerosol in real time. The sampling unit (280) may, but is not limited to, evaluate the degree of decrease in the survival rate of infectious pathogens contained in the bioaerosol in real time, and compare this with the deposition fragment to obtain a more reliable evaluation result.

According to one embodiment, the sampling unit (280) connected to the discharge unit (140) may be, but is not limited to, a condensation growth sampler. The condensation growth sampler can sample bioaerosols by condensing and growing them at regular time intervals, thereby enabling the evaluation of infectious pathogens in bioaerosols over time.

According to one embodiment, the test chamber (100) and the insulation chamber (200) may each be provided with a visible window (180) on at least one side to allow the interior to be visually observed. The test chamber (100) and the insulation chamber (200) according to the present invention can directly visually check whether the flow of fluid is appropriate through the visible window (180), and can prevent problems occurring in the evaluation device (300) in advance or take quick and effective measures when an abnormality occurs. The visible window surface of the insulation chamber (200) according to the present invention is not limited thereto, but may have a structure surrounded by an insulating member (200a) that can be opened and closed in order to increase insulation efficiency.

Figure 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method for evaluating infectious pathogens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the infectious pathogen evaluation method using the infectious pathogen evaluation device of the present invention according to another aspect includes: a) a preparation step (S10) of setting a temperature and humidity desired by the user; b) an injection step (S20) of injecting a bioaerosol; c) a setting maintenance step (S30) of maintaining the set temperature and humidity for a set time to evaluate the pathogen survival rate over time while maintaining the temperature and humidity constant after the bioaerosol injection; d) a discharge step (S40) of discharging the air inside the test chamber to the outside of the test chamber to sample it in order to capture the bioaerosol floating inside the test chamber; and e) an evaluation step (S50) of obtaining a deposition piece inside the test chamber and evaluating at least one of the degree of deposition, the degree of survival rate, the degree of reduction in the degree of survival rate, and the degree of inactivation of the infectious pathogen.

According to one embodiment, in the preparation step a), the user can set the initial temperature and humidity for evaluating the behavior of the infectious pathogen (S10). Through this, the user can check the degree of deposition, survival rate, degree of reduction in survival rate, and/or degree of inactivation of the infectious pathogen, which change depending on the material of the deposition piece at the set temperature and humidity.

According to one embodiment, in the injection step b), the infectious pathogen evaluation device according to the present invention can inject a culture solution containing a bioaerosol, the concentration of which has been confirmed in advance in units of CFU/ml or PFU/ml, at a constant flow rate and pressure (S20). When the bioaerosol is injected, the increased humidity is measured by the temperature and humidity sensor (160) inside the test chamber (100), and the humidity inside the test chamber (100) can be constantly maintained at the set humidity by controlling the flow rate control module (216a) to increase the ratio of dry air. In addition, the temperature after the bioaerosol is injected can be controlled to a constant temperature at the set temperature through the cooler (240) and the heater (240'). In the present invention, the ratio of wet air and dry air for humidity control is not limited thereto, but may be set by a program by an artificial intelligence module. The program means that the computer learns based on pre-learned data and controls itself through this, even without a person directly instructing the computer with logic. The center can set the ratio of wet air and dry air using an artificial intelligence program capable of machine learning, and by using this, the temperature and humidity inside the test chamber can be precisely controlled without the user's logical instructions.

According to one embodiment, in the setting maintenance step c), the infectious pathogen evaluation device according to the present invention can maintain the set temperature and humidity for a set time for evaluation after spraying the aerosol in order to evaluate the survival rate of the pathogen according to the temperature and humidity, attachment surface material conditions, and time (S30). The set time is not limited thereto, but may be a time for an infectious pathogen to attach to a deposition piece, a time for evaluating the survival rate of a pathogen floating in a chamber space, or a repeat experiment time. As described above, in the present invention, the ratio of wet air and dry air for humidity control is not limited thereto, but may be set by a program by an artificial intelligence module.

According to one embodiment, the discharge step d) is a step of introducing the bioaerosol in the discharged air into the sampling unit and sampling it (S40). As described above, in order to evaluate the degree of decrease in the survival rate and the degree of inactivation of the infectious pathogen, the present invention simultaneously performs analysis of the attached pathogen attached to the deposition piece and analysis of the floating pathogen by the sampling unit that captures the bioaerosol discharged outside the test chamber, thereby deriving a more reliable evaluation result than measuring by only one of these methods.

According to one embodiment, the evaluation step e) may evaluate, but is not limited to, one or more of the deposition degree, survival rate, survival rate reduction degree, and inactivation degree of an infectious pathogen in the air according to the material of the deposition piece, and temperature and humidity (S50). According to the present invention, the deposition degree, survival rate, survival rate reduction degree, and inactivation degree of an infectious pathogen may differ depending on the material of the deposition piece, temperature, and humidity. Using this, the deposition degree, survival rate, survival rate reduction degree, and inactivation degree of an airborne virus due to changes in temperature and humidity can be evaluated depending on the material of the deposition piece.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail through examples. However, these examples are only intended to illustrate the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not to be construed as being limited by these examples.

Example

Example 1. Infectious pathogen evaluation device and evaluation method using aerosol

The present inventors developed a device for evaluating deposition, temperature and humidity variables affecting the survival rate of bioaerosol, and evaluated the degree of deposition, survival rate, degree of decrease in survival rate, and degree of inactivation of infectious pathogens according to deposition, under constant temperature and humidity conditions where a specific temperature and humidity are maintained. Specific examples are as follows.

1-1. Fabrication of a device for evaluating infectious pathogens

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a device for evaluating infectious pathogens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the infectious pathogen evaluation device (300) according to the present invention is manufactured with a test chamber (100) and an insulation chamber (200) having the test chamber (100) inside. The insulation chamber (200) is manufactured to include a temperature and humidity control means for controlling the temperature and humidity of the test chamber (100) and an injection unit for injecting bioaerosol.

In addition, the test chamber (100) is manufactured to include an inlet (110) into which the bioaerosol is introduced, a deposition piece (120) that adsorbs or captures floating pathogens at a certain distance from the side of the bioaerosol, and an exhaust part (140) that discharges internal air to the outside of the test chamber, and is manufactured to be detachably attached to the insulation chamber (200).

Dry air, which is introduced into the insulation chamber (200) through a compressor (210) that generates dry air and drives an aerosol generator, is mixed with wet air generated using a bubbler (216b) at a ratio set by an air and flow rate control module (216a) and introduced into the test chamber (100) through an inlet (110), alone or mixed with bioaerosol. In addition, a flow rate corresponding to the introduced constant flow rate is discharged into the test chamber (100) through an outlet (140).

The above inlet (110) is manufactured to be connected to the injection unit, and the injection unit is connected to a pump (220a), a regulator (220b), and a nebulizer (220c), so as to control the pressure of the supplied compressed air and inject the bioaerosol at a constant flow rate and pressure.

Infectious pathogens in bioaerosol introduced into the test chamber (100) are attached to the deposition fragment (120) within the test chamber (100) or pass through the test chamber (100) and are captured by condensation and growth in the sampling section (280).

1-2. Evaluation method

Figure 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method for evaluating infectious pathogens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the method for evaluating an infectious pathogen according to the present invention proceeded with a preparation step (step a, S10), an injection step (step b, S20), a setting maintenance step (step c, S30), a discharge step (step d, S40), and an evaluation step (step e, S50).

The above preparation step (step a, S10) is a step for setting the temperature and humidity inside the chamber to the temperature and humidity set by the user. At this time, the initial temperature inside the test chamber was controlled using a thermoelectric generator and a film heater, and the initial humidity was controlled by setting the ratio of dry air and wet air by an air and flow rate control module (216a), and air mixed at the set ratio was introduced into the test chamber (100). At this time, the wet air was humidified using a bubbler (216a).

The above injection step (step b, S20) is a step of spraying a culture solution containing a bioaerosol whose concentration has been confirmed in units of CFU/ml or PFU/ml in advance at a constant flow rate and pressure. After the bioaerosol is sprayed, the increased humidity is measured by a temperature and humidity sensor (160) inside the test chamber (100), and the flow rate control module (216a) is adjusted to increase the ratio of dry air, thereby maintaining the humidity inside the test chamber (100) constant. At this time, the temperature after the bioaerosol is sprayed is controlled to a constant temperature through a cooler (240) and a heater (240’).

The above setting maintenance step (step c, S30) was performed to evaluate the degree of decrease in the survival rate of pathogens over time according to temperature, humidity, and attachment surface material conditions while maintaining the temperature and humidity of the test chamber (100) constant for a time set by the user.

The above discharge step (step d, S40) discharged a pressure equal to the flow rate and the rising pressure measured by the pressure control unit inside the test chamber (100) to the outside of the test chamber (100), which was then introduced into the bioaerosol sampling unit (280) connected to the discharge unit (140), and an evaluation of the bioaerosol floating inside the test chamber (100) was performed.

The above evaluation step (step e, S50) is to obtain a deposit (120) in a test chamber (100) and evaluate the decrease in the survival rate of an infectious pathogen, and the infectious pathogen evaluation was conducted together with the sampling section (280).

result

Due to the structure of the test chamber (100) and the insulation chamber (200) of the present invention, the test chamber (100) of the present invention can control the relative humidity in the range of 10 to 90% and the temperature in the range of 10 to 40°C. In addition, the double chamber structure can precisely maintain constant temperature and constant humidity.

In addition, the test chamber (100) of the main body is detachable from the insulation chamber (200), so that multiple test chambers (100) prepared in advance can be used when evaluating the survival rate of pathogens over time, thereby increasing user convenience.

The temperature and humidity sensor inside the sintered filter placed inside the test chamber (100) of this center can be cleaned and replaced by simply removing the sintered filter, thereby reducing the influence of errors caused by pathogens attached to the surface of the temperature and humidity sensor and increasing user convenience.

The evaluation device according to the present invention defines the injection amount as a function of the injection amount by injecting a pressure of a certain flow rate, and minimizes the influence of other variables.

Furthermore, in addition to the user's logic input, the final temperature and humidity can be adjusted by machine learning, so that constant temperature and humidity can be maintained automatically without the user's logic instructions.

The evaluation of infectious pathogens according to this study was conducted using a condensation growth sampler through the sediment and discharge sections, which allowed for the acquisition of reliable evaluation results.

In this way, the present invention developed an infectious pathogen evaluation device, and provided a method for objectively evaluating in real time the degree of deposition, survival rate, degree of decrease in survival rate, and degree of inactivation of infectious pathogens contained in airborne bioaerosols in a standardized manner according to the material of the deposition piece, temperature and humidity. In addition, the present invention provided an infectious pathogen evaluation method with high reliability and accuracy by combining two analysis methods using deposition piece and bioaerosol samplers, which can evaluate regardless of the type of pathogen in a closed space.

Although the detailed description of the present invention has described specific embodiments, it is obvious that various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined by the claims and equivalents of the claims.

100 test chambers
110 inlet
120 Calm
140 discharge section
160 Temperature and Humidity Sensor
180 thorn window
200 Insulation Chamber
200a insulation member
210 Compressor
216a Air and Flow Control Module
216b bubbler
216c mixer
216d adsorption dryer
220a pump
220b professional regulator
220c nebulizer
240 cooler
240' heater
260 Control Unit
280 sampling section
300 Infectious Pathogen Evaluation Device

Claims (15)

test chamber; and
An insulation chamber including a temperature and humidity control means for controlling the temperature and humidity of the test chamber, and a spraying unit for spraying bioaerosol; having the test chamber inside;
The above test chamber is,
Inlet port into which the above bioaerosol is introduced;
A deposit on which floating pathogens are attached within the bioaerosol; and
An infectious pathogen evaluation device, comprising an exhaust port for exhausting internal air outside the test chamber. In the first paragraph,
The above test chamber is equipped with a temperature and humidity sensor,
The temperature and humidity control means of the above insulation chamber is an infectious pathogen evaluation device that controls humidity by mixing dry air into moist air formed using a bubbler based on the temperature and humidity measured by the temperature and humidity sensor. In the second paragraph,
The above temperature and humidity sensor is located inside the sintered filter,
The above sintered filter is a device for evaluating infectious pathogens that can be removed, washed and replaced. In the first paragraph,
The above test chamber is an infectious pathogen evaluation device that maintains constant temperature and humidity even after bioaerosol introduction. In paragraph 4,
The above humidity is an infectious pathogen evaluation device in which humidity is controlled by mixing dry air into the bioaerosol by the temperature and humidity control means. In the first paragraph,
An infectious pathogen evaluation device, wherein the test chamber is at least one test chamber removably provided in the insulation chamber. In the first paragraph,
An infectious pathogen evaluation device, wherein the inlet section includes a control means for controlling the inflow of bioaerosol at a constant flow rate and pressure. In the first paragraph,
An infectious pathogen evaluation device, wherein the discharge portion further includes a discharge means for discharging air inside the test chamber in proportion to the flow pressure introduced from the inlet portion. In the first paragraph,
The above-mentioned discharge unit is an infectious pathogen evaluation device connected to a sampling unit capable of capturing bioaerosol. In Article 9,
The above sampling unit is an infectious pathogen evaluation device which is a condensation growth sampler. In the first paragraph,
The above test chamber and insulation chamber each have a viewing window on at least one side,
An infectious pathogen evaluation device, wherein the visible window surface of the above insulation chamber is surrounded by an openable insulating member. In the first paragraph,
An infectious pathogen evaluation device in which floating pathogens sprayed inside the test chamber are not released outside the test chamber. In a method for evaluating infectious pathogens using an infectious pathogen evaluation device described in any one of claims 1 to 12,
The above infectious pathogen evaluation method is,
a) Preparatory step where the user sets the desired temperature and humidity;
b) Injection step for injecting bioaerosol;
c) A setting maintenance step for maintaining the set temperature and humidity for a set time to evaluate the pathogen survival rate over time while maintaining the temperature and humidity constant after the bioaerosol injection;
d) an exhaust step for sampling by exhausting the air inside the test chamber to the outside of the test chamber to capture the bioaerosol floating inside the test chamber; and
e) An infectious pathogen evaluation method, comprising: an evaluation step of obtaining a deposition piece in a test chamber and evaluating at least one of the degree of deposition, survival rate, degree of reduction in survival rate, and degree of inactivation of the infectious pathogen. In Article 13,
A method for evaluating an infectious pathogen, wherein in the above setting maintenance step c), the ratio of wet air and dry air for humidity control is controlled by a program. In Article 13,
The above discharge step d) is a method for evaluating an infectious pathogen, which includes a step of introducing bioaerosol in the discharged air into a sampling unit and sampling it through a condensation growth phase.