Abstract: A novel filter effectiveness detection method for AMCs (Airborne Molecular Contaminations) is provided herein, which is on-line, economical and applicable for diverse AMCs, using gas-to-particle conversion with soft X-ray irradiation radiation. In one embodiment, this method was conducted through AMC filter evaluations comparing two granular activated carbons (GACs), which are widely used AMC filter media, challenged with sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is one of the major known AMCs in cleanrooms. Using this method, the concentration of gaseous SO2 was assessed in terms of particle volume concentrations after the gas-to-particle conversion assisted by the soft X-ray irradiation. The results of this detection method showed high sensitivity to SO2, down to parts per trillion-levels, which are levels that are too low to be detectable by currently available commercial gas sensors.

Abstract: An adaptive spray cleaning system includes a gas tunnel having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A sprayer assembly is between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The sprayer assembly includes at least one sprayer array having at least one spray nozzle. The at least one spray nozzle is directed into the gas tunnel. The sprayer assembly includes at least one variable spray configuration characteristic. A sprayer assembly control system is coupled with the at least one sprayer array. The sprayer assembly control system includes one or more sensors proximate at least one of the gas inlet or the gas outlet. The one or more sensors are configured to measure a pollutant characteristic. A controller is in communication with the one or more sensors and the sprayer assembly. The controller is configured to control the at least one variable spray configuration characteristic according to the measured pollutant characteristic.

Abstract: Devices to deliver one or more active ingredients for medical treatment may include a body of material presenting a surface including a polymer adapted to be rendered conductive such that one or more layers of electrospray particles are formable thereon or a body of conductive material presenting a surface upon which one or more layers of electrospray particles are formable thereon. A coating formed of electrospray particles may be deposited to adhere on the surface of the body of material (e.g., the coating may include one or more layers of coating material, at least one layer of the one or more layers of coating material may include an open matrix coating, the open matrix coating may include one or more active ingredients, the open matrix coating may include one or more polymers and one or more active ingredients, etc.).

Abstract: A novel filter effectiveness detection method for AMCs (Airborne Molecular Contaminations) is provided herein, which is on-line, economical and applicable for diverse AMCs, using gas-to-particle conversion with soft X-ray irradiation radiation. In one embodiment, this method was conducted through AMC filter evaluations comparing two granular activated carbons (GACs), which are widely used AMC filter media, challenged with sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is one of the major known AMCs in cleanrooms. Using this method, the concentration of gaseous SO2 was assessed in terms of particle volume concentrations after the gas-to-particle conversion assisted by the soft X-ray irradiation. The results of this detection method showed high sensitivity to SO2, down to parts per trillion-levels, which are levels that are too low to be detectable by currently available commercial gas sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing a totality of particles selects a class of the totality of particles having a defined mobility; determines the total particle concentration of the class of particles; filters the class of particles using the filter apparatus and determines a filtered particle concentration indicative of the particles of the class which penetrate the filter apparatus; and determines at least one morphological parameter based on the fraction of particles of a class penetrating the filter apparatus.

Abstract: Devices to deliver one or more active ingredients for medical treatment may include a body of material presenting a surface including a polymer adapted to be rendered conductive such that one or more layers of electrospray particles are formable thereon or a body of conductive material presenting a surface upon which one or more layers of electrospray particles are formable thereon. A coating formed of electrospray particles may be deposited to adhere on the surface of the body of material (e.g., the coating may include one or more layers of coating material, at least one layer of the one or more layers of coating material may include an open matrix coating, the open matrix coating may include one or more active ingredients, the open matrix coating may include one or more polymers and one or more active ingredients, etc.).

Abstract: Spraying apparatus and methods that employ multiple nozzle structures for producing multiple sprays of particles, e.g., nanoparticles, for various applications, e.g., pharmaceuticals, are provided. For example, an electrospray dispensing device may include a plurality of nozzle structures, wherein each nozzle structure is separated from adjacent nozzle structures by an internozzle distance. Sprays of particles are established from the nozzle structures by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the nozzle structures and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom.

Abstract: Electrospray methods and systems for coating of objects (e.g., medical devices such as a stent structure) with selected types of coatings (e.g., open matrix coating and closed film coating).

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing a totality of particles selects a class of the totality of particles having a defined mobility; determines the total particle concentration of the class of particles; filters the class of particles using the filter apparatus and determines a filtered particle concentration indicative of the particles of the class which penetrate the filter apparatus; and determines at least one morphological parameter based on the fraction of particles of a class penetrating the filter apparatus.

Abstract: A method is proposed for characterizing a totality of particles. The method can be used in particular for characterizing microparticular or nanoparticular aerosols. The method comprises the following steps: a) in a classification step, a class of the totality is selected, wherein the particles of the selected class have a prespecified mobility dm; b) in a counting step, a number N of the particles of the selected class is determined; c) in a charge determination step, a charge Q of the particles of the selected class is determined; and d) in an evaluation step, at least one morphological parameter is determined from the charge Q, the number N and the mobility dm, wherein the morphological parameter comprises at least one item of information about an agglomerate state of the particles.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coating at least a portion of a medical device (e.g., a stent structure) include providing a plurality of coating particles (e.g., monodisperse coating particles) in a defined volume. For example, the particles may be provided using one or more nozzle structures, wherein each nozzle structure includes at least one opening terminating at a dispensing end. The plurality of coating particles may be provided in the defined volume by dispensing a plurality of microdroplets having an electrical charge associated therewith from the dispensing ends of the one or more nozzle structures through use of a nonuniform electrical field between the dispensing ends and the medical device. Electrical charge is concentrated on the particle as the microdroplet evaporates. With a plurality of coating particles provided in the defined volume, such particles can be moved towards at least one surface of the medical device to form a coating thereon (e.g.

Abstract: Electrospray methods and systems for coating of objects (e.g., medical devices such as a stent structure) with selected types of coatings (e.g.

Abstract: Spraying apparatus and methods that employ multiple nozzle structures for producing multiple sprays of particles, e.g., nanoparticles, for various applications, e.g., pharmaceuticals, are provided. For example, an electrospray dispensing device may include a plurality of nozzle structures, wherein each nozzle structure is separated from adjacent nozzle structures by an interozzle distance. Sprays of particles are established from the nozzle structures by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the nozzle structures and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom.

Abstract: An electrospraying apparatus and/or method is used to coat particles. For example, a flow including at least one liquid suspension may be provided through at least one opening at a spray dispenser end. The flow includes at least particles and a coating material. A spray of microdroplets suspending at least the particles is established forward of the spray dispenser end by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the spray dispenser end and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom. The particles are coated with at least a portion of the coating material as the microdroplet evaporates. For example, the suspension may include biological material particles.

Abstract: Electrospray methods and systems for coating of objects (e.g., medical devices such as a stent structure) with an open matrix coating. The open matrix coating is formed by electrospray using one or more nozzle structures each having at least an inner and outer opening. A first flow of a liquid spray composition is provided to the inner opening and a second flow of a liquid diluent composition is provided to the outer opening (e.g., the liquid diluent composition including at least one solvent, such as a composition having a dielectric constant equal to or greater than 10).

Abstract: An instrument for non-invasively measuring nanoparticle exposure includes a corona discharge element generating ions to effect unipolar diffusion charging of an aerosol, followed by an ion trap for removing excess ions and a portion of the charged particles with electrical mobilities above a threshold. Downstream, an electrically conductive HEPA filter or other collecting element accumulates the charged particles and provides the resultant current to an electrometer amplifier. The instrument is tunable to alter the electrometer amplifier output toward closer correspondence with a selected function describing particle behavior, e.g. nanoparticle deposition in a selected region of the respiratory system. Tuning entails adjusting voltages applied to one or more of the ion trap, the corona discharge element and the collecting element. Alternatively, tuning involves adjusting the aerosol flow rate, either directly or in comparison to the flow rate of a gas conducting the ions toward merger with the aerosol.

Abstract: Spraying apparatus and methods that employ multiple nozzle structures for producing multiple sprays of particles, e.g., nanoparticles, for various applications, e.g., pharmaceuticals, are provided. For example, an electrospray dispensing device may include a plurality of nozzle structures, wherein each nozzle structure is separated from adjacent nozzle structures by an internozzle distance. Sprays of particles are established from the nozzle structures by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the nozzle structures and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom.

Abstract: A method is proposed for characterizing a totality of particles (318). The method can be used in particular for charactering microparticular or nanoparticular aerosols. The method comprises the following steps: a) in a classification step, a class of the totality is selected, wherein the particles (318) of the selected class have a prespecified mobility dm; b) in a counting step, a number N of the particles (318) of the selected class is determined; c) in a charge determination step, a charge Q of the particles (318) of the selected class is determined; and d) in an evaluation step, at least one morphological parameter is determined from the charge Q, the number N and the mobility dm, wherein the morphological parameter comprises at least one item of information about an agglomerate state of the particles (318).

Abstract: Spraying apparatus and methods that employ multiple nozzle structures for producing multiple sprays of particles, e.g., nanoparticles, for various applications, e.g., pharmaceuticals, are provided. For example, an electrospray dispensing device may include a plurality of nozzle structures, wherein each nozzle structure is separated from adjacent nozzle structures by an internozzle distance. Sprays of particles are established from the nozzle structures by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the nozzle structures and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom.

Abstract: An electrospraying apparatus and/or method is used to coat particles. For example, a flow including at least one liquid suspension may be provided through at least one opening at a spray dispenser end. The flow includes at least particles and a coating material. A spray of microdroplets suspending at least the particles is established forward of the spray dispenser end by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the spray dispenser end and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom. The particles are coated with at least a portion of the coating material as the microdroplet evaporates. For example, the suspension may include biological material particles.