Microfabricated surfaces for the physical capture of insects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9468203-B2
Application number	US-201314381890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2013
Priority date	Feb 29, 2012
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

Novel devices and methods of capturing, controlling and preventing infestation of insects using microfabricated surfaces are provided. In particular, a mechanism of insect capture inspired by the microstructures of the leaf surfaces of plants and the key features of those surfaces with respect to the capture and control of pests have been determined and engineered into a variety of microfabricated surfaces capable of reproducing the effectiveness of these physical capture methods.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A microfabricated insect capturing surface comprising:
a substrate defining a plane;
a plurality of insect capture surface microstructures each formed from a flexible elongated member, the plurality of surface microstructures being disposed on the substrate with a variable orientation to the plane of the substrate and at a density sufficient such that multiple insect capture surface microstructures are capable of simultaneously interacting with an insect disposed thereon;
wherein at least some of the surface microstructures have a recurved body capable of entangling the insect, and wherein at least some of the surface microstructures include a piercing element being sufficiently rigid and sharp to pierce the insect body;
wherein the surface microstructures are formed from a material having a breaking stress sufficiently large to avoid breakage during interaction with the insect; and
wherein the surface microstructures have at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of piercing elements having a diameter of about 100 to 1000 nm, a Young's Modulus of from 1 to 23 GPa, a shape modeled on a plant trichome, and a density of between 20 to 300 surface microstructures per millimeter of substrate.

2. The microfabricated surface of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of insect capture surface microstructures has a recurved body and wherein at least one piercing element is incorporated onto each of said insect capture surface microstructures.

3. The microfabricated surface of claim 2 , wherein the piercing element is disposed at the terminating end of the elongated member.

4. The microfabricated surface of claim 2 , wherein the surface microstructures include at least two piercing elements, and wherein the elements are disposed along the body of elongated member.

5. The microfabricated surface of claim 1 , wherein the recurved body is formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of a hook, curve, loop or hoop.

6. The microfabricated surface of claim 1 , wherein the piercing element is selected from the group consisting of a sharp point, hook or barb.

7. The microfabricated surface of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of surface microstructures are dimensioned such that engage the underside of the insect.

8. The microfabricated surface of claim 1 , wherein the plant trichome is modeled on one plant selected from the group Phaseolus coccineus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus limensis, Passiflora morifolia, Cynnoglossum offtcinale and Caiophora coronaria.

9. The microfabricated surface of claim 1 , wherein the surface microstructures are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, natural fibers, metals, oxides and nano- or micro-engineered structures.

10. The microfabricated surface of claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is formed of a hollow body.

11. A method of manufacturing a microfabricated insect capturing surface comprising:
providing a substrate defining a plane;
disposing a plurality of insect capture surface microstructures thereon, each formed from a flexible elongated member, the plurality of surface microstructures being disposed on the substrate with a variable orientation to the plane of the substrate and at a density sufficient such that multiple insect capture surface microstructures are capable of simultaneously interacting with an insect disposed thereon;
wherein at least some of the surface microstructures have a recurved body capable of entangling the insect, and wherein at least some of the surface microstructures include a piercing element being sufficiently rigid and sharp to pierce the insect body;
wherein the surface microstructures are formed from a material having a breaking stress sufficiently large to avoid breakage during interaction with the insect; and
wherein the surface microstructures have at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of piercing elements having a diameter of about 100 to 1000 nm, a Young's Modulus of from 1 to 23 GPa, a shape modeled on a plant trichome, and a density of between 20 to 300 surface microstructures per millimeter of substrate.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of insect capture surface microstructures has a recurved body and wherein at least one piercing element is incorporated onto each of said insect capture surface microstructures.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the piercing element is disposed at the terminating end of the elongated member.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the surface microstructures include at least two piercing elements, and wherein the piercing elements are disposed along the body of elongated member.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the recurved body is formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of a hook, curve, loop or hoop.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the piercing element is selected from the group consisting of a sharp point, hook or barb.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of surface microstructures are dimensioned such that engage the underside of the insect tarsus.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant trichome is modeled on one plant selected from the group Phaseolus coccineus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus limensis, Passiflora morifolia, Cynnoglossum offtcinale and Caiophora coronaria.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the surface microstructures are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, natural fibers, metals, oxides and nano- or micro-engineered structures.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the elongated member is formed of a hollow body.

21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the process of depositing is conducted by one of either a double molding or etching process.

22. The method of claim 11 , further comprising coating on or incorporating within the surface microstructures an additive material selected from the group consisting of oxide particles and a metallic material.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the additive material is deposited by a technique selected from one of either physical vapor deposition or electro deposition.

24. The method of claim 11 , wherein the process of depositing is conducted by a microneedle technology.

25. The method of claim 11 , wherein the recurve is formed into the surface microstructures by one of either an oblique e-beam irradiation or metal deposition.

Assignees

• Univ California
• The Univ Of Kentucky Res Found

Inventors

• Loudon Catherine
• Corn Robert
• Szyndler Megan
• Haynes Kenneth
• Potter Michael F

Classifications

• A01M1/10 Primary

  Catching insects by using} Traps {(using suction effect A01M1/06) · CPC title

• A01M1/103 Primary

  for crawling insects · CPC title

• A01M99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title