Talk:Biofilter

In that VOY episode with the macroviral infection, the docotr told the transporter technician to purge the filter, but by then the virus had gotten into the transporter buffer. Could someone check the episode for a more accurate description? -- Redge 22:18, 2 Aug 2004 (CEST)


 * Watching this episode right now. Sequence of events are as follows:
 * Doctor transports from surface to Voyager, apparently a normal transport sequence. (Aka No suspention in transport, as seen in at least one TNG episode.)
 * Doctor proceeds to transporter control station, checks biofilter discovering that several of the virii were transported with the doctor. Reports this to Chakotay on the bridge.
 * Chakotay orders the biofilters to be purged. Doctor proceeds to purge the filters.
 * Doctor leaves transporter room. According to his narration, at least one of the virus had already moved into the transport buffer.


 * What I don't understand is, how did it move from the biofilter to the transport buffer, as at this point it would still be a matter stream. This would indicate a transporter/biofilter malfunction, which is possible though not expressly stated.  Additionally, even if a virus had entered the pattern buffer, it would remain a matter stream until it was rematerialized or until the pattern degraded, which would happen within 420 seconds (Pattern buffer).  Is this just a significant plot hole, the writers not understanding the technology, or was there a fundamental change in the way Voyagers transporters work?  I seem to remember Chief O'Brien inferring in an episode of TNG that the Pattern buffers are located in the transporter pads, meaning seven buffers per transporter room (six personnel, 1 cargo/personnel), and then having multiple transporter rooms that number multiplied, however in  B'Elanna indicates that Voyager only has one buffer. (Which is knocked out leaving only short range transporters.) This does leave room that there have been significant changes to transporter technology between the  and  starships.- Kooky 17:58, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

If you really think about it, what is the real point of having biofilters built into transporter systems when you have people still using shuttles. You never heard of anybody having to be decontaminated like they did in Star Trek: Enterprise. --205.188.116.202 09:05, 9 April 2008 (UTC)