Steris Inc.

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

American Sterilizer Company

Iain McVey

Michael A Centanni

Lewis I Schwartz

Gerald E McDonnell

Aaron L Hill

Timothy W Meilander

George W Wagner

Paul A Wiget

Peter J Buczynski

Thaddeus Joseph Mielnik

Francis John Zelina

Michael A Bacik

Jan J Lewandowski

Christopher M Fricker

George E Grignol

Brian C Wojcieck

Stephanie A S Harrington

Richard A Weiss

Daniel J Subach

Peter A Burke

Daniel N Kelsch

Victor M Selig

Brian E Schindly

Michael Geanous

Karen L Thomas

Kevin O Williams

Paul W Wiger

Brian J DeSantis

Paul W Wiget

A method for decontaminating an object disposed in a region. The method includes the steps of: heating the region to a target temperature; introducing steam into the region until a humidity level in the region reaches a target humidity level; introducing a vaporized sterilant into the region until a sterilant concentration in the region reaches a target sterilant concentration; and maintaining the target temperature, the target sterilant concentration and the target humidity level until a predetermine target dose is obtained.

Saturation-enhanced, low-concentration vaporized hydrogen peroxide decontamination method

The disclosed invention relates to a decontaminant dispenser which may be used as a projectile. The invention also relates to a decontamination process using the decontaminant dispenser. The decontaminant dispenser may be thrown by hand, launched as an artillery shell or the payload for a missile, or dropped by an airplane into the area to be decontaminated. The dispenser may be placed in the area to be decontaminated. The decontaminant dispenser may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.

Process for dispersing vaporous hydrogen peroxide

Decontaminant dispenser suitable for use as a projectile

A sterilization system includes a plurality of vaporizers that are controlled by a network of interconnected controllers. The network includes a plurality of control units with each control unit controlling an associated vaporizer to adjust independently the rate at which the associated vaporizer injects vaporized sterilant into the different regions of an enclosure. The network also includes a master control unit configured to control each control unit over the network to coordinate the aggregate injection of sterilant vapor.

Feed back and dose control of distributed decontamination systems

The disclosed invention relates to a portable decontamination unit. The invention also relates to a decontamination process. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.

Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process

An oxidizing liquid (), such as hydrogen peroxide, is vaporized () and the vapor is used to deactivate nerve gas, blistering gas, or other biologically active substances such as pathogens, biotoxins, and prions. A second chemical compound () in vapor, mist, or fog form is used in conjunction with the oxidizing vapor. In one embodiment, the second chemical preconditions the biologically active substances to be deactivated more efficiently by the oxidizing vapor. In another embodiment, the second chemical boosts the reactivity of the oxidizing vapor. In another embodiment, the other chemical reacts with the oxidizing vapor to form an intermediate compound that deactivates at least some of the biologically active substances.

Activated oxidizing vapor treatment method

Hydrogen peroxide is vaporized () and mixed () with ammonia gas in a ratio between 1:1 and 1:0.0001. The peroxide and ammonia vapor mixture are conveyed to a treatment area () to neutralize V-type, H-type, or G-type chemical agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, prions, and the lip-,e. The ammonia provides the primary deactivating agent for G-type agents with the peroxide acting as an accelerator. The peroxide acts as the primary agent for deactivating V-type and H-type agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, and prions. The ammonia acts as an accelerator in at least some of these peroxide deactivation reactions.

Apparatus for deactivating a pathogenic chemical agent

A large convoluted space, such as a multi-story concourse of an airport is isolated and a chemical or biological agent in the concourse is deactivated. A plurality of deactivation gas sources () introduce a deactivation gas at multiple points along the concourse. Fans () circulate the deactivation gas, sensors () sense concentrations of the deactivation gas at numerous points around the concourse and exhaust fans () exhaust air, spent deactivation gas, and some deactivation gas. A control processor () controls the generators, the circulation fans, and the exhaust fans in accordance with the gas concentrations sensed by the sensors to increase and decrease deactivation gas concentration in selected subregions of the concourse by increasing or decreasing generation, increasing or decreasing exhausting, or altering flow patterns among subregions.

Integrated control and distribution system for the decontamination of large volume convoluted configuration spaces

When microbial contamination is introduced into a room (*) of an enclosure, such as a building, an HVAC system including supply ductwork () and a return ductwork () is decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide vapor. A decontamination controller () operates controllable baffles () at outlet registers (), temporary controllable baffles () at inlet registers (), and a blower system () to circulate hydrogen peroxide vapor from hydrogen peroxide vapor generators () through the ductwork in both forward and reverse directions. Further, at least portions of the baffles are closed to create dwell times in which the hydrogen peroxide vapor resides in the ductwork with minimal or turbulent flow.

Building decontamination with vaporous hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is vaporized () and mixed () with ammonia gas in a ratio between 1:1 and 1:0.0001. The peroxide and ammonia vapor mixture are conveyed to a treatment area () to neutralize V-type, H-type, or G-type chemical agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, prions, and the like. The ammonia provides the primary deactivating agent for G-type agents with the peroxide acting as an accelerator. The peroxide acts as the primary agent for deactivating V-type and H-type agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, and prions. The ammonia acts as an accelerator in at least some of these peroxide deactivation reactions.

Activated vapor treatment for neutralizing warfare agents

A method and apparatus for neutralizing biological and/or chemical warfare agents using an ozone-containing solution. The ozone-containing solution is produced by combining ozone-containing gas with an ozone vehicle, such as an organic solution. The ozone-vehicle prolongs the shelf life of the ozone to allow for extended periods of storage. A storage container is used to store the ozone-containing solution and facilitate its transportation to an environment contaminated by the biological and/or chemical warfare agents, or near a potential site for biological or chemical attack. The ozone-containing solution is drawn out of the storage container to apply it to a contaminated environment.

Ozone containing fluid system for chemical and/or biological warfare agents

A flash vapor generator () provides a constant flow of vaporized hydrogen peroxide for rapidly sterilizing a large decontamination tunnel () with a high container throughput. The vaporizer includes a heated block which defines an interior bore or bores. The conditions within the decontamination tunnel are carefully monitored to avoid condensation of the vapor while maintaining the vapor as close as possible to the saturation limit.

Vapor phase decontamination of containers

Growing community of inventors

Lakewood, OH, United States of America

Iain McVey