Steris Inc.

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Ecomed, Inc.

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Lewis I Schwartz

Iain McVey

Michael A Centanni

George W Wagner

Gerald E McDonnell

Joseph H Wilson

Norman L Siegel

David B Mennel

Jeffrey C Rapp

Kenneth R Lamaster

Peter A Burke

Raymond C Kralovic

Victor M Selig

Mathew J Adams

Craig M Saunders

Nick E Stanca

Jeffrey S Plantz

Kathleen M Antloga

Christopher M Fricker

Alan J Greszler

Paul A Wiget

Bill R Sanford

Brian C Wojcieck

Eric W Krieger

Joseph J Switka

James L Marsden

Giridhar Shamsunder

David C Haeberle

Robert F Korb

Paul D Walkley, Jr

Kathleen A Hughes

Ian F McVey

Elijah L Booker, Jr

Gregory A Dale

Gerald E Mcdonnell

Iain F Mcvey

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

Cooked food products, such as cooked meats, and poultry, are treated with a decontaminant solution to remove surface microorganism contamination. The decontaminant solution contains peracetic acid at a concentration of from about 100 to 4000 ppm and has broad spectrum activity against a variety of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, such as

Surface decontamination of cooked sausage and processed meat and poultry products

A wet chemical indicator for peracetic acid solutions includes an indicator for peracetic acid and an inhibitor. The inhibitor is selected to inhibit a selected peracetic acid concentration in a reproducible sample of a solution containing peracetic acid. The indicator exhibits an observable change when the selected concentration of peracetic acid is exceeded. In this manner, a rapid indication of whether the peracetic acid solution is of a required minimum strength is provided.

Wet chemical indicator for the evaluation of peracetic acid chemistries

A lid (10) of a countertop decontamination unit (A) is opened to gain access to a tray (12) for receiving items to be sterilized and a well (16) for receiving a two compartment powdered anti-microbial agent carrying cup (C). The cup includes an outer cup portion (50) and an inner cup portion (70) that have peripheral walls (52, 72) affixed together at flanges (54, 74). The outer cup portion (50) is closed at one end by a first detachable base (58). The inner cup portion (70) is closed by a second detachable base (78). The outer and inner cups (50, 70) define a first powdered reagent receiving chamber (56) therebetween. The inner cup defines a second chamber therein. A permeable sheet (100) is affixed to the inner cup portion flange (74) for ventedly sealing both chambers.

Two compartment cup for powdered sterilant reagent components

A method and apparatus are provided for removing liquids from biological waste by the employment of centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the biological waste particulate and into a container separate from a biological waste container, permitting the dried biological waste and removed liquid to be separately and conveniently disposed of. Preferably, a rotatable drum can be rotatably supported within an outer liquid-tight drum, and a disposable porous container, such as a bag made of porous material, can be placed within the rotatable foraminous drum. Biological waste can be placed within the porous, disposable container within the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum can be rotated at a rate of rotation sufficient to substantially transfer unabsorbed liquid from the biological waste through the disposable porous container and the openings in the foraminous inner drum to the outer liquid-tight collection drum. Solid biological waste may then be disposed of by removing the disposable porous container from the rotatable drum with the solid biological waste therein, avoiding by closure of disposable porous container, exposure of handling personnel to the solid biological waste. The collected liquids may be separately disposed of by pumping them into a sanitary sewer. If it is desired, additional liquid, such as a microbial decontaminating agent, may be added within the porous disposable bag as it is being rotated.

Centrifugal apparatus for biological waste disposal

A processing chamber for the treatment and decontamination of biological or medical waste includes a rotating waste treatment system carried within an open-top processing chamber, a cap for closing the chamber opening, a gas-pervious liner carried within the chamber for preventing waste from adhering to the underside of the cap as a result of waste-treatment operations, a sealing member disposed at and for sealing the interface of the cap and the processing chamber, and a chemical indicator carried within the interior of the processing chamber for confirming the presence of decontaminant during a waste treatment cycle.

Isolated biological and medical waste processor and lid liner carrying a

A method and apparatus are provided for removing liquids from biological waste by the employment of centrifugal force to separate the liquid from the biological waste particulate and into a container separate from a biological waste container, permitting the dried biological waste and removed liquid to be separately and conveniently disposed of. Preferably, a rotatable drum can be rotatably supported within an outer liquid-tight drum, and a disposable porous container, such as a bag made of porous material, can be placed within the rotatable foraminous drum. Biological waste can be placed within the porous, disposable container within the rotatable drum, and the rotatable drum can be rotated at a rate of rotation sufficient to substantially transfer unabsorbed liquid from the biological waste through the disposable porous container and the openings in the foraminous inner drum to the outer liquid-tight collection drum. The collected liquids may be disposed of by pumping them into a sanitary sewer. If it is desired, additional liquid, such as a microbial decontaminating agent, may be added within the porous disposable bag as it is being rotated.

Method for disposal of biological waste

Growing community of inventors

Shaker Heights, OH, United States of America

Lewis I Schwartz