Apparatus for the treatment and destruction of harmful pathogens enclosed in postal and delivery items
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of sterilizing a delivery item, comprising:
- exposing the delivery item to a concentration of ozone such that the ozone penetrates into the delivery item and sterilizes pathogens in an interior of the delivery item.
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Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for destroying pathogens (including bacteria and viruses) from delivery, postal or courier items such as letters, parcels, boxes, etc. In preferred aspects, the items to be treated are placed in a chamber which is then flooded with ozone gas at pressures above ambient atmospheric pressure. The exposure to pressurized ozone is carried out at a sufficiently high concentration, and for a sufficiently long duration such that the sterilizing ozone penetrates into the interior of the delivery, postal or courier item.
56 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method of sterilizing a delivery item, comprising:
exposing the delivery item to a concentration of ozone such that the ozone penetrates into the delivery item and sterilizes pathogens in an interior of the delivery item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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12. A method of sterilizing letters in standard envelopes, comprising:
exposing the envelopes to an ozone concentration between 50,000 ppm and 350,000 ppm for a duration of about 2 to 5 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of sterilizing paper through cardboard packaging, comprising:
exposing the cardboard packaging to an ozone concentration between 50,000 ppm and 350,000 ppm for a duration of about 5 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of sterilizing paper through plastic shrinkwrap, comprising:
exposing the plastic shrinkwrap to an ozone concentration between 50,000 ppm and 350,000 ppm for a duration of about 3 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of sterilizing unwrapped currency, comprising:
exposing the currency to an ozone concentration between 50,000 ppm and 350,000 ppm for a duration of about 1 minute. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of sterilizing unwrapped computer disks, comprising:
exposing the unwrapped computer disks to an ozone concentration between 50,000 ppm and 350,000 ppm for a duration of about 1 minute. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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35. A method of sterilizing a delivery item, comprising:
exposing the delivery item to a concentration of ozone for a time sufficient for the ozone to sterilize pathogens on the delivery item.
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36. An apparatus for sterilizing a delivery item, comprising:
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a sterilization chamber dimensioned to receive the delivery item therein; and
a system for introducing a concentration of ozone into the sterilization chamber such that the ozone penetrates into the delivery item and sterilizes pathogens in an interior of the delivery item. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification