Self-contained deactivation device

• US 20070034095A1
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Steris Inc (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Centanni, Michael, Mielnik, Thaddeus, McDonnell, Gerald, Zelina, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 7,850,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/468
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/211 Use of hydrogen peroxide, liquid and vaporous
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam B08B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes

Abstract

A mobile deactivation apparatus for deactivating contaminants within a defined region that includes a source of a vaporous deactivating agent, a gas handling system, a support member, a drive means, a control system, and a power system is disclosed. The gas handling system dispenses the vaporous deactivating agent to the defined region. The support member is movable in the defined region and supports the source of the vaporous deactivating agent and the gas handling system. The support member can be propelled by the drive means. The control system is programmed to control the operation of the gas handling system and the drive means. A power system is provided to supply power to the mobile deactivation apparatus.

Claims

1. A deactivation apparatus for deactivating contaminants within a defined region, said apparatus comprising:

a source of a vaporous deactivating agent;

a gas handling system for dispensing said vaporous deactivating agent to said defined region;

a support member movable in said defined region, wherein said support member supports the source of said vaporous deactivating agent and said gas handling system;

drive means for propelling said support member;

a control system being programmed to control the operation of said gas handling system and said drive means; and

a power system for providing a source of power to the deactivation apparatus.

2. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of said vaporous deactivating agent includes means for generating said vaporous deactivating agent.

3. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for generating said vaporous deactivating agent includes:

a reservoir for holding a liquid deactivating agent solution; and

a vaporizer for vaporizing said liquid deactivating agent solution to produce said vaporous deactivating agent.

4. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said vaporous deactivating agent is vaporized hydrogen peroxide.

5. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vaporous deactivating agent is one of:

vaporized hydrogen peroxide, ozone, chlorine, a chlorine containing compound, bromine, a bromine containing compound, and a combination thereof.

6. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said power system includes an external power source.

7. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said power system includes a battery.

8. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said power system includes means for recharging said battery.

9. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas handling system includes:

a conduit having a first open end and a second open end;

a blower;

a catalytic destroyer; and

a vaporizer, wherein said blower, said catalytic destroyer, and said vaporizer are disposed in said conduit between said first open end and said second open end.

10. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a dimensional sensor to detect at least one region parameter associated with said defined region.

11. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one region parameter includes a volume of said defined region.

12. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said control system includes data storage means for storing data provided by said dimensional sensor.

13. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said at least one region parameter is a perimeter of said defined region.

14. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said control means accesses said data storage means to determine a location of said perimeter relative to said deactivation apparatus.

15. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said at least one region parameter includes a location of an object disposed within said defined region.

16. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said control means accesses said data storage means to determine said location of said object relative to said deactivation apparatus.

17. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said dimensional sensor detects at least one region parameter by means of echolocation.

18. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a deactivating agent sensor disposed within said defined region for detecting a concentration of said deactivating agent in said defined region.

29. A mobile deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said deactivating agent sensor is supported by said support member.

19. A method of deactivating contaminants within a defined region using a mobile deactivation apparatus including a dimensional sensor, a system controller, and a system operable to provide and dispense a vaporous deactivating agent from said mobile deactivation apparatus, the method comprising:

determining at least one region parameter associated with said defined region;

determining at least one operating parameter in accordance with said at least one region parameter associated with said defined region; and

deactivating at least a portion of said defined region in accordance with said at least one operating parameter.

20. A method of deactivating contaminants within a defined region as defined in claim 19, wherein said system controller controls said mobile deactivation apparatus.

21. A method of deactivating contaminants within a defined region as defined in claim 19, wherein said at least one region parameter associated with said defined region includes a volume of said defined region.

22. A method of deactivating contaminants within a defined region as defined in claim 19, including the step of:

comparing said volume of the defined region to a predetermined maximum volume.

23. A method of deactivating contaminants as defined in claim 22 including the step of:

dispensing said vaporous deactivating agent while said deactivation apparatus is stationary.

24. A method of deactivating biological contaminates as defined in claim 22 including the step of:

dispensing said vaporous deactivating agent while said deactivation apparatus is moving.

25. A method of deactivating contaminants as defined in claim 19 including the steps of:

moving said deactivation apparatus about said defined region;

storing data regarding a perimeter of said defined region;

dividing the defined region into a plurality of zones based on said stored data; and

deactivating at least a portion of at least one of said zones.

26. A method of deactivating contaminants within a defined region as defined in claim 19 wherein said step of determining operating parameters of said defined region includes the steps of:

sensing a vaporous deactivating agent within said defined region; and

providing data indicative of a concentration of said vaporous deactivating agent to said system controller.

27. A method of deactivating contaminants within a defined region as defined in claim 26 wherein said step of deactivating at least a portion of said defined region includes the step of:

dispensing said vaporous deactivating agent such that said concentration of said vaporous deactivating agent is maintained within a predetermined range.

28. A method of deactivating contaminants within a defined region as defined in claim 26, includes the additional step of wirelessly communicating said data indicative of said concentration of said vaporous deactivating agent to a base station located outside of said defined region.

30. A deactivation system for deactivating contaminants within a defined region, said system comprising:

a source of a vaporous deactivating agent;

a gas handling system for dispensing said vaporous deactivating agent to said defined region;

a deactivating agent sensor disposed within the defined region, said deactivating agent sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a concentration of said deactivating agent in the defined region;

a support member movable in said defined region, wherein said support member supports the source of said vaporous deactivating agent and said gas handling system;

a drive means for propelling said support member; and

a control system being programmed to control the operation of said gas handling system and said drive means, said control means being configured to receive said signal generated by said deactivating agent sensors.

31. A deactivation system as defined in claim 30, wherein said source of said vaporous deactivating agent includes means for generating said vaporous deactivating agent.

32. A deactivation system as defined in claim 31, wherein said means for generating said vaporous deactivating agent includes:

a reservoir for holding a liquid deactivating agent solution; and

a vaporizer for vaporizing said liquid deactivating agent solution to produce said vaporous deactivating agent.

33. A deactivation system as defined in claim 30, wherein said vaporous deactivating agent includes at least one of the following:

vaporized hydrogen peroxide, ozone, chlorine, a chlorine containing compound, bromine, a bromine containing compound, and a combination thereof.

34. A deactivation system as defined in claim 30, wherein said deactivating agent sensor is supported by said support member.

35. A deactivation system as defined in claim 30, wherein said gas handling system includes:

a conduit having a first open end and a second open end;

a blower;

a catalytic destroyer; and

a vaporizer, wherein said blower, said catalytic destroyer, and said vaporizer are disposed in said conduit between said first open end and said second open end.

36. A deactivation system as defined in claim 30, including a dimensional sensor to detect at least one region parameter associated with said defined region.

37. A deactivation system as defined in claim 36, wherein said at least one region parameter includes a volume of said defined region.

38. A deactivation system as defined in claim 36, wherein said control system includes data storage means for storing data provided by said dimensional sensor.

39. A deactivation system as defined in claim 38, wherein said at least one region parameter is a perimeter of said defined region.

40. A method of deactivating contaminates within a defined region using a deactivation apparatus, the method comprising:

placing said deactivation apparatus within said defined region;

determining at least one region parameter associated with said defined region;

determining at least one operating parameter in accordance with said at least one region parameter associated with said defined region;

generating a vaporous deactivating agent;

sensing said vaporous deactivating agent and generating a signal indicative of the concentration thereof; and

communicating said concentration of said vaporous deactivating agent wirelessly to a base station disposed outside of said defined region.

41. A method of deactivating contaminates as defined in claim 40 further comprising the step of controlling said deactivating apparatus using a system controller disposed therein.

42. A method of deactivating contaminates as defined in claim 40, wherein said at least one region parameter associated with said defined region includes a volume of said defined region.

43. A method of deactivating contaminates as defined in claim 40, including the step of:

comparing said volume of the defined region to a predetermined maximum volume.

44. A method of deactivating contaminates as defined in claim 43 including the step of:

dispensing said vaporous deactivating agent while maintaining said deactivation apparatus in a stationary position with said defined region.

45. A method of deactivating contaminates as defined in claim 43 including the step of:

dispensing said vaporous deactivating agent while moving said deactivation apparatus within said defined region.