MODULAR DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM

• US 20080038166A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Steris Inc (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Aaron L., Logue, Leslie M., Bruskevith, Ryan A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,700,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• 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 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/211 Use of hydrogen peroxide, liquid and vaporous
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing

Abstract

A decontamination system having modular components to efficiently decontaminate enclosures of various dimensions. The decontamination system includes a main unit comprising a controller, a supply of liquid decontaminant, a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquid decontaminant to generate a vaporized decontaminant, and a destroyer for breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. An embodiment of the present invention includes a detachable dryer and a detachable external blower that are in fluid communication with the main unit. An optional external destroyer and an optional external dryer may be controlled by the controller of the main unit to respectively increase the destroying and drying capacity of the decontamination system.

Claims

1. A vapor decontamination system for decontaminating a region, said system comprising:

(a) a main unit including;

a vaporizer for generating vaporized hydrogen peroxide from an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide,

a reservoir for providing the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide,

a first destroyer for breaking down said vaporized hydrogen peroxide,

a first input port,

first and second output ports, and

a controller for controlling operation of the vapor decontamination system; and

(b) a first dryer detachable from said main unit, said first dryer including;

an inlet port fluidly connectable with said first output port, and

an outlet port fluidly connectable with said first input port.

2. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a blower unit detachable from said main unit, said blower unit including;

a blower fluidly connectable with said second output port of said main unit, and controllable by said controller.

3. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 2, wherein said system includes a temperature sensor for providing a signal indicative of the fluid temperature downstream of said vaporizer.

4. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a second destroyer external to said main unit, said second destroyer activated by said controller.

5. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a second dryer external to said main unit, said second dryer activated by said controller.

6. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

external power switching means having a plurality of switchable electrical outlets controllable by said controller.

7. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of a second destroyer and a second dryer are electrically connected to the external power switching means for supplying power thereto.

8. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a plurality of sensors including a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor and a hydrogen peroxide concentration sensor, said plurality of sensors providing data signals to said controller.

9. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller regulates the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the region to prevent condensation of hydrogen peroxide vapor.

10. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller records operating parameters associated with control of the vapor decontamination system during a first decontamination cycle and repeats the operating parameters for a subsequent decontamination cycle.

11. A vapor decontamination system as defined in claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a dryer regeneration unit, said dryer regeneration unit fluidly connectable with said first dryer.

12. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 1, wherein said vapor decontamination system further comprises:

a blower unit detachable from said main unit, said blower unit including a blower fluidly connectable with said second output port of said main unit;

a second dryer external to said main unit, said second dryer activated by said controller;

wherein said main unit, said first dryer, said blower unit, and said second destroyer each include a housing supported by wheels to facilitate transportation thereof.

13. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 1, wherein said main unit include a leak detection means for detecting the presence of the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide in a collecting region of said main unit.

14. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 13, wherein said leak detection means includes at least one of the following:

a float switch and a conductivity sensor.

15. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 1, wherein said first dryer includes a removable insulating blanket.

16. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a first removable memory device for storing sensor calibration data; and

a second removable memory device for storing a copy of the sensor calibration data stored in said first removable memory device.

17. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 16, wherein said second removable memory device stores encrypted data associated with a decontamination cycle.

18. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 16, wherein said first removable memory device is a flash memory device.

19. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 16, wherein said second removable memory device is a USB memory device.

20. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 1, wherein said controller includes a network adapter for remote operation of said controller via a wired or wireless network.

21. A vapor decontamination system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

an H₂O₂ alarm sensor for detecting leakage of H₂O₂ outside said region during a decontamination cycle.