ROOM FOGGING DISINFECTION SYSTEM

• US 20110091354A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mar Cor Purification, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Minntech Corporation
• Inventors: Petersen, Michael P., Schwartz, Mason, Gentle, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,889,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• 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 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• 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 2209/135 Vaporisers for active components
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/14 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/21 Use of chemical compounds for treating air or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/24 using sterilising media

Abstract

A system for disinfecting a room includes an enclosure having first and second air inlets and an air intake control assembly to selectably control air flow into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets. Air that flows between the exterior and interior of the enclosure through the second air inlet passes through a filter assembly. The enclosure also includes an air dispersion outlet having a fan that draws air into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets and forces air out of the enclosure. A chemical dispersion assembly generates a disinfecting fog relative to the fan. A system controller controls the air intake control assembly to disperse the disinfecting fog into the room, and subsequently draw the disinfecting fog from the room and through the filter assembly.

Claims

1. A system for disinfecting a room, the system comprising:

an enclosure including first and second air inlets;

an air intake control assembly configured for selectable control of air flow between an exterior and an interior of the enclosure through the first and second air inlets;

a filter assembly disposed relative to the second air inlet such that air that flows between the exterior and interior of the enclosure through the second air inlet passes through the filter assembly;

an air dispersion outlet including a fan configured to draw air into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets and to force air out of the enclosure;

a chemical dispersion assembly configured to generate a disinfecting fog relative to the air dispersion outlet; and

a system controller configured to open the first air inlet and activate the fan to disperse the disinfecting fog into the room, and subsequently close the first air inlet to draw the disinfecting fog from the room and through the filter assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the air intake control assembly comprises:

a first air inlet cover assembly having an open state, which permits air flow between an exterior of the enclosure and an interior of the enclosure via the first air inlet, and a closed state, which prevents air flow between the exterior and interior of the enclosure via the first air inlet and allows air flow between the exterior and interior of the enclosure via the second air inlet.

3. The system of claim 2, and further comprising:

a second air inlet cover assembly having an open state, which permits air flow between an exterior of the enclosure and an interior of the enclosure via the second air inlet, and a closed state, which prevents air flow between the exterior and interior of the enclosure via the second air inlet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the chemical dispersion assembly comprises

a chemical reservoir configured to retain a disinfecting substance;

and

an atomizing nozzle configured to transform the disinfecting substance into the disinfecting fog.

5. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

an antimicrobial dispersion assembly configured to dispense an antimicrobial coating substance relative to the air dispersion outlet, wherein the system controller is further configured to open the first air inlet and activate the fan to disperse the antimicrobial coating substance into the room.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the antimicrobial coating substance is dispersed simultaneously with the disinfecting substance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a surfactant is dispersed before or during dispersion of the disinfecting fog.

8. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

one or more ambient condition sensors configured to sense ambient conditions in the room.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more ambient condition sensors are configured to sense one or more of heat sources, humidity, motion, and temperature.

10. The system of claim 8, and further comprising:

an environment control system configured to alter conditions in the room based conditions sensed by the one or more ambient condition sensors.

11. A method for disinfecting a room, the method comprising:

generating a disinfecting fog from an enclosure including a first air inlet, a second air inlet, and an air dispersion outlet including a fan configured to draw air into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets and to force air out of the enclosure, the enclosure further including a filter assembly disposed relative to the second air inlet such that air that flows between the exterior and interior of the enclosure through the second air inlet passes through the filter assembly;

actuating an air intake control assembly to open the first air inlet;

activating the fan to draw air through the first air inlet and out of the air dispersion outlet to disperse the fog into the room;

actuating the air intake control assembly to close the first air inlet to draw the fog from the room through the second air inlet and the filter assembly; and

deactivating the fan.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein prior to deactivating the fan, the method further comprises:

actuating the air intake control assembly to open the first air inlet; and

dispense an antimicrobial coating substance relative to the fan to disperse the antimicrobial coating substance into the room.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating the air intake control assembly to open the first air inlet comprises:

opening a plurality of louvers to permit air flow between an exterior of the enclosure and an interior of the enclosure via the first air inlet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating the air intake control assembly to close the first air inlet comprises:

closing a plurality of louvers to prevent air flow between an exterior of the enclosure and an interior of the enclosure via the first air inlet such that air flows through the second air inlet.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein generating the disinfecting fog comprises:

drawing a disinfecting substance from a chemical reservoir; and

forcing the disinfecting substance through an atomizing nozzle.

16. The method of claim 11, and further comprising:

sensing one or more ambient conditions in the room.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensing step comprises sensing one or more of heat sources, humidity, motion, and temperature in the room.

18. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:

altering conditions in the room based on the sensed ambient conditions.

19. The method of claim 18, and further comprising:

delaying generation of the disinfecting fog until the environmental control system alters the ambient conditions of the room to threshold ambient conditions.

20. A system for disinfecting a room, the system comprising:

an enclosure including first and second air inlets;

a plurality of controllable louvers arranged to control of air flow between an exterior and an interior of the enclosure through the first air inlet;

a vapor destruction assembly disposed relative to the second air inlet such that air that flows between the exterior and interior of the enclosure through the second air inlet passes through the vapor destruction assembly;

an air dispersion outlet including a fan configured to draw air into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets and to force air out of the enclosure;

a chemical dispersion assembly configured to generate a disinfecting fog relative to the air dispersion outlet; and

a system controller configured to open the first plurality of louvers and activate the fan to disperse the disinfecting fog into the room, and to subsequently close the first plurality of louvers and activate the fan to draw the disinfecting fog from the room and through the vapor destruction assembly.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the chemical dispersion assembly comprises

a chemical reservoir configured to retain a disinfecting substance;

and

an atomizing nozzle that transforms the disinfecting substance into the disinfecting fog.

22. The system of claim 20, and further comprising:

an antimicrobial dispersion assembly configured to dispense an antimicrobial coating substance relative to the air dispersion outlet, wherein the system controller is further configured to open the first plurality of louvers and activate the fan to disperse the antimicrobial coating substance into the room.

23. The system of claim 20, and further comprising:

one or more ambient condition sensors configured to sense ambient conditions in the room.

24. The system of claim 23, and further comprising:

an environment control system configured to alter conditions in the room based conditions sensed by the one or more ambient condition sensors.