Detection and treatment of chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens

• US 6,787,104 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Mariella, Raymond P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chorbaji, Monzer R.
• Application Number:
  US09/662,392
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 422/1, 422/4, 422/62, 422/124, 134/198, 454/156-157, 454/255-256, 588/200, 435/286.1, 435/287.4
• US Class Current: 422/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/22 Treatment by sorption, e.g. absorption, adsorption, chemisorption, scrubbing, wet cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00414 for military, emergency, safety or security vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/008 the input being air quality
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2003/0683 the quality of the filter or the air being checked
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/0085 Smell or pollution preventing arrangements B60H3/0007, B60H3/0071, B60H3/02, B60H3/06 take precedence

Abstract

A system for detection and treatment of chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens uses a detector system, an electrostatic precipitator or scrubber, a circulation system, and a control. The precipitator or scrubber is activated in response to a signal from the detector upon the detection of chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens.

Claims

1. A method for protecting an enclosure against chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens by the detection of said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens and by the treatment of said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens agents within the air inside of an enclosed airspace that is a gathering area for people, the air circulated in an air stream, comprising:

circulating said air within said air stream,

detecting said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens agents,

generating a signal upon detection of said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens agents, and

using said signal to activate a treatment system connected to said air stream for treating said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens agents, said treatment system treating said air within said air stream.

2. The method of claim 1, induding the step of stopping said circulation system if said treatment system shuts down.

3. An apparatus that detects the presence of airborne chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats to the human occupants of an enclosed airspace that is served by a forced-air circulation system and treats said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats, said forced-air circulation system circulating an air stream, comprising:

an autonomous chemical and pathogen detector within the said forced-air circulation system that detects the presence of airborne chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats,

a treatment system for treating said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats, said treatment system treating said air stream, and

a control, responsive to said autonomous chemical and pathogen detector, for activating said treatment system in response to detection of said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens agents.

4. An apparatus that detects, identifies, and quantifies the presence of airborne chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats to the human occupants of an enclosed airspace that is served by a forced-air circulation system and treats said airborne chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats, said forced-air circulation system circulating an air stream, comprising:

an autonomous chemical and/or pathogen detector within the said forced-air circulation system that detects, identifies, and quantifies the presence of airborne chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats,

a treatment system for treating said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens threats, said treatment system treating said air stream, and

a control, responsive to said autonomous chemical and/or pathogen detector, for activating said treatment system in response to detection of said chemical weapons and/or biological pathogens agents.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said autonomous chemical and pathogen detector utilizes immunoassays and said immunoassays include antibody based or synthetic-peptide based immunoassays.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said autonomous chemical and pathogen detector utilizes nucleic-acid-based assays and said nucleic-acid-based assays include the polymerase chain reaction.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said autonomous chemical and/or pathogen detector utilizes mass-spectrometric-based assays.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said autonomous chemical and pathogen detector utilizes a plurality of assays and said plurality of assays include antibody based or synthetic-peptide based immunoassays, nucleic-acid-based assays and said antibody based or synthetic-peptide based immunoassays, nucleic-acid-based assays include the polymerase chain reaction immunoassays, and mass-spectrometric-based assays.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said treatment system utilizes an electrostatic precipitator.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said treatment system utilizes an aqueous-based spray/aerosol scrubbing system.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said treatment system utilizes both electrostatic precipitation and an aqueous-based spray/aersol scrubbing system.