Denaturing of a biochemical agent using an activated cleaning fluid mist

• US 6,969,487 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intecon Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Pierce, J. Michael, Sias, Ralph M., Sias, Heath E., Montulli, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): JASTRZAB, KRISANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/140,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 422/4, 422/1, 422/2, 422/28, 422/29, 422/40, 422/186, 422/186.04
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2101/02 Chemical warfare substances, e.g. cholinesterase inhibitors
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 3/38 by oxidation; by combustion

Abstract

A biochemical agent is denatured by producing an activated cleaning fluid mist containing activated hydroxyl species wherein at least a portion of the activated cleaning fluid mist is in an activated state at substantially one atmospheric ambient pressure, and contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a biochemical agent.

Claims

1. A method for denaturing a biochemical agent, comprising the steps of

providing a source of a cleaning fluid;

producing an activated cleaning fluid mist from said cleaning fluid using an activating energy selected from the group consisting of electric and photonic energy, said activated cleaning fluid mist comprising activated hydroxyl species wherein at least a portion of the activated cleaning fluid mist is in an activated state at substantially one atmosphere ambient pressure and said activated cleaning fluid mist includes fine droplets of said cleaning fluid; and

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a biochemical agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a microbiological agent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a microbiological agent comprising a bacteria.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a microbiological agent comprising rickettsia.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a microbiological agent comprising a virus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a microbiological agent comprising a toxin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent comprising a nerve agent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent comprising a blister agent.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent comprising a blood agent.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent comprising a choking agent.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent comprising a vomiting agent.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent comprising an incapacitating agent.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting includes the step of

contacting the activated cleaning fluid mist to a chemical agent comprising a tear agent.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting occurs in an enclosed space.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of contacting occurs in an unenclosed space.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of producing includes the step of

providing a decontamination apparatus comprising

a source of cleaning fluid,

a mist generator having an input flow of the cleaning fluid and an output flow of a mist of the cleaning fluid at substantially one atmosphere ambient pressure, and

an activator positioned to activate the mist of the cleaning fluid to produce the activated cleaning fluid mist.