Methods and apparatus for decontaminating fluids

• US 7,118,852 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Throwleigh Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Throwleigh Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Purdum, Howard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saucier, Sandra E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Satyendra K.
• Application Number:
  US10/119,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20030194692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/2
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves

Abstract

Fluids, such as protein-containing biological fluids, particularly plasma, may be effectively decontaminated by treatment with ultrasonic energy alone or in conjunction with either ozone or UV radiation. Suitable apparatus for decontaminating protein-containing biological fluids with such methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for decontaminating a fluid, comprising treating the fluid with ultrasonic energy, while contacting the fluid with a vacuum, wherein said fluid is a protein-containing biological fluid selected from the group consisting of plasma, serum, saliva and spinal fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said treating further comprises simultaneously treating, said fluid with at least two different frequencies of ultrasonic energy.

3. The method of claim 1, which further comprises treating said fluid with said ultrasonic energy to obtain a de-oxygenated fluid;

and irradiating said de-oxygenated fluid.

4. The method of claim 1, which further comprises treating said fluid with said ultrasonic energy to obtain a de-oxygenated fluid;

and contacting said de-oxygenated fluid with ozone.

5. The method of claim 1, which further comprises mixing said fluid with ozone, to obtain an ozone-containing fluid prior to treating said fluid with said ultrasonic energy.

6. The method of claim 1, which further comprises treating said fluid with said ultrasonic energy to obtain a de-oxygenated fluid;

contacting said de-oxygenated fluid with ozone to obtain an ozone-containing fluid; and

treating said ozone-containing fluid with ultrasonic energy.

7. The method of claim 1, which further comprises treating said fluid with said ultrasonic energy to obtain a de-oxygenated fluid;

irradiating said de-oxygenated fluid to obtain an irradiated fluid; and

contacting said irradiated fluid with ozone to obtain an ozone-containing fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, which further comprises treating said fluid with said ultrasonic energy to obtain a de-oxygenated fluid;

irradiating said de-oxygenated fluid to obtain an irradiated fluid;

contacting said irradiated fluid with ozone to obtain an ozone-containing fluid; and

treating said ozone-containing fluid with ultrasonic energy.

9. A method for decontaminating a fluid, comprising a step for the treatment of a fluid with ultrasonic energy, while contacting said fluid with a vacuum, wherein said fluid is a protein-containing biological fluid selected from the group consisting of plasma, serum, saliva and spinal fluid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step for the treatment of said fluid further comprises simultaneous treatment of said fluid with at least two different frequencies of ultrasonic energy.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step for the treatment of said fluid with ultrasonic energy produces a de-oxygenated fluid;

and further comprising a step for the irradiation of said de-oxygenated fluid.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said step for the treatment of said fluid with ultrasonic energy produces a de-oxygenated fluid;

and further comprising a step for treatment of said de-oxygenated fluid with ozone.

13. The method of claim 9, which further comprises a step for mixing said fluid with ozone to obtain an ozone-containing fluid prior to said step for the treatment of said ozone-containing fluid with ultrasonic energy.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said step for the treatment of said fluid with ultrasonic energy produces a de-oxygenated fluid;

the method further comprising a step for the treatment of said de-oxygenated fluid with ozone to obtain an ozone-containing fluid; and

a step for the treatment of said ozone-containing fluid with ultrasonic energy.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said step for the treatment of said fluid with ultrasonic energy produces a de-oxygenated fluid;

the method further comprising a step for the irradiation of said de-oxygenated fluid to obtain an irradiated fluid; and

a step for the treatment of said irradiated fluid with ozone to obtain an ozone-containing fluid.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said step for the treatment of said fluid with ultrasonic energy produces a de-oxygenated fluid;

the method further comprising a step for the irradiation of said de-oxygenated fluid to obtain an irradiated fluid;

a step for the treatment of said irradiated fluid with ozone to obtain an ozone-containing fluid; and

a step for the treatment of said ozone-containing fluid with ultrasonic energy.