Portable chemical sterilizer

• US 8,133,449 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Doona, Christopher, Curtin, Maria, Feeherry, Florence, Kanlikar, Satish, Kustin, Kenneth, Taub, Irwin, Baer, David, McManus, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Sean E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo, Regina M.
• Application Number:
  US12/494,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20090304555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 422/292, 422/295, 422/305, 422/112, 422/297, 422/300
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/36 containing at least one carboxylic group or a thio analogue, or a derivative thereof, and a singly bound oxygen or sulfur atom attached to the same carbon skeleton, this oxygen or sulfur atom not being a member of a carboxylic group or of a thio analogue, or of a derivative thereof, e.g. hydroxy-carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/08 with oxygen as the ring hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/16 with oxygen as the ring hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/02 Sulfur; Selenium; Tellurium; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/16 Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/20 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0042 Reducing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/046 Salts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/1206 free metals, e.g. aluminium grit or flakes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2086 Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3956 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

A portable, lightweight, easy-to-carry, reusable, durable, and environmentally-friendly assembly for sterilizing contaminated equipment using conditions of a chemical sterilant, heat, and humidity generated in situ without requiring external electricity, fuels, or other exogenous energy sources for operation. The carry assembly includes a plastic carry-case or insulated aluminum pressure vessel having an inner chamber for accepting microbiologically contaminated objects, a vessel disposed in the chamber for serving as a reaction chamber and/or boiler, a chemical combination which upon mixing generates at least minimally sufficient conditions of the sterilant, heat, and humidity to effect sterilization of the objects, and outlet valves mounted on the carry-case for controllably venting pressures above ambient air pressure.

Claims

1. An assembly for sterilizing of a plurality of microbiologically contaminated objects, using in situ generated heat and humidity, the assembly comprising:

a unit comprising a closable, portable, hand carried carry case weighing up to about 35 pounds and having an inner chamber for accepting microbiologically contaminated objects;

an interior vessel disposed in the inner chamber for serving as a reaction chamber, said vessel for receiving and combining dry chemical precursors with water, within the case, said vessel being adapted for rinsing and cleaning, independently from the case, for reusing the vessel on other contaminated objects;

a combination of dry chemical precursors which upon combining with water generates in situ at least minimally sufficient conditions of heat and humidity to effect microbiological sterilization of the objects, said combination of dry chemicals excluding acids and consisting of chlorite ion, sulfite ion, and hydrogen ascorbate ion combined with water for producing chlorine dioxide, heat and humidity in amounts sufficient to effect said sterilization, under which reaction by electron transfer the ascorbate initiates a reduction of chlorite by a transfer of an electron form chlorite to ascorbate for causing a release of heat, a decrease in solution pH, and a release of chlorine dioxide in heated gaseous and aqueous forms, said reaction between ascorbate and chlorite inducing chemical reaction between chlorite and sulfite for producing heat and increasing solution pH for generating heated chlorine dioxide at neutral pH for affecting said objects to expose any contaminating microorganisms to said chlorine dioxide and sterilizing said objects; and

a pressure release outlet valve mounted on said unit for automatically controlling pressures at ambient during sterilization;

wherein the assembly, including the unit, vessel, combination of dry chemical precursors with water, and outlet valve is self-contained, reusable and is free of any external source of power for controllably generating sufficient amounts of heat and humidity to sterilize the contaminated objects.

2. The assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said unit comprises a generally rectangular-shaped bottom wall, four side walls respectively upstanding from side edges of said bottom wall, and a top wall pivotally mounted on one of said side walls and adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position so as to define, in conjunction with said bottom wall and said side walls, the inner chamber, said vessel being placed in the inner chamber and adapted to receive said combination of dry chemical precursors for combining with water, and a support structure for receiving and supporting the contaminated objects and said outlet valve being mounted in at least one of said walls.

3. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said unit comprises insulated aluminum.

4. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chemical combination comprises about 600 mL H₂0, 185 g NaCl0₂, 126 g Na₂S0₃, and 50 g NaC₆H₇0₆.

5. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said unit comprises a plastic.

6. The assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said combination of chemical precursors and water is varied in relative proportions of chemical components depending on size of unit in which sterilization occurs.

7. The assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said combination of chemical precursors and water is varied in relative proportions of chemical components depending on different characteristics of the combination of chemicals.

8. The assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pressure release outlet valve comprises a vent pipe and a pressure regulator.