Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process

• US 8,182,743 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steris Inc (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Steris Inc (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Bacik, Michael A., Centanni, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/409,519
• Time in Patent Office: 82 Days
• Field of Search: 422/28, 422/29, 422/291, 422/292
• US Class Current: 422/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/26 Textiles, e.g. towels, beds, cloths

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a portable decontamination unit. The invention also relates to a decontamination process. The decontamination unit may employ a shipping container for transporting a decontaminant generator and optionally a power generator, and for functioning as a decontamination chamber. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.

Claims

1. A process for operating a self-contained transportable decontamination unit comprising:

a shipping container and a decontaminant generator, the shipping container configured to transport the decontaminant generator, the shipping container configured as a decontamination chamber, the shipping container including at least one gas inlet for admitting a decontaminant air stream into the shipping container and at least one gas outlet for removing gas from the shipping container, the shipping container constructed of a rigid material and being stackable with one or more other shipping containers during transport of the decontamination generator;

a military master pallet on which the shipping container is positioned; and

a power generator for generating power to operate the decontaminant generator, the power generator being adapted for being stored in the shipping container during transport of the shipping container and being removed from the shipping container when used to conduct the decontamination;

the decontaminant generator being adapted for generating a decontaminant air stream, the decontaminant generator being adapted for being stored in the shipping container during transport of the shipping container and being removed from the shipping container when used to conduct a decontamination, the decontaminant generator having a decontaminant air stream outlet which is adapted to be connected to the gas inlet of the shipping container, the decontaminant generator having a gas inlet which is adapted to be connected to the gas outlet of the shipping container, wherein the shipping container is ruggedized,

the process comprising;

opening the shipping container;

removing the decontaminant generator from the shipping container,

connecting the gas inlet of the shipping container to the gas outlet of the decontaminant generator with a first hose;

connecting the gas outlet of the shipping container to the gas inlet of the decontaminant generator with a second hose;

placing one or more contaminated articles in the shipping container;

closing the shipping container;

generating a decontaminant air stream in the decontaminant generator, the decontaminant air stream comprising a decontaminant and air;

flowing the decontaminant air stream into the shipping container;

contacting the contaminated articles in the shipping container with the decontaminant air stream to decontaminate the contaminated articles;

flowing gas from the shipping container to the decontaminant generator;

opening the shipping container; and

removing decontaminated articles from the shipping container.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminant comprises a peracid, peroxide, hypochlorite, ozone, or a mixture of two or more thereof.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the decontaminant further comprises a solvent.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein the decontaminant further comprises an alkaline gas.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminant comprises hydrogen peroxide.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminant comprises vaporous hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the contaminated articles comprise one or more of military weapons, clothing, body armor, radio headsets, night vision goggles, computers, test equipment, optical devices, electronic devices and/or communications equipment.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the contaminated articles are contaminated with one or more chemical, biological, radiological and/or nuclear warfare agents.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the contaminated articles are contaminated with one or more bacterial spores, vegetative bacteria, viruses, molds and/or fungi.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the contaminated articles are contaminated with one or more pathogenic chemical agents.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein the step of contacting the contaminated articles with the decontaminant air stream comprises a dry process characterized by the absence of condensate formation on the surface of the contaminated articles being decontaminated.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the step of contacting the contaminated articles with the decontaminant air stream comprises a wet process characterized by the formation of condensate on the surface of the contaminated articles being decontaminated.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein the condensate comprises hydrogen peroxide.