Methods and solutions for killing or deactivating spores

• US 9,339,572 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsai, Tsung-Chan, Kalghatgi, Sameer, Pappas Antonakas, Daphne, Gray, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chorbaji, Monzer R
• Application Number:
  US13/843,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20150265736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 422 22- 23, 422/186.04, 422/186.05, 250/455.11, 134/26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic oxygen or sulfur compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/02 Acyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 61/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing substances of unknown or undetermined composition, e.g. substances characterised only by the mode of action
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions

Abstract

Exemplary methods and systems for killing or deactivating spores include applying a fluid to a surface containing a spore; and applying direct or indirect plasma to the surface for a period of time. In some embodiments, the fluid includes water. In some embodiments, the spore is Clostridium difficile and in some is Bacillus Anthracis. In some embodiments, the fluid is in the form of a mist and in some is in the form of a vapor. In some embodiments, peroxynitrite is created in the fluid during the method. Another exemplary embodiment of killing or deactivating a spore includes treating spores with direct plasma or an indirect plasma for a period of time and applying an antimicrobial to the spores. In some embodiments, the antimicrobial is an alcohol, a bleach or an alcohol-based sanitizer.

Claims

1. A method of killing or deactivating a spore comprising:

applying a fluid to a dry spore surface containing one or more spores and

applying direct plasma to the surface for a period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises water.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising an additive in the water.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the spore is Clostridium difficile.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the spore is Bacillus anthracis.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is in the form of a mist.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the mist comprises droplets having a volume of between about 0.1 microliter and 500 microliters.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the mist comprises droplets having a volume of less than about 250 microliters.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the mist comprises droplets having a volume of less than about 100 microliters.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is in the form of a vapor.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment time is less than about 3 minutes.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment time is less than about 1 minutes.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment time is less than about 30 seconds.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating peroxynitrite in the fluid.

15. A method of killing or deactivating a spore comprising:

applying a fluid to a dry surface containing one or more spores; and

applying indirect plasma to the surface for a period of time.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the fluid comprises water.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising an additive in the water.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the spore is Clostridium difficile.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the spore is Bacillus anthracis.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the fluid is in the form of a mist.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the mist comprises droplets having a volume of between about 0.1 microliter and 500 microliters.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the mist comprises droplets having a volume of less than about 250 microliters.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the mist comprises droplets having a volume of less than about 100 microliters.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein the fluid is in the form of a vapor.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising creating peroxynitrite in the fluid.

26. A method of killing or deactivating a spore comprising:

treating a surface containing one or more spores with direct plasma or an indirect plasma for a period of time;

applying an antimicrobial to the surface, wherein the surface contains one or more spores.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the antimicrobial is an alcohol.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the antimicrobial is a bleach based sanitizer.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the antimicrobial is an alcohol based sanitizer.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the antimicrobial is applied prior to treating the surface.