Heating apparatus for vaporizer

• US 20040182855A1
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Steris Corporation
• Inventors: Centanni, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,906,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/628
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 49/105 using eddy currents
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/281 other than by electrical resistances or electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/282 with water or steam circulating in tubes or ducts
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 for heating a fluid

Abstract

A vaporizer heating apparatus is comprised of electromagnetically responsive material and electrically non-conductive material. A antimicrobial fluid to be vaporized, such as water or hydrogen peroxide solution, is supplied to the heating apparatus where it is converted to a vapor. In one embodiment of the present invention, electromagnetically responsive material particulate is embedded into the electrically non-conductive material. In another embodiment of the present invention, a microwave generator is used to produce heat.

Claims

1. A vaporizer for vaporizing a fluid to form an antimicrobial vapor, comprising:

a source of electromagnetic radiation; and

a heating apparatus for producing heat to vaporize an antimicrobial fluid passing therethrough, including;

(a) an electrically non-conductive material, and

(b) an electromagnetically responsive material.

2. A vaporizer as defined by claim 1, wherein said electrically non-conductive material is selected from the group consisting of:

a polymer, a ceramic and a glass.

3. A vaporizer as defined by claim 2, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of:

a thermoplastic polymer and a thermosetting polymer.

4. A vaporizer as defined by claim 3, wherein said thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of:

a nylon;

Amodel®

(PPI, polyphthalamide);

Aurum®

(polyimide);

Ryton®

/Fortron®

(PPS, polyphenylenesulphide);

Fluoropolymers (PFA, FEP, Tefzel®

ETFE, Halar®

ECTFE, Kynar®

PVDF);

Teflon®

PTFE;

Stanyl®

(4.6 polyamide, 4.6 Nylon);

Torlon®

(polyamide-imide);

Ultem®

(polyetherimide, PEI); and

Victrex®

PEEK (polyaryletherketone, polyetheretherketone).

5. A vaporizer as defined by claim 3, wherein said thermosetting polymer is selected from the group consisting of:

an epoxy and a urethane.

6. A vaporizer a defined by claim 2, wherein said ceramic is a metal-oxide material.

7. A vaporizer as defined by claim 6, wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of:

silica, alumina, and magnesia.

8. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is selected from the group consisting of:

a metal, a metal alloy, a metal coated material, carbon, graphite, stainless steel, a metal alloy solder, a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferroelectric material, a ferrielectric material, and combinations thereof.

9. A vaporizer as defined in claim 8, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of:

nickel, copper, zinc, silver, stainless steel, tungsten, nichrome, and combinations thereof.

10. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is a ferromagnetic material.

11. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is a ferrimagnetic material.

12. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is a ferroelectric material.

13. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrically non-conductive material forms an electrically non-conductive matrix, said electromagnetically responsive material is embedded within the electrically non-conductive matrix.

14. A vaporizer as defined by claim 13, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is in the form of a particulate selected from the group consisting of:

fibers, flakes, spheres, whiskers, grains, a coated particulate and combinations thereof.

15. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material forms a layer on a surface of said electrically non-conductive material.

16. A vaporizer as defined in claim 15, wherein electromagnetically responsive material is embedded in said electrically non-conductive material.

17. A vaporizer as defined in claim 15, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is deposited on said electrically non-conductive material by at least one of:

thermal spraying, electrodeposition, autocatalytic deposition, and arc spraying.

18. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrically non-conductive material forms a layer to provide a protective coating, said protective coating isolating said electromagnetically responsive material from an antimicrobial fluid.

19. A vaporizer as defined in claim 18, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is embedded in an electrically non-conductive material.

20. A vaporizer as defined in claim 18, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is deposited to form said layer by at least one of:

thermal spraying, electrodeposition, autocatalytic deposition, and arc spraying.

21. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of electromagnetic radiation is a microwave generator, said microwave generator generating microwaves that cause heating of said electromagnetically responsive material.

22. A vaporizer as defined in claim 21, wherein said electromagnetically responsive material is selected from the group consisting of:

a ferromagnetic material, a ferrimagnetic material, a ferroelectric material and a ferrielectric material.

23. A vaporizer as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of electromagnetic radiation produces an alternating current.

24. A vaporizer as defined in claim 23, wherein said alternating current has at least a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein said electromnagnetic radiation penetrates said heating apparatus at respective first and second depths.

25. A vaporizer according to claim 1, wherein said heating apparatus includes:

a generally cylindrical tube, and

a screw-shaped insert dimensioned to be received within said generally cylindrical tube, said screw-shaped insert including a spiral passageway,

wherein at least one of said generally cylindrical tube and said screw-shaped insert are comprised of said electrically non-conductive material and said electromagnetically responsive material.