Self-contained deactivation device

• US 7,850,931 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Mielnik, Thaddeus J., Centanni, Michael A., McDonnell, Gerald E., Zelina, Francis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McKane; Elizabeth L
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, REGINA M
• Application Number:
  US11/201,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 422/292
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/211 Use of hydrogen peroxide, liquid and vaporous
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam B08B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes

Abstract

A mobile deactivation apparatus for deactivating contaminants within a defined region that includes a source of a vaporous deactivating agent, a gas handling system, a support member, a drive means, a control system, and a power system is disclosed. The gas handling system dispenses the vaporous deactivating agent to the defined region. The support member is movable in the defined region and supports the source of the vaporous deactivating agent and the gas handling system. The support member can be propelled by the drive means. The control system is programmed to control the operation of the gas handling system and the drive means. A power system is provided to supply power to the mobile deactivation apparatus.

Claims

1. A deactivation apparatus for deactivating contaminants within a defined region surrounding the deactivation apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a reservoir for holding a liquid hydrogen peroxide solution;

a vaporizer for receiving the liquid hydrogen peroxide solution from the reservoir to produce vaporized hydrogen peroxide;

a gas handling system for dispensing said vaporized hydrogen peroxide to said defined region;

a support member movable in said defined region, wherein said support member supports the reservoir holding the liquid hydrogen peroxide solution and said gas handling system;

drive means for propelling said support member, said drive means including an electric drive motor;

a sensor for detecting region parameters of said defined region, said region parameters being associated with dimensions of said defined region;

a control system programmed to control the operation of said gas handling system and said drive means, wherein the control system is programmed to determine (1) a volume of said defined region in accordance with the detected region parameters, and (2) at least one of the following operating parameters in accordance with the volume of said defined region;

(a) a duration of a deactivation phase wherein the vaporized hydrogen peroxide is dispensed within said defined region, and

(b) a desired concentration of the vaporized hydrogen peroxide agent within said defined region during the deactivation phase.

2. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said deactivation apparatus further comprises an external electrical power source for providing electrical energy to the deactivation apparatus.

3. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said deactivation apparatus further comprises a battery for providing electrical energy to the deactivation apparatus, said battery supported by said support member.

4. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said deactivating apparatus further comprises means for recharging said battery.

5. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas handling system includes:

a conduit having a first open end and a second open end;

a blower; and

a catalytic destroyer,

wherein said blower and said catalytic destroyer are disposed in said conduit between said first open end and said second open end.

6. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control system includes data storage means for storing data provided by said sensor.

7. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said control system is programmed to access said data storage means to determine a location of a perimeter of said defined region relative to a current location of said deactivation apparatus within said defined region.

8. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensor uses echolocation to detect said region parameters.

9. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a deactivating agent sensor disposed within said defined region for detecting a concentration of said vaporized hydrogen peroxide in said defined region, said deactivating agent sensor transmitting a signal indicative of the concentration to the control system.

10. A deactivation system as defined in claim 9, wherein said deactivating agent sensor is supported by said support member.

11. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the deactivation apparatus further comprises:

a base station, located external to the defined region, to provide operating instructions to the control system via wireless communication signals.

12. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a proximity sensor to detect a location of a boundary of said defined region or a location of an object disposed within said defined region.

13. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said control system is programmed to store location data in a data storage means, said location data indicative of the boundary of said defined region or said location of the object disposed within said defined region.

14. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control system is programmed to determine whether said apparatus should be mobile during the deactivation phase, based upon the volume of said defined region determined by said control system.

15. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the control system is programmed to determine the volume (V) of said defined region according to equation V=HA, where:

H is a height of said defined region, and

A is an area of said defined region.

16. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said control system includes a stored data set for determining height H.

17. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said control system receives said region parameters detected by said sensor in order to determine height H.

18. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein area A is determined by said control system using said region parameters detected by said sensor.

19. A deactivation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control system is programmed to run multiple deactivation phases if the volume (V) of said defined region exceeds a predetermined maximum volume (V_MAX).