Room fogging disinfection system

• US 8,889,081 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mar Cor Purification, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Medivators, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Mason, Gentle, Thomas M., Petersen, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/904,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20110091354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 422/28, 422/111, 422/292
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• 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 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• 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 2209/135 Vaporisers for active components
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/14 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/21 Use of chemical compounds for treating air or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/24 using sterilising media

Abstract

A system for disinfecting a room includes an enclosure having first and second air inlets and an air intake control assembly to selectably control air flow into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets. Air that flows between the exterior and interior of the enclosure through the second air inlet passes through a filter assembly. The enclosure also includes an air dispersion outlet having a fan that draws air into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets and forces air out of the enclosure. A chemical dispersion assembly generates a disinfecting fog relative to the fan. A system controller controls the air intake control assembly to disperse the disinfecting fog into the room, and subsequently draw the disinfecting fog from the room and through the filter assembly.

Claims

1. A system for disinfecting a room, the system comprising:

an enclosure including first and second air inlets;

an air intake control assembly configured for selectable control of air flow between an exterior and an interior of the enclosure through the first and second air inlets;

a disinfecting substance filter assembly disposed relative to the second air inlet such that air that flows between the exterior and interior of the enclosure through the second air inlet passes through the disinfecting substance filter assembly;

an air dispersion outlet including a fan configured to draw air into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets and to force air out of the enclosure;

a chemical dispersion assembly configured to generate a disinfecting fog relative to the air dispersion outlet via an atomizer; and

a system controller programmed to open the first air inlet and activate the fan to disperse the disinfecting fog into the room, and subsequently close the first air inlet to draw the disinfecting fog from the room and through the second air inlet and the disinfecting substance filter assembly,

wherein the chemical dispersion assembly comprises;

a chemical reservoir configured to retain a disinfecting substance;

a first atomizing nozzle configured to transform the disinfecting substance into the disinfecting fog;

a second atomizing nozzle; and

a third atomizing nozzle, and wherein the first, second and third atomizing nozzles are spaced on different sides of the air dispersion outlet external of the enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the air intake control assembly comprises:

a first air inlet cover assembly having an open state, which permits air flow between an exterior of the enclosure and an interior of the enclosure via the first air inlet, and a closed state, which prevents air flow between the exterior and interior of the enclosure via the first air inlet and allows air flow between the exterior and interior of the enclosure via the second air inlet.

3. The system of claim 2, and further comprising:

a second air inlet cover assembly having an open state, which permits air flow between an exterior of the enclosure and an interior of the enclosure via the second air inlet, and a closed state, which prevents air flow between the exterior and interior of the enclosure via the second air inlet.

4. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

an antimicrobial dispersion assembly configured to dispense an antimicrobial coating substance relative to the air dispersion outlet, wherein the system controller is further configured to open the first air inlet and activate the fan to disperse the antimicrobial coating substance into the room.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the antimicrobial coating substance is dispersed simultaneously with the disinfecting substance.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a surfactant is dispersed before or during dispersion of the disinfecting fog.

7. The system of claim 1, and further comprising:

one or more ambient condition sensors configured to sense ambient conditions in the room.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more ambient condition sensors are configured to sense one or more of heat sources, humidity, motion, and temperature.

9. The system of claim 7, and further comprising:

an environment control system configured to alter conditions in the room based conditions sensed by the one or more ambient condition sensors.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein air flow from the first air inlet substantially bypasses the disinfecting substance filter assembly.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is sized and configured to be transported into the room to be disinfected and transported out of the room after disinfection.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure contains the disinfecting substance filter assembly, the fan, and the system controller.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the air dispersion outlet is configured to spread the air and fog in opposite directions throughout the room.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the second air inlet comprises first and second side inlets positioned on opposite sides of the enclosure.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting substance filter assembly chemically destroys both peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide passing therethrough.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting substance filter assembly comprises a disinfecting substance filter that neutralizes or captures disinfecting substance passing therethrough.

17. A system for disinfecting a room, the system comprising:

an enclosure including first and second air inlets;

a plurality of controllable louvers arranged to control of air flow between an exterior and an interior of the enclosure through the first air inlet;

a disinfecting substance destruction assembly disposed relative to the second air inlet such that air that flows between the exterior and interior of the enclosure through the second air inlet passes through the disinfecting substance destruction assembly;

an air dispersion outlet including a fan configured to draw air into the enclosure through the first and second air inlets and to force air out of the enclosure;

a chemical dispersion assembly configured to generate a disinfecting fog relative to the air dispersion outlet via an atomizer; and

a system controller programmed to open the first plurality of louvers and activate the fan to disperse the disinfecting fog into the room, and to subsequently close the first plurality of louvers and activate the fan to draw the disinfecting fog from the room and through the second air inlet and the disinfecting substance destruction assembly, wherein the chemical dispersion assembly comprises;

a chemical reservoir configured to retain a disinfecting substance;

a first atomizing nozzle configured to transform the disinfecting substance into the disinfecting fog;

a second atomizing nozzle; and

a third atomizing nozzle, and wherein the first, second and third atomizing nozzles are spaced on different sides of the air dispersion outlet external of the enclosure.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the chemical dispersion assembly comprises

a chemical reservoir configured to retain a disinfecting substance;

and

an atomizing nozzle that transforms the disinfecting substance into the disinfecting fog.

19. The system of claim 17, and further comprising:

an antimicrobial dispersion assembly configured to dispense an antimicrobial coating substance relative to the air dispersion outlet, wherein the system controller is further configured to open the first plurality of louvers and activate the fan to disperse the antimicrobial coating substance into the room.

20. The system of claim 17, and further comprising:

one or more ambient condition sensors configured to sense ambient conditions in the room.

21. The system of claim 20, and further comprising:

an environment control system configured to alter conditions in the room based conditions sensed by the one or more ambient condition sensors.

22. A system for disinfecting a room, the system comprising:

an enclosure including first and second air flow paths;

an air flow control assembly configured for selectable control of air flow through the first and second air flow paths;

a disinfecting substance destruction assembly disposed in the second air flow path;

at least one air dispersion outlet;

a fan configured to flow air into the enclosure, through the first and second air flow paths, and out through the at least one air dispersion outlet;

a chemical dispersion assembly configured to generate a disinfecting fog relative to the air dispersion outlet via an atomizer; and

a system controller programmed to control operation of the fan, the air flow control assembly, and the chemical dispersion assembly so as to generate the disinfecting fog and to flow air through the first air flow path, bypassing the disinfecting substance destruction assembly, and out through the at least one air dispersion outlet in a disinfection process and subsequently to cease generation of the disinfecting fog and to flow air through the second air flow path, bypassing the first air flow path, to destroy the disinfecting fog via the disinfecting substance destruction assembly, wherein the chemical dispersion assembly comprises;

a chemical reservoir configured to retain a disinfecting substance;

a first atomizing nozzle configured to transform the disinfecting substance into the disinfecting fog;

a second atomizing nozzle; and

a third atomizing nozzle, and wherein the first, second and third atomizing nozzles are spaced on different sides of the air dispersion outlet external of the enclosure.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the disinfecting substance destruction assembly is configured for chemically destroying both peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the disinfecting substance destruction assembly comprises a potassium permanganate chemical destruction filter.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the air dispersion outlet is oriented and configured to spread the air and fog in opposite directions throughout the room.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the air dispersion outlet is oriented and configured to spread the air and fog in 360 degrees.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the first air flow path extends from a first air inlet to the at least one air dispersion outlet and the second air flow path extends from a second air inlet to the at least one air dispersion outlet.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the fog comprises droplets sized for wetting surfaces in the room as well as a portion of evaporated vapor.

29. The system of claim 22, and further comprising:

a humidity sensor connected to the system controller, wherein the system controller ends the disinfection process at a time determined based on room humidity data sensed by the humidity sensor.