Abstract: Unlike the existing powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) that are bulky, heavy, and expensive the invention offers a light-weighted inexpensive portable PAPR consisted of a single piece secured on user's head. The respirator is for use in contaminated environment including one with highly contagious viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. A clear visor of the respirator protects eyes, nose, and mouth. The rest of the user's head protected with a soft airtight cover. A small fan or fans pump air through the filters. Because the fan capacity exceeds airflow required for breathing, air pressure under the cover is slightly higher than ambient pressure. It protects the visor and user glasses from fogging and prevents leaks through any looseness. A special port allows use of equipment and devices as a stethoscope for medics or oxygen supply for patients.

Abstract: A container and cap stores and measures material. A container has a cap removably attached to a double-walled container section. The cap has a housing between a base and a scale tray. The housing contains electronic components including a display, microcontroller, a sensor array and functional buttons. The scale tray includes a ring of LEDs that direct into the container section to sanitize and illuminate. The sensor array of the cap includes a scale transducer and humidity and temperature sensors. The container can be flipped over so the base on an underlying surface and so that the material the container falls down onto the scale tray, so the contents can be weighed. The cap can be removed and used as a stand-alone scale. The functions of the electronics can be controlled by an external devices, like a smartphone, through a software application.

Abstract: A lighting device configured to deactivate dangerous microorganisms in an environment. The lighting device includes at least one lighting element with a single light source configured to provide disinfecting light. At least a first component of the light has a wavelength of about 405 nm, and at least a second component of the light has a wavelength of greater than 500 nm. The first component of light has a minimum integrated irradiance of 0.01 mW/cm2 measured from any unshielded point in the environment that is 1.5 m from any point on any external-most luminous surface of the lighting device.

Abstract: A lighting device configured to deactivate dangerous pathogens (e.g., MRSA bacteria) in an environment. The lighting device includes at least one lighting element with a single light source configured to provide light. At least a first component of the light comprising light having a wavelength of about 405 nm, and at least a second component of the light comprising light having a wavelength of greater than 420 nm. The first component of light has a minimum integrated irradiance of 0.01 mW/cm2 measured from any unshielded point in the environment that is 1.5 m from any point on any external-most luminous surface of the lighting device.

Abstract: An air germicidal treatment device and system for removing or eliminating unwanted pathogens or bacteria in an airstream is shown. The device or system has a removable irradiation chamber that divides an interior area of the device into an air pre-chamber area, an air post-chamber area and an irradiation area therebetween. The removable irradiation chamber is generally trapezoidal in shape and has end walls that are inclined with respect to an interior divider wall.

Abstract: An air purification system for use with rail car HVAC system to remove or destroy harmful pathogens in the air. The air purification system has a housing with an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet. An intense field generator and filter is used to charge any particles in the air and remove them from the air flow. An ultraviolet radiation source is positioned to direct ultraviolet illumination into the passageway. Finally, a dielectric barrier discharge unit having a high voltage electrode coupled to a dielectric barrier and a ground electrode spaced apart from the high voltage electrode is used to form a low temperature plasma chamber is in communication with the passageway so that the ions created in the plasma chamber will attach to and destroy any remaining particles in the air flow.

Abstract: Provided herein are portable ultraviolet (UV) devices, systems, and methods of use and manufacturing same. Methods of use include methods for UV disinfection and sterilization, more specifically, methods for UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, a room, a space or a defined environment. The portable UV devices, systems and methods are particularly useful for the UV disinfection and sterilization of a container, a room, a space or defined environment used in various industries. Provided are also portable UV devices, systems, and methods for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present in a container, a room, a space or a defined environment, preferably for inhibiting the growth of one or more species of microorganisms present on an interior surface of a container, a room, a space or a defined environment.

Abstract: A device for packaging and dispensing a chemical product is provided. The device may include a first portion connected to a second portion. Counterpoising locking features may secure the first portion and the second portion. A support member is disposed within the lower portion and adapted to support the product. The device may include a flexible enclosure contoured to and enclosing the rigid body and the product. The flexible enclosure may enclose a portion of the housing and the product, after which heat is applied to shrink the flexible enclosure. A handle may provide for ease of installation and/or removal of the device from a solid chemical dispensing system.

Abstract: A hybrid packet containing deodorizing chemicals can dissolve to release the chemicals in a brine solution while still being formed using high speed packet forming machinery. A hybrid packet can be formed by feeding a sheet of dissolvable paper and a film of PVA material into the packet forming machine to form a hybrid packet having one side formed of the paper and the opposing side formed of the PVA material. The PVA sheet and paper panels are fused together by the machine to form a sealed interior compartment that holds the deodorizing chemicals. A serrated knife edge can be used to pierce the paper and PVA layers to separate individual packets. Reduced water volume in the forming operation avoids compromising the dissolvable paper portion of the hybrid packet. The packet contents can include citric acid and sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: Disinfectors that are touchless, high speed, or both for personal electronic devices and the like. A housing defines an internal volume including a disinfection zone and an object entry port of a size to permit entry by an object of interest with exposed surface area. At least one emitter projects a stripe of UV-C light into the disinfection zone. A drive under the control or a controller transport causes relative movement between the object and the emitter to expose the surface area to greater than 3 mJ/cm2 of UV-C light in less than 90 seconds.

Abstract: A medical tool kit is provided for packaging, storing, and transporting medical instruments and tools of various types. The medical tool kit is capable of providing continuing sterilization to the medical instruments and tools kept inside the medical tool kit after the tool case is opened during its normal use in a medical procedure. The medical tool kit is further capable of emitting a GPS tracking signal to identify the location of an opened medical tool kit during an emergency as well as creating hands free communication between the user of the medical tool kit and local emergency institutions.

Abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) possesses array of strategies to evade antibiotics through mutational inactivation, hiding inside host immune cells or concealing inside the biofilm in a sessile form. We report a drug-free approach to eradicate MRSA through blue-light bleaching of staphyloxanthin (STX), an anti-oxidative carotenoid residing inside the cell membrane of S. aureus. The photobleaching process, uncovered through a transient absorption imaging study and quantitated by mass spectrometry, decomposes STX and sensitizes MRSA to reactive oxygen species attack. Consequently, photobleaching using low-level blue light exhibits high-level synergy when combined with low-concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Antimicrobial effectiveness of this synergistic therapy is validated in MRSA culture, MRSA-infected macrophage cells, biofilm, and a mouse wound infection model. Collectively, these findings highlight broad applications of STX photobleaching for MRSA-infected diseases.

Abstract: A scalable, portable and modular chlorine dioxide fumigant decontamination system having an activating area and a neutralizing area which may be housed separately or as a single operationally connected unit, and which may be configured as a closed loop system connected to a decontamination chamber for decontamination of articles, or as an open loop system for decontamination of interiors and large confined spaces, and employing a specialized activating cup that is permeable to air yet substantially impermeable to water and chlorine dioxide reaction by-products such that directing air through the activation cup releases nearly pure chlorine dioxide fumigant. Methods and articles relating to the system are also described.

Abstract: A touchless and motion-sensing hand sanitizing dispenser that functions as an elevator call button. This invention is intended as a hallway call button retrofit device for existing systems, and it will also benefit both new and modernized installations. In addition to improving on public hygiene, this call system improves on the functionality of conventional call systems by obtaining a better estimate of the people waiting for the elevator in a given direction. This invention will also collect utilization and performance data for the elevator system.

Abstract: An ionization device may be configured to be portable, and to rest on a surface such as a floor or desk top. The ionization device includes an air-intake port, an ion generator, an ozone catalyst for removing at least some ozone from air, and an air discharge. Air enters the device through the air-intake port, and at least some of the air is ionized to remove particulates. The air is then moved past or through the ozone catalyst to remove at least some of the ozone from the air. A controller may be used to monitor particulates, temperature, humidity, and/or other relevant factors and/or to adjust the ionization level.

Abstract: A method and device for high-pressure, high-temperature steam sterilization of endoscopes includes pressure resistant fittings to attach a steam generator to the ports of an endoscope. The method and device allows for high-pressure, high-temperature steam to circulate throughout the endoscope, exposing various surfaces to steam for sterilization. The method and device also allows for high-pressure, high-temperature steam to circulate selectively through the channels of the endoscope, selectively sterilizing the channels and allowing for use of this method with current high-level disinfection methods. The method and device also allows for movement of the scope elevator channel during the sterilization process, allowing for steam to reach the crevices around the elevator and other moving parts of an endoscope.

Abstract: A sterilization system includes a communication hub that is configured to transfer information between devices of the system such as a sterilizing cabinet, biological indicator analyzer, and a server in order to allow a user to track a medical device throughout a sterilization process. The server may provide data to the sterilizing cabinet during a sterilization process that may be used to verify that the medical device is compatible with the sterilizing cabinet, and to automatically select a compatible sterilization cycle to perform on the medical device. Automatic selection of sterilization cycles and confirmation of compatibility reduces the possibility for user error, which could result in contaminated medical devices being placed back into service. Automatic selection of sterilization cycles also allows users to more efficiently configure and perform sterilization cycles while being confident that the medical device will be sterile upon completion.

Abstract: An improvement to UV sterilization and disinfection devices and methods is disclosed. An apparatus for sterilization and disinfection includes: a compact, highly effective air sterilization and disinfection apparatus, which delivers clean, pure air directly into a blower/warmer device for clean and effective management of patient body temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for identifying the position of an object that is, or will be, used in a sterilization process. The apparatus comprises at least two containers and each container has a cavity configured to receive the object. At least one visual indicator corresponds to each container. A programmable hardware device is configured to receive an identifier. Responsive to receipt of the identifier, the programmable hardware device is configured to indicate a position of at least one of the containers that corresponds to the identifier utilizing the visual indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus for the inactivation of airborne pathogens and pathogens on the surface of an object. The apparatus including a housing with an intake region and an exhaust region and an airflow path disposed between the intake and exhaust regions. The apparatus also includes a space within the housing for placement of the object as well as an intake fan and an oxidant generator proximate the intake fan. The apparatus includes an air filter disposed in the airflow path for removing particulates and pathogens and passes the intake air through either or both of an activated carbon filter and a catalyst to convert the oxidant into oxygen.