Abstract: An integrated duct system is utilized to admit an antimicrobial vapor into a vehicle to decontaminate the contents and surfaces of the vehicle and subsequently to remove the vapor. The ducts comprise an air conditioning and/or heating duct, a decontamination duct for admitting an antimicrobial vapor, an auxiliary circulation duct for diffusing the vapor throughout the vehicle, and an aeration duct for removing the vapor from the vehicle, as well as a catalytic converter for detoxifying the antimicrobial vapor before removal. The integrated decontamination system is suitable for the chemical or biological decontamination of vehicles, provides enhanced vapor delivery and distribution on a rapid basis and also provides for rapid aeration for removing the antimicrobial vapor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing chemical sterilant molecules from a medium, such as a carrier gas. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing that defines an internal cavity. The housing has an inlet and an outlet fluidly communicating with the internal cavity. An electrode is dimensioned to be received in the internal cavity of the housing. The electrode is made of a material that is chemically active with respect to molecules of a chemical sterilant and conductive to electricity. The electrode is connected to a source of an electrical charge such that an electrical field gradient is formed in a region of space surrounding the electrode. The electrical field gradient is operable to force the chemical sterilant molecule toward the electrode.

Abstract: An integrated duct system is utilized to admit an antimicrobial vapor into a vehicle to decontaminate the contents and surfaces of the vehicle and subsequently to remove the vapor. The ducts comprise an air conditioning and/or heating duct, a decontamination duct for admitting an antimicrobial vapor, an auxiliary circulation duct for diffusing the vapor throughout the vehicle, and an aeration duct for removing the vapor from the vehicle, as well as a catalytic converter for detoxifying the antimicrobial vapor before removal. The integrated decontamination system is suitable for the chemical or biological decontamination of vehicles, provides enhanced vapor delivery and distribution on a rapid basis and also provides for rapid aeration for removing the antimicrobial vapor.

Abstract: An integrated duct system is utilized to admit an antimicrobial vapor into a vehicle to decontaminate the contents and surfaces of the vehicle and subsequently to remove the vapor. The ducts comprise an air conditioning and/or heating duct, a decontamination duct for admitting an antimicrobial vapor, an auxiliary circulation duct for diffusing the vapor throughout the vehicle, and an aeration duct for removing the vapor from the vehicle, as well as a catalytic converter for detoxifying the antimicrobial vapor before removal. The integrated decontamination system is suitable for the chemical or biological decontamination of vehicles, provides enhanced vapor delivery and distribution on a rapid basis and also provides for rapid aeration for removing the antimicrobial vapor.

Abstract: A system for handling items (10) such as mail includes an enclosure (25), which is capable of being isolated from the surrounding environment and from a chamber (27) of a decontamination system (22) fluidly connected therewith. The enclosure includes an opening (42) sized for receiving a container (14) containing potentially contaminated items, such as incoming mail. Manipulators (44) allow the mail to be sorted in the enclosure without risk of contaminating an operator or the surrounding environment. Mail to be decontaminated is conveyed between the enclosure and the chamber while being isolated from the surrounding environment. Vapor hydrogen peroxide or other decontaminant gas is used to decontaminate the enclosure, container, and any residual mail in the enclosure which is determined to be unsuited for ethylene oxide processing.

Abstract: A system for handling items (10) such as mail includes an enclosure (25), which is capable of being isolated from the surrounding environment and from a chamber (27) of a decontamination system (22) fluidly connected therewith. The enclosure includes an opening (42) sized for receiving a container (14) containing potentially contaminated items, such as incoming mail. Manipulators (44) allow the mail to be sorted in the enclosure without risk of contaminating an operator or the surrounding environment. Mail to be decontaminated is conveyed between the enclosure and the chamber while being isolated from the surrounding environment. Vapor hydrogen peroxide or other decontaminant gas is used to decontaminate the enclosure, container, and any residual mail in the enclosure which is determined to be unsuited for ethylene oxide processing.

Abstract: A system for microbially and/or chemically decontaminating a room such as a hotel room includes a vapor generator which supplies a decontaminant vapor, such as hydrogen peroxide vapor to the room. The room is then aerated to a level at which it is safe for normal occupants to enter. By using a two step aeration, with a second step at lower humidity than the first, the concentration of residual hydrogen peroxide is reduced rapidly to safe levels of 1 ppm or less, typically about 0.5 ppm, in under four hours. The room is rendered substantially free of contaminants, such as those responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Norwalk virus, and unpleasant odors.

Abstract: Mail which may be contaminated with a biotoxin, such as Anthrax, is received in a preliminary sorting area (16) including a dirty side sorting room (40) that is sealed to the ambient environment. The mail is loaded into a pass-through decontamination system (22) in which the mail is sterilized or otherwise decontaminated. The mail is removed from the pass-through system in a second or clean room (18) which is isolated from the first. The mail is then sorted and processed in the lean room (18). In the event that the sorting room (40) becomes contaminated or is suspected of being contaminated by pathogenic biological or chemical agents, a spray system (86) supplies a decontamination gas into the preliminary sorting area (16) to decontaminate the dirty side sorting room (40), any equipment (42, 44) in the room, and any mail located in the room.

Abstract: Almonds are often harvested off the ground from around trees which have been fertilized with manure. Potentially hazardous microbes are transferred from the husk to the shells during the dehusking process. During deshelling, shell dust with attached microbes escapes into the atmosphere and can permeate an entire packaging facility, contaminating previously uncontaminated packaging and food products. A sterile barrier is provided around the packaging facility. As the almonds in the shell are passed through the barrier, their shells are sanitized. After the nutmeats are removed from the shells, the nutmeats are sanitized again and packaged in packaging which has been sanitized.

Abstract: Almonds, other nuts, grains, dried or dehydrated fruits or vegetables, and other agricultural foodstuffs resting on a mesh conveyor belt (22, 54) pass continuously through a chamber (20, 60) in which they are contacted by a gaseous oxidizing agent at atmospheric pressure as the conveyor belt and food products move continuously through the chamber. In one embodiment, the chamber is disposed through a barrier (56) which isolates a raw product receiving region from downstream processing facilities to prevent cross-contamination downstream. In another embodiment, the chamber (20) is disposed through a barrier (34) which separates a husker (14) from a downstream sheller (40) such that the shells are sanitized prior to releasing the nutmeats from the shells. In the preferred embodiment, the gaseous oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide at a 1.

Abstract: A system for handling mail is in the form of a modular facility (10), which is capable of being isolated from the surrounding environment. The modular facility includes an enclosure or sorting area (40) for receiving and sorting incoming mail. A decontamination system (22) receives sorted mail and decontaminates the mail with a antimicrobial gas, such as ethylene oxide. A clean room (32), isolated from the enclosure and spaced from the enclosure by the decontamination system, is used for receiving processed mail from the decontamination system and sorting the mail for distribution. A source (92) of a decontaminant gas, such as vapor hydrogen peroxide, is fluidly connected with the enclosure for supplying the decontaminant gas to the enclosure in the event that the sorting room is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with a pathogenic biological or chemical agent.

Abstract: A method of decontaminating or sterilizing freeze dryers at low temperature and pressure levels by utilizing sterilant vapor is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the sterilization of bone tissue for transplantation employing a hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilant. The bone tissue is exposed to the sterilant vapor at a pressure, temperature, and concentration, and for a period of time that is sufficient to sterilize the bone tissue, but insufficient to cause substantial physical, chemical and biological damage. The bone tissue is defatted, preferably demineralized, substantially free of moisture and blood, and may be lyophilized prior to sterilization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sterilization process particularly well suited for sterilizing instruments and other devices having long narrow lumens. Apparatus in which the process can be practiced is also provided. The process uses a multicomponent sterilant vapor wherein one component is water. The lumened instruments are fluidly connected to the exhaust manifold of the sterilizer. A deep vacuum is drawn in the sterilization chamber followed by the injection of pulses of the sterilant vapor until a higher, but still subatmospheric pressure level is reached. When the pressure level reaches a predetermined subatmospheric level, a flow-through sterilization phase begins. It includes successive alternating periods of sterilant flow and the discontinuance of such flow. During sterilant flow periods, there are sterilant injection pulses where the sterilant flows through the chamber and the lumened instruments to exhaust. Each such flow period is followed by a hold period.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sterilization process particularly well suited for sterilizing instruments and other devices having long narrow lumens. Apparatus in which the process can be practiced is also provided. The process uses a multicomponent sterilant vapor wherein one component is water. The lumened instruments are fluidly connected to the exhaust manifold of the sterilizer. A deep vacuum is drawn in the sterilization chamber followed by the injection of pulses of the sterilant vapor until a higher, but still subatmospheric pressure level is reached. When the pressure level reaches a predetermined subatmospheric level, a flow-through sterilization phase begins. It includes successive alternating periods of sterilant flow and the discontinuance of such flow. During sterilant flow periods, there are sterilant injection pulses where the sterilant flows through the chamber and the lumened instruments to exhaust. Each such flow period is followed by a hold period.

Abstract: A vented cartridge comprises a container having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces connected together to define a predetermined volume. A dip tube extends from the top surface substantially to the bottom surface. A vent tube extends from the top surface and is positioned coaxially with the dip tube. The vent tube has an upper opening positioned in the upper third of the predetermined volume and a lower opening positioned in the lower third of the predetermined volume. A space between an outer surface of the dip tube and an inner surface of the vent tube forms a central fluid communication path between the upper and lower openings and the top surface. An upper valve is positioned at the upper opening for closing the upper opening if the cartridge is oriented with the top surface facing down; a lower valve is positioned at the lower opening for closing the lower opening if the cartridge is oriented with the top surface facing up.

Abstract: An apparatus for shipping goods which must be maintained in a predetermined orientation is provided. A closable outer container has a shaft passing through it along an axis. A weighted closable inner container is rotatably mounted about this axis so that it may freely rotate within the outer container while always assuming a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow-through system for use with at least one sealable pressure or nonpressure container. The system can be used to selectively sterilize, humidify and aerate the container and can be integrally or releasably attached to the container. The system includes at least one liquid reservoir for holding a sterilant, such as an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. A second liquid reservoir for holding water for humidification may be provided. The system also includes a unit which houses a heater for vaporizing incoming liquid and optionally heating incoming air and a converter for converting selected vapors to a form suitable for disposal. A vacuum motor draws air from the container to reduce pressure therein so that air from an air supply is drawn through an air filter into the heater and into the container. A substantial portion of the withdrawn air from the container is diverted to the converter.

Abstract: A system and method for recycling first and second quantities of process heat from a vapor having substantially the total initial process heat where the vapor is channeled from at least one apparatus in which a process having a vapor utilization phase is practiced. The preferred embodiment of the system comprises at least one steam sterilizer, apparatus for channeling steam having substantially the total process heat from one of the sterilizers to a first phase change material where the first quantity of heat is absorbed by the first phase change material and water, having the second quantity of heat, is yielded. A fluid, preferably a refrigerant, is passed through the first phase change material for transfer of the first quantity of heat to the refrigerant. The refrigerant is then compressed in a compressor to provide a sufficient quantity of additional heat to raise the heat content of the refrigerant above the initial process heat.

Abstract: A limb restraint permits proper positioning of a limb of a patient while medical or surgical operations are being performed on the patient. The preferred embodiment includes a fixed restraint and an adjustable restraint which cooperate with each other to encircle the limb and hold it in place. One end of the adjustable restraint can be wound around or unwound from a spool using a handle assembly to tighten or loosen, respectively, the restraint on the limb. A clutch is provided to prevent the spool from rotating in a direction that would loosen the restraint. The handle assembly used to tighten or loosen the restraint prevents inadvertent tightening or loosening of the restraint when the handle assembly is not in use.