Decontamination Device And Method Using Ultrasonic Cavitation
A method and apparatus for decontaminating substantially enclosed environments by using ultrasonic cavitation of a cleaning fluid to produce a low pressure, low air flow mist that can be activated by a nonthermal plasma actuator to create a cloud of activated hydroxyl species with the capacity to decontaminate articles, open surfaces or substantially enclosed spaces of pathogens, including bacteria, and other pathogenic microorganisms. An automated system and related non-transitory computer medium are also disclosed.
Claim CLM-00001. 1. A method for decontaminating an article or substantially enclosed space, comprising the steps of:
shearing a cleaning fluid into a mist at substantially one atmosphere ambient pressure comprising aerosol droplets accumulating in a top chamber portion of a substantially closed chamber comprising a funnel shaped top chamber portion, a bottom chamber portion, a side chamber portion and an interior chamber portion, wherein the cleaning fluid is sheared by ultrasonic cavitation, wherein the cleaning fluid comprises a source of an active species for decontamination of an article or substantially enclosed space, wherein the active species is hydroxyl ions and wherein the source is hydrogen peroxide and the cleaning fluid is silver-free chlorine-free and peracetic-acid free; subjecting the mist to a nonthermal plasma actuator to form plasma activated ionic particles carried by the aerosol droplets of the mist, wherein the plasma activated ionic particles are hydroxyl ions; dispersing the mist by high voltage actuation; and contacting the article or substantially enclosed space to the plasma activated ionic particles.
Claim CLM-00003. 3. A method for decontaminating an article, surface or substantially enclosed space, comprising the steps of:
shearing a cleaning fluid into a mist at substantially one atmosphere ambient pressure comprising aerosol droplets by cavitating the cleaning fluid using an ultrasonic cavitator submerged in a substantially closed chamber comprising the cleaning fluid, wherein the cleaning fluid comprises a source of an active species for decontamination of an article or substantially enclosed space, wherein the active species is hydroxyl ions and wherein the source is hydrogen peroxide and the cleaning fluid is silver-free, chlorine-free and peracetic-acid free; subjecting the mist to a nonthermal plasma actuator to form plasma activated ionic particles carried by the aerosol droplets of the mist, wherein the plasma activated ionic particles are hydroxyl ions, and wherein the nonthermal plasma actuator is located in an outlet tube extending from an opening in a top chamber portion of the substantially closed chamber, wherein the outlet tube comprises a hollow lumen with a distal opening above the top chamber portion for expelling the aerosol droplets carrying the plasma activated ionic particles; dispersing the mist by high voltage actuation; and contacting the article, surface, or substantially enclosed space with the plasma activated ionic particles.
