Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/24—Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/02—Disinfection or sterilisation of materials or objects, in general; Accessories therefor using physical processes
  • A61L2/04—Heat
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2103/00—Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation
  • A61L2103/50—Textiles, e.g. bedwear or towels
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/12—Apparatus for isolating biocidal substances from the environment
  • A61L2202/122—Chambers for sterilisation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/14—Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/16—Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles

Definitions

• TITLE Decontamination device intended to hygienize contaminated tissues, in particular personal protective equipment
• the field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of protective equipment against biological agents.
• the invention relates to a device for hygienizing personal protective equipment, including respiratory masks, gowns, cuffs, but also any clothing, or shoes, bags or even others. inert non-food objects which may have been contaminated.
• respiratory masks these have been widely used for a number of years in large cities, and in particular large cities in the east and south-east, to limit the inhalation of atmospheric pollutants , or contamination by viruses, such as influenza or coronaviruses.
• FFP masks abbreviation of the English terms "Filtering Facepiece Particles”
• surgical masks have been designed and developed. These masks have a filtration device and are intended to protect the entourage of the wearer of the mask as well as the wearer of the mask himself against projections of droplets and particles suspended in the air.
• FFP2 masks in particular are reserved for doctors, nurses, dentists or other health specialists, if they need to perform priority care.
• the processing equipment is not suitable for receiving large volumes and / or working at a sustained pace
• Such a technique corresponds to an industrial approach to pasteurization, and requires relatively heavy equipment, in terms of constantly creating steam and obtaining a vacuum in the chamber.
• the object of the invention is in particular to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
• the aim of the invention is to provide a technique for recycling personal protective equipment (or other contaminated fabrics) which is technically and economically accessible and usable by everyone.
• the invention also aims to provide such a technique which can be declined in different versions according to the desired uses and which is in particular easily transportable.
• the device being intended to be associated with at least one medium suitable for being humidified, the medium being intended to be extended facing the heating surface, and in that it comprises means for evacuating humidity from the enclosure, the electronic unit being configured for, successively:
• - Activate the heating means until a temperature of between 70 ° C and 75 ° C is reached in the enclosure, while the medium, in a humidified state, is extended opposite the heating surface; - Keep the heating means activated during a decontamination phase in moist heat lasting between 1 min and 30 minutes while maintaining in the enclosure a temperature between 70 ° C and 75 ° C;
• the device for decontaminating contaminated tissues can be designed and manufactured in reduced dimensions, adapted so that the enclosure can receive only a few units of personal protective equipment.
• the heating means involve low electrical power, as will become clear below.
• the means of steam production are reduced to their simplest form, insofar as a simple medium impregnated with liquid (in this case water), placed in front of the heating surface can produce the expected steam.
• the decontamination cycles of contaminated tissues are relatively short and can be managed individually, without special logistics.
• the duration of drying in dry heat may vary as much as necessary, in particular as a function of the volume of the enclosure and of the humidity level present therein.
• the device according to the invention makes it possible to locally generate a transient phase of humid air to saturation by the evaporation of a limited quantity of water over a large surface (surface of the humidified medium).
• the device incorporates at least one hygrometry probe and the electronic unit configured to regulate the heating means so as to maintain a hygrometry in the enclosure of between 50% and 100%.
• the operating conditions of the device are optimized so as to be as close as possible to the pasteurization scales. Thus, in terms of setting, we will try as much as possible to approach a humidity of 100%.
• the device comprises at least a second temperature probe intended to measure the temperature of the heating surface, and the electronic unit is configured to regulate the heating means so as to maintain a temperature of the heating surface. heating surface less than 100 ° C.
• the device comprises at least one fan mounted inside the enclosure.
• Such a fan can be used for one and / or the other of the following functions:
• the device comprises a measuring container for a humidifying liquid intended to humidify the medium, designed to dose 1 to 2 ml of humidification liquid per 1 liter of internal volume of the medium. pregnant.
• the user has an accessory to help dose the optimal amount of humidification liquid for a given capacity of the chamber.
• a quantity of liquid is needed adjusted to correspond to the pasteurization scales, this without producing an excess of steam which would then tend to increase the drying times in dry heat.
• the device comprises at least three visual indicators, among which:
• a third visual indicator activated during a standby phase of the device.
• the user is informed, by the various visual indicators, of the working phase (or standby) of the device.
• These visual indicators can be light indicators, such as leds.
• the device could, alternatively, be provided with a screen making it possible, for example, to display pasteurization parameters as well as the nature and duration of the operating phases.
• the enclosure is rigid and extends from a bottom integrating the heating surface.
• the device according to this embodiment can be offered in different sizes, ranging from a configuration similar to a box or a box for the smallest dimensions to a configuration similar to a box. cupboard, or even a cloakroom for larger dimensions.
• the heating surface is at the level of the bottom to have a natural convection of the vapor from the bottom to the top, this being accompanied by a relatively homogeneous distribution of the vapor. steam in the enclosure.
• the device preferably comprises a booster intended to rest on the bottom, the booster having a perforated support surface on which the contaminated tissues are intended to rest.
• the discharge means take the form of a hatch movably mounted on the enclosure between a closed position of the enclosure and an open position of the enclosure, the device comprising means for retaining the flap in the closed position movable between a retaining position for the flap and a releasing position for the flap, the electronic unit being configured to return the retaining means to the retaining position during the decontamination phase in moist heat and in the release position during the drying phase in dry heat.
• the electronic unit manages the sequence of the decontamination phase in moist heat and the drying phase in dry heat, this by ensuring that the decontamination phase in moist heat has come to an end before proceeding. during its drying phase in dry heat.
• the opening of the hatch is only made possible at the end of the decontamination phase in moist heat, the opening of said hatch corresponding to the beginning of the drying phase in dry heat by evacuation made possible through the hatch.
• the opening of the hatch can be carried out manually or made automatic by appropriate means.
• the device is portable.
• the decontamination device as just described can also be offered in a version intended to be fixed, which can take the form of a cabinet or a cloakroom remaining permanently in a location. chosen (workplace and / or home).
• the enclosure is flexible and takes the form of a cover of the costume cover type.
• the device is portable.
• Such a cover of the suit cover type can accommodate any type of personal protective equipment, and is more particularly dedicated to the hygienization of gown type equipment.
• the cover has an upper opening capable of allowing the passage of a hanger hook to allow the cover to be suspended.
• the cover can also be of a type in which it is fully closed and folded up on itself for transport.
• the electronic unit is configured to trigger the fan during the dry heat drying phase to promote the evacuation) of moisture through the opening.
• the electronic unit automatically triggers the moisture evacuation to pass into the dry heat drying phase.
• the cover has an internal wall having a channel for receiving a humidifying liquid and a means attachment of the media close to the channel so that a portion of the media can be accommodated in the channel.
• the media is placed opposite the heating surface and, on the other hand, that the media is moistened by the liquid contained in the channel.
• the house is devoid of the channel for receiving the humidifying liquid, the media having to be humidified prior to its insertion and its installation in the cover, with a view to hygienization. tissues to be decontaminated.
• the subject of the invention is also a decontamination assembly comprising:
• the decontamination device being designed to receive the media.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic representations of a decontamination device for decontaminating contaminated tissue according to the invention, in a "box” or “box” version;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a decontamination device for decontaminating contaminated tissue according to the invention, in a flexible cover version.
• a decontamination device intended to decontaminate contaminated tissues, and in particular personal protective equipment such as respiratory masks, gowns, cuffs, but also shoes, bags, etc. consists of an enclosure 1 whose internal volume 10 is intended to accommodate personal protective equipment PPE, more generally contaminated tissues.
• This enclosure includes heating means 2, which may take the form of a heating resistor 2 extending in a coil over the surface of the bottom 11 of the enclosure.
• the heating means 2 are supplied electrically by any suitable means, such as an integrated battery (not shown) or a transformer (not shown). shown) connected to means of electrical connection to the mains, the current supplied being advantageously of the 12 V continuous type. Such a device can then also be electrically connected to a car outlet.
• any suitable means such as an integrated battery (not shown) or a transformer (not shown). shown) connected to means of electrical connection to the mains, the current supplied being advantageously of the 12 V continuous type.
• Such a device can then also be electrically connected to a car outlet.
• the enclosure 1 further includes an electronic unit 3 connected to the heating means 2, the electronic unit being intended to control the heating means.
• the enclosure 1 also includes a first temperature probe 4, mounted on an internal wall of the enclosure and intended to measure the temperature therein.
• a first temperature probe 4 mounted on an internal wall of the enclosure and intended to measure the temperature therein.
• the enclosure is constituted by a rigid box and the internal wall of the enclosure formed by the bottom thereof constitutes the heating surface under which s' extend the heating means 2.
• the device is intended to be associated with at least one medium 5, for example a sheet of cellulose fiber (or any other impregnable fabric) capable of being humidified, this medium 5 being intended to be extended opposite of the heating surface 110 (that is to say the internal wall of the bottom of the enclosure).
• a medium 5 for example a sheet of cellulose fiber (or any other impregnable fabric) capable of being humidified, this medium 5 being intended to be extended opposite of the heating surface 110 (that is to say the internal wall of the bottom of the enclosure).
• this medium once moistened, is deposited and spread over the heating surface 110, the medium having dimensions corresponding essentially to the surface of the internal wall of the bottom.
• the device can be offered with the media, thus forming a decontamination assembly.
• the device can also be offered without the media which must then be obtained independently of the device.
• the device comprises means for evacuating moisture from the enclosure, these evacuation means may take different forms described in more detail below.
• the electronic unit 3 is configured for, successively:
• the heating means 2 activated during a decontamination phase in moist heat lasting between 1 minute and 30 minutes, while maintaining in the enclosure a temperature between 55 ° C and 90 ° C, and preferably between 70 ° C and 80 ° C;
• the temperatures may be included in intermediate ranges, for example between 65 ° C and 80 ° C.
• the enclosure takes the form of a rigid box, with a capacity for example of 1.5 liters (to accommodate three to four breathing masks) provided as an indication to supply the heating means with a power of 40 watts, which proves to be sufficient heating power even in a cold environment, to reach the decontamination temperature.
• Such a box is typically of the portable type, the device can however be sized to take a form similar to that of a cabinet or a cloakroom.
• the device further comprises a booster 6 intended to rest on the bottom of the enclosure, this booster having a perforated support surface 60 on which the contaminated tissues are intended to rest.
• the perforated support surface 60 can take the form of a mesh or honeycomb surface, its design being in any event designed to allow the vapor emerging from the medium 5 placed below the surface to diffuse through it. support 60.
• the booster can for example be provided with four legs making it possible to raise the support surface 60 to a height of 10 to 20 millimeters relative to the heating surface 110.
• the booster can include a lower stage under the support surface 60, also perforated, and on which the medium 5 can be extended away from the heating surface, for example at a distance of. one millimeter.
• the medium 5 made of cellulose fibers or of filter paper for example, is advantageous in that it constitutes a consumable which may be reused, and prevents scaling of the heating surface.
• the medium impregnated with liquid and heated by the heating surface allows the diffusion of vapor from its entire surface, ensuring good distribution of the vapor inside the enclosure.
• the medium 5 is made of a material resistant to a temperature of 120 ° C.
• this medium 5 is distinct from the contaminated tissue to be decontaminated.
• the heating surface can have a cross-type structure, avoiding pooling of water under the double effect of gravity and capillarity, this in a design making it possible to easily clean and descale the surface of the heater. heating.
• the medium it may, according to one possible variant, be multi-layered, with a hydrophilic layer and one or more hydrophobic layers. In this case, it is possible to ask directly:
• the enclosure is provided with a hatch 7 (or a cover) movably mounted on the enclosure between a closed position of the enclosure and a position of opening of the enclosure.
• the device further comprises retaining means 70 of the hatch 7 in the closed position of the latter, the retaining means being movable between a retaining position of the hatch and a release position of the hatch. hatch.
• These retaining means may take the form of an electromagnet, one or more springs being able to be interposed between the enclosure and the hatch, this or these springs tending to bring the hatch back to an open position, of such that, when the retaining means are in the hatch release position, the spring or springs tend to return the hatch to the open position.
• the electronic unit is then configured to bring the retaining means in the retained position during the moist heat decontamination phase and in the release position during the dry heat drying phase.
• the hatch opens automatically and allows moisture to escape into the internal volume of the enclosure.
• the assembly consisting of the trap door, the retaining means and the electronic unit controlling the retaining means constitute means of evacuating moisture from the enclosure.
• the hatch 7 can be coated, on the side of its wall, facing the internal volume of the enclosure, with an insulating material 71, this to avoid a "cold surface” effect detrimental to the phase of. decontamination.
• the other peripheral walls of the enclosure can also be coated, on the inside, with an insulating material.
• the electronic unit 3 can be mounted in the hatch 7, internal side thereof.
• the hatch 7, on its side facing the internal volume of the enclosure can carry a fan 8 (or even several), intended to ensure the circulation of the air present in the enclosure during the decontamination phase in moist heat, i.e. when the flap is in the closed position.
• the hatch 7 has one or more upper openings 12, each provided with a non-return valve and also, preferably, an air filter.
• the electronic unit triggers the fan 8, the air flow "being sufficient to bring the non-return valve (s) to the open position and allow the air to pass through. air and steam. Note that the fan (s) are kept stopped in this configuration during the damp heat decontamination phase.
• the enclosure 1 is flexible and takes the form of a suit cover type cover.
• Such a cover may have an upper opening 12.
• this upper opening 12 is capable of allowing the passage of a hook C of a hanger, allowing, in a manner known per se, the suspension of the cover.
• a gantry can be implemented to allow the suspension of several covers next to each other.
• a collective cover surrounding a mobile gantry can be implemented to accommodate several personal protective equipment (or clothing to be decontaminated) suspended together in the same cover.
• the cover may be devoid of such an opening allowing the passage of the hook of a hanger, but still have an upper opening 12, a pivoting valve 120, for example, being movable between a closed position of this opening and a position of release of the opening.
• the heating means 2 may take the form of a flexible plasticized film in which extends a heating resistance, the flexible plasticized film then constituting the heating surface.
• the latter is preferably dimensioned so as to extend over almost the entire height of an internal wall of the cover.
• the enclosure constituted by the cover includes, according to the principle of the invention, an electronic unit (not shown) and a first temperature probe (not shown) for measuring the temperature in the enclosure.
• the cover is designed to accommodate a medium suitable for being humidified and extended opposite the heating surface.
• the upper openings 12 constitute means for evacuating moisture from the enclosure (either freely if the opening is of the type allowing the passage of a hanger hook, or conditioned by the opening of a valve 120 as described previously), and the electronic unit is configured for, successively:
• the cover incorporates a channel 9 for receiving a humidifying liquid, the channel being carried by an internal wall of the cover, and extending near a lower end of the cover. the heating surface 110.
• the cover incorporates a hooking means 50, for hanging the media 5 near the channel 9 so that a portion 51, in this case a lower portion of the media 5, can be accommodated. in the channel and, moisten itself over its entire surface in the presence of a humidifying liquid in the channel.
• the cover incorporates a fan 8, near an upper opening in the cover.
• the electronic unit is then configured to trigger this fan 8 in the dry heat drying phase to promote the evacuation of moisture through the opening.
• the cover incorporates a second fan 8 in the lower part of the cover, in the vicinity of a second opening 13 associated with a valve 120 of the type described above.
• This fan can be controlled by the electronic unit in a similar way to the one present in the upper part of the cover.
• the fans can also be triggered by the electronic unit to ensure circulation of the air present inside the enclosure formed by the cover (the valves 120 then being kept in the closed position of the openings).
• the device may also have at least one of the following characteristics:
• the electronic unit comprises at least a second temperature sensor 40, mounted on the heating surface 110, intended to measure the temperature thereof, the electronic unit being in this case configured to regulate the heating means 2 so as to maintain a temperature of the heating surface of less than 110 ° C (or even less than 100 ° C and even less than 95 ° C, or even less than 80 ° C, in the case of the enclosure constituted by a cover); - it incorporates at least one hygrometry probe 30 and in that the electronic unit is configured to regulate the heating means so as to maintain a hygrometry in the enclosure of between 50% and 100%
• the device has three visual indicators, for example LEDs of differentiated colors, among which a first visual indicator 100 activated during the decontamination phase in moist heat, a second visual indicator 101 activated during the drying phase in dry heat, and a third visual indicator 102 activated during a standby phase of the device,
• a first visual indicator 100 activated during the decontamination phase in moist heat
• a second visual indicator 101 activated during the drying phase in dry heat
• a third visual indicator 102 activated during a standby phase of the device
• the device comprises a measuring container D, for dosing a humidifying liquid intended to humidify the medium 5, this measuring container being designed to dose 1 or 2 ml of humidification liquid for 1 liter of internal volume of the enclosure.
• the air in the enclosure is supplied and maintained at saturation with humidity for the decontamination phase.
• This is for example obtained in the range of 70 ° C to 75 ° C with approximately 200 to 250 grams of water per cubic meter, or 2 to 2.5 ml of water for 10 L of air.
• the device according to the invention allows only small volumes of water to be used to saturate the air with moisture during the decontamination phase.
• a version of the device according to the invention can be offered without the temperature probe (s).
• a thermomechanical component such as a polystyrene tube. hemolysis (conventionally useful in biology), coupled to an external pressurizing member of the tube such as a clothespin. If the temperature exceeds the threshold temperature, the tube softens and deforms under the effect of the clamp, which provides a visual indication of the temperature being exceeded.
• the device consists of an enclosure 1 whose internal volume 10 is designed to accommodate contaminated tissues such as FFP2 or surgical masks.
• the device can then be considered as forming a hygiene kit.
• the enclosure includes the heating means 2 which take the form of heating films integrated into the walls of the hygiene kit.
• a medium 5, formed by a wipe, is moistened by soaking it with 1 ml of water. Once humidified, the media 5 is deposited on the heating surface 110.
• At least one mask to be decontaminated is then placed on the medium 5, or on a booster.
• a decontamination cycle can then be triggered using electronic unit 3.
• the electronic unit 3 activates the heating means 2, until a temperature of between 70 ° C and 75 ° C is reached in the chamber 1.
• a phase of drying in dry heat is carried out by promoting moisture evacuation by keeping the heating means 2 activated so as to maintain in the chamber 1 a temperature between 70 ° C and 75 ° C.
• the moisture evacuation means formed by the open sides of the kit, allow automatic evacuation of humidity and therefore an automatic transition to the dry phase, the duration of which for the same configuration of the kit is determined by the quantity of liquid initially deposited on the wipe.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=71111612

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2020
  • 2020-04-21 FR FR2003989A patent/FR3109314B1/fr active Active
• 2021
  • 2021-04-19 WO PCT/EP2021/060121 patent/WO2021213993A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2021-04-19 EP EP21720439.5A patent/EP4138932A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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