Detoxification device having heated filter for killing pathogens
AssigneesHourani IP, LLC, University of Houston System
InventorsMonzer A. Hourani, Zhifeng Ren, Luo Yu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A detoxification device for removing pathogens from air within an environment. The detoxification device may include a filtration media for catching and retaining particles larger than about 0.3 micrometers (μm) with an efficiency of at least 99%. The detoxification device may also include a heating element having a metallic foam. The heating element may be heated upon application of an electrical current to the heating element. The heating element may, upon being heated, heat the filtration media to a target temperature that is effective to kill a pathogen.
Claims18
A detoxification device for removing pathogens from air within an environment, the detoxification device comprising:
- a frame defining a plenum through which air is configured to pass;
- a filtration media extending across the plenum and configured to catch and retain particles larger than about 0.3 micrometers (μm) with an efficiency of at least 99%;
- and
- a heating element comprising a metallic foam having a plurality of open-cell pores defining a plurality of flow-paths through the heating element, the heating element extending continuously across the plenum perpendicular to a direction of air-flow through the plenum such that air moving via the plenum moves through the plurality of flow-paths defined by the plurality of open-cell pores, wherein the heating element is configured to be heated upon application of an electrical current to the heating element, and wherein the heating element is in contact with the filtration media such that, upon being heated, the heating element will heat the filtration media to a target temperature that is effective to kill a pathogen.
A method for removing pathogens from within an environment, the method comprising:
- determining that air flow is not being conducted through a detoxification device, the detoxification device comprising:
- a frame defining a plenum through which air is configured to pass;
- a filtration media extending across the plenum and configured to catch and retain particles larger than about 0.3 micrometers (μm) with an efficiency of at least 99%;
- and
- a heating element comprising a metallic foam having a plurality of open-cell pores defining a plurality of flow-paths through the heating element, the heating element extending continuously across the plenum perpendicular to a direction of air-flow through the plenum such that air moving via the plenum moves through the plurality of flow-paths defined by the plurality of open-cell pores, wherein the heating element is in contact with the filtration media;
- and
- based upon the determination that air flow is not being conducted through the detoxification device, heating the heating element so that, upon the heating element being heated, the filtration media is heated to a target temperature that is effective to kill a pathogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.