Disinfection
AssigneeNovapharm Research (Australia) Pty Ltd
InventorsSteven Kritzler, Alex Sava
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method of disinfection comprising the steps of sonicating a liquid disinfectant at a frequency selected to be above 15 MHz, preferably above 2 MHz in a nebulizing chamber to produce a nebulized disinfectant product. The frequency of the ultrasonic energy and the formulation of the disinfectant to which the ultrasonic energy is applied is such that 90% of microdroplets are between 0.8 and 2.0 micrometres in diameter. In preferred embodiments, the microdroplets are activated by the ultrasound and are substantially more effective than non-sonicated disinfectant. The invention also relates to compositions suitable for use in such methods which mar include activatable agents, surfactarits and/or agents to assist in drying.
Claims47
A method of disinfection comprising the step of applying ultrasonic energy at a frequency selected to be above 1.5 MHz to a liquid composition comprising a disinfectant in combination with at least one surfactant to produce a nebulised disinfectant product.
A method according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the ultrasonic energy is applied for a nebulising duration and at an ultrasonic frequency selected in combination to provide a predetermined level of disinfection of an object exposed to the nebulised disinfectant product.
A method according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the ultrasound frequency is above 2 MHz
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the disinfection occurs at below 40° C.
A method according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the surfactant modifies the size of the microdroplets.
A method according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the surfactant modifies the susceptibility to activation of the microdroplets.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the disinfectant is activated by high frequency ultrasound.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the disinfectant is selected from the group consisting of peroxy compounds, halogenated compounds, phenolic compounds, and halogenated phenolic compounds.
A method according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the application of ultrasound nebulises the liquid composition within an enclosed ultrasonic chamber which resides in or communicates with an enclosed disinfection chamber.
A method of disinfection according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the liquid composition includes an alcohol as a surfactant
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the nebulisation duration and ultrasonic frequency are selected such that a disinfected object is quickly dried.
A method of performing disinfection according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the liquid composition includes at least one substance with a high vapour pressure relative to water.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims further including the step of neutralising the disinfectant with a neutralising agent subsequent to the disinfection step.
A disinfected volume in a nebulising chamber prepared by a method according to any one of the proceeding claims.
A composition for use in a disinfection method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a disinfectant in combination with a surfactant.
A method of disinfection comprising the step of applying ultrasonic energy at a frequency selected to be above 1.5 MHz to a nebulised composition comprising a disinfectant in combination with at least one surfactant.
A method of disinfection comprising the step of nebulising a liquid disinfectant in combination with at least one surfactant to form microdroplets, allowing the microdroplets to contact a surface and applying ultrasonic energy to at least one of the surface and the microdroplets.
Apparatus for disinfection comprising;
- a closed disinfection chamber adapted to receive an article to be disinfected;
- a nebulizer comprising a nebulizing chamber adapted in use to receive a disinfecting agent to be nebulised, said nebuliser having an outlet for discharging a nebulised disinfecting agent directly and without intermediate tubing into the closed disinfection chamber, and having an intake communicating directly and without intermediate tubing with the disinfection chamber interior;
- and
- a transducer adapted to sonicate the disinfecting agent within the nebulising chamber;
- whereby in use air entering the nebulising chamber via said intake carries a progressively increasing concentration of nebulised disinfectant.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 41 to 46 wherein ingress of air is excluded from the apparatus during sonication of the disinfectant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.