Ectoparasite eradication method and device
AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation
InventorsDale Clayton, Joseph Atkin, Kevin Wilding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of eliminating an ectoparasite infestation is disclosed that may include steps of defining a target area on an animal having an ectoparasite infestation, heating a volume of air to a temperature to form heated air, applying the heated air to the target area with an airflow such that the heated air impinges directly on substantially all ectoparasites located within the target area, and maintaining the heated air at the target area for a period of time sufficient to affect an ectoparasite mortality rate of at least 50%.
Claims35
A method for eliminating an ectoparasite infestation, comprising steps of:
- defining a target area on an animal having an ectoparasite infestation;
- heating a volume of air to a temperature to form heated air;
- applying the heated air to the target area with an airflow, such that the heated air impinges directly on substantially all ectoparasites located within the target area;
- and
- maintaining the heated air at the target area for a period of time sufficient to affect an ectoparasite mortality rate of at least 50%.
An institutional method for eliminating an ectoparasite infestation, comprising:
- defining a target area on a human having an ectoparasite infestation;
- heating a volume of air to a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 100° C. to form heated air;
- applying the heated air to the target area with an airflow of from about 45 ft3/min to about 365 ft3/min, such that the heated air impinges directly on substantially all ectoparasites located within the target area;
- and
- maintaining the heated air at the target area for from about 5 seconds to about 1 hour.
A handheld method for eliminating an ectoparasite infestation, comprising:
- defining a target area on a human having an ectoparasite infestation;
- heating a volume of air to a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 100° C. to form heated air;
- applying the heated air to the target area with an airflow of from about 20 ft3/min to about 220 ft3/min, such that the heated air impinges directly on substantially all ectoparasites located within the target area;
- and
- maintaining the heated air at the target area for a period of time sufficient to affect an ectoparasite mortality rate of at least 50%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.