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US 2010/0147701 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for applying electrical charge through a liquid to enhance sanitizing properties
AssigneeTennant Company
InventorBruce F. Field
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided, in which and electroporation electrode is configured for example to apply an alternating electric field through liquid dispensed from the apparatus to a surface or volume being treated and thereby cause electroporation of microorganisms in contact with the liquid. The liquid may be suspended from the surface by charged nanobubbles and/or another mechanism to enhance application of the electric field to the microorganisms.
Claims65
An apparatus comprising:
- a liquid flow path;
- a liquid dispenser coupled in the liquid flow path, adapted to dispense liquid to a surface or volume of space;
- an electrode electrically coupled to the liquid flow path;
- and
- a control circuit adapted to cause an alternating electric field to be generated between the electrode and the surface or volume of space, through the dispensed liquid, without a corresponding return electrode.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a liquid flow path;
- an electrolysis cell in the liquid flow path and adapted to produce an anolyte liquid and a catholyte liquid, wherein the liquid flow path combines the anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid to form a combined liquid;
- a liquid dispenser coupled in the liquid flow path, adapted to dispense the combined liquid to a surface or volume of space;
- a further electrode electrically coupled to the liquid flow path and distinct from the cell electrodes;
- a first control circuit adapted to apply an electric field between the cell electrodes;
- and
- a second control circuit adapted to generate an alternating electric field between the further electrode and the surface or volume of space, through the dispensed liquid.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- dispensing a liquid from an apparatus to a surface or volume of space so as to create an electrically conductive path by the liquid from the apparatus to the surface or volume of space;
- during the step of dispensing, generating an alternating electric field from the apparatus to the surface or volume of space, through the liquid along the conductive path, wherein the electric field is sufficient to destroy at least one microorganism from the surface or in the volume of space and is applied to the liquid with an electrode on the apparatus with no corresponding return electrode.
A method comprising:
- suspending at least one microorganism from the surface with at least one of negatively or positively charged nanobubbles, which are delivered to the surface by a liquid dispensed from an apparatus along a liquid path;
- and
- applying an alternating electric field to the suspended microorganism through the liquid path formed between the apparatus and the surface, wherein the applied electric field has a magnitude sufficient to destroy the microorganism.
An antimicrobial medium comprising:
- a liquid output extending between an apparatus and a surface in a manner that creates an electrically conductive path through the liquid;
- and
- an alternating electric field generated through the electrically conductive path of the liquid output, the electric field being sufficient to provide an antimicrobial efficacy of at least about 99.99% pursuant to ASTM E1153-03 and a Log 5 reduction count.
An apparatus for cleaning and/or disinfecting comprising:
- (a) one or more fluid containers;
- (b) a control circuit;
- (c) a dispenser, adapted to dispense a fluid to a surface or volume of space;
- (d) one or more conduits operable to permit fluid to flow from said one or more fluid containers to a surface or volume of space via said dispenser;
- (e) one or more electrical conductors coupled to said control circuit, wherein said one or more electrical conductors is operable to impart an electrical charge to fluid dispensed via said dispenser;
- and wherein,
- said control circuit is adapted to cause said one or more electrical conductors to impart said electrical charge to fluid dispensed via said dispenser;
- and wherein further,
- an alternating electrical field is generated for application to a surface or volume of space, via a fluid path formed by means of said dispensed fluid between the apparatus and a said surface or volume of space.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.