# US 2010/0168499 A1 · Method and device for air disinfection and sterilization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0168499 A1 - Document ID: US20100168499A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/377,904 - Filed: 2007-08-15 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-18 - Assignees: Drexel University - Inventors: Alexander F. Gutsol; Alexander Fridman; Michael J. Gallagher; Victor Vasilets; Kenneth Blank - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168499A1 ## CPC - A61L 9/22: Ionisation - F24F 8/20: by sterilisation - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - 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 (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract A method for decontaminating bioaerosol with high concentrations of bacterial, viral, spore and other airborne microorganisms or biologic contaminants, in flight at high flow rates. A plasma screen created across the flow of air contaminated with airborne biologic agents renders contaminants non-culturable within millisecond. The technology may cooperate with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It may be particularly beneficial in preventing bioterrorism and the spread of toxic or infectious agents, containing airborne pandemic threats such as avian flu, sterilizing spaces such as hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and manufacturing facilities, treating exhaust ventilation streams, minimizing biological environmental pollutants in industrial settings, improving general air quality, and preventing sick building syndrome. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for sanitizing biologic contaminants entrained, dispersed or suspended in gaseous media comprising the step of: contacting a biologic agent with a non-thermal plasma discharge entrained, dispersed or suspended in gaseous media for a sufficient time to render a substantial portion of said biologic agent inactive. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the biologic agent is contacted with said plasma. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the non-thermal plasma is generated in a dielectric barrier discharge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma discharge is generated by a high frequency oscillation of about 1 kHz to about 20,000 kHz. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the non-thermal plasma discharge is generated by a high frequency oscillation of about 5 kHz to about 30 kHz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the high frequency oscillation is generated by applying a voltage of about 1 kV to about 50 kV. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the high frequency oscillation is generated by applying a voltage of about 5 kV to about 30 kV. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the biologic agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one bacterial agent, at least one viral agent, at least one spore agent and a mixture thereof. ### Claim 9 A system including a device for directing a flow of gaseous media, and a plasma generation device for generation of a non-thermal plasma in contact with a gaseous media flowing in said flow-directing device, whereby a substantial proportion of a biologic agent in said gaseous media is inactivated by contact with said non-thermal plasma. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein said system is a heating, ventilation or air conditioning system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein said plasma generation device comprises a dielectric barrier discharge grating device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the non-thermal plasma generation device is capable of generating a high frequency plasma of about 1 kHz to about 20,000 kHz. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the non-thermal plasma discharge is generated by a high frequency oscillation of about 5 kHz to about 30 kHz. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the non-thermal plasma generation device does not include a filter.