# US 2021/0330841 A1 · Containment vessels for rapid thermo-chemical decontamination of facemasks or other personal protection equipment (ppe) > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330841 A1 - Document ID: US20210330841A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/944,617 - Filed: 2020-07-31 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-24 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: David D. Crouch; Alf L. Carroll, III; John Carcone; David R. Sar; Travis B. Feenstra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330841A1 ## CPC - A61L 2/12: Microwaves - A61L 2/208: Hydrogen peroxide - A61L 2/04: Heat (radiation A61L2/08) - A61L 2/07: Steam - A61L 2/186: Peroxide solutions - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - B08B 3/045: {using perforated containers, e.g. baskets, or racks immersed and agitated in a liquid bath (using perforated drums B08B3/06)} - A61L 2103/50: Textiles, e.g. bedwear or towels - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/121: Sealings, e.g. doors, covers, valves, sluices - A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation - B08B 2203/007: Heating the liquid - 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) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract An apparatus includes a containment vessel having an interior space configured to be sealed. The interior space is configured to receive at least one reservoir of liquid to be vaporized during a decontamination process. The apparatus also includes a base configured to be inserted into the interior space. The base is configured to receive one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated and decontaminated within the interior space during the decontamination process. The base is configured to hold the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment above the at least one reservoir of liquid. The apparatus further includes a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space. In some cases, the apparatus may include a filter configured to filter material passing through the pressure-relief valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a containment vessel comprising an interior space configured to be sealed, the interior space configured to receive at least one reservoir of liquid to be vaporized during a decontamination process; a base configured to be inserted into the interior space, the base configured to receive one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated and decontaminated within the interior space during the decontamination process, the base configured to hold the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment above the at least one reservoir of liquid; and a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises: multiple stands configured to receive multiple pieces of personal protection equipment; and a liquid holding area defining multiple reservoirs of liquid under the multiple stands. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the liquid holding area further defines multiple channels fluidly coupling the multiple reservoirs of liquid, the multiple channels configured to transport liquid between the reservoirs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises multiple holes configured to allow vaporized liquid to pass through the base and surround the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to elevate the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment above a bottom surface of the interior space and above the at least one reservoir of liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a filter configured to filter air or liquid material passing through the pressure-relief valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment vessel comprises: a body defining the interior space; a lid configured to be secured to the body; and a seal between the body and the lid and configured to seal the interior space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment vessel is configured to be heated in a microwave, on a stovetop, or in an oven. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the base comprises one of multiple bases; and each of the multiple bases is configured to be inserted into the interior space and to receive one or more different pieces of personal protection equipment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment vessel comprises a microwavable pressure cooker or an electronic pressure cooker. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: placing at least one reservoir of liquid to be vaporized during a decontamination process in an interior space of a containment vessel; placing one or more pieces of personal protection equipment within the interior space of the containment vessel on a base, the base configured to hold the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment above the at least one reservoir of liquid; sealing the interior space of the containment vessel; decontaminating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment by heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment in the sealed interior space of the containment vessel; and opening a pressure-relief valve of the containment vessel after decontaminating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: drying the one or more decontaminated pieces of personal protection equipment by heating the one or more decontaminated pieces of personal protection equipment in the containment vessel after the pressure-relief valve is opened. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one reservoir of liquid comprises at least one reservoir of a low-concentration hydrogen peroxide solution. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment comprises heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to a temperature of about 65° C. to about 80° C. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the base comprises: multiple stands configured to receive multiple pieces of personal protection equipment; and a liquid holding area defining multiple reservoirs of liquid under the multiple stands. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the liquid holding area further defines multiple channels fluidly coupling the multiple reservoirs of liquid, the multiple channels configured to transport liquid between the reservoirs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the base comprises multiple holes configured to allow vaporized liquid to pass through the base and surround the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: filtering air or liquid material passing through the pressure-relief valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment comprises heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment using a microwave, a stovetop, or an oven. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the base comprises one of multiple bases; and each of the multiple bases is configured to be inserted into the interior space and to receive one or more different pieces of personal protection equipment.