# US 2021/0330842 A1 · Low-cost rapid thermo-chemical decontamination process for facemasks or other personal protection equipment (ppe) and related system and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330842 A1 - Document ID: US20210330842A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/169,260 - Filed: 2021-02-05 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-24 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: Alf L. Carroll, III; David R. Sar; David D. Crouch; John Carcone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330842A1 ## CPC - A61L 2/208: Hydrogen peroxide - B08B 7/0071: {by heating (B08B7/0035 takes precedence)} - A61L 2/04: Heat (radiation A61L2/08) - A61L 2/12: Microwaves - A61L 2/186: Peroxide solutions - A61L 2202/122: Chambers for sterilisation - A61L 2209/211: Use of hydrogen peroxide, liquid and vaporous - B08B 7/0035: {by radiant energy, e.g. UV, laser, light beam or the like} - B08B 13/00: Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning - B08B 2230/01: Cleaning with steam - 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 A system for decontaminating personal protection equipment includes a microwave oven and a decontamination apparatus configured to be placed in and heated by the microwave oven. The decontamination apparatus includes a containment vessel having an interior space configured to be sealed. The decontamination apparatus also includes one or more stands within the interior space, where the one or more stands are configured to receive and hold one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated by the microwave oven and decontaminated within the interior space. The decontamination apparatus further includes a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: soaking one or more pieces of personal protection equipment in a disinfectant; placing the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment within a containment vessel; sealing 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 containment vessel; and opening a pressure-relief valve of the containment vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: drying the one or more decontaminated pieces of personal protection equipment by reheating the one or more decontaminated pieces of personal protection equipment in the containment vessel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein, when drying the one or more decontaminated pieces of personal protection equipment, water and disinfectant escape the containment vessel through the pressure-relief valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant comprises an about 3% to about 6% hydrogen peroxide solution. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment in the sealed containment vessel comprises heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to a temperature of about 65° C. to about 80° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment in the sealed containment vessel comprises heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to a temperature of about 70° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein heating the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment in the sealed containment vessel comprises using a microwave oven. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment comprise at least one of: one or more facemasks, one or more surgical gowns, one or more gloves, and one or more surgical booties. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: a containment vessel comprising an interior space configured to be sealed; one or more stands within the interior space, the one or more stands configured to receive and hold one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated and decontaminated within the interior space; and a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the containment vessel comprises: a body defining the interior space; and a lid configured to be sealed to the body in order to seal the interior space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressure-relief valve is positioned on the lid of the containment vessel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the containment vessel is configured to be placed within a microwave oven. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a filter configured to filter material passing through the pressure-relief valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filter is integrated into the pressure-relief valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a microwave-safe indicator configured to identify when the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment have been heated to a specified temperature range for a specified period of time. ### Claim 16 A system for decontaminating personal protection equipment, the system comprising: a microwave oven; and a decontamination apparatus configured to be placed in and heated by the microwave oven, the decontamination apparatus comprising: a containment vessel comprising an interior space configured to be sealed; one or more stands within the interior space, the one or more stands configured to receive and hold one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated by the microwave oven and decontaminated within the interior space; and a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the containment vessel comprises: a body defining the interior space; and a lid configured to be sealed to the body in order to seal the interior space. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the decontamination apparatus further comprises a filter configured to filter material passing through the pressure-relief valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the filter is integrated into the pressure-relief valve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the decontamination apparatus further comprises a microwave-safe indicator configured to identify when the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment have been heated to a specified temperature range for a specified period of time.