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US 8,008,640 B2Granted
Maxim electron scatter chamber
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsJoseph E. Maxim, Jack A. Neal, Alejandro Castillo
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Abstract
The present invention includes a system, methods and apparatus for sterilization of an object (e.g., food products). The present invention takes advantage of the electron scatter that occurs when electron beam is applied onto a surface. The present invention is capable of treating irregular surfaces (e.g., carcasses, spherical/round surfaces) or any type of surface where complete penetration is not needed or desired.
Claims19
A target sterilization system comprising:
- a chamber having a inner scattering space;
- a mesh positioned in the scattering space;
- at least one energy accelerator directed into the scattering space operable to be scalable in electrical power to generate one or more linear electron beams;
- wherein one or more of the linear electron beams strike the mesh and scatter in random linear directions to produce one or more omni-directional energy beams and an electron cloud in the scattering space with sufficient energy levels for dose accumulation on the target surface to achieve at least substantial sterilization.
1 more element
A method to pasteurize/sterilize at least one target comprising:
- placing at least one target in a chamber having a scattering space;
- generating one or more linear energy beams using at least one electron accelerator;
- directing one or more of the linear electron beam to contact a mesh positioned in the scattering space;
- and
- scattering one or more of the linear electron beam in random linear directions to generate an energy cloud for sufficient time to engulf the target surface with sufficient dose accumulation as the function of exposure time to achieve at least substantial sterilization.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a chamber having a inner scattering space;
- a mesh positioned in the scattering space;
- at least one 10 MeV linear accelerator directed into the scattering space operable to be scalable in electrical power to generate one or more linear electron beams;
- wherein one or more of the linear electron beams strike the mesh and scatter in random linear directions to produce one or more omni-directional energy beams and an electron cloud in the scattering space with sufficient energy levels for dose accumulation on the target surface to achieve at least substantial sterilization.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.