GB2474928A

GB2474928A - Distributing sterilant vapour and removing sterilant vapour from an enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2474928A
Application number: GB1015700A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Mark Turner Adams; Oliver Cumberlege
Original assignee: Bioquell UK Ltd
Current assignee: Bioquell UK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-10-30
Filing date: 2010-09-17
Publication date: 2011-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-17
Also published as: GB0919131D0; GB2474928B; CA2778189C; GB201015700D0; CN102725004A; JP2013509221A; WO2011051645A1; US20120213672A1; CA2778189A1; EP2493516A1; BR112012010089A2

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for use with a sterilant vapour generator used for sterilising an enclosure, such as a room, said apparatus comprises means for enhancing the distribution of the sterilant vapour in the enclosure during a gassing phase of the sterilisation process and means for removing the sterilant from the air in the enclosure during a subsequent aeration phase. Preferably, the means for distributing sterilant vapour comprises at least one inlet 25, at least one outlet 26 and a fan (27, Fig. 5) which draws air in through the inlet(s) and discharges the air through the outlet(s) at an increased velocity. The sterilant removal means may comprise at least one inlet 43, sterilant removal filter (44, Fig. 5), at least one outlet 50 and a fan (51, Fig. 5) for drawing air through the inlets, through the sterilant removal filter and discharging the air through the outlets. The apparatus can be configured to provide humidification of the air.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR USE WITH

STERILANT VAPOUR GENERATORS

This invention relates to apparatus for use with a sterilant vapour generator used-for sterilising an enclosure, said apparatus providing means for enhancing the distribution of the sterilant vapour in the enclosure during a gassing phase of the starilisat±oii process and-for removing the sterilant vapour from the air in the enclosure-during a subsequent aeration phase. The apparatus can optionally be configured to provide humidification, if required.

The invention provides an apparatus, for use with apparatus for delivering starilant vapour to an enclosure for a sterilisation process, said apparatus comprising means for the distribution of sterilant vapour in the enclosure during a gassing phase of the sterilisation process and means for removing the sterilant from the air in the enclosure during an aeration phase.

The dis-tribution means -preferably comprise means for creating an air flow. in the enclosure.

More preferably the distribution means comprise at least one inlet, at least one outlet and the means for creating an air flow comprise means for drawing air into the apparatus from outside the apparatus through the at least one inlet and discharging the air through the at least one outlet at an increased velocity.

The apparatus may be used in conjunction_with a sterilant vapour (e.g. Hydrogen Peroxide) generator to bio-decontaminate enclosures, for example rooms, in which case the apparatus may be located within the space to be decontaminated.

The apparatus may be controlled by the sterilant vapour gçnerat.or and-may be operational in-all phases of the-bio-decontamination cycle of the generator.. During a conditioning phase (and potentially gassing phases) it may provide water vapour to the target enclosure to increase the humidity level; during gassing phases it assists in the vapour distribution; and during an aeration phase it provides the means for removing the sterilant vapour from rs the a-jr in the enclosure.

The sterilant removal means preferably comprise at least one inlet, means for removing sterilant vapour from the air, at least one outlet, and air moving means for drawing air into the apparatus through the inlets through the sterilant removal means and discharging the air through the outlets to thereby reduce the concentration of sterilant in theair outside the apparatus.

Current commercially available room aerators used in combination with sterilant vapour generators are operational only at the end of the gassing phase of a sterilisation cycle and are typically connected to, and controlled by, gas generators. The apparatus of the present invention is advantageous in that it is also used to assist in the vapour distribution during a bio-decontamination cycle to ensure even vapour distribution through-complex/large facilities to negate the need for additional generators or fans.

To perform the aeration function the apparatus may have one or more inlets-to receive sterilant containing air from the enclosure (following sterilisation of that enclosure), one or more outlets to return air from which sterilant has been -redaced, a: catalyst,-or other suitable means,within the apparatus for removing sterilant from the air, means for drawing sterilant containing air from the inlet through the sterilant removal means and thence to atmosphere and means to circulate air containing sterilant from the enclosure during a enclosure sterilisation process through that part of the enclosure which is downstream of the filter, or other sterilant removal means, to ensure sterility of that part of the enclosure for the sterilant removal phase.

The apparatus is preferably a single unit which is mounted on wheels to be readily mobile. The apparatus-may include means for physical connection to other items of apparatus for ease of transportability.

The apparatus may be left running, i.-e-operat-iona1, before or at the end of the cycle without still being attached/connected (by wire or wireless) to the generator.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention; Figure 2 is-a rear e-l-evation-view of the-apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the apparatus; Figure 4 is a perspective of the apparatus; Figure 5 is a side to side cross-sectional view -through the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a front to back cross-sectional view of the apparatus-of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a diag-rammatic view of the apparatus operating in its distribution mode; Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 7 with a humidifier function to add vapour to the circulating gas/sterilant vapour; Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 7 -w--ith a-gas removal or aeration function in wh-ich sterilant vapour is removed from the encircling-atmosphere; Figure 10 is-a perspective view-of a front and side of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a rear and side of another embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a side sectional elevation of the apparatus of Figure 10;-Figure 13 is a d-iagrarnrnatic view of the apparatus of Figure 10 operating in its distribution mode; and Figure 14 is a similar view to Figure 13 of the apparatus operating in a gas removal or aeration mode.

The invention relates to a combined sterilant vapour distribution and removal apparatus which is essentially a single piece of apparatus which combines means for the distribution of sterilant vapour in an enclosure during a gassing phase of the sterilisation process and means for removing the sterilant from the air in the enclosure during a subsequent aeration phase.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention. The apparatus 10 comprises a chassis 11, p'referably mounted-on castor wheels. 12 supported on_swivel mountings 13 for ease of mobility-of the apparatus around a room or other enclosure in which it is to be used.

The chassis 11 of the apparatus is preferably of a generally square configuration and carries a main housing 14 which is also generally square in plan v-jew and is of geaexally upright form. The housing 14 is divided into an upper section-15 into which air/sterilant vapour from the enclosure is drawn in and is discharged at high velocity.

There is provision in the section 15 for adding water vapour to the circulating air/sterilant vapour passing through the section to raise the humidity in the enclosure.

The apparatus-has a-lower section 16 through which the airborne sterilant vapour in the-er-c-1osure is d-r-a-wn at the end of the decontamination process, the 1oer section 16 having sterilant removal means 44 for removal of the sterilant content of the air, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Handles 17 project from the upper section 15 of the housing 14 for manipulating the apparatus 10 in the enclosure.

In one construction of the apparatus 10 the housing 14 has a front wall 18, a rear wall 19 and side walls 20. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the upper section 15 of the housing 14 is divided from the lower section 16 by an internal horizontal partition 21 and the upper section 15 is itself divided by a horizontal partition 22 into upper and lower chambers 23,24. The lower chamber 23 has a bank of inlet apertures 25 in the font w-all of the housing 14 for air flow into the lower chamber 23. The upper chambe-r 2-4 has two large outlet nozzles 26 spaced apart horizontally on each of the front, side and rear walls 18,19,20 of the housing 14. The-nozzles 26 of each pair are pr.ef.erably set at slightly divergent angles with respect to each other.

A high speed fan-27 is mounted in an aperture in the partition 22, which divides the upper and lower chambers 23,24, to draw air/sterilant vapour from the enclosure through the inlets 25 into the lower chamber 23 and to direct the air/vapour into the upper chamber 24 to be discharged from the outlet nozzles 26 at high speed. This enhances the circulation and distribution of the sterilant vapour in the air throughout the enclosure.

In a modification to. the-apparatus 10 v-a--I-ye or other means may be incorporated in the upper chamber 24 of the top section 15 to enable the different sides of the apparatus 10 to be selectively controlled. For example discharge on one side only or selected sides may be provided.

A humidifying device 28 may also optionally be included, for example mounted on the partition 21. Such a device 28 may comprise a water container, a pump and a delivery conduit 30 which extends through the -partition 22 into the upper chamber 24 of section 15 to supply water to a flash evaporator device mounted on the partition 21 to create a supply of water vapour in the flow of air/sterilant through the chamber 24 to be entrained in the flow and thereby delivered to the enclosure to raise the humidity of the air in the enclosure.

The lower section 16 of the housing is divided by a partition 40 into a lower chamber 41 and an upper chamber 42. The upper chamber 42 has banks of inlet apertures 43 opening into the side walls 20 of the housing for entry of air/sterilant vapour into the upper chamber 42. Sterilant removal means 44 (catalytic or other suitable means) are L5 mounted behind the apertures 43. The sterilant removal means 44 may comprise a filter medium-embodying a catalytic filter with which the sterilant vapour reacts to be decomposed into harmless constituents. In the case of hydrogen peroxide vapour, the peroxide is decomposed into water or water vapour and oxygen.

The lower chamber 41 of the lower section 16 has banks of outlet apertu-re-s--50 located on-the front, rear-and side walls of the housing4-4-for the discha-ge of air and any residual sterilant vapour from the lower chamber 41 back to the enclosure. The partition 40 dividing the upper and lower chambers 41,42 has a large central aperture in which a high speed fan 51 is mounted for drawing sterilant vapour into the upper chamber 42 through the inlet apertures 43 and sterilant vapour removal meanss 44 and to discharge the air and any residual sterilant through the outlet apertures 50 in the lower chamber 41 of the lower section 16.

The partition 40 also carries a small axial flow pump 52 for drawing sterilant vapour from the enclosure during the decontamination phase of the enclosure through the apertures 50 to circulate sterilant vapour throughout the upper and lower chambers 41,42 of the lower section 16 of the housing 14 to ensure that the surfaces throughout those chambers 41,42 of the. lower section 16 are sterile. Thus when air is drawn into the upper chamber 42 and the sterilant contained in the air is removed, the air returned from the lower section 16 to the enclosure is not contaminated by bacteria in the upper or lower chambers 41,42 of the lower section 16.

Reference Ls now made to Figures 7 to 9 which illustrate the apparatus 10 in its different modes as referred to above. In Figure 7, the apparatus 10 is be-ing operated to enhance circulation and distribution of sterilant vapour throughout the enclosure-during a decontamination operation in the enclosure. Thus air/sterilant vapour is drawn into the lower chamber 23 of the upper section 15 and accelerated by the-fan 27 between the upper-and lowe-r sectiorrs-23,24 and discharged at high speed through the nozzles 26 to-enhanca distribution-of the vapour throughout the enclosure.

Furthermore the castor wheels 12 means that the apparatus 10 can be specifically oriented to direct the discharged stream of airborne sterilant vapour in one or more specific directions. As an alternative to the wheels 12, or in addition thereto, the apparatus may also include other means of orienting the apparatus 10 as a whole, or a part thereof,-to selectively provide directionality-to the discharged airborne vapour stream. For example the upper section 15 may be rotatable relative to the rest of the apparatus 10.

In the mode shown in Figure 8, the humidifier is in operation to add further water vapour to the sterilant vapour/air being circulated to-raise th humidity of the-vapour content of the enclosuxe -and thereby accelerate the decontamination process. The optional humidifier part of the unit may be controlled by the separate sterilant vapour generator or a control device of the apparatus 10, which monitors the relative humidity (RH) of the enclosure atmosphere. If the starting RI-I fa-l-ls below-a preset value then a control signal L generated to operate the humidifier during the decontamination process.

Figure 9 shows the aeration function in operation in the lower section 16 Df the housing 14 in additton to distribution in the upper section 15. Thus air containing sterilant vapour is drawn into the lower section 16 through the inlets 43 and through the sterilant vapour removal means 44 -wbe--re th sterilant-vapour is removed and the air, and any residual va-pour not -y-e-t removed, is discharged from-the lower chamber 41 of the lower section. During the aeration phase of the sterilisation cycle the high capacity fan 51, which is mounted in the base of the apparatus 10, moves the air by drawing it in through the inlets 43 and driving it through the sterilant removal means 44. The scrubbed air leaves the apparatus 10 through the outlet apertures 50 located at the base of the walls 18,19,20 of the housing 14.

-10 -The housing 14 preferably has means for connecting two units of apparatus 10 together, or one unit of apparatus and a vapour generator, so that two units can be linked together or a unit linked to a vapour generator for moving the units collectively. The connecting means may be in the ±orm ofa spaced hook shaped clips 48 mounted towards the lower end of the housing and the rear wall 19 has a horizontal bar 49 iuonnt-edtowards the_lower end of the housing 14 The specific construction of the apparatus 10 can be modified from that described above and another embodiment of the apparatus LO is shown in Figures 10 to 14. This apparatus has a number of similar features to the previously described a-ppa-ratus 10 and the_same r-e-ference numerals have been_ used to indicate the same parts.

One difference lies in the design of the housing 14 and its internal configuration. In the previously described embodiments aeration is effected by drawing air containing sterilant vapour into the lower section 16 through the inlets 43 and the air and any residual vapour not yet removed is discharged from the lower chamber 41 of the lower secLion-16 via outlet-apertures 50 by the action of the fan 51. In the embodimeit illustrated in Figures 10 to 14 the air is still drawn into the lower section 16 through the inlets 43, but the air flow is split and discharged through not only the outlet apertures 50, but also through the inlet apertures 25 in the upper section 15. This is illustrated clearly in Figure 14. This can be achieved by using the axial fan 27, which in the previous embodiment was used only in the distribution phase of the apparatus 10. -11

For the distibution phase, one or more small high speed fans 60 may be located adjacent the outlet nozzles 26 (see Figure 12 and 13) which draws air/sterilant vapour into the upper section 15 via the inlet apertures 25 and discharges it at high speed through the outlet nozzles 26.

This arrangement enables the aeration and distribution phases to -betotally ope-r-a-ble independent-of each-other.

Furthermore the use of common components for the distribution and aeration activity simplifies the construction, which leads to a saving in weight, costs and manufacturing time.

It will a-iso be noted that this apparatus. 10 has no 15_ humidifying device 28.

Other configurations can also be used, such -as the use of a single axial fan in the upper section 15 which is used by both the distribution apparatus and-the aeration apparatus. In such an arrangement a valve arrangement may be used, preferably in the lower section 16 in the housing 14.

The valve(s) may be operated to open during the aeration phase-so--that airconta-Ining---steriiant vapour-is only drawn int.o the lowe-r-section 16 through the inlets 43 and directed back out through the outlet nozzles 26. During the distribution phase the valve(s) may be operated to close and to effectively seal off the filter(s) 44. Thus air/sterilant vapour is only drawn into the upper section 15 through the inlet apertures 25, 50 and discharged via the outlet nozzles 26.

-12 -In ye± another arrangement the apparatus 10 may comprise a housing which incorporates the means for removing the sterilant from the air during the aeration phase, namely an axial fan mounted in the base of the unit, air inlets, filter or other means for removing-the sterilant vapour from the air and air outlets. The means for the distribution of sterilant vapour in the enclosure during the gassing phase comprise a radtall-yinoun±ed distrtbutton fan mounted on top of tha unit which sucks in the surxounding. air and blows it out to distribute it around the enclosure. This fan may be rotatably mounted to increase its effectiveness.

Claims

-13 -CLAINS1. An apparatus, for use with apparatus for delivering steritant vapour to an enclosure for a sterilisatiori process, said apparatus compr±singmeans for the distribution of sterilant vapour in the enclosure during a..gassing phase of the sterilisation process and means for removing the sterilant from the air in the enclo-sure during an aeration phase.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distribution means comprise air moving means for creating an air flow in the enclosure.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the distribution means comprise at-least one in-let, at least one outlet and the air moving means comprise means for drawing *air into the apparatus from outside the apparatus through the at least one inlet and discharging the air through the at least one outlet at an increased velocity.

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4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing has multiple inlets on one or more sides of the housing.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing has outlets on one or more sides of the housing and, in the case of more than one side, optionally means are provided for selecting which sides are open for discharge.
6. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the air moving means comprise a motor driven fan.

-14 -
7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for delivering water vapour to the air flow to be incorporated in the air flow generated by distribution means.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for delivering water vapour to the air flow in the first charrtber comprise a wate-r supply and means fo.r. flash evaporating -water from the supply into the flow of air through the first chamber.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sterilant removal means comprise at least one inlet, means for removing sterilant vapour from the air, at least one outlet, and air moving means for drawingair into the apparatus through the inlets through the sterilant removal means and discharging the air through the outlets to thereby reduce the concentration of sterilant in the air outside the apparatus.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which at least one of the inlets of the distribution means is also an inlet of the steri-1-ant removalmean-s.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 in which at least one of the outlets of the distribution means is also an outlet of the sterilant removal means.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 in which the air moving means of the distribution means is the, or part of the, air moving means of the sterilant removal means.

-15 -
13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the means for removal of sterilant from the air flowing beXween the inlets and outlets comprise means located adjacent-the iiiTets.
14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the airrnoving means of the sterilant removal mean& comprises a motor driven radial fan..
15. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the direction of discharge of air through the outlets is selectable.
16-. An apparatus. aa claimed, in any of claims 2 to l5 further comprising valve means operable to prevent the flow of air in through the at least one inlet of the sterilant removal means during operation of the distribution means.
17. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is a single unit.
181. An-apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus 1s mounted on. wheels.
19. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus has handles for manoeuvring the housing.
20. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus has coupling means for linking the housing to a mobile apparatus for delivering sterilant -16 -vapou-r to an enclosure to enable the two forms of apparatus to be manoeuvred together.
21. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.