GB2500239A

GB2500239A - Sterilisation apparatus utilising hot air

Info

Publication number: GB2500239A
Application number: GB1204574.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-15
Filing date: 2012-03-15
Publication date: 2013-09-18
Also published as: GB201204574D0

Abstract

A sterilisation apparatus including a housing for receiving therein a mattress and a hot air source, wherein the housing includes a closable opening and a hot air inlet; and the hot air source includes an air inlet, a heater and a hot air outlet, the hot air outlet of the hot air source being releasably coupled to the hot air inlet of the housing. One embodiment includes a temperature sensor which can be optionally connected to a visible display, wherein the sensor is connected to a hot air source controller which disengages the heater in the event of the temperature within the housing exceeding a pre-determined temperature. Another embodiment includes a body which is adapted to retain a volatile component which can be released in use. Also claimed is a method of sterilizing a large item with the apparatus, optionally at a temperature of 100Â°C for at least 15 minutes.

Description

Sterilisation Apparatus

The present invention relates to a sterilisation apparatus for sterilising mattresses and other large items without the need for steam or chemicals.

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It is generally acknowledged that bed mattresses can harbour viruses, bacteria and other microscopic organisms and as such, they should be cleaned and suitably sterilised periodically. This is particularly important where the mattress is used regularly by different people, such as in hotels, hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, boarding schools, military barracks and other such 10 institutions for example.

However, sterilisation of a mattress typically requires either chemicals or steam, which puts the mattress out of action until such time as it is dry or any excess chemicals have dissipated. Hospitals and hotels can rarely afford for mattresses to be out of action for any period of time.

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Moreover, there is a risk that if chemicals are used to sterilise the mattress, then subsequent users of the mattress may react adversely to the chemicals that were used.

There exists therefore a desire to be able to sterilise a mattress or other large item without it 20 being out of commission for a significant period of time thereafter and without any risk of adverse reactions to chemical sterilisers.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a sterilisation apparatus including a housing and a hot air source, wherein the housing includes a closable opening and a hot air inlet; 25 and the hot air source includes an air inlet, a heater and a hot air outlet, the hot air outlet of the hot air source being releasably coupled to the hot air inlet of the housing.

The apparatus of the present invention as defined herein provides a dry heat to sterilise the mattress or any other large object placed within the housing. The dry heat is able to sterilise the 30 mattress or other large item, but the mattress or other large item may be re-utilised shortly after the sterilisation process, as no drying time is required and no chemicals are used in the sterilisation process.

1

The sterilisation apparatus may suitably be a mattress sterilisation apparatus. In such embodiments, the housing may be shaped and configured to receive therein a mattress.

Thus, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a mattress sterilisation 5 apparatus including a mattress housing and a hot air source, wherein the mattress housing is shaped and configured to receive therein a mattress and includes a closable opening and a hot air inlet; and the hot air source includes an air inlet, a heater and a hot air outlet, the hot air outlet of the hot air source being releasably coupled to the hot air inlet of the mattress housing.

10 Depending on the degree of sterilisation to be achieved, the interior of the housing may need to be heated to a certain minimum temperature for a minimum period of time. In order to make sure that the minimum temperature is maintained for the appropriate time, the apparatus may include a temperature sensor located within the housing. The temperature sensor may include a visible display such that a user is able to see a visual indication of the temperature within the

15 housing, or it may be electrically connected to such a display. In embodiments in which the housing is formed from a transparent material or includes a transparent window, the display may be located within the housing. However, it may be more convenient to provide an external display (i.e. a display which is adapted to be located outside of the housing) connected to the temperature sensor.

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Additionally or alternatively, the temperature sensor may be connected to a controller for the hot air source, wherein the controller is adapted to electrically isolate the heater in the event that the temperature within the housing equals or exceeds a threshold temperature.

25 The housing of the apparatus is suitably formed from a material including a polymer. The material may be transparent or it may contain one or more transparent portions or windows to allow a user to see inside the housing and optionally to see the temperature display in embodiments in which the temperature display is located within the housing.

30 The material of the housing is typically heat resistant. In this context, heat resistant should be construed in the sense that the material does not degrade, combust or lose any structural integrity at temperatures up to its intended maximum operating temperature. The maximum intended operating temperature may be 500°C. Alternatively, it may be less than this, such as 400°C, 300°C or 200°C.

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Suitable materials include reinforced polymeric materials, such as polymeric materials reinforced with glass fibres, carbon fibres or metallic fibres or strips. The polymer may be a silicone-based polymer or co-polymer.

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A glass fibre reinforced silicone polymer material is useful as it provides a fire proof material from which to form the housing.

The skilled person will appreciate that the housing material will become hot in use. In order to 10 minimise the risk of injury to users of the apparatus, the material used to form the housing may comprise an insulating layer configured to maintain an outer surface of the housing at a lower temperature compared with an inner surface of the housing.

Additionally or alternatively, the housing may be formed from two spaced apart sheets or layers 15 of material, which form an insulating gap between them.

In order to prevent excessive pressure building up inside the housing, the housing suitably includes a pressure vent. The pressure vent may be formed via the use of a polymeric material which is permeable to air such that the heated gas is able to escape through the housing body. 20 Additionally or alternatively specific openings or ports may be formed in the housing body to permit the heated air within the housing to be vented.

In embodiments of the invention in which the housing is formed from a gas-impermeable material, one or pressure vents may be included in the housing to permit the heated gas to be 25 vented from the housing. The pressure vent may be formed as part of the opening. Thus, for example, the opening may be gas-permeable such that the heated gas may escape from the housing via the opening.

The opening of the housing is suitably closable via a hook and eye type fastener (such as, for 30 example, a velcrotm fastener) or a zip fastener. Both of these arrangements provide for easy opening and closing of the housing which may be re-used frequently.

The hot air inlet of the housing may include an inlet tube. The hot air outlet of the hot air source typically includes an outlet tube or exhaust tube and the inlet tube of the housing is suitably sized

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and configured such the outlet tube of the hot air source fits within the inlet tube to form a concentric arrangement of the outlet tube of the hot air source and the inlet tube of the housing.

In order to prevent an accidental or unintentional decoupling of the hot air source from the 5 housing in use, the housing may include one or more securing elements adapted to releasably secure the hot air source to the housing. In embodiments of the invention in which the housing includes an inlet tube, the or some of the securing elements may be carried by the inlet tube of the housing.

10 The hot air source suitably includes a pump to draw the air in through the air inlet, force it over the heater and exhaust the heated air out of the hot air outlet. Such an arrangement provides for the hot air to be pumped into the housing in use.

As the air is heated by a heater unit, the resultant hot air is a dry hot air with a very low moisture 15 content.

The apparatus may include more than one hot air source. Thus, for particularly large items and/or where it is desired to reach the pre-determined minimum temperature within the housing quickly, the apparatus may include two or more hot air sources. Where the apparatus includes 20 more than one hot air source, the individual hot air sources may be the same or different.

In certain applications, it is desirable to impregnate the large item with a volatile component,

such as a scent or an odour destroying or odour masking component. In such an embodiment, the apparatus may include a body which is adapted to retain therein or thereon a volatile 25 component, such that the volatile component is released in use. In such an embodiment, the large item, such as a mattress, within the housing becomes impregnated with the volatile component. The body may be an absorbent body, such as a natural or synthetic sponge or other cellular structure which is capable of retaining therein or thereon the volatile component.

30 The volatile component may include a perfume component adapted to provide a pleasing scent to the large item. Alternatively, it may include an odour masking or odour destroying component to prevent odours building up on the large item in use.

4

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of sterilising a large item using the apparatus as defined anywhere hereinabove, the method including:

a. locating the item within the housing;

5 b. closing the housing opening;

c. coupling the hot air source to the hot air inlet; and d. energising the heater of the hot air source to generate hot air such that the interior of the housing is heated to at least a pre-determined temperature.

10 In an embodiment of the method, step (d) provides that the interior of the housing is heated to a temperature of at least 70°C. Suitably, the minimum temperature within the housing may be 80°C, 90°C, 100°C, 120°C or 150°C. The maximum temperature may be determined by the source of hot air being used or by the temperature that the item to be placed within the housing is able to withstand without damage. Thus, the user is able to determine the maximum practical

15 temperature to be used.

In order to obtain a satisfactory sterilisation effect, the heating step is suitably carried out such that at least the pre-determined temperature is maintained within the housing for at least 5 minutes. Suitably, at least the minimum temperature is maintained within the housing for a

20 period of at least 10 minutes, at least 15 minutes, at least 20 minutes, at least 30 minutes or at least 60 minutes. Again, the upper limit on the period of heat treatment will depend on a number of factors, such as the operating temperature and the nature of the microorganisms to be destroyed. As with the temperature, the user is able to determine the duration of the heat treatment process.

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The skilled person will appreciate that the greater the pre-determined temperature that is maintained within the housing, the shorter is the time that this temperature must be maintained in order to achieve the desired sterilisation effect.

30 For example, in order to kill MRSA, it is necessary to maintain a temperature within the housing of at least 97°C for a period of 15 to 20 minutes. A higher temperature would need less time. Furthermore, different microorganisms will need different minimum time/temperature combinations to be certain of complete eradication. The skilled person is able to determine the

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appropriate temperature/time combination for specific microorganisms and control the sterilisation process accordingly.

In an embodiment of the method, step (c) includes releasably securing the hot air source to the 5 hot air inlet of the housing.

The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspect of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such 10 combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

15 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for sterilising a mattress in accordance with the present invention.

For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms "up", "down", "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "width", etc. refer to the orientation of the 20 components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.

A sterilisation apparatus 2 for sterilising a mattress is shown in Figure 1. The apparatus comprises a housing 4 which is rectangular in cross section and which is sized and configured to receive therein a mattress to be sterilised. In order to locate a mattress within the housing 4, the housing 25 4 includes an opening along the bottom of three of the four sides (the two long sides and one of the short sides). The opening is closed via a flap 6 which includes on an inwardly facing peripheral edge portion one half of a hook and eye fastener. The other half of the hook and eye fastener is located on an edge of the housing 4 which defines the opening, such that when the two halves of the hook and eye fastener are mated together, the opening is closed.

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The housing 4 further includes an inlet tube 8 which terminates in an open inlet port 10. The inlet port 10 includes an elasticated peripheral edge portion which is arranged to bias the inlet port in an inwards direction. The inlet tube 8 is in fluid communication with the interior of the housing 4.

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Also included as part of the apparatus 2 is a hot air source in the form of a commercial heat gun 12. The heat gun 12 is a Skorpiontm heat gun made by Osram Sylvania, MA, USA and includes a hot air outlet tube 14 and an ambient air inlet 16.

5 The heat gun 12 further comprises a controller 18 which controls a heating element (not shown) and a blower (also not shown) to pump the heated air out of the outlet tube 14. The controller is connected to a mains power source via an electrical lead 20.

In order that a user is able to determine the temperature within the housing in use, the housing

10 further includes a temperature sensor 22 located therein. The temperature sensor is electrically coupled to an LCD display module 24 via an electrical wire 26 and to the heat gun controller 18 via an electrical wire 28.

In use, the housing 4 is opened by separating the two halves of the hook and eye fastener and

15 pivoting the upper portion of the housing 4 about the non-opened side, which acts as a hinge. A mattress is then placed within the bottom portion of the housing 4 and the top portion is pivoted back around the hinge side such that the mattress is enclosed within the housing 4. The flap 6 is then located in its correct position and the two halves of the hook and eye fastener are urged towards each other so that they engage with each other to close the opening.

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The heat gun 12 is then coupled to the housing 4 such that the outlet tube 14 is located within the inlet tube 8 and the elasticated inlet port 10 urges against an outer circumferential portion of the outlet tube 14.

25 The controller 18 is electrically connected to a mains power source via the electrical cable 20 and output temperature of the heat gun 12 is set via the controller 18. The heat gun 12 then sucks in ambient air via the inlet 16, heats it to the desired temperature and then blows it out of the outlet tube 14 into the inlet tube 8 of the housing 4 to heat the interior of the housing 4.

30 A user monitors the temperature within the housing via the display 24 which is coupled to the heat sensor 22. The heat gun maintains the interior of the housing at or above the desired temperature for a pre-determined period of time and a user then electrically isolates the heat gun.

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Once the housing 4 has been allowed to cool for a short period of time, the two parts of the hook and eye fastener are separated and the housing opened by rotation of the upper portion of the housing 4 about the hinge side. The sterilised mattress is then removed and can be immediately used again.

In the event of a malfunction, the controller 18 is adapted to electrically isolate the heater if the temperature sensor senses a temperature within the housing 4 which equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold value. This feature reduces or prevents the risk of fire within the housing 4.

Claims

Claims 10

1. A sterilisation apparatus including a housing for receiving therein a mattress and a hot air source, wherein the housing includes a closable opening and a hot air inlet; and the hot air source includes an air inlet, a heater and a hot air outlet, the hot air outlet of the hot air source being releasably coupled to the hot air inlet of the housing.

2. A sterilisation apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a temperature sensor located within the housing.

3. A sterilisation apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor is electrically connected to a display visible in use to a user.

4. A sterilisation apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor 15 is electrically connected to a hot air source controller and the hot air source controller is adapted to disengage the heater in the event that the temperature sensed by the sensor equals or exceeds a pre-determined temperature.

5. A sterilisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing opening 20 is closable via a hook and eye fastener or via a zip fastener.

6. A sterilisation apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein the housing includes a polymeric material which is impermeable to air.

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7. A sterilisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the hot air inlet of the housing includes an inlet tube and the hot air outlet of the hot air source includes an outlet tube and the outlet tube is configured to fit within the inlet tube.

8. A sterilisation apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the inlet tube of the housing 30 includes one or more securing elements to releasably secure the hot air source to the housing.

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9. A sterilisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the hot air source includes a pump to force the heated air out of the hot air outlet.

10. A sterilisation apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes a body which is adapted to retain therein or thereon a volatile component, such that the volatile component is released in use.

11. A method of sterilising a large item using the apparatus of any of Claims 1 to 10, the method including:

a. locating the item within the housing;

b. closing the housing opening;

12. A method according to Claim 11, wherein the hot air source provides a source of hot air sufficient to heat the interior of the housing to a temperature of 100°C.

13. A method according to Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the heating step is maintained such that the pre-determined temperature is maintained for at least 15 minutes.

14. A method according to any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein step (c) includes releasably securing the hot air source to the hot air inlet of the housing.

15. A method according to any of Claims 11 to 14, wherein the method further includes the step of locating within the apparatus a body containing a volatile component prior to energising the heater of the hot air source.

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