Decontamination enclosure and method

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for decontaminating personal protective equipment while it is being worn by a person. A booth having a plurality of internally-reflective surfaces defines an interior space with dimensions suitable for receiving a standing person wearing the personal protective equipment. A plurality of UVC light sources are arranged to emit UVC light into the booth, and are operational while the person wearing the personal protective equipment is within the interior space. A door is selectively closeable to enclose the interior space and interfere with UVC light escaping the interior of the booth into an ambient environment of the booth, and a controller is operable to selectively operate the UVC light sources while the person wearing the personal protective equipment is standing within the interior space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This application relates generally to a method and apparatus for decontaminating objects and, more specifically, to a method and enclosure in which clinicians wearing personal protective equipment are exposed to a decontamination agent to render the exposed surfaces of the personal protective equipment pathogen reduced.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Physicians, nurses, aid workers and other clinicians who treat patients with infectious diseases often wear personal protection equipment (“PPE”) to limit their exposure to the pathogen. During treatment, exposed surfaces of the PPE will often come into contact with the bodily fluids of patients, and become contaminated with the pathogen. Pathogens on the PPE can be carried to transitional areas where the clinicians remove their PPE, and remain viable to infect the clinicians and others within the vicinity for extended periods of time, thereby defeating the purpose...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about a device and process to reduce pathogens on PPE without having to remove it first. The device and process should prevent the spread of pathogens to clinicians or other people without exposing them to harm from a decontamination agent.

Problems solved by technology

During treatment, exposed surfaces of the PPE will often come into contact with the bodily fluids of patients, and become contaminated with the pathogen.

Although effective, liquid disinfectants such as bleach commonly contain active ingredients such as sodium hypochlorite, which causes irritation of the clinicians' airways and can cause skin burns.

Further, in remote regions of the world liquid disinfectants may not be readily available for use, despite their potential side effects.

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