ES1248125U - Personal disinfection equipment (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Personal disinfection equipment, characterized by comprising: - a container (1) to completely cover a user: - a respirator (2) to provide air to the user: and - an ozone generator (3) that generates ozone and distributes it inside the container (1). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Personal disinfection equipment

The present invention relates to personal disinfection equipment, which allows ozone to be used as a disinfectant in a safe manner.

Background of the Invention

Within the general containment measures of COVID-19, a multitude of protocols and techniques are proposed that, to a greater or lesser extent and according to government instructions, must be imposed in all areas of society. Among these measures and apart from social distancing, is the use of masks and adequate hand hygiene.

However, the importance of comprehensive body disinfection seems neglected, the only way to have the absolute guarantee that people do not carry any viral content about them, or their clothes, shoes and even personal objects (bag, briefcase, etc.), pets , etc.

The existing disinfection means, mostly used on public roads and confined spaces, make use of chemical substances such as isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, etc., which cannot and should not be used massively on the human body when having the Potential to cause severe skin irritation and allergic reactions.

On the other hand, the use of ozone (O3) as a disinfectant is known. Ozone is an oxidant, which when it comes into contact with a virus destroys the membrane that covers it by oxidation, eliminating it completely.

For decades, there have been numerous studies that confirm the ozone disinfection and sterilization capacity, not only eliminating any type of virus, but also any bacteria, fungi or spores that are in the environment. In addition to pathogenic elements, it is also capable of eliminating mites and insects.

Ozone is completely harmless to the skin, but it is toxic by inhalation, since it is an irritating agent of the mucous membranes, which can trigger or contribute to the development of other pathologies.

This has determined the main use of ozone as a disinfectant in open spaces, as well as in confined spaces without people or animals inside. The rooms disinfected with ozone must be ventilated for several minutes before being able to access its interior. Therefore, ozone has never been considered as an integral body disinfection element.

The disinfecting effect of ozone below a certain concentration decreases. There is then a level called the "threshold value" above which all pathogens are eventually destroyed for a given exposure time.

The concentrations and exposure times necessary for effective disinfection of pathogens make a solution in which a person breathes ozone gas totally unfeasible.

Ozone is an unstable molecule that rapidly reverts to biatomic oxygen (O2), which determines its total safety for the environment. The half-life of ozone (time in which half of the gas decomposes into oxygen) is 20-60 minutes, depending on the concentration, temperature and humidity of the ambient air.

Description of the Invention

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide personal disinfection equipment, which uses ozone as a disinfectant in a safe manner.

With the personal disinfection equipment of the invention, the aforementioned drawbacks can be solved, presenting other advantages that will be described below.

The personal disinfection equipment according to the present invention comprises a container to completely cover a user; a respirator to provide air to the user; and an ozone generator that generates ozone and distributes it inside the container.

According to alternative embodiments, the container can be of any type of reduced dimensions, such as a tent type, inflatable or extendable type, type full bodysuit, etc.

Advantageously, the respirator comprises a tube provided at one of its ends with a mouthpiece or mask, said mouthpiece or mask being removably mounted on the end of the tube, so that it can be removed to replace it with another for use by another user. .

Furthermore, the end of the tube opposite the mouthpiece or mask is a breathing terminal for connection to the outside of the container, and said breathing terminal can comprise a bacteriological filter.

Advantageously, so that the personal disinfection equipment according to the present invention is portable, the ozone generator is powered by a rechargeable battery. Alternatively, it also includes power supply by connection to the electrical distribution network.

Furthermore, the ozone generator can comprise a fan to distribute the ozone inside the container in a faster and more efficient way.

Advantageously, the disinfection equipment is mounted almost instantaneously, thus ensuring extremely rapid disinfection in the event of suspected contamination and thus eliminating the risk of contagion.

The personal protective equipment according to the present invention provides, among others, the following advantages:

- It allows the disinfection of all kinds of pathogenic organisms, fungi, spores, bacteria, parasites, viruses, etc., so that its scope of application is not restricted only to the emergency situation against Covid-19, but as a disinfectant of any type of pathogenic organism;

- It is a totally safe technology for the human body, always following the safety instructions provided to avoid breathing ozone;

- It is portable, both for its weight (about 2 kg approximately) and for its volume;

- It can be assembled very quickly, almost instantaneously, and disinfection occurs in a matter of minutes; depending on the type of pathogen, for example, one to five minutes;

- The operating costs are low, since the equipment does not require any type of consumable, apart from the reduced electrical consumption for recharging the battery, which results in a practically negligible operating cost;

- It is very easy to use, since the operation of the equipment only requires the mechanical connection of the ozone generator and the actuation of a switch, with the possibility of models operated by remote control;

- Its robustness and durability are very high, since in normal use the equipment can operate for many years, and in case of tearing of the container, the repair is extremely simple and available to anyone.

Brief description of the drawings

For a better understanding of what has been stated, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and only by way of non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is represented.

Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of personal disinfection equipment in accordance with the present invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment

As shown in Figure 1, the personal disinfection equipment according to the present invention comprises the following elements: a container (1) into which the user is introduced, a respirator (2) to allow the user to breathe air and not the generated ozone, and an ozone generator (3), which provides the ozone inside the container (1) for the disinfection of the user, which are described below.

- Container

The required container (1) is preferably foldable, of reduced size and weight to facilitate its portability and to be assembled very quickly, with the aim of facilitating the ubiquitous use of the equipment. The container (1) can be of different types, such as the automatic camping tent type, instant assembly by integrated springs, the inflatable type, advantageously provided with a battery operated inflator, with a spring-type ventilation tube in self-expanding coil, which extends and stays extended when side anchors are released, or full bodysuit type with shoe cover, glove cover and for the head.

It should be noted that for the sake of simplicity in Figure 1 a container (1) is represented schematically, but the container can be of any suitable type that allows the user to be completely covered to be disinfected with ozone.

- respirator

The function of the respirator (2) is to allow the user to breathe air and not breathe the ozone produced by the ozone generator (3). Preferably, the respirator (2) comprises a tube (21) provided at one of its ends with a mouthpiece or mask (22) for the user to place it on their mouth and nose.

It is preferable to use the mouthpiece over the mask (22) that allows the user's face to be completely exposed to ozone gas for disinfection.

It should be noted that the nozzles or masks (22) are interchangeable to allow the use of the equipment by several users.

Furthermore, especially when the equipment is operated in a contaminated environment where potential pathogens are found in the air breathed (for example, in hospitals), a bacteriological filter (23) can be added to the equipment to the breathing terminal (24), that is, , at the end of the tube (21) that connects to the outside of the container (1).

- Ozone generator:

The ozone generator (3) of the disinfection equipment according to the present invention is advantageously powered by a rechargeable battery (31), which gives the equipment portable use, allowing it to be used at any time and place.

In addition, it allows to guarantee disinfection several times a day in any place where a person suspects having been contaminated, or simply, upon returning home and before entering the house, in order to have the absolute security of not contaminating it, and shopping, food and personal items can be disinfected simultaneously.

The ozone generator (3) also advantageously comprises a fan (32) for distribute the generating ozone inside the container (1).

By way of non-limiting example only, to demonstrate the disinfection capability of an ozone generator, an example clinical trial is provided.

In this clinical trial a series of bacteriophage viruses (viruses used as indicators that do not imply risks in case of contamination) of both types naked and wrapped, with the four possible types of genetic material were studied: single chain (mRNA, mc DNA ) and double chain (bc RNA and bc DNA), to determine the viricidal capacity of ozone under different conditions.

Because ozone primarily damages capsid proteins, viruses with different architectures were considered.

The following table reflects the results obtained in the test, with a relative humidity of 55%:

Study of the effectiveness of ozone in the inactivation of bacteriophages in air in 3.8 seconds.

It can be seen that, in approximately 4 seconds, 99% of the viral load is eliminated with ozone concentrations of 2.5 to 10 ppm.

Starting from a minimum target value of 10 ppm for the equipment according to the present invention, and with a maximum volume of the container of 0.5 m3, a generator is needed, capable of supplying a concentration of approximately 10 mg of ozone:

Atomic weight of oxygen (O) = 16 u

Ozone molecular weight (O3) = 16 x 3 = 48 g / mol

Molar volume = (n x R x T) / P, where:

P = Pressure (workplace), in mm Hg

V = Volume occupied by the gas, in liters

n = Number of moles

R = Universal gas constant

T = Absolute Temperature in ° K

For previous standard values of temperature, pressure and ozone gas: V = (1 x 62.32 x 298.15) / 760 = 24.611 / mol, therefore:

O3 concentration = (Molecular Weight / Molar Volume) x ppm concentration = (48 g / mol / 24.61 l / mol) x 10 ppm = 19.5 mg / m3

When presenting the container 0.5 m in volume, the target gas concentration is 9.75 mg «10 mg.

It is worth noting the effect that these concentrations of ozone in air have on naked viruses. Even when these viruses, lacking a lipid envelope, are more resistant to disinfectants. SARCoV-2 is an enveloped virus, therefore, one of the least resistant.

The operation of the personal disinfection equipment according to the present invention is as follows.

First, the container (1) is unfolded or placed in the desired position so that the user is completely covered by said container, either in the form of a tent, inflatable or extendable, or in the form of an overall suit.

Once the user is covered by the container (1), the mouthpiece or mask (22) of the respirator (2) is placed over his mouth and nose, to avoid ozone aspiration.

Next, the ozone generator (3) is activated so that the ozone spreads inside the container (1) thanks to the fan (32) of said ozone generator (3).

After a short period of time, the user and the objects he carries are sterilized and the user can withdraw from the container (1).

To use the disinfection equipment with another user, simply replace the nozzle or mask (22) with another and repeat the operation.

Claims (8)

1. Personal disinfection equipment, characterized by comprising: - a container (1) to completely cover a user; - a respirator (2) to provide air to the user; and - an ozone generator (3) that generates ozone and distributes it inside the container (1). 2. Personal disinfection equipment according to claim 1, wherein the container is of the tent type, of the inflatable or extendable type, or of the overall type. 3. Personal disinfection equipment according to claim 1, wherein the respirator (2) comprises a tube (21) provided at one end with a mouthpiece or mask (22). 4. Personal disinfection equipment according to claim 3, wherein said mouthpiece or mask (22) is removably mounted on the end of the tube (21). 5. Personal disinfection equipment according to claim 3, wherein the end of the tube opposite the mouthpiece or mask (22) is a breathing terminal (24) for connection to the exterior of the container (1). 6. Personal disinfection equipment according to claim 5, wherein the breathing terminal (24) comprises a bacteriological filter (23). 7. Personal disinfection equipment according to claim 1, wherein the ozone generator (3) is powered by a rechargeable battery (31). 8. Personal disinfection equipment according to claim 1, wherein the ozone generator (3) comprises a fan (32).