Field Medical Sterilizer to be used in Austere Environments

By utilizing air purification methods used internationally in fruit preservation and food storage facilities, we propose to test AirOcare’s proprietary units to sterilize surgical and dental instruments; and, to sterilize entire rooms which could include operating rooms in the field during combat situations. As air circulates through the chamber, part of the oxygen is converted into ozone and also to reactive oxygen species, including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. The simultaneous production of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide is likely to produce hydroxyl radicals, one of the most powerful oxidants in nature. We hypothesize that oxidants produced in the chamber of the AirOcare system should irreversibly oxidize important biomolecules in spores, bacteria and virus particles with no effect to the environment because they have a relatively short half-life. In Phase I of this SBIR proposal we propose to design the chamber to the proper dimensions and design the system to maximize ozone and hydrogen peroxide formation. We will evaluate the potential of this new chamber for sterilization by exposing bacteria and viral particles for various periods of time and at various steady state concentrations of ozone and hydrogen peroxide. The sterilizing potential will be evaluated by determining inhibition in replication rate. BENEFITS: Validation of innovative, effective method for sterilizing surgical and dental instruments, as well as operating rooms.