Ultra-lightweight Sterilizer

A portable sterilizer for medical and dental instruments is needed to enhance far-forward medical capabilities. Such a system must be extremely lightweight, easy to use and must function without external power or other infrastructure. TDA Research, Inc.(TDA) proposes to develop such an ultra-lightweight portable sterilizer. TDA has experience in two relevant areas for previous R&D efforts: decontamination of biological warfare agents and production of portable heaters for Army field rations. The firstproject has given us background in sterilization processes, and the second has given us background in field-activated chemical reactions and lightweight packaging for long-term stability.In Phase I TDA will determine conditions for effective sterilization at relevant temperatures and humidities. We will then design and assemble prototype sterilizers and demonstrate that they produce the design levels of sterilant. We will then test theultra-lightweight sterilizers with samples inoculated with known levels of contaminants. In the Phase I Option TDA will develop the process to produce the sterilizer on automated equipment and will fabricate pre-production items for further testing.Preliminary estimates indicate that the production sterilizer will weigh roughly one-half ounce, thereby providing valuable capability at minimal weight. The ultra-lightweight sterilizer will enhance medical support to troops in the field at a minimal weight. It may also find use in civilian disaster relief and in less-developed countries where conventional autoclaves are unavailable or power supplies areunreliable.