Biostatic air filter

Details Biostatic air filter Biostatic air filter

1998-11-03

2001-05-01

Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)

Gas separation: apparatus

With sterilizing means

Means uses chemical antimicrobial agent

C055S467000, C055S485000, C055S486000, C055S497000, C055S500000, C055S527000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06224655

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a biostatic air filter assembly and system for filtering air. For the purpose of illustration and discussion the filter assembly and system will be discussed in relation to ventilation systems for buildings; however, it is to be understood that they may be used in other contexts e.g. they may be exploited in relation to a respiratory mask or canister whether powered or not. Thus for example a microbial assembly as discussed herein may be installed in the air flow passage of a ventilating system intended for sterilization or disinfection of air, i.e. for devitalization of airborne microorganisms.
Bio-static air filters have been used in hospital ventilation system to inhibit secondary in-hospital infection problems caused by airborne microorganisms (hereinafter called simply called microorganisms) released from the filters. Air filtering assemblies or apparatus are known which may entrap microorganisms. Additionally, various materials such as fungicide, silver or UV-light catalyst have also been applied on filter elements to enhance the reduction of organisms in air leaving the filter element. While such materials are known to be effective, none of them can eradicate organisms completely. Micro-entities which escape from these known type of filter arrangements can be released back into the air and provoke or cause secondary airborne infection.
In the case of a known (e.g. non-woven fabric) filter elements placed inside of an air-duct, some portion of organisms will as mentioned above nevertheless penetrate to the other side and be released back into the air. It is because the flow speed of organisms is nearly equivalent to the airflow itself. The contact or exposure time of organisms to micro biocidal materials is not long enough to achieve complete removal or disinfection of air. Due to such short contact time of organisms to a microbiocidal material, such a conventional (known) filter can not fully intercept all organisms so as to prevent the escape of some organisms back into the environmental air.
This it is believed may be one of the causes of secondary in-hospital infection problems.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a means (i.e. a biostatic air filter means) that may provide an alternative means for the removal of organisms from air, e.g. enhance the removal of organisms from air.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a microbiocidal air filter assembly, for filtering air, having
a) a housing component defining an air path
b) an air filter component
b) an air inlet, and
d) an air outlet,
wherein said air filter component comprises a first air filter element and a second air filter element, wherein said air filter component is disposed so as to intersect said air path for air flow communication between said air inlet and said air outlet through each of the air filter elements, wherein one of said air filter elements is a microbiocidal air filter element and comprises a demand disinfectant resin, said demand disinfectant resin being an iodinated strong base anion exchange resin.
The present invention in accordance with a further aspect provides in a system for disinfecting air containing airborne microorganisms, said system comprising
a) means for providing an air path for the movement of air therethrough, and
b) an air filter component
wherein said air filter component comprises a first air filter element and a second air filter element, wherein said air filter component is disposed so as to intersect said air path for air flow communication between said air inlet and said air outlet through each of the air filter elements, wherein one of said air filter elements is a microbiocidal air filter element and comprises a demand disinfectant resin, said demand disinfectant resin being an iodinated strong base anion exchange resin.
The microbiocidal air filter element may for example comprise an air permeable non-woven fibrous carrier to which the iodinated strong base anion exchange resin is held as described herein. The non-woven carrier may have a pair of opposed broad faces spaced apart by a carrier matrix and the air filter component may be disposed so as to intersect the air path for air flow communication through each of the broad faces. The iodinated strong base anion exchange resin may be in the form of particles; the particles may be held to each of the above mentioned broad faces. Alternatively, the particles of iodinated strong base anion exchange resin may be dispersed in the carrier matrix of the air filter element. The microbiocidal air filter element may be spaced apart (e.g. by an air space) from the other filter element which may or may not be microbiocidal in character. The microbiocidal air filter element and/or the other air filter element may be of planar or pleated form. The microbiocidal air filter element and the other air filter element may be spaced apart from each other or they may abut as desired or necessary.
The air filter component of a microbial air filter assembly (or of a system for disinfecting air), in accordance with the present invention, may be configured so as to comprise a third air filter element in addition to the above mentioned first and second air filter elements; in this case one of the three air filter elements may be disposed between the other filter elements so as to define an intermediate filter element. The first air filter element may, for example, be a microbiocidal air filter element and it may be disposed between the other filter elements so as to define the intermediate filter element. Alternatively, the intermediate air filter element may be a particulate non-microbiocidal air filter element.
More particularly the present invention provides in a (bio-static or microbiocidal) air filter assembly for filtering air having
a) a housing component defining an air path
b) an air filter component
b) an air inlet, and
d) an air outlet,
wherein said air filter component is disposed so as to intersect said air path for air flow communication between said air inlet and said air outlet through said air filter component, the improvement wherein said air filter component comprises an upstream filter element, a downstream filter element, and an intermediate air filter element disposed between said upstream and downstream air filter elements, wherein said air filter component is disposed so as to intersect said air path for air flow communication between said air inlet and said air outlet through each of the air filter elements, wherein said upstream and downstream air filter elements are each microbiocidal air filter elements and each comprises a demand disinfectant resin, said demand disinfectant resin being an iodinated strong base anion exchange resin.
The present invention further provides in a system for disinfecting air containing airborne microorganisms, said system comprising
a) means for providing an air path for the movement of air therethrough, and
b) an air filter component
wherein said air filter component is disposed so as to intersect said air path for air flow through said air filter component, the improvement wherein said air filter component comprises an upstream filter element, a downstream filter element and an intermediate air filter element disposed between said upstream and downstream air filter elements, wherein said air filter component is disposed so as to intersect said air path for air flow through each of the air filter elements, wherein said upstream and downstream air filter elements are each microbiocidal air filter elements and each comprises a demand disinfectant resin, said demand disinfectant resin being an iodinated strong base anion exchange resin; in accordance with the present invention said upstream and downstream air filter elements may each comprise an air permeable non-woven fibrous carrier to which said iodinated strong base anion exchange resin is held.
In accordance with the present invention a herein described air filter assembly may be disposed in the airflow passage of an air ventilating system.
The above mentioned assembly and

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