The present disclosure provides a coating applicator operable to apply a coating of a therapeutic agent upon an object comprising an openable and sealable device compartment, a therapeutic agent positioned in communication with the device compartment, an atomizer operable to atomize the therapeutic agent, and a source of vacuum in communication with the device compartment. The coating applicator may further comprise a drier, and the drier may comprise an arrangement to operate the source of vacuum for a time sufficient to promote drying of applied therapeutic agent. Deposition of the atomized therapeutic agent may be promoted by contacting the atomized therapeutic agent while the object is in a chilled condition and by contacting the object with atomized therapeutic agent while the atomized therapeutic agent is in a heated condition. Related methods are also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides a coating applicator operable to apply a coating of a therapeutic agent upon an object comprising an openable and sealable device compartment, a therapeutic agent positioned in communication with the device compartment, an atomizer operable to atomize the therapeutic agent, and a source of vacuum in communication with the device compartment. The coating applicator may further comprise a drier, and the drier may comprise an arrangement to operate the source of vacuum for a time sufficient to promote drying of applied therapeutic agent. Deposition of the atomized therapeutic agent may be promoted by contacting the atomized therapeutic agent while the object is in a chilled condition and by contacting the object with atomized therapeutic agent while the atomized therapeutic agent is in a heated condition. Related methods are also disclosed.

Example plasmaclave devices are shown for using a plasma to sterilize objects or equipment (e.g., medical instruments, surgical devices, food preparation utensils, etc.) placed inside the plasmaclave devices. In some embodiments, the plasmaclave device includes fixed magnets, steering coils, and a high voltage electrode for generating a plasma field and controlling where the plasma field is focused, so that the plasma field is rapidly scanned over a target surface. In some embodiments, the plasmaclave device includes a high voltage coil, a motor, and a blade electrode for generating a plasma field and spinning the blade electrode, so that the plasma field is rapidly scanned over a target surface.

Example plasmaclave devices are shown for using a plasma to sterilize objects or equipment (e.g., medical instruments, surgical devices, food preparation utensils, etc.) placed inside the plasmaclave devices. In some embodiments, the plasmaclave device includes fixed magnets, steering coils, and a high voltage electrode for generating a plasma field and controlling where the plasma field is focused, so that the plasma field is rapidly scanned over a target surface. In some embodiments, the plasmaclave device includes a high voltage coil, a motor, and a blade electrode for generating a plasma field and spinning the blade electrode, so that the plasma field is rapidly scanned over a target surface.

The humidifier includes a humidification section which vaporizes water to produce humidified air, and a fan which produces in an air passage an air flow delivering the humidified air to the outside. The humidifier further includes a sterilized water producing section which produces sterilized water, an ultrasonic irradiator which produces sterilizing mist through ultrasonic irradiation of the sterilized water, an auxiliary passage through which the sterilizing mist is delivered to the outside, and an operation switching mechanism. The operation switching mechanism is switched between a first operation mode in which the air passage and the auxiliary passage communicate with each other to introduce the sterilizing mist into the air passage, and a second operation mode in which communication between the air passage and the auxiliary passage is blocked.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to, among other things, systems for generating engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) comprising reactive oxygen species (ROS) and methods for inactivating at least one of viruses, bacteria, bacterial spores, and fungi in or on a wound of a subject in need thereof or on produce by applying EWNS to the wound or to the produce.

The present invention has the technical effect of disinfecting an EDI device of a water purification system. The present invention may be applied to an EDI device having an internal chamber comprising ion exchange components. The internal chamber may also comprise a plurality of ion selective membranes positioned between the anode and the cathode compartments. As illustrated and described herein, embodiments of the present invention seek to sanitize the EDI device without sanitization chemicals or a water supply. Embodiments of the present invention disinfect the EDI device by applying electrical power. Here an electrical supply device heats the EDI device, through resistive heating of the internal chambers, to a sanitization temperature. The resistive heating is a result of ionic movement through the internal chamber. The friction that is created through the ionic movement increases the temperature within the internal chamber.

An implantable antibacterial barrier device for an elongated medical device, the elongated medical device configured to extend from a first site, through a second site, to a third site. The implantable antibacterial barrier device includes a housing configured to be disposed at the first site, a working electrode configured to be disposed at the second site, and a reference electrode configured to be disposed at the first site. The housing includes barrier circuitry. The working electrode electrically is coupled to the barrier circuitry. The reference electrode is electrically coupled to the barrier circuitry. The barrier circuitry is configured to selectively maintain the working electrode at a negative electrical potential relative to the reference electrode to form an antibacterial barrier.

An implantable antibacterial barrier device for an elongated medical device, the elongated medical device configured to extend from a first site, through a second site, to a third site. The implantable antibacterial barrier device includes a housing configured to be disposed at the first site, a working electrode configured to be disposed at the second site, and a reference electrode configured to be disposed at the first site. The housing includes barrier circuitry. The working electrode electrically is coupled to the barrier circuitry. The reference electrode is electrically coupled to the barrier circuitry. The barrier circuitry is configured to selectively maintain the working electrode at a negative electrical potential relative to the reference electrode to form an antibacterial barrier.

Systems and methods are disclosed for cleaning and sterilizing fluids and other materials. In one implementation, one or more emitters are submerged within a fluid and emit electromagnetic waves having a variable frequency. The frequency of the electromagnetic waves is swept across a frequency range to neutralize bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in the fluid. The emitters may be submerged within a fluid reservoir and/or within the interior of an enclosed fluidic path (e.g., a pipe). Solid materials may be sterilized by immersing the solid materials within the fluid of such a fluid reservoir. In another implementation, electromagnetic waves may be applied to one or more wires that are wrapped around an exterior wall of a pipe. The frequency of the electromagnetic waves may be varied across a frequency range, resulting in scale and other materials being cleaned from the interior wall of the pipe.