A dryer including: a drum; a duct connected to the drum; a compressor connected to an evaporator and a condenser provided inside the duct; a heater provided inside the duct; a fan provided inside the duct; a motor to rotate the fan; and a controller configured to perform a first operation of operating the compressor, the heater, and the motor based on no object being inside the drum, and a second operation of operating the heater and the motor without operating the compressor. The dryer may sterilize the inside of the dryer, particularly, a flow path through which humid air passes.

A dryer including: a drum; a duct connected to the drum; a compressor connected to an evaporator and a condenser provided inside the duct; a heater provided inside the duct; a fan provided inside the duct; a motor to rotate the fan; and a controller configured to perform a first operation of operating the compressor, the heater, and the motor based on no object being inside the drum, and a second operation of operating the heater and the motor without operating the compressor. The dryer may sterilize the inside of the dryer, particularly, a flow path through which humid air passes.

Provided herein is a method of treating material that is contaminated with a virus, comprising exposing the material to vapor, wherein the vapor is produced by heating and/or vaporizing a dry cleaning solvent, and wherein the method at least partially deactivates the virus.

A stethoscope sterilization device is disclosed. A base unit adapted to accommodate a stethoscope. A diaphragm attachment assembled with the base unit, wherein the diaphragm attachment comprises an aperture, wherein the diaphragm attachment provides a surface for placing a diaphragm of the stethoscope. A heating element provided to heat the surface of the diaphragm to maintain a desirable temperature. A luminometer to monitor the diaphragm of the stethoscope for determining contamination in real-time. A dispensing unit positioned underneath the diaphragm attachment, wherein the dispensing unit is configured to dispense a disinfectant solution stored in a disinfectant reservoir over the surface of the diaphragm of the stethoscope for the sterilization via the aperture. A sponge placed over the base unit, wherein the sponge enables wiping off of excess disinfectant solution accumulated over the surface of the diaphragm of the stethoscope upon sterilization.

A stethoscope sterilization device is disclosed. A base unit adapted to accommodate a stethoscope. A diaphragm attachment assembled with the base unit, wherein the diaphragm attachment comprises an aperture, wherein the diaphragm attachment provides a surface for placing a diaphragm of the stethoscope. A heating element provided to heat the surface of the diaphragm to maintain a desirable temperature. A luminometer to monitor the diaphragm of the stethoscope for determining contamination in real-time. A dispensing unit positioned underneath the diaphragm attachment, wherein the dispensing unit is configured to dispense a disinfectant solution stored in a disinfectant reservoir over the surface of the diaphragm of the stethoscope for the sterilization via the aperture. A sponge placed over the base unit, wherein the sponge enables wiping off of excess disinfectant solution accumulated over the surface of the diaphragm of the stethoscope upon sterilization.

A container or load basket (80, 90) constructed for addressing thermal stratification of a product in the container/load basket and addressing thermal stratification of the processing medium during high pressure processing with a pressurized processing medium. The container includes an upper section (86, 96) forming a volume for receiving the product to be processed and a truncated lower section forming the bottom of the container. The bottom of the container is defined by a floor or partition (84, 92) extending across the lower portion of the container.The floor or partition can be constructed from the same material from which the upper section of the container is formed or a material that is more adiabatically active than the material from which the upper section of the container is formed.

A container or load basket (80, 90) constructed for addressing thermal stratification of a product in the container/load basket and addressing thermal stratification of the processing medium during high pressure processing with a pressurized processing medium. The container includes an upper section (86, 96) forming a volume for receiving the product to be processed and a truncated lower section forming the bottom of the container. The bottom of the container is defined by a floor or partition (84, 92) extending across the lower portion of the container.The floor or partition can be constructed from the same material from which the upper section of the container is formed or a material that is more adiabatically active than the material from which the upper section of the container is formed.

A system for sterilizing a physical space, such as a hotel room. The system generates and distributes heated air to the physical space to elevate the temperature of the space to a level sufficient to achieve a desired sterilization effect of eradicating insects and microoganisms. The system is portable and self-contained. The system includes a hydrogen fuel cell that generates electrical power. An electrical system conditions and stores the electrical power and supplies stored electrical power to the system components and peripherals. System components include a source of hydrogen, a heater, an air distributor, and a filter. Peripherals include a UV light source and an aerosol dispenser. The combination of heat, UV light and aerosol disinfectant effectively eradicates insects, microorganisms, allergens, and odors in the physical space.

A system for sterilizing a physical space, such as a hotel room. The system generates and distributes heated air to the physical space to elevate the temperature of the space to a level sufficient to achieve a desired sterilization effect of eradicating insects and microoganisms. The system is portable and self-contained. The system includes a hydrogen fuel cell that generates electrical power. An electrical system conditions and stores the electrical power and supplies stored electrical power to the system components and peripherals. System components include a source of hydrogen, a heater, an air distributor, and a filter. Peripherals include a UV light source and an aerosol dispenser. The combination of heat, UV light and aerosol disinfectant effectively eradicates insects, microorganisms, allergens, and odors in the physical space.

A rotatable surface apparatus for a vehicle includes a frame including a contact surface, a cover having at least a first surface portion and a second surface portion, a rotating mechanism rotating the cover to selectively position not more than one of the first surface portion and the second surface portion over the contact surface of the frame simultaneously, and a sanitizing mechanism sanitizing the first surface portion and the second surface portion of the cover when positioned within a predetermined proximity of the sanitizing mechanism.