A method and apparatus for pasteurizing and drying cannabis plant materials using a microwave-vacuum chamber. The pasteurizing and drying are carried out with no use of ionizing radiation and with rapid drying. Pasteurization is done at a temperature and for a time period that are sufficient to reduce microorganisms to an acceptably low level, while not significantly reducing the psychoactive compounds in the material. In the process, the pressure inside a vacuum chamber is reduced to a first pressure less than atmospheric. The material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the first pressure at a pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pressure is then reduced to a second pressure lower than the first pressure and the material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the second pressure for a time period at a dehydrating temperature lower than the pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pasteurizing and dehydrating steps can be done in the reverse order.

Disclosed are microwave assisted methods and systems for decontaminating a variety of contaminated surfaces. The systems and methods comprise treating the surfaces with benign chemical formulations followed by exposing to microwave irradiation for short periods of time to achieve at least 6-log reduction in biological contaminants including spores of B. anthracis, B. thuringiensis, and P. roqueforti. Chemical formulations may comprise copper (II) chloride in water. The formulations may include a surfactant such as a polyethylene sorbitol ester surfactant.

Disclosed are microwave assisted methods and systems for decontaminating a variety of contaminated surfaces. The systems and methods comprise treating the surfaces with benign chemical formulations followed by exposing to microwave irradiation for short periods of time to achieve at least 6-log reduction in biological contaminants including spores of B. anthracis, B. thuringiensis, and P. roqueforti. Chemical formulations may comprise copper (II) chloride in water. The formulations may include a surfactant such as a polyethylene sorbitol ester surfactant.

A microwave device for inactivation of viruses is disclosed. The microwave device comprising a housing and a field generator. The housing has a cavity configured to receive an object contaminated with viruses within the cavity and the field generator is configured to irradiate the cavity with microwave energy at a band of frequencies and a power level configured to inactivate the virus. The cavity is located within a near-field of a radiation pattern produced by the field generator at the band of frequencies and the microwave energy causes a dipole vibration on the virus that causes the virus to fracture.

A microwave device for inactivation of viruses is disclosed. The microwave device comprising a housing and a field generator. The housing has a cavity configured to receive an object contaminated with viruses within the cavity and the field generator is configured to irradiate the cavity with microwave energy at a band of frequencies and a power level configured to inactivate the virus. The cavity is located within a near-field of a radiation pattern produced by the field generator at the band of frequencies and the microwave energy causes a dipole vibration on the virus that causes the virus to fracture.

A method for sterilizing viruses comprises generating a beam having radiating energy therein at a predetermined frequency for generating mechanical eigen-vibrations in a spherical virus to destroy the spherical virus and a predetermined cartesian beam intensity for imparting transverse shear forces to an icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus to destroy the icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus using beam generation circuitry. A resonance frequency of the spherical virus for inducing the mechanical eigen-vibrations in the spherical virus is determined based upon a size, geometry, and protein material of the spherical virus using a predetermined three-dimensional acoustical model of mechanical vibrations within the spherical virus. The beam generation at the predetermined frequency and the predetermined cartesian beam intensity is controlled using a controller responsive to the determined resonance frequency. The predetermined frequency equals the resonance frequency of the spherical virus. The beam on is radiated a predetermined area to destroy the spherical virus at the predetermined area using radiating circuitry. The mechanical eigen-vibrations at the resonance frequency of the spherical virus determined by the predetermined three-dimensional acoustical model are induced within the spherical virus to destroy the spherical virus responsive to the predetermined frequency. The transverse shear forces are imparted to the icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus to destroy the icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus.

A method for sterilizing viruses comprises generating a beam having radiating energy therein at a predetermined frequency for generating mechanical eigen-vibrations in a spherical virus to destroy the spherical virus and a predetermined cartesian beam intensity for imparting transverse shear forces to an icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus to destroy the icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus using beam generation circuitry. A resonance frequency of the spherical virus for inducing the mechanical eigen-vibrations in the spherical virus is determined based upon a size, geometry, and protein material of the spherical virus using a predetermined three-dimensional acoustical model of mechanical vibrations within the spherical virus. The beam generation at the predetermined frequency and the predetermined cartesian beam intensity is controlled using a controller responsive to the determined resonance frequency. The predetermined frequency equals the resonance frequency of the spherical virus. The beam on is radiated a predetermined area to destroy the spherical virus at the predetermined area using radiating circuitry. The mechanical eigen-vibrations at the resonance frequency of the spherical virus determined by the predetermined three-dimensional acoustical model are induced within the spherical virus to destroy the spherical virus responsive to the predetermined frequency. The transverse shear forces are imparted to the icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus to destroy the icosahedral lattice structure of the spherical virus.

A system for decontaminating personal protection equipment includes a microwave oven and a decontamination apparatus configured to be placed in and heated by the microwave oven. The decontamination apparatus includes a containment vessel having an interior space configured to be sealed. The decontamination apparatus also includes one or more stands within the interior space, where the one or more stands are configured to receive and hold one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated by the microwave oven and decontaminated within the interior space. The decontamination apparatus further includes a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space.

An apparatus includes a containment vessel having an interior space configured to be sealed. The interior space is configured to receive at least one reservoir of liquid to be vaporized during a decontamination process. The apparatus also includes a base configured to be inserted into the interior space. The base is configured to receive one or more pieces of personal protection equipment to be heated and decontaminated within the interior space during the decontamination process. The base is configured to hold the one or more pieces of personal protection equipment above the at least one reservoir of liquid. The apparatus further includes a pressure-relief valve configured to be opened to release a pressure within the interior space. In some cases, the apparatus may include a filter configured to filter material passing through the pressure-relief valve.

A system for opening and/or closing a lid of a container containing medical equipment in a sterile processing department, the system comprises: a gripper for opening and/or closing the lid of the container, one or more motorized conveyor elements configured to receive said container at a first container position and convey said container along a longitudinal axis towards the gripper. The system is configured to align the container with the gripper by conveying the container from the first container position to a second container position using the one or more motorized conveyor elements, move a first gripper element and a second gripper element from a first gripper position to a second gripper position, whereby the first gripper element or the second gripper element contacts the container at a side surface of the container and moves the container to a third container position.