US 12,330,107 B2
Purification device having heated filter for killing biological species, including COVID-19
Monzer A. Hourani, Houston, TX (US); Zhifeng Ren, Houston, TX (US); and Luo Yu, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to University of Houston System, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Integrated Viral Protection Solutions, LLC, Houston, TX (US); and University of Houston System, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on May 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/883,977.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/018,442, filed on Apr. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/018,448, filed on Apr. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0339183 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01D 46/00 (2022.01); A61L 9/20 (2006.01); B01D 39/20 (2006.01); B01D 46/42 (2006.01); B01D 46/44 (2006.01); B60H 3/06 (2006.01); F24F 8/10 (2021.01); F24F 8/22 (2021.01)
CPC B01D 46/4263 (2013.01) [A61L 9/20 (2013.01); B01D 39/2027 (2013.01); B01D 46/0028 (2013.01); B01D 46/4245 (2013.01); B01D 46/429 (2013.01); B01D 46/444 (2013.01); B01D 46/448 (2013.01); B60H 3/0608 (2013.01); F24F 8/10 (2021.01); A61L 2209/11 (2013.01); A61L 2209/111 (2013.01); A61L 2209/12 (2013.01); A61L 2209/14 (2013.01); A61L 2209/15 (2013.01); B01D 2279/50 (2013.01); B01D 2279/65 (2013.01); F24F 8/22 (2021.01); F24F 2221/125 (2013.01); F24F 2221/34 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus used with supplied power for treating air flow of an air handling system for a pathogen, the apparatus comprising:
a frame having a plenum with an inlet and an outlet, the frame being configured to position in the air flow of the air handling system for passage of the air flow therethrough;
a filter disposed across the plenum and comprising a first material, the filter being configured to filter the air flow therethrough up to a filtration threshold; and
a heater disposed across the plenum and comprising a permeable barrier having a metal material, the permeable barrier of the heater being configured to allow the air flow therethrough up to a porosity threshold, the metal material of the permeable barrier of the heater connected in electrical communication to the supplied power, the permeable barrier having an active surface area being configured to interact with the pathogen and being heated by the supplied power to a surface temperature directed to at least damage the pathogen,
wherein the supplied power is not electrically connected to the filter such that the filter is not electrically connected to the supplied power and not heated while the heater is electrically connected to the supplied power and heated.