Deactivation of microorganisms

US6013918A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• PurePulse Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Andrew H. Bushnell · San Diego, US
• Don Meader · San Diego, US
• Lars A. Naslund · Furulund, SE
• Håkan Mellbin · Hörby, SE
• Hakan Moller · Malmö, SE
• R. Wayne Clark · Del Mar, US
• Miriam Gersten · San Diego, US
• Par Olanders · Lund, SE
• Olof Stark · Ystad, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 19, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 11, 2000
• Expiry date: Feb 19, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61L2202/24
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are described for food product preservation by deactivation of microorganisms and enzymes by applying high-intensity, short-duration pulses of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum to packaging material surfaces. A photodiode is employed for detecting the intensity of the light, and a control circuit is used to adjust power delivered to a flashlamp if the intensity of the light needs adjustment. An outer safety glass is employed to protect the flashlamps. The outer safety glass may include coating materials at ends thereof. In addition, several variations of lamp assembly geometries accommodate small diameter packaging material tubes by using an fill pipe having offset first and second portions with a transitional region thereinbetween, or be eliminating the water jackets and using an outer safety glass to contain water as it is passed over flashlamps. A lamp holding device includes a holding cylinder with a first flange, which, together with a compression cylinder, compresses the first O-ring into the flashlamp. A lamp holding device is positioned in a receptacle into which an electrode of a U-lamp is inserted. The lamp holding device allows a proximal po…