The Portable Chemical Sterilizer (PCS), D-FENS, and D-FEND ALL: Novel Chlorine Dioxide Decontamination Technologies for the Military

Abstract

There is a stated Army need for a field-portable, non-steam sterilizer technology that can be used by Forward Surgical Teams, Dental Companies, Veterinary Service Support Detachments, Combat Support Hospitals, and Area Medical Laboratories to sterilize surgical instruments and to sterilize pathological specimens prior to disposal in operating rooms, emergency treatment areas, and intensive care units. The following ensemble of novel, 'clean and green' chlorine dioxide technologies are versatile and flexible to adapt to meet a number of critical military needs for decontamination 6,15 . Specifically, the Portable Chemical Sterilizer (PCS) was invented to meet urgent battlefield needs and close critical capability gaps for energy-independence, lightweight portability, rapid mobility, and rugged durability in high intensity forward deployments 3 . As a revolutionary technological breakthrough in surgical sterilization technology, the PCS is a Modern Field Autoclave that relies on on-site, point-ofuse, at-will generation of chlorine dioxide instead of steam. Two (2) PCS units sterilize 4 surgical trays in 1 hr, which is the equivalent throughput of one large steam autoclave (nicknamed "Bertha" in deployments because of its cumbersome size, bulky dimensions, and weight). However, the PCS operates using 100% less electricity (0 vs. 9 kW) and 98% less water (10 vs. 640 oz.), significantly reduces weight by 95% (20 vs. 450 lbs, a 4-man lift) and cube by 96% (2.1 vs. 60.2 ft 3 ), and virtually eliminates the difficult challenges in forward deployments of repairs and maintaining reliable operation, lifting and transporting, and electrical power required for steam autoclaves. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at

Combining sanitizers and nonthermal processing technologies to improve fresh-cut produce safety

“…It is possible that these inconsistencies could have resulted from differences in the method used to inoculate the produce (Rodgers et al ., 2004). In separate experiments, fresh-cut leaves (25 g) of iceberg lettuce or romaine were inoculated to eight logs by immersion in an aqueous suspensions of E. coli O157:H7 for 5 min, dried in a salad spinner, then exposed for 2 min to 20-200 ppm aqueous chlorine dioxide, which was effective in reducing E. coli O157:H7 populations on iceberg lettuce by up to 1.25 log and approximately 1 log on romaine lettuce (Keskinen et al ., 2009) The " D isinfectant -sprayer for F oods and EN vironmentally-friendly S anitation" (D-FENS) is an aqueous chlorine dioxide technology invented at NSRDEC and intended for use in military deployments (Setlow et al ., 2009;Doona et al ., 2014). D-FENS is a convenient spray-and-wipe sanitizing device that generates aqueous chlorine dioxide on-site.…”

Fighting Ebola with novel spore decontamination technologies for the military

“…As reported previously ( Doona et al, 2014 ) the novel decontamination technologies (NCC, PCS, D-FENS, D-FEND ALL, FDKs, CoD) were validated using laboratory chemical reagents and suitable challenge organisms and substrates to confirm sterility and material compatibility.…”

“…The PCS ( Figure 2 ) is a Modern Field Autoclave, a revolutionary medical device invented to meet a stated Army need and an urgent battlefield demand for a field-portable, non-steam sterilizer technology that can be used by far-forward surgical teams ( Doona et al, 2014 ). The PCS produces gaseous ClO 2 and proceeds where no commercial device existed previously, with a 100% reduction in power usage, 98% reduction in water, 95% reduction in weight, and 96% reduction in cubic footprint compared to conventional steam autoclaves.…”

“…The PCS produces gaseous ClO 2 and proceeds where no commercial device existed previously, with a 100% reduction in power usage, 98% reduction in water, 95% reduction in weight, and 96% reduction in cubic footprint compared to conventional steam autoclaves. The PCS used the NCC to sterilize live cultures of Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores in aqueous suspensions (recovered on Antibiotic Assay Medium with 1% soluble starch – see Feeherry et al, 1987 ; Doona et al, 2014 ), bio-indicators of G. stearothermophilus (BT Sure biological indicator (BI), Thermo Fisher Scientific Cat No. AY759X3) and Bacillus atrophaeus [EZ Test (EtO), SGM Biotech Inc., Cat.…”

“…Innovation in Science and Technology comes from myriad sources, such as thinking outside-the-box, applying expertise to new areas, or adapting novel technologies that advance the frontiers of knowledge to fill needs in the commercial marketplace for consumers or to meet critical capability gaps on the battlefield. Researchers at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) have invented and patented ( Doona et al, 2014 ) an ensemble of novel decontamination technologies ( Table 1 ) involving innovative dry, mixed-chemical technologies designed to be lightweight, compact, portable, easy-to-carry, energy-independent, flameless, almost waterless, inexpensive, safe to end-users and the environment (“green” technologies), and effective in addressing a diverse array of decontamination applications in far-forward military deployments or other high-intensity, austere environments by using the disinfectant chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ). These characteristics also make NSRDEC’s novel decontamination technologies well-suited for use during large-scale emergencies, natural disasters (Hurricane Katrina, tsunamis, superstorm Sandy) or in humanitarian relief in third-world countries.…”