Patent ID: 6245132
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: A61L,B03C

Abstract:
An electrically enhanced filter, comprising:a filter medium;first and second electrodes sandwiching said filter medium therebetween;an air stream input directed towards said filter medium and laden with micro-organisms;first means for attracting said micro-organisms towards said filter medium, said first means including a DC power supply coupled to said first and second electrodes, said DC power supply creating a continuous electrostatic field across said filter medium and producing attracting forces between said micro-organisms and said filter medium to thereby enhance filtration efficiency of said filter;second means for sterilizing said filter medium to destroy said micro-organisms and impede unwanted propagation thereof, said second means including means for intermittently applying a sterilizing electrical field between said first and second electrodes concurrently with said electrostatic field, said intermittent sterilizing electrical field being of sufficient magnitude to generate a plasma sheet on surfaces of said filter medium; andan air stream output directed from said filter medium and substantially purified from said micro-organisms.