Materials and methods for decontaminating animal integument
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-12220497-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-11
Expiration Date
2041-07-26
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Abstract
A method for decontaminating the outer integument of an animal without transferring contamination to the inner integument of the animal where the hazard can interact with the skin and harm the animal further. The animal has either fur, hair, or feathers and the inner integument is the skin and a skin-hazard material is present on the outer integument (the fur, hair, or feathers). The method uses a first porous dry wipe to sequester the skin-hazard material away from the contaminated animal by either wiping, blotting or rubbing the outer integument of the contaminated animal. The method avoids using free-flowing liquid in contact with the inner integument of the contaminated animal, and does not promote a liquid-phase transfer of the skin-hazard material from the outer integument to the inner integument.
Core Innovation
The invention provides materials and methods for decontaminating the outer integument of animals such as dogs, which have fur, hair, or feathers, while avoiding the transfer of hazardous materials from the outer integument to the inner integument (the skin). The method primarily utilizes a first porous dry wipe to remove the skin-hazard material from the contaminated animal by wiping, blotting, or rubbing, and explicitly avoids the use of free-flowing liquids in contact with the animal's skin to prevent liquid-phase transfer of contaminants.
Conventional decontamination techniques rely on washing with large amounts of soap and water, which can mobilize contaminants and transfer them to the animal's skin, thereby increasing the risk of poisoning. The present invention solves this problem by providing controlled removal of contaminants from the fur, hair, or feathers without promoting movement of the hazardous material to the skin through liquid transport or saturation.
The method can optionally include sequential use of wet wipes containing minimal water and surfactant, followed by a dry wipe to remove dissolved chemicals and any remaining solution, further ensuring that contaminants are not allowed to reach the skin. The invention emphasizes minimizing waste generation, reducing resource requirements, and enabling field-applicable decontamination procedures without extensive logistical support or risk to handler and animal.
Claims Coverage
There are two independent claims in this patent, each introducing a different core method for decontaminating animal outer integument without transferring contamination to the skin.
Method using a porous dry wipe without free-flowing liquid
The method involves: - Providing a contaminated animal with an outer integument (fur, hair, or feathers) and an inner integument (skin). - Supplying a first porous dry wipe. - Using the dry wipe to sequester skin-hazard material from the outer integument by wiping, blotting, or rubbing. - Not using free-flowing liquid in contact with the animal's skin. - Not promoting a liquid-phase transfer of the skin-hazard material from the outer to the inner integument. The method excludes reacting, binding, oxidizing, hydrolyzing, or chemically detoxifying the material.
Method using a porous wetted wipe without free-flowing liquid
The method involves: - Providing a contaminated animal with an outer integument (fur, hair, or feathers) and an inner integument (skin). - Supplying a first porous wetted wipe. - Using the wetted wipe to sequester the skin-hazard material from the outer integument by wiping, blotting, or rubbing. - Not using free-flowing liquid in contact with the inner integument. - Not promoting a liquid-phase transfer of the skin-hazard material from the outer to the inner integument. The method likewise does not react, oxidize, bind, hydrolyze, or otherwise chemically detoxify the contaminant.
The independent claims define two key approaches: one employing a dry porous wipe and the other a wetted porous wipe, both designed to remove hazardous materials from animal fur, hair, or feathers without transferring those materials to the skin and without the use of free-flowing liquids or chemical detoxification steps.
Stated Advantages
Prevents transfer of hazardous materials from the outer integument (fur, hair, feathers) to the inner integument (skin), protecting against skin absorption and poisoning.
Reduces the quantity of cleaning materials required and the amount of hazardous waste generated during decontamination.
Enables effective decontamination in field conditions with minimal logistical support, requiring no additional water or large equipment.
Minimizes the risk to the handler from contaminated wash water and avoids spreading contamination to the surrounding environment.
Decontamination materials are lightweight, compact, and easily transportable in small kits.
Documented Applications
Decontaminating military working dogs exposed to hazardous chemicals, including chemical warfare agents, in field environments.
Decontamination of other animals such as birds, horses, cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, cats, bears, camels, otters, seals, antelope, llamas, apes, kangaroos, giraffes, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, eagles, doves, gulls, parrots, jays, and penguins, having an inner and outer integument.
Decontaminating humans, particularly where the outer integument is hair.
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