Protective device

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device such as a face mask. The device protects the user from infection and may simultaneously immunise the user against future infection. The invention particularly relates to a protective device comprising a disinfection chamber wherein the chamber is arranged to disinfect and/or sterilize fluid in the chamber prior to discharge of the fluid from the chamber such that the fluid discharged from the chamber comprises inactive microorganisms, for example a device comprising a disinfection chamber in fluid communication with a face mask and wherein the chamber is arranged to disinfect and/or sterilize fluid in the chamber prior to discharge of the fluid from the chamber to the mask such that the fluid discharged from the chamber to the mask comprises inactive microorganisms. The invention also relates to a method of use of the device.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing disinfected or sterilized air to a user comprising:
 (a) receiving air within a chamber,   (b) disinfecting and/or sterilizing the air,   (c) delivering the disinfected and/or sterilized air to the user   wherein the air discharged from the chamber comprises inactive microorganisms.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the disinfected or sterilized air is delivered to the user via a face mask. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the inactive microorganisms comprise antigen capable of conferring immune protection on a recipient of the disinfected or sterilized air. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the inactive microorganisms are capable of blocking, inhibiting and/or interfering with infection of a recipient of the disinfected or sterilized air by a live or active microorganism. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the inactive microorganism blocks binding of the live or active microorganism to a cell of the recipient of the disinfected or sterilized air. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 22  wherein the microorganisms comprise defective-interfering (DI) virus. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the air is disinfected or sterilized using a source selected from UV, plasma, microwave and ultrasound. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the UV source is selected from a fluorescent tube and a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the UV source is capable of emitting at a wavelength of from 240 nm to 300 nm. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the UV source is capable of emitting UV at an intensity of from 75 to 350 W/m 2 . 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the air is exposed to a dose of a sterilization agent which is sufficient to inactivate a live micro-organism but leaves at least some of the micro-organism, in a sufficiently active state to confer on the user some protection against future exposure to the live micro-organism. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the air is exposed to a dose of a sterilization agent which is sufficient to inactivate a live micro-organism but leaves at least some of the micro-organism, in a sufficiently active state to confer on the user of the air a curative and/or therapeutic benefit. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31  wherein the user is already infected with the microorganism. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 20  further comprising inputting non-infectious antigenic material into the air, prior to delivery the user. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the non-infectious antigenic material is capable of eliciting a protective or therapeutic immune response in the user. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the micro-organism is selected from influenza virus, Ebola virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Smallpox, Methicillin Resistant  Staphylococcus aureus  and  Bacillus anthracis.    
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the antigenic material is derived from influenza virus, Ebola virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Smallpox, Methicillin Resistant  Staphylococcus aureus  and  Bacillus anthracis.    
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 20  further comprising inputting interfering virus into the air prior to delivery to the user. 
     
     
         38 .- 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the air is disinfected or sterilized using a UV source, and wherein the dose of UV radiation used to disinfect or sterilize is in the range of 5-200 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44  wherein the dose of UV radiation used to disinfect or sterilize is in the range of 30-90 J/m 2 .