New Mailroom Device Eliminates Cross-Contamination Potential Of Mail-Borne Bio Hazards

Santa Ana, CA (July 2, 2002) - Intellicon Inc., an innovator of ultra-violet (UV) technology used in industrial purification processes, today announced the availability of its Bio Sweeper™ MailSafe™, a dual technology device that stops mail-borne bio-terrorism at the door. The MailSafe device is a decontamination system that combines proven UV-C (ultra violet-C) germicidal technology and HEPA filters to effectively kill any viruses, bacteria, and spores on the surfaces of all incoming mail and small packages that may be a victim of cross contamination or a targeted bio-terrorism attack. The MailSafe is the central part of an effective strategy to prevent hazardous and potentially deadly contamination trails like those that shut down the Hart Senate Office Building and post office facilities for over 3 months. The unit is specifically designed for budget conscious small and medium sized mailrooms that service office buildings, corporations, legal offices, financial institutions, laboratories, and state and local government offices.

Tragically, the mailroom and postal workers who were not the target of the anthrax attacks last fall, suffered from the exposure to the contaminated trail. As part of a simple procedural change to the handling of incoming mail and packages, the Bio Sweeper MailSafe unit is designed to stop this trail at the door, while protecting those workers most likely to be exposed – mailroom employees. Workers simply feed letters and envelopes into the system's slot to expose all surfaces to a high concentration of lethal UV-C light. The built-in medical grade HEPA air filter circulates and cleans the air of any contaminants up to 20 times per hour, keeping the infectious levels to a minimum. The optional isolation compartment allows operators to open any suspicious letters, small packages and overnight items; containing, determining and killing any potential attack in the mailroom and preventing exposure beyond the room.

The standard MailSafe unit can treat mail and overnight packages up to 15 inches x 12 inches and 1 inch thick. The operator simply feeds the mail into the opening at the upper right of the system. The mail is then transported at a controlled speed between two sets of five high-intensity UV-C light sources that disinfect both surfaces of a piece of mail, killing any viruses, spores, and other biological contaminants on the surfaces. Unlike e-beams and gamma machines, the MailSafe’s use of UV-C guarantees that the package contents will not be harmed or damaged during this process. Throughput rates are up to 1,500 pieces per hour. Faster throughputs are available.

While being exposed to the UV-C radiation, each piece of mail is also swept by a continuous flow of air that will remove particles that may come out of a letter. All air, including the room air, then passes through a high-efficiency HEPA filter that traps contaminants as small as 0.3 microns (0.3 millionths of an inch) in diameter. Since anthrax and other bio organisms are at least 1.5 microns, the MailSafe will safely trap 99.97% of potential infectious and harmful microscopic bodies dangerous to human life.

The system is also designed for the safety of mailroom workers. All harmful effects of the UV-C light are contained within the system. UV-C is absorbed by the painted surfaces and the plexiglass viewing panels. The HEPA filter constantly filters the air and continuously removes spores, viruses, and bacteria from the mailroom. A side benefit is that some of the viruses and bacteria removed are the same ones that cause the common cold and the flu, and since the flu and anthrax symptoms are similar in their early stages, less flu cases will mean less worry on the part of associates and more effective diagnosis and treatment of both illnesses.

Models and Availability

The Bio Sweeper™ MailSafe is availble in a variety of models and throughput speeds.  The MS 140 with HEPA filter and conveyor with a 750 piece/hour throughput rate is the lowest priced conyeror system. The PS 200, a system with only an isolation compartment, HEPA filter and UV-C lamps for manual inspection and sanitation of packages and mail up to 15 x 15 x 6 inches, is lowest priced system. Higher throughput machines, larger compartments and other operator options are also available. Delivery is 4 to 8 weeks ARO.