The pulsed light process developed by PurePulse Technologies Inc. utilizes flashes of intense broad-spectrum pulsed light (BSPL) to sterilize pharmaceuticals, medical devices, packaging, and water. The spectrum closely mimics the spectrum of sunlight at sea level with an important difference: The system delivers a spectrum 20,000 times more intense than sunlight at the earth's surface during the pulse. The intense flashes of light are less than 1 millisecond in duration. Several pulses can be delivered per s, creating sterilized material at a greater speed than conventional processes. The efficacy of the process has been tested against a broad range of microorganisms, including bacteria (vegetative cells and spores), fungi, viruses, and protozoa (PurePulse Technologies Inc. 1999).
Figure 2 illustrates the treatment system. The basic electrical components are shown schematically in the upper portion of the Fig. In the lower portion of the Fig., energy per unit time diagrams are shown below the system components to emphasize the power magnification available through pulsed energy processing.