Methods and apparatus for ultraviolet sterilization

• US 20060147339A1
• Filed: 11/26/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Next Safety, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Next Safety, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunter, Charles Eric, Hebrank, John H., McNeil, Laurie E., Narayan, Drew G.
• Application Number:
  US11/286,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20060147339A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/002 Cleaning devices specially adapted for dental instruments disinfecting A61L2/00; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for ultraviolet sterilization are provided. The apparatus can include a housing having an opening through which objects can be inserted for sterilization, a killing chamber having an inner surface that is substantially reflective at ultraviolet wavelengths; and at least one ultraviolet radiation source inside the housing. The methods and apparatus are well suited for medical tools, dental tools, body art tools, and baby feeding related objects.

Claims

1. An ultraviolet sterilization apparatus for sterilizing objects, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a housing having an opening through which objects can be inserted for sterilization;

a killing chamber having an inner surface that is substantially reflective at ultraviolet wavelengths; and

at least one ultraviolet radiation source inside the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a photodetector mounted within the killing chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of a medical tool, a dental tool, a body art tool, and any combination thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an external display unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the killing chamber inner surface is adapted for receiving a distal end of a stethoscope.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the killing chamber inner surface is removable, and wherein the inner surface is selected from a group of differently shaped inner surface, each of said differently shaped inner surfaces being adapted to receive a different type of tool.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a piece of baby feeding equipment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

9. A method of sterilizing breast- and bottle-feeding equipment comprising exposing the equipment to ultraviolet light.

10. A method of sterilizing a tool comprising exposing the tool to ultraviolet light.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the tool is selected from a group consisting of a medical tool, a dental tool, and a body-art tool.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the tool is a stethoscope.