ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION STERILIZATION

• US 20070187626A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shur, Michael, Bilenko, Yuriy, Gaska, Remigijus
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/504.R
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/203 Bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/02 characterised by a particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/051 with radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths

Abstract

A solution for sterilizing one or more hollow components of a device, such as a medical device, is provided. Ultraviolet radiation having one or more predominant wavelength(s) and a sufficient dose is generated and directed to an interior side of the hollow component(s). The predominant wavelength(s) is/are selected to harm one or more target organisms that may be present on the interior side. The ultraviolet radiation can be delivered by a structure that is periodically inserted and retracted into the hollow component. The structure can be configured to provide additional cleaning capability, such as suction, for removing matter that may be present in the hollow component.

Claims

1. A medical sterilization system, the system comprising:

means for generating ultraviolet radiation; and

means for directing the ultraviolet radiation onto an interior side of a hollow component of a medical device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for generating includes an ultraviolet diode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for generating includes a mercury lamp.

4. The system of claim 1, the means for directing including:

an elongated structure; and

means for placing the elongated structure within the hollow component.

5. The system of claim 4, the means for generating including a plurality of ultraviolet diodes on the elongated structure.

6. The system of claim 4, the means for directing including a wave guiding structure in the elongated structure for directing the ultraviolet radiation outward from the elongated structure.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for directing further includes means for periodically repeating the placing.

8. The system of claim 4, the elongated structure comprising a hollow elongated structure, the system further comprising means for removing matter from the interior side using the hollow elongated structure.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for sensing ultraviolet radiation reflected off of the interior side.

10. The system of claim 1, the means for generating including means for adjusting at least one property of the generated ultraviolet radiation.

11. The system of claim 10, the at least one property comprising at least one of:

a predominant wavelength or an energy density.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for directing the ultraviolet radiation onto a surface of a patient.

13. A method of sterilizing a medical device, the method comprising:

generating ultraviolet radiation using a set of ultraviolet radiation sources; and

directing the ultraviolet radiation onto an interior side of a hollow component of the medical device.

14. The method of claim 13, the directing including placing an elongated structure within the hollow elongated structure.

15. The system of claim 14, the elongated structure comprising a hollow elongated structure, the method further comprising removing matter from the hollow component using the hollow elongated structure.

16. The method of claim 14, the directing further including periodically repeating the placing.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing ultraviolet radiation reflected off of the interior side.

18. The method of claim 13, the generating including adjusting at least one property of the ultraviolet radiation.

19. The method of claim 13, the directing and generating occurring while the hollow component is being used.

20. The method of claim 13, the ultraviolet radiation having at least one predominant wavelength in at least one of:

a first wavelength region between approximately 250 nanometers and approximately 280 nanometers or a second wavelength region between approximately 280 nanometers and approximately 360 nanometers.

21. A method of sterilizing a hollow elongated structure, the method comprising:

generating ultraviolet radiation using a set of ultraviolet radiation sources; and

inserting a second elongated structure into the hollow elongated structure, the second elongated structure directing the ultraviolet radiation onto an interior side of the hollow elongated structure.

22. The method of claim 21, the set of ultraviolet radiation sources including a plurality of ultraviolet diodes located on the second elongated structure.

23. The method of claim 21, the second elongated structure including a wave guiding structure.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising periodically repeating the generating and inserting.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the second elongated structure is hollow, the method further comprising removing matter from the hollow elongated structure using the second elongated structure.