Apparatus for supporting and disinfecting a handheld instrument and/or a portion of the user's hand

• US 20070207073A1
• Filed: 10/19/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ONED LLC
• Original Assignee: ONED LLC
• Inventors: Drucker, Tod H.
• Application Number:
  US11/582,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207073A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs

Abstract

A disinfecting device for a handheld instrument is provided. The disinfecting device includes a receptacle having a cavity for supporting a portion of the handheld instrument, a germicide comprising an amount effective to disinfect the handheld instrument, and a germicidal carrier such that a portion of the handheld instrument contacts the germicide when the portion of the handheld instrument is supported in the receptacle. A disinfecting device for a fingertip is also provided. The disinfecting device includes a germicide effective to disinfect the fingertip, a support base having a cavity within the support base for containing the germicide, and a germicidal carrier for retaining germicide such that at least a portion of the fingertip contacts the germicide upon touching the germicidal carrier.

Claims

1-63. -63. (canceled)

64. An apparatus for supporting and disinfecting a handheld instrument comprising:

(a) a receptacle, having a cavity, for supporting a handheld instrument;

(b) a germicide; and

(c) a germicide carrier, for carrying the germicide, disposed within the cavity such that a portion of the handheld instrument contacts the germicide carrier and the germicide when the handheld instrument is supported by the receptacle.

65. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein a cross-section of an inner portion of the receptacle has a cylindrical or ovoid shape.

66. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the receptacle stands substantially upright.

67. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the receptacle includes a diaphragm for partially covering an opening to the cavity, the diaphragm including an opening sized such that the handheld instrument may be inserted into said receptacle.

68. The apparatus according to claim 67, comprising an abrasive ring proximal to the diaphragm.

69. The apparatus according to claim 67, comprising a ring having a scent-producing material proximal to the diaphragm.

70. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the receptacle includes at least one vent hole for evaporation of liquid.

71. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the germicidal carrier has a shape such that the germicide contacts substantially all of an outer peripheral surface of the portion of the handheld instrument.

72. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the germicidal carrier comprises an absorbent material for retaining the germicide.

73. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said absorbent material comprises a sponge, mesh or porous material for wicking the germicide to the germicide carrier.

74. The apparatus according to claim 64, further comprising a base for supporting said receptacle.

75. The apparatus according to claim 64, comprising a reservoir for containing said germicide, the reservoir communicating with said receptacle to allow for the absorption of germicide into the germicidal carrier.

76. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the apparatus further comprises an ejector for expelling the handheld instrument.

77. The apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said ejector is electrically operated.

78. The apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said ejector comprises a lever for expelling the handheld instrument when the lever is operated.

79. The apparatus according to claim 78, wherein said lever comprises a cam shaped protrusion for contacting said receptacle.

80. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the germicide comprises an alcohol.

81. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the germicide comprises at least one of iodophors, peracids, hypochlorites, chlorine dioxide, quaternary ammonia compounds, u.v. light, and ozone.

82. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the germicide comprises at least one of a liquid germicide, a powder germicide, a solid germicide, a gas germicide, a gel germicide or a light source.

83. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the handheld instrument comprises a writing device, a signature device or an indicating device.

84. The apparatus according to claim 64, further comprising a second germicide carrier for contacting and carrying the germicide, and for contacting a portion of a hand for disinfecting the hand portion with the germicide.

85. The apparatus according to claim 84, comprising a perforated membrane for contacting the germicide carrier and the hand portion such that the germicide is transferred from the germicide carrier to the hand portion.

86. The apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said second germicide carrier is for wicking germicide from said reservoir.

87. The apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said second germicide carrier comprises an ejector for expelling the handheld instrument.

88. The apparatus according to claim 75, further comprising a status indicator, wherein said status indicator comprises a sensor to detect the amount of said germicide in the reservoir.

89. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein said status indicator detects the purity of said germicide.

90. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein said status indicator detects a concentration of said germicide.

91. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein said status indicator indicates an elapsed time since said germicide was added to said reservoir.

92. The apparatus according to any one of claims 86-91, wherein said status indicator depicts a status of a property of said germicide as a visual or an auditory output.

93. The apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said reservoir is refillable with additional germicide.

94. The apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said reservoir further comprises a removable package containing said germicide.

95. The apparatus according to claim 94, wherein said removable package comprises a sealed flexible container.

96. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said base is detachable from said receptacle.

97. The apparatus according to claim 93, wherein said reservoir comprises an opening for refilling said germicide.

98. The apparatus according to claim 64, further comprising a germicide delivery device for contacting and delivering the germicide to a portion of a hand for disinfecting the hand portion with the germicide.

99. The apparatus according to claim 98, comprising a membrane for contacting the germicide delivered by the germicide delivery device and the hand portion such that the germicide is transferred to the hand portion.

100. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein the germicide delivery device comprises a pump operatively connected to the membrane for transferring the germicide from the reservoir to the membrane.

108. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the receptacle comprises a credit card transaction device.

110. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the receptacle comprises a touchscreen device.

111. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the receptacle comprises a keypad device.

112. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the receptacle comprises a biometric or personal identification recognition device.

101. An apparatus comprising:

a base having a cavity and an opening at a surface of the base;

a germicide disposed in the cavity; and

a germicide carrier for carrying the germicide to the opening for contacting a portion of a hand for disinfecting the hand portion with the germicide.

102. The apparatus according to claim 101, comprising a perforated membrane at the opening for contacting the germicide carrier and the hand portion such that the germicide is transferred from the germicide carrier to the hand portion.

103. The apparatus according to claim 102, wherein the base further comprises a reservoir for containing said germicide, the reservoir communicating with said cavity to allow for the absorption of germicide into the germicide carrier.

104. The apparatus according to claim 103, comprising a pump operatively connected to the membrane for transferring the germicide from the reservoir to the germicide carrier.

105. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said reservoir is refillable with additional germicide.

106. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said reservoir further comprises a removable package containing said germicide.

107. The apparatus according to claim 106, wherein said removable package comprises a sealed flexible container.

109. The apparatus according to claim 101, wherein the base comprises a button panel assembly.

113. The apparatus according to claim 101, wherein the base comprises a credit card transaction device.

114. The apparatus according to claim 101, wherein the base comprises a touchscreen device.

115. The apparatus according to claim 101, wherein the base comprises a keypad device.

116. The apparatus according to claim 101, wherein the base comprises a biometric or personal identification recognition device.

121. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said reservoir is refillable with additional germicide.

122. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said reservoir further comprises a removable package containing said germicide.

123. The apparatus according to claim 122, wherein said removable package comprises a sealed flexible container.

124. The apparatus according to claim 121, wherein said reservoir comprises an opening for refilling said germicide.

117. An apparatus comprising:

a base having a cavity and an opening at a surface of the base;

a germicide disposed in the cavity; and

a germicide delivery device to deliver the germicide to the opening for contacting a portion of a hand and for disinfecting the hand portion with the germicide.

118. The apparatus according to claim 117, comprising a membrane overlying the opening for contacting the hand portion and disinfecting the hand portion with the germicide.

119. The apparatus according to claim 118, wherein the base further comprises a reservoir for containing said germicide, the reservoir communicating with said cavity to allow for the delivery of germicide to the membrane.

120. The apparatus according to claim 119, comprising a pump operatively connected to the membrane for transferring the germicide from the reservoir to the membrane.

125. The apparatus according to claim 119, wherein said reservoir is refillable with additional germicide.

126. The apparatus according to claim 119, wherein said reservoir further comprises a removable package containing said germicide.

127. The apparatus according to claim 126, wherein said removable package comprises a sealed flexible container.

128. The apparatus according to claim 125, wherein said reservoir comprises an opening for refilling said germicide.