Methods and systems for sterilization

• US 20070231188A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Malamud, Mark, Lord, Robert, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John, Wood, Lowell
• Application Number:
  US11/440,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20070231188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0094 Gaseous substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• 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 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to sterilization methods and systems that may be used within numerous contexts, such as health-care and manufacturing facilities.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects; and

transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

sensing the one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

applying one or more sterilization agents that are selected from the group consisting of light, one or more chemicals and radiation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

applying the one or more sterilization agents to one or more hands that are covered with one or more gloves.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

applying the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more hands that are covered with one or more indicator gloves.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

applying the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more objects according to one or more protocols.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals associated with one or more parameters associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to the one or more objects.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals that are associated with one or more controlling units.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals that are associated with one or more recording units.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

applying the one or more sterilization agents to one or more uncovered hands.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting one or more instructions to reconfigure the one or more sterilization indicators.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting one or more instructions to reconfigure the one or more sterilization indicators to indicate sterile status.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting one or more instructions to reconfigure the one or more sterilization indicators to indicate non-sterile status.

11. A method comprising:

receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization units; and

reconfiguring one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects in accordance with the one or more signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization units comprises:

receiving one or more signals associated with one or more parameters associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to the one or more objects.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the reconfiguring one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects in accordance with the one or more signals comprises:

reconfiguring the one or more sterilization indicators to indicate one or more parameters associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to the one or more objects.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the reconfiguring one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects in accordance with the one or more signals comprises:

transmitting one or more signals to one or more controlling units.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the reconfiguring one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects in accordance with the one or more signals comprises:

transmitting one or more signals to one or more recording units.

16-30. -30. (canceled)

31-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A method comprising:

positioning one or more objects in operable proximity to one or more sterilization units; and

transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the positioning one or more objects in operable proximity to one or more sterilization units comprises:

positioning one or more hands in operable proximity to the one or more sterilization units.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the positioning one or more objects in operable proximity to one or more sterilization units comprises:

positioning one or more hands that are associated with the one or more sterilization indicators in operable proximity to the one or more sterilization units.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals associated with the one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more hands.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals associated with the one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more hands indicating that the one or more hands are sterile.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals associated with the one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more hands indicating that the one or more hands are non-sterile.

36. A method comprising:

receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators; and

applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects associated with the one or more sterilization indicators.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein the receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators comprises:

receiving the one or more signals associated with the one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more hands.

47. The method of claim 36, wherein the receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators comprises:

receiving the one or more signals associated with the one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more hands indicating that the one or more hands are sterile.

48. The method of claim 36, wherein the receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators comprises:

receiving the one or more signals associated with the one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more hands indicating that the one or more hands are non-sterile.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein the applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects associated with the one or more sterilization indicators comprises:

applying the one or more sterilization agents to one or more hands associated with the one or more sterilization indicators.