Sterilization methods and systems

• US 20070231189A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Malamud, Mark, Lord, Robert, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John, Wood, Lowell
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Methods and systems for sterilizing one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are described. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be used to sterilize one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas through use of sterilizing radiation. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be utilized so that objects, such as humans, that are within one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are not substantially irradiated with sterilizing radiation.

Claims

1. A sterilization method comprising:

determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas; and

transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

detecting one or more signals associated with one or more humans.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

determining if one or more shadows are present within the one or more areas.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation substantially constantly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as a pulse.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to direct sterilizing radiation emitted from the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to avoid emitting sterilizing radiation onto the one or more objects.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more objects.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more areas.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to the determining comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more areas in a prioritized manner.

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80. A sterilization system comprising:

means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas; and

means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas.

81. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for detecting one or more signals associated with one or more humans.

82. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation substantially constantly.

83. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as a pulse.

84. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light.

85. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometers.

86. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 180 and 300 nanometers.

87. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 250 and 280 nanometers.

88. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as gamma radiation.

89. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to direct sterilizing radiation emitted from the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

90. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to shape sterilizing radiation emitted from the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

91. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to avoid emitting sterilizing radiation onto the one or more objects.

92. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more objects.

93. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas.

94. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas.

95. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to one or more recording devices.

96. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto one or more spatially defined portions of the one or more areas.

97. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more areas.

98. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more areas in a prioritized manner.

100. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for determining if one or more shadows are present within the one or more areas.

101. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises means for determining one or more shapes that correspond to the one or more objects present or absent within the one or more areas.

102. The system according to claim 80, wherein the means for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the means for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas comprises:

means for transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation in response to one or more shapes that correspond to the one or more objects present or absent within the one or more areas.

99. A sterilization system comprising:

circuitry for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas; and

circuitry for transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation responsive to the circuitry for determining if one or more objects are present or absent within one or more areas.