Methods and systems for sterilization

• US 20070231194A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• 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: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D., Wood, Lowell L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,646,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/3
• 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 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/084 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta 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 mall be used within numerous contexts, such as health-care and manufacturing facilities.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A system comprising:

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

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

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

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

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

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

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

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

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

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

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

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

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

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

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

circuitry for 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.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

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

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

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

35. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for applying one or more sterilization agents to one or more objects comprises:

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

36. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

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

37. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

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

38. The system of claim 16, wherein the circuitry for transmitting one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more objects comprises:

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

26. A system comprising:

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

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

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for 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.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects in accordance with the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for 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.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects in accordance with the one or more signals comprises:

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

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects in accordance with the one or more signals comprises:

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

31. A system comprising:

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

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

32. A system comprising:

means for receiving one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization indicators that are associated with one or more objects; and

means for reconfiguring the one or more sterilization indicators in accordance with the one or more signals.

33-34. -34. (canceled)