UV STERILIZATION OF USER INTERFACE FOMITES
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sterilizing a fomite, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing configured to envelop a fomite inside the housing, the housing composed of a material configured to prevent transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range;
a closure element providing access to inside the housing, the closure element composed of a material configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation in the visual range and prevent transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range; and
an ultraviolet light source inside the housing and configured to sterilize the fomite inside the housing by directing ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation towards the fomite.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for sterilizing a fomite are disclosed. A UV sterilization apparatus includes a housing for enveloping a fomite inside the housing. The housing is composed of a material that prevents transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range. Attached to the housing is a closure element, and the closure element is also composed of a material that prevents transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the UV range but allows transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the visual range. An ultraviolet light source is attached to an internal surface of the housing or an internal surface of the closure element, and the light source sterilizes the fomite enclosed inside the housing by transmitting ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation towards the fomite.
101 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sterilizing a fomite, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing configured to envelop a fomite inside the housing, the housing composed of a material configured to prevent transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range; a closure element providing access to inside the housing, the closure element composed of a material configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation in the visual range and prevent transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range; and an ultraviolet light source inside the housing and configured to sterilize the fomite inside the housing by directing ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation towards the fomite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of sterilizing a fomite, the method comprising:
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placing a fomite within a housing, the housing composed of a material configured to prevent transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range; closing a closure element movably attached to the housing; and activating an ultraviolet light source within the housing, the ultraviolet light source communicatively linked to the closure element, wherein the ultraviolet light source is configured to sterilize the fomite by directing ultraviolet radiation towards the fomite for a predetermined period of time when the closure element is closed and to automatically turn-off when the closure element is open. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification