HAND SANITIZER/STERILIZER

• US 20080199354A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Germgard Lighting, LLC
• Original Assignee: Germgard Lighting, LLC
• Inventors: Gordon, Eugene I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 422/906 Plasma or ion generation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 422/907 Corona or glow discharge means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/04 with magnetic application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/05 with light application

Abstract

A germicidal system and method for deactivating pathogens on the surface of a bodily extremity protected by a prophylactic covering substantially opaque to UV-C radiation. The device includes an enclosure having one or more openings through which the extremity can be inserted. The enclosure contains a radiation source configured to produce germicidal radiation having a wavelength of about 253.7 nm. The openings are configured relative to the radiation source such that the inserted extremity is in close proximity to the radiation source. The prophylactic covered extremity is preferably a gloved hand thereby sanitizing the surface of the glove. The extremity inserted is preferably exposed for a predetermined period of time to ensure a desired level of sanitization. Optionally, the device can include an orientation detector to determine the position of the user'"'"'s hand and the spread of the user'"'"'s fingers, and a surface detector to determine whether the user'"'"'s hand is covered by a glove.

Claims

1. A method for sanitizing a bodily extremity comprising the steps of:

covering the bodily extremity with a prophylactic covering, the prophylactic covering being substantially opaque to UV-C radiation;

activating one or more UV-C radiation sources having a wavelength of about 235 nm to about 295 mm contained in an enclosure;

inserting the covered extremity into the enclosure through an opening into the enclosure so that the extremity is in close proximity to at least one of the UV-C radiation sources; and

exposing the covered extremity to UV-C radiation for a predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of setting at least one of an exposure time and a UV-C intensity, wherein the exposing step exposes the covered extremity to a predetermined radiant exposure, the radiant exposure being a function of the exposure time and the UV-C intensity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of testing an orientation of the bodily extremity and activating the radiation source in response to a result of the test.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wavelength is approximately 253.7 nm.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of testing at least one of the position and the orientation of the bodily extremity includes the steps of:

exposing the bodily extremity to an illumination source disposed in the enclosure, the illumination source configured to emit a light;

detecting a pattern of the emitted light at a detector, the detector disposed in the enclosure opposite the illumination source, wherein the inserted bodily extremity is interposed between the illumination source; and

comparing the detected pattern to at least one predetermined pattern corresponding to a known orientation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bodily extremity includes a hand and the prophylactic covering includes a glove.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the glove comprises an exterior surface that reflects UV-C radiation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the exterior reflective surface of the glove comprises aluminum.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

activating a surface detection unit after inserting the bodily extremity;

testing the inserted bodily extremity for reflective properties;

determining the reflective properties of a surface of the covered extremity; and

selectively activating the UV-C radiation source in response to an output of the determination step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of testing the inserted bodily extremity for reflective properties includes the steps of:

activating a first LED having a first primary color so as to expose the covered extremity to the first primary color;

detecting a first reflective intensity of the primary color from the exposed covered extremity;

activating a second LED having a second primary color, so as to expose the covered extremity to the first primary color, the first primary color being different from the second primary color;

detecting a second reflective intensity of the second primary color from the exposed covered extremity; and

comparing the first and second detected reflective intensity to at least one set of predetermined values.

11. A germicidal system for deactivating pathogens on a surface of a bodily extremity item inserted into a germicidal device, comprising:

a radiation source and configured to produce UV-C radiation having a wavelength of about 235 nm to 295 nm;

a prophylactic covering for covering the bodily extremity, the prophylactic covering including a material substantially opaque to UV-C radiation; and

an enclosure containing the radiation source and having at least one opening configured to receive at least a portion of the extremity into the enclosure in close proximity to the radiation source.

12. The germicidal system of claim 11, wherein the wavelength is approximately 253.7 nm.

13. The germicidal system of claim 11, wherein the extremity is inserted into the device through one or more of the at least one openings and is exposed to about 500 Watts/m² of UV-C radiation.

14. The germicidal system of claim 13, wherein the radiation source is configured to produce the UV-C radiation for at least 3 seconds when activated.

15. The germicidal system of claim 11, further comprising an orientation detector disposed within the enclosure and configured to determine an orientation of the inserted bodily extremity, wherein the radiation source is selectively activated in response to an output from the orientation detector.

16. The germicidal system of claim 15, wherein the orientation detector comprises:

at least one illumination source configured to emit light;

a detection array disposed substantially opposite the illumination source within the enclosure such that the inserted bodily extremity obstructs a portion of the emitted light, the detection array configured to detect a pattern of the emitted light received by the detection array; and

a processing unit for determining the pattern of light detected by the detection array and comparing the pattern to at least one known pattern corresponding to a known orientation.

17. The germicidal system of claim 16, wherein the detection array comprises a plurality of photodiodes.

18. The germicidal system of claim 11, further comprising a surface detector disposed within the enclosure and configured to determine a surface of the inserted bodily extremity.

19. The germicidal system of claim 18, wherein the surface detector comprises:

a first and second illumination source configured to illuminate the inserted extremity;

a detection unit configured to detect a reflective intensity of the light from the first and second illumination source from the inserted extremity; and

a processing unit configured to compare the detected reflective intensity to a set of known values, each known value corresponding to a particular surface.

20. The germicidal system of claim 19, wherein the first and second illumination source comprise a first LED having a first primary color and a second LED having a second primary color, respectively, wherein the first primary color is different than the second primary color.

21. The germicidal system of claim 11, further comprising a locking device, configured to hold the bodily extremity in place while the radiation source is activated and prevent radiation from escaping the enclosure.

22. The germicidal system of claim 11, further comprising a lid mounted to the enclosure and positioned to obstruct UV-C radiation exiting the enclosure through the at least one opening.

23. The germicidal system of claim 11, further comprising a first switch configured to control power to the radiation source, coupled to an interior of the enclosure, and positioned within the enclosure such that the first switch can be activated by the extremity after it is substantially inserted into the enclosure.

24. The germicidal system of claim 23, further comprising a second switch coupled to an interior of the enclosure and configured to control power to the radiation source in cooperation with the first switch, such that the radiation source is operated when the first switch and second switch are activated concurrently, wherein the first switch is positioned relative to the second switch such that activation of the first and second switch requires insertion of two or more extremities into the enclosure.

25. The germicidal system of claim 11, wherein the prophylactic covering includes a glove having an exterior surface that reflects UV-C radiation.

26. The germicidal system of claim 25, wherein the exterior reflective surface of the glove comprises aluminum.