Use of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation in Health Care Environments

• US 20080213128A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jia Ping, Yong Wang, Yoram Rudy
• Original Assignee: POD Suppliers, LLC
• Inventors: Wang, Yong, Rudy, Yoram, Jia, Ping
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A method of sterilizing a hospital room to at least 99.99% sterility is described which employs UV/ozone sterilization. A method of sterilizing sink-traps using UV radiation is described. A method utilizing UV/ozone sterilization and sink-trap sterilization by UV radiation for sterilization of an environment is also described.

Claims

1. A method of sterilizing a room until sterilized 99.99% or greater, comprising:

providing a room sterilizer comprising

at least one source of ultraviolet radiation, substantially in the UV C band range, and

at least one source of ozone;

providing a room that is substantially air-tight;

evacuating personnel from the room;

emitting said ultraviolet radiation and said ozone until room is sterilized 99.99% or greater.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said room sterilizer has a detector adapted to sense the presence of persons within the room and further adapted to prevent functioning of said room sterilizer when said persons are within the room.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 in which said room sterilizer has an alarm adapted to sound when personnel are in the room and the room sanitizer is on or there exists dangerous levels of ambient ozone.

4. The method of claim 1 in which a sink trap is provided, said sink-trap adapted to be sterilized by UV C band range radiation, and in which said sink trap is then continuously sterilized by UV C band range radiation.

5. A method of sterilizing a sink trap, comprising:

providing a sink-trap containing

sink-trap piping adapted with UV transparent materials;

providing a source of UV radiation substantially in the UV C band range;

emitting UV radiation from said source into said sink-trap.

6. The method of claim 5 in which UV radiation is emitted continuously.

7. A sink-trap sterilizer, comprising:

a source of ultraviolet radiation, substantially in the UV C band range;

a sink-trap pipe adapted to allow UV C band radiation to pass through the pipe material;

a power source adapted to power said source of ultraviolet radiation;

a housing enclosing said source of ultraviolet radiation.

8. The sink-trap sterilizer of claim 7 in which said housing is adapted to dissipate heat

9. The sink-trap sterilizer of claim 8 in which said housing is adapted to dissipate heat by being composed of metal

10. The sink-trap sterilizer of claim 9 in which said metal is aluminum.

11. The sink-trap sterilizer of either claim 7 or 8 in which said housing has an internal reflective surface.

12. The sink-trap sterilizer of claim 7 in which said sink-trap pipe material is made of quartz.

13. A method of sterilizing a room until sterilized 99.99% or greater, comprising:

providing a room sterilizer comprising at least one source of ultraviolet radiation, substantially in the UV C band range, and at least one source of ozone;

providing a room that is substantially airtight;

providing a sink-trap containing sink-trap piping adapted with UV transparent materials;

providing a source of UV radiation substantially in the UV C band range;

continuously emitting UV radiation from said source into said sink-trap;

evacuating personnel from the room;

emitting said ultraviolet radiation and said ozone until room is sterilized 99.99% or greater.