Chemical system with self-timing indicator

• US 20090068116A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Infection Prevention Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Infection Prevention Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Arndt, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US12/283,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20090068116A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/10.300
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/58 using luminescence generated by light

Abstract

A luminescent composition, with a luminescent marker and a ionizing agent exhibiting luminescence for an indicatory period once intermixed, and with luminance intensity remaining at a threshold intensity during indicatory period. Luminescence also can be exhibited responsive to responsive to excitatory light applied to the composition. The luminescent marker includes a coumarinic compound and the ionizing agent includes an ammonium base. Antimicrobial agents are included. A luminescence measuring apparatus includes a photoemitter and a photodetector responsive to an emissive light induced by photoemitter. An optical filter can be used with the photodetector. A two-phase composition dispensing apparatus includes a first phase reservoir, a second phase reservoir, a mixing nozzle, and a dispensing mechanism.

Claims

1. A luminescent composition, comprising:

a selected luminescent marker comprising a first phase of the luminescent composition;

and

a selected ionizing agent comprising a second phase of the luminescent composition, wherein the selected luminescent marker exhibits luminescence for a predetermined indicatory period responsive to intermixing of the first phase of the luminescent composition with the second phase of the luminescent composition, and wherein a luminance intensity remains at least at a threshold intensity during predetermined indicatory period.

2. The luminescent composition of claim 1, wherein the selected luminescent marker in an intermixture of the first phase of the luminescent composition with the second phase of the luminescent composition exhibits luminescence for a predetermined indicatory period responsive to an excitatory light applied to the luminescent composition.

3. The luminescent composition of claim 1, further comprising:

a selected antimicrobial agent combined with the first phase of the luminescent composition, wherein intermixing of the first phase of the luminescent composition with the second phase of the luminescent composition comprises at least a portion of a hand hygiene protocol.

4. The luminescent composition of claim 2, further comprising:

a selected antimicrobial agent combined with the first phase of the luminescent composition, wherein an intermixture of the first phase of the luminescent composition with the second phase of the luminescent composition is applied to at least a portion of a human hand, and wherein application of the luminescent composition comprises at least a portion of a hand hygiene protocol.

5. The luminescent composition of claim 1, wherein the selected luminescent marker includes a coumarinic compound and the selected ionizing agent includes a base having an ammonium compound therein.

6. The luminescent composition of claim 2, wherein the selected luminescent marker includes a coumarinic compound, the selected ionizing agent includes a base having an ammonium compound therein, and the excitatory light has a wavelength of between about 200 nm to about 400 nm.

7. The luminescent composition of claim 4, wherein the selected luminescent marker includes a coumarinic compound, the selected ionizing agent includes a base having an ammonium compound therein, the excitatory light has a wavelength of between about 200 nm to about 400 nm and the selected antimicrobial agent is ethanol, propanol, n-propanol, or an antimicrobially efficacious combination thereof, and wherein the selected antimicrobial agent has an alcohol concentration by weight of between about 60% and about 90%.

8. The luminescent compound of claim 2, wherein the excitatory light has a wavelength of between about 700 nm to about 1 mm.

9. The luminescent compound of claim 2, wherein the excitatory light has a wavelength of between about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

10. An apparatus for measuring luminescence, comprising:

a photoemitter producing an excitatory light having a first wavelength range;

a photodetector responsive to an emissive light induced by the excitatory light, wherein the emissive light corresponds to a luminescence having a second wavelength range and at least a predetermined threshold intensity; and

a processor configured to cause the a photoemitter to produce the excitatory light, configured to cause the photodetector to respond to the emissive light, and configured to cause a perceptible indication of a presence of the emissive light at an intensity of at least the predetermined threshold intensity.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an optical filter coupled to the photodetector and selected to pass at least a portion of the luminescence having the second wavelength range to the photodetector.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a housing in which the photodetector and photoemitter are mounted;

a first shielding tunnel formed in the housing and configured to receive the photoemitter; and

a second shielding tunnel formed in the housing and configured to receive the photodetector and the optical filter,

wherein the first shielding tunnel is positioned relative to the second shielding tunnel in a set apart, canted relationship to the other, and wherein at least a portion of ambient light interference is reduced thereby.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the first wavelength range coincides with the second wavelength range.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a ranging device coupled to the housing and positioned to detect a distance of a target surface relative to the housing, wherein the ranging device provides a perceptible indication of the distance of the target surface relative to the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the photodetector comprises a photovoltaic cell.

16. An apparatus for dispensing a two-phase composition, comprising:

a first phase reservoir configured to receive a first phase of the two-phase composition;

a second phase reservoir configured to receive a second phase of the two-phase composition;

a mixing nozzle in communication with each of the first phase reservoir and the second phase reservoir, wherein the mixing nozzle is formed to at least partially intermix a first aliquot of the first phase with a second aliquot of the second phase, and wherein the two-phase composition comprises a luminescent composition.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a dispensing mechanism coupled to the mixing nozzle and configured to measuringly dispense an aliquot of the luminescent composition.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising

a presence detector configured to receive a dispense request and to cause the dispensing mechanism to measuringly dispense the aliquot of the luminescent composition responsive to the dispense request.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

an electrically-driven pump coupled to the presence detector and the dispensing mechanism, and configured to measuringly dispense the aliquot of the luminescent composition responsive to the dispense request.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a dispensing mechanism coupled to the mixing nozzle and configured to measuringly dispense an aliquot of the luminescent composition;

a presence detector coupled to the dispensing mechanism and configured to receive a dispense request; and

an electrically-driven pump coupled to the presence detector and to the dispensing mechanism, and configured to measuringly dispense the aliquot of the luminescent composition responsive to the dispense request,

wherein the mixing nozzle is formed with a mixing volute therein, and wherein the mixing volute causes the first aliquot to at least partly intermix with the second aliquot to produce the aliquot of the luminescent composition.