Methods and systems for monitoring sterilization status

• US 20090232703A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deep Science LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rinaldo, John D. JR., Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Malamud, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US12/384,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20090232703A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation

Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring sterilization status are provided.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A system comprising:

means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces; and

means for generating one or more signals in response to the comparing means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for determining if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are within one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for determining if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are outside of one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with compliance of the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with noncompliance of the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with entry of the one or more objects into the one or more spaces.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with exit of the one or more objects from the one or more spaces.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to allow entry of the one or more objects into the one or more spaces if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are within one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to disallow entry of the one or more objects into the one or more spaces if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are outside of one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

39. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to allow exit of the one or more objects from the one or more spaces if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are within one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to disallow exit of the one or more objects from the one or more spaces if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are outside of one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with one or more alert units.

42. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to activate one or more alert units if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are outside of one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

43. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to activate one or more alert units if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are within one or more compliance ranges associated with the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

44. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with one or more recording units.

45. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with one or more sterilization units.

46. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to activate one or more sterilization units to sterilize the one or more objects if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are outside one or more ranges of the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

47. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals associated with one or more control units.

48. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to instruct one or more control units to allow entry of the one or more objects into the one or more spaces if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are within one or more ranges of the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

49. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for generating one or more signals in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces comprises:

means for generating the one or more signals configured to instruct one or more control units to disallow entry of the one or more objects into the one or more spaces if the one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects are outside of one or more ranges of the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

30. (canceled)

50. A system comprising:

means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces; and

means for generating one or more signals configured to regulate entry of the one or more objects into the one or more spaces or to regulate exit of the one or more objects from the one or more spaces in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects to the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.

51. A system comprising:

means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with one or more objects to one or more sterilization levels associated with one or more spaces; and

means for generating one or more signals configured to regulate entry of the one or more objects into the one or more spaces or to regulate exit of the one or more objects from the one or more spaces and to activate one or more alert units in response to the means for comparing one or more sterilization statuses associated with the one or more objects to the one or more sterilization levels associated with the one or more spaces.