Event-triggered self-sterilization of article surfaces
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-sterilizing article, comprising:
- an article body;
a contact surface disposed thereon; and
a chemical dispenser arranged to controllably provide a sterilizing chemical to the contact surface from within the article body across an interface between the article body and the contact surface disposed thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve event-controlled self-sterilization of contact surfaces on articles or fixtures. A self-sterilizing contact surface structure allows chemical sterilizing agents to controllably flow in response to a contact event, from within the article to exude upon a portion of the contact surface.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A self-sterilizing article, comprising:
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an article body; a contact surface disposed thereon; and a chemical dispenser arranged to controllably provide a sterilizing chemical to the contact surface from within the article body across an interface between the article body and the contact surface disposed thereon. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A contact surface structure disposed on an article, the contact surface structure comprising:
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an exterior contact surface; and
,an interior chemical flow-conductive region contiguous to the exterior contact surface, wherein the flow-conductive region is configured to controllably transconduct a sterilizing chemical agent to a portion of the exterior contact surface. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of sterilizing an exterior contact surface structure disposed on an article, the method comprising:
in response to an event, controllably transconducting a chemical agent from within the article to a portion of the exterior contact surface through an interior region contiguous to the exterior contact surface. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54)
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55-100. -100. (canceled)
Specification