Methods and systems for sterilization

• US 20100090837A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• 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:
  US12/587,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090837A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0094 Gaseous substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to sterilization methods and systems that may be used within numerous contexts, such as health-care and manufacturing facilities.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A system comprising:

circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units; and

circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with application of sterilizing radiation to the one or more humans by the one or more sterilization units.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with application of one or more chemical sterilization agents to the one or more humans by the one or more sterilization units.

37. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with application of the one or more sterilization agents to one or more human hands by the one or more sterilization units.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with application of the one or more sterilization agents to one or more human hands that are covered with one or more gloves by the one or more sterilization units.

39. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with one or more parameters associated with application of the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more humans.

40. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with one or more identities of the one or more sterilization agents applied to the one or more humans.

41. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with one or more protocols associated with application of the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more humans.

42. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with conformance to one or more protocols associated with application of the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more humans.

43. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals associated with application of one or more sterilization agents to one or more humans by one or more sterilization units comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with interaction of the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators with one or more controlling units.

44. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators to indicate that the one or more sterilization agents were applied to the one or more humans.

45. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators to indicate that the one or more sterilization agents were not applied to the one or more humans.

46. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators to indicate one or more parameters associated with application of the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more humans.

47. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators to indicate conformance with one or more protocols associated with application of the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more humans.

48. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators to indicate one or more sterilization statuses resulting from application of the one or more sterilization agents to the one or more humans.

49. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators to modulate activity of one or more controlling units.

50. The system of claim 26, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more humans in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are operably coupled with the one or more humans.

27-34. -34. (canceled)

51. A system comprising:

circuitry for receiving one or more signals that are associated with application of ultraviolet light by one or more sterilization units to one or more human hands that are covered with gloves; and

circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more human hands in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the circuitry for receiving one or more signals that are associated with application of ultraviolet light by one or more sterilization units to one or more human hands that are covered with gloves comprises:

circuitry for receiving the one or more signals associated with interaction of the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators with one or more controlling units.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are associated with the one or more human hands in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals comprises:

circuitry for reconfiguring the one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators to modulate activity of one or more controlling units.

54. A system comprising:

circuitry for receiving one or more signals that are associated with application of ultraviolet light by one or more sterilization units to one or more human hands that are covered with gloves; and

circuitry for reconfiguring one or more reconfigurable sterilization indicators that are configured as one or more bracelets and operably coupled with the one or more human hands in response to the circuitry for receiving the one or more signals.