CHEMICAL SYSTEM WITH SELF-TIMING INDICATOR

• US 20120214879A1
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• 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:
  US13/462,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/724
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/58 using luminescence generated by light

Abstract

A pH-modified luminescent composition and methods. In composition, a marker exhibiting luminescence change over a indicatory period. pH-based luminesce change may be in intensity or in wavelength. One embodiment provides a luminescent composition, including a selected luminescent marker having a first phase; and a selected ionizing agent comprising a second phase. The selected luminescent marker exhibits luminescence for an indicatory period responsive to intermixing of the first phase with the second phase. A selected antimicrobial agent combined with the first phase of the luminescent composition, wherein intermixing of the first phase with the second phase is at least a portion of a hand hygiene protocol. A method embodiment of using the luminescent composition, can include providing a luminescent marker; providing a ionizing agent; intermixing the luminescent marker with the ionizing agent; causing a change in pH in the selected luminescent marker; and exhibiting luminescence for a predetermined indicatory period.

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, due to a change in pH for a predetermined indicatory period, a luminance intensity remains at least at a threshold intensity.

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. 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, due to a change in pH for a predetermined indicatory period, a chromic shift remains at least at a threshold intensity.

11. A method of using a luminescent composition, comprising:

providing a selected luminescent marker;

providing a selected ionizing agent;

intermixing the selected luminescent marker with the selected ionizing agent;

causing a change in pH in the selected luminescent marker, responsive to the intermixing;

exhibiting luminescence for a predetermined indicatory period, responsive to the change in pH.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein exhibiting luminescence is by an excitatory light having a wavelength of between about 200 nm to about 400 nm, or between 400 nm to about 700 nm, or between about 700 nm to about 1 mm.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein exhibiting luminescence further comprises exhibiting a change in luminescence intensity for a predetermined indicatory period.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein exhibiting luminescence further comprises exhibiting a change in luminescence wavelength for a predetermined indicatory period.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the selected ionizing agent further comprises providing a selected acidic ionizing agent and providing the selected luminescent marker further comprises providing a cationic fluorophor marker.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the selected luminescent marker further comprises providing an amine-reactive fluorophor and providing the selected ionizing agent further comprises providing a zwitterionic amino acid found on the human skin, wherein an acid pH binds the fluorophor to a cationic site and a basic pH binds an anionic site to the fluorophor.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

quenching the luminescence within a preselected time.