METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISINFECTION OR STERILIZATION OF MEDICAL APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES

• US 20150118107A1
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nosocom Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nosocom Solutions Inc.
• Inventors: Sunkara, Naresh, Garcia, Ricardo R., Naikal, Nikhil Santosh, Sunkara, Jaya
• Granted Patent: US 9,162,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical or laboratory apparel or accessories, comprising: a cabinet, a disinfecting system housed within the cabinet, wherein the disinfecting system comprises at least one disinfecting agent, and an embedded computer or a programmable logic controller (PLC) housed within the cabinet, wherein the embedded computer or the PLC controls one or more systems of the apparatus. The cabinet has advanced tracking features (e.g., RFID readers) that can track the apparel or accessories being disinfected. The embedded computer or PLC has the capabilities to send electronic messages to users or additional computers for further transmission of information at regular intervals. Methods for disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical or laboratory apparel or accessories are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for disinfecting medical or laboratory apparel or accessories, the apparatus comprising:

a cabinet configured to house one or more items of medical or laboratory apparel or accessories;

a disinfecting system housed within the cabinet, wherein the disinfecting system comprises at least one disinfecting agent; and

an embedded computer or a programmable logic controller housed within the cabinet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the embedded computer or programmable logic controller controls the disinfecting system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the embedded computer or programmable logic controller further controls one or more systems of the apparatus selected from the group consisting of:

a scanning system, a horizontal linear sub-system, a vertical linear sub-system, a garment identification system, a hanging system, a hanger state measurement system, a human machine interface, a lighting system, a locking system, a calibration system, and a ranging system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a source of ultraviolet radiation, a source of infrared light, a chemical, and any combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the source of ultraviolet radiation is selected from the group consisting of:

an ultraviolet mercury vapor lamp, an ultraviolet light-emitting diode, a pulsed ultraviolet lamp, an ultraviolet deuterium lamp, an ultraviolet metal halide lamp, and other UV light emitting sources.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting agent is exposed to the one or more items for a time period of about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting system is mounted in the cabinet in a stationary position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a scanning system housed within the cabinet, the scanning system comprising a slide and a carriage mounted on the slide.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the disinfecting system is mounted on the carriage.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the disinfecting system moves horizontally, vertically, or horizontally and vertically along the slide.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the disinfecting system moves circularly along the slide.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hanger system housed within the cabinet, the hanger system comprising one or more hangers configured in either fixed positions or dynamic positions.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a garment identification system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the garment identification system comprises a radio-frequency identification reader mounted within the cabinet and a radio-frequency identification tag associated with each of the one or more items.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is attached to at least one of the one or more items.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the garment identification system comprises a barcode reader mounted within the cabinet and a barcode tag associated with each of the one or more items.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the barcode tag is attached to at least one of the one or more items.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the garment identification system captures disinfection status information on each of the one or more items and processes the information for usage analysis or for providing a status update to a user.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display screen mounted to the exterior of the cabinet.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the display screen comprises a human machine interface that, when operated by a user of the apparatus, enables the user to perform one or more actions on the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the one or more actions is selected from the group consisting of:

unlock the apparatus, determine a status of a disinfection cycle, determine a status of at least one of the one or more items, determine a location within the apparatus of at least one of the one or more items, control one or more systems of the apparatus, and any combination thereof.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more interior surfaces of the cabinet is coated with a reflective material.

23. A method for disinfecting one or more items of medical or laboratory apparel or accessories, the method comprising:

placing the one or more items in an apparatus comprising (i) a cabinet;

(ii) a disinfecting system housed within the cabinet, wherein the disinfecting system comprises at least one disinfecting agent; and

(iii) an embedded computer or a programmable logic controller housed within the cabinet; and

exposing the one or more items to the disinfecting agent under conditions suitable for inactivating or killing pathogens, thereby disinfecting or sterilizing the one or more items.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the disinfecting agent is selected from the group consisting of:

a source of ultraviolet radiation, a source of infrared light, a chemical, and any combination thereof

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising exposing the one or more items to one or more disinfection cycles.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising exposing the one or more items to the disinfecting agent for a time period of about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the embedded computer or programmable logic controller controls the disinfection system.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the embedded computer or programmable logic controller further controls one or more systems selected from the group consisting of:

a scanning system, a horizontal linear sub-system, a vertical linear sub-system, a garment identification system, a hanging system, a hanger state measurement system, an access device, a human machine interface, a lighting system, a locking system, a calibration system, and a ranging system.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising sending an electronic message to a user of the apparatus, the message selected from a group consisting of:

a reminder to disinfect one or more of the one or more items, a status of the one or more items, a status of a disinfection cycle, and any combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein sending an electronic message to a user of the apparatus further comprises sending the electronic message at pre-determined intervals of time.