C-band disinfector

• US 7,175,806 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uvas LLC
• Original Assignee: David Deal, Jeffery L. Deal, Philip J. Ufkes
• Inventors: Ufkes, Philip J., Deal, Jeffery L., Deal, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCKANE, ELIZABETH L
• Application Number:
  US10/373,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20040009091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 422/24
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/701 for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A C-Band Disinfector disinfects objects placed within the device by subjecting the objects to closed-loop emissions of UV-C radiation. UV-C sensors measure reflected UV-C radiation and control the period of operation of the device. In an additional embodiment, UV-C radiation is transmitted by fiber-optic cable to a particular area of an object to be disinfected. After the prescribed dose is applied, the fiber-optic cable is moved to a new area of the object, and the UV-C disinfection process continues until all areas of the object have been disinfected by exposure to the prescribed dose of the UV-C radiation.

Claims

1. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, wherein said object has an interior channel therein,

progressively exposing said interior channel of said object to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source, by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel wherein a rate of progression of said fiber optic material though said interior channel of said object is responsive to a level of UV-C received by a sensor that receives and measures UV-C radiation emitted by said fiber optic material.

2. A process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 1, further comprising a velocity controlled motor that is contained within said housing, wherein said velocity controlled motor progressively transports fiber-optic material through said interior channel of said object, and wherein a rate of progression of said fiber-optic material is responsive to said velocity controlled motor, and said velocity controlled motor is responsive to a level of UV-C radiation received by said sensor that receives and measures UV-C radiation emitted by said fiber optic material.

3. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

directing UV-C radiation from said UV-C radiation sources toward said object and toward said UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said UV-C reflective interior surfaces reflect said UV-C radiation, and wherein at least one of said UV-C sensors receives UV-C radiation reflected from at least a portion of said UV-C reflective interior surfaces;

measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation received by each of said UV-C sensors, and upon each of said UV-C sensors receiving a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation, terminating an emission of UV-C radiation by said UV-C radiation sources;

wherein said object has an interior channel therein that is progressively exposed to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source, by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel by a velocity controlled motor that progressively withdraws said fiber-optic material from said interior channel of said object.

4. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

directing UV-C radiation from said UV-C radiation sources toward said object and toward said UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said UV-C reflective interior surfaces reflect said UV-C radiation, and wherein at least one of said UV-C sensors receives UV-C radiation reflected from at least a portion of said UV-C reflective interior surfaces;

measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation received by each of said UV-C sensors, and upon each of said UV-C sensors receiving a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation, terminating an emission of UV-C radiation by said UV-C radiation sources;

wherein said object has an interior channel therein that is progressively exposed to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel, and wherein a rate of progression of said fiber optic material though said interior channel is responsive to a level of UV-C radiation received by a sensor that receives and measures UV-C radiation emitted by said fiber optic material.

5. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

directing UV-C radiation from said UV-C radiation sources toward said object and toward said UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said UV-C reflective interior surfaces reflect said UV-C radiation, and wherein at least one of said UV-C sensors receives UV-C radiation reflected from at least a portion of said UV-C reflective interior surfaces;

measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation received by each of said UV-C sensors, and upon each of said UV-C sensors receiving a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation, terminating an emission of UV-C radiation by said UV-C radiation sources;

progressively exposing an interior channel of said object to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source, by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel;

detecting UV-C radiation emitted from said fiber-optic material;

measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation emitted from said fiber optic material; and

terminating an emission of UV-C radiation from said fiber-optic material after a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation is measured;

wherein a velocity controlled motor progressively withdraws said fiber-optic material from said interior channel of said object.

6. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

directing UV-C radiation from said UV-C radiation sources toward said object and toward said UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said UV-C reflective interior surfaces reflect said UV-C radiation, and wherein at least one of said UV-C sensors receives UV-C radiation reflected from at least a portion of said UV-C reflective interior surfaces;

measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation received by each of said UV-C sensors, and upon each of said UV-C sensors receiving a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation, terminating an emission of UV-C radiation by said UV-C radiation sources;

progressively exposing an interior channel of said object to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source, by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel;

detecting UV-C radiation emitted from said fiber-optic material;

measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation emitted from said fiber optic material; and

terminating an emission of UV-C radiation from said fiber-optic material after a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation is measured;

wherein a rate of progression of said fiber optic material though said interior channel of said object is responsive to a level of UV-C radiation received by a sensor that receives and measures UV-C radiation emitted by said fiber optic material.

7. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

(b) causing UV-C radiation to be emitted within said housing, wherein UV-C radiation is reflected from said reflective interior surfaces within said housing and toward said object to be disinfected;

(c) measuring, by at least some of said plurality of UV-C sensors, UV-C radiation reflected from said reflective interior surfaces within said housing;

(d) comparing measured UV-C radiation at each of said sensors with a predetermined reference level of UV-C radiation; and

(e) terminating the emission of UV-C radiation after determining that the required minimum predetermined reference level of UV-C radiation has been received by each of said sensors,

(f) progressively exposing an interior channel of said object to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source, by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel by a velocity controlled motor that progressively withdraws said fiber-optic material from said interior channel of said object.

8. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

(b) causing UV-C radiation to be emitted within said housing, wherein UV-C radiation is reflected from said reflective interior surfaces within said housing and toward said object to be disinfected;

(c) measuring, by at least some of said plurality of UV-C sensors, UV-C radiation reflected from said reflective interior surfaces within said housing;

(d) comparing measured UV-C radiation at each of said sensors with a predetermined reference level of UV-C radiation; and

(e) terminating the emission of UV-C radiation after determining that the required minimum predetermined reference level of UV-C radiation has been received by each of said sensors,

(f) progressively exposing an interior channel of said object to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel, wherein a rate of progression of said fiber optic material though said interior channel of said object is responsive to a level of UV-C radiation received by a sensor that receives and measures UV-C radiation emitted by said fiber optic material.

9. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

(b) causing UV-C radiation to be emitted within said housing, wherein UV-C radiation is reflected from said reflective interior surfaces within said housing and toward said object to be disinfected;

(c) measuring, by at least some of said plurality of UV-C sensors, UV-C radiation reflected from aid reflective interior surfaces within said housing;

(d) comparing measured UV-C radiation at each of said sensors with a predetermined reference level of IN-C radiation;

(e) terminating the emission of UV-C radiation after determining that the required minimum predetermined reference level of UV-C radiation has been received by each of said sensors;

(f) progressively exposing an interior channel of said object to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source, by progressively transporting aid fiber-optic material through said interior channel by a velocity controlled motor progressively withdraws said fiber-optic material from said interior channel of said object;

(g) detecting UV-C radiation emitted from said fiber-optic material;

measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation emitted from said fiber optic material; and

(h) terminating an emission of UV-C radiation from said fiber-optic material after a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation is measured.

10. A process of disinfecting an object, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing an object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors;

(b) causing UV-C radiation to be emitted within said housing, wherein UV-C radiation is reflected from said reflective interior surfaces within said housing and toward said object to be disinfected;

(c) measuring, by at least some of said plurality of UV-C sensors, UV-C radiation reflected from said reflective interior surfaces within said housing;

(d) comparing measured UV-C radiation at each of said sensors with a predetermined reference level of UV-C radiation;

(e) terminating the emission of UV-C radiation after determining that the required minimum predetermined reference level of UV-C radiation has been received by each of said sensors;

(f) progressively exposing said interior channel of said object to UV-C radiation emitted from a fiber-optic material that receives and transmits UV-C radiation from an additional UV-C radiation source, by progressively transporting said fiber-optic material through said interior channel;

(g) detecting UV-C radiation emitted from said fiber-optic material;

(h) measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation detected; and

(i) terminating an emission of UV-C radiation from said fiber-optic material after a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation is measured, wherein a rate of progression of said fiber optic material though said interior channel of said object is responsive to a level of UV-C radiation received by a sensor that receives and measures UV-C radiation emitted by said fiber optic material.