Event-triggered ultraviolet light sterilization of surfaces
First Claim
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1. A method of sterilizing an exterior contact region disposed on an article body, the method comprising:
- providing a UV generator in the article body;
providing a photonic crystal device for coupling UV energy generated by the UN generator to the contact region; and
in response to an event, controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy from the UV generator to a portion of the exterior contact region through a portion of the article body contiguous to the exterior contact region.
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Abstract
Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve event-controlled self-sterilization of contact regions on articles or fixtures. A self-sterilizing article structure, in response to a contact event, allows sterilizing UV energy to controllably flow from a UV generator within the article to a portion of the contact region.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method of sterilizing an exterior contact region disposed on an article body, the method comprising:
- providing a UV generator in the article body;
providing a photonic crystal device for coupling UV energy generated by the UN generator to the contact region; and
in response to an event, controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy from the UV generator to a portion of the exterior contact region through a portion of the article body contiguous to the exterior contact region. - 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)
- providing a UV generator in the article body;
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28. A method of sterilizing an article which has an article body and an exterior contact region disposed thereon, comprising:
- determining a state of the contact region; and
in response to determining a state of the contact region, controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy from the UV generator to a portion of the exterior contact region through a portion of the article contiguous to the exterior contact region, whereby at least a portion of the contact region is sterilized by action of the sterilizing UV energy, wherein controllably transconducting sterilizing UV energy comprises providing the sterilizing UV energy upon or after a predetermined number of contacts. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
- determining a state of the contact region; and
Specification