Event-triggered self-sterilization of article surfaces

• US 8,343,434 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHORBAJI, MONZER R
• Application Number:
  US13/134,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20110256028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 422/1, 422/28, 422/40, 422/292, 422300-301, 134/6, 134/25.1, 134/42, 15/971, 15/1, 15/35, 15/77
• US Class Current: 422/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/23 Solid substances, e.g. granules, powders, blocks, tablets
• 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 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0069 Sanitary doorknobs or handles, e.g. comprising a disinfectant

Abstract

Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve event-controlled self-sterilization of contact surfaces on articles or fixtures. A self-sterilizing contact surface structure allows chemical sterilizing agents to controllably flow in response to a contact event, from within the article to exude upon a portion of the contact surface.

Claims

1. A self-sterilizing article, comprising:

an article body;

a lateral contact surface disposed thereon, the lateral contact surface having an interior chemical flow-conductive region;

a chemical dispenser arranged to controllably pass a sterilizing chemical to the contact surface from within the article body generally perpendicularly through an interface extending laterally between the article body and the contact surface disposed thereon; and

a resettable counter configured to count a number of contacts and to activate the flow-conductive region to controllably transconduct the sterilizing chemical agent across the interface when the number of contacts exceeds a predetermined number.

2. The article of claim 1 configured as any one of a handle, a knob, a seat, a key board, a switch, a button, a computer mouse or control device, a desktop, a kitchen or bathroom surface, a working surface, a bus seat, a gymnasium equipment, a restaurant booth, a toy, a headphone, a telephone, an automatic teller machine, a vending machine, and a shopping cart.

3. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a contact sensor configured to determine if a contact has been made to the contact surface and to accordingly activate the chemical dispenser to provide the chemical across the interface.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein in the contact sensor is any one of a capacitive, a resistive, a mechanical, a piezoelectric, a thermal, an ultrasonic, or an optical sensor.

5. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a proximity sensor configured to determine if a contact to the contact surface is imminent and to accordingly activate the chemical dispenser to provide the chemical across the interface.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein in the proximity sensor is any one of a capacitive, a resistive, a mechanical, a piezoelectric, a thermal, an ultrasonic, or an optical sensor.

7. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a chemical sensor configured to determine a presence of biological materials on the contact surface and to accordingly activate the chemical dispenser to provide the chemical across the interface.

8. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a programmable mechanism configured to control provision of the chemical across the interface according to a program routine.

9. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a user-activated switch configured to control provision of the chemical across the interface according to a user command.

10. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a controller configured to control provision of the chemical across the interface according to a predetermined schedule.

11. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a timer configured to time the provision of the chemical across the interface.

12. The article of claim 1, which is further configured to provide the chemical across the interface a predetermined time interval after a previous provision.

13. The article of claim 1, which is further configured to provide the chemical across the interface a predetermined time interval after a contact has been made.

14. The article of claim 1, which is further configured to begin providing the chemical before a contact is made.

15. The article of claim 1, wherein the chemical dispenser is configured to begin providing the chemical across the interface during a contact.

16. The article of claim 1, wherein the chemical dispenser is configured to provide the chemical across the interface continuously for a predetermined time interval.

17. The article of claim 1, further comprising, an internal chemical supply reservoir, wherein the internal chemical supply reservoir is enclosed in the article body.

18. The article of claim 1, further comprising, an internal chemical generator.

19. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a chemical recovery system arranged to collect residual chemicals from the contact surface, wherein the chemical recovery system is distinct from the chemical dispenser.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein the chemical recovery system comprises a used-chemical reservoir.

21. The article of claim 1, further configured to dispense a chemical which vaporizes at the contact surface.

22. The article of claim 1, further configured to dispense a chemical which is an amine- or hypochlorite-based chemical.

23. The article of claim 1, further configured to dispense a chemical which is an oxidizer.

24. The article of claim 1, further configured to dispense a chemical which is an alcohol.

25. The article of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises pores or channels suitable for flow of the chemical across the interface.

26. The article of claim 25, wherein the contact surface comprises ports or openings for egress of the chemical on to the contact surface.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein the contact surface comprises an impenetrable portion that is devoid of ports or openings for egress of the chemical on to the contact surface but is provided with the sterilizing chemical by surface flow from an penetrable portion.

28. The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flow of the chemical across the interface with a pressure gradient.

29. The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flow of the chemical across the interface with a temperature gradient.

30. The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flow of the chemical across the interface with surface tension.

31. The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a gravity-flow across the interface of the chemical from the chemical dispenser within the article body to the contact surface.

32. The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flow of the chemical from the chemical dispenser across the interface to the contact surface with a contact-induced pressure.

33. The article of claim 1, further configured to drive a flow of the chemical across the interface with a contact-induced temperature.

34. The article of claim 1, further comprising a pumping device configured to drive a flow of the chemical across the interface.

35. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a contact-actuated power-generating mechanism configured to provide energy for controllably moving the chemical from within the article body across the interface.

36. The article of claim 35, wherein the contact-actuated power-generating mechanism is a movable mechanism.

37. The article of claim 35, wherein the contact-actuated power-generating mechanism is a pressure activated mechanism.

38. The article of claim 35, further comprising, an energy storage device configured to store power generated by the power-generating mechanism.

39. The article of claim 1, further comprising, an energy source and/or an energy receiving device.

40. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a status indicator configured to indicate a sterilization state of the contact surface.

41. The article of claim 40, wherein the status indicator is further configured to provide at least one of a tactile, an audio, an RF, and/or a visual display of the sterilization state of the contact surface.

42. The article of claim 1, further comprising, a refill indicator configured to indicate a state of the chemical dispenser.

43. The article of claim 42, wherein the refill indicator is further configured to provide at least one of a tactile, an audio, an RF, and/or a visual display of the state of the chemical dispenser.

44. A contact surface structure disposed on an article, the contact surface structure comprising:

an exterior contact surface having a lateral extent;

an interior chemical flow-conductive region underneath the exterior contact surface and contiguous to the exterior contact surface over at least a portion of its lateral extent, the flow-conductive region configured to controllably transconduct a sterilizing chemical agent to a portion of the exterior contact surface; and

a resettable counter configured to count a number of contacts and to activate the flow-conductive region to controllably transconduct the sterilizing chemical agent to the portion of the exterior contact surface when the number of contacts exceeds a predetermined number.

45. The contact surface structure of claim 44, wherein the flow-conductive region is configured to exude the sterilizing chemical agent through a portion of the exterior contact surface.

46. The contact surface structure of claim 44, further comprising at least one of a contact sensor, a proximity sensor, or a timing sensor.

47. The contact surface structure of claim 46, wherein the flow-conductive region is configured to transconduct the sterilizing chemical agent to a portion of the exterior contact surface in response to a state of at least one of the sensors.

48. The contact surface structure of claim 44, further comprising, a power source which is configured to be activated by action of the exterior contact surface and to provide energy for transconducting the sterilizing chemical agent.

49. The contact surface structure of claim 44, further comprising, a status indicator which is configured to indicate a sterilization state of the exterior contact surface.