Ultraviolet area sterilizer and method of area sterilization using ultraviolet radiation

• US 20020085947A1
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uvas LLC
• Original Assignee: Uvas LLC
• Inventors: Deal, Jeffery L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,911,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• 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 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments

Abstract

An ultraviolet area sterilizer (UVAS) is mobile or stationary. The UVAS is positioned in a room, such an operating room or intensive care unit. Motion detectors sense movement, to assure that personnel have evacuated the space to be sterilized. Subsequently, UV-C generators, such mercury bulbs, generate UV-C from multiple locations within the room or other enclosed space. Multiple UV-C sensors scan the room, and determine the area reflecting the lowest level of UV-C back to the sensors. The device calculates the time required to obtain a bactericidal dose of UV-C reflected back to the sensors. Once an effective bactericidal dose has been reflected to all the sensors, the unit notifies the operator and shuts down.

Claims

1. A method of sterilizing an area using ultraviolet radiation, comprising the steps of.

(a) causing ultraviolet-C radiation to be emitted from multiple positions within an enclosed area;

(b) measuring a reflection of ultraviolet-C radiation from the multiple positions within said enclosed area;

(c) calculating the ultraviolet-C radiation level necessary to sterilize said enclosed area and comparing it with the measured reflected ultraviolet-C radiation; and

(d) terminating the emission of ultraviolet-C radiation after determining that the required minimum ultraviolet-C radiation has been reflected from the multiple positions within said enclosed area.

2. A method of sterilizing an area using ultraviolet radiation as described in claim 1,

wherein motion within said room is detected prior to the initiation of emission of ultraviolet-C radiation.

3. A device for sterilizing an area using ultraviolet radiation, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a plurality of ultraviolet-C radiation emitters, wherein said plurality of ultraviolet-C radiation emitters are located in at least two places within an enclosed area to be treated, with each of two places remote from each other, and wherein said ultraviolet-C radiation emitters are directed towards an enclosed area to be treated; and

(c) at least one radiation receiver which receives reflected ultraviolet-C radiation, wherein said receiver measures said reflected ultraviolet-C radiation.

4. A device for sterilizing an area using ultraviolet radiation as described in claim 3, further comprising a motion detector which communicates with said plurality of ultraviolet-C radiation emitters.