Sterilization methods and systems

• US 20070231193A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deep Science LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Malamud, Mark, Lord, Robert, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John, Wood, Lowell
• Application Number:
  US11/442,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20070231193A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0094 Gaseous substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/084 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• 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 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Methods and systems for sterilizing one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are described. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be used to sterilize one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas through use of sterilizing radiation. In some embodiments, the methods and systems can be utilized so that objects, such as humans, that are within one or more areas or one or more portions of one or more areas are not substantially irradiated with sterilizing radiation.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A sterilization method comprising:

receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors; and

emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation substantially constantly.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as a pulse.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometers.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving instructions associated with directing sterilizing radiation emitted from one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving one or more signals associated with one or more humans.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving one or more signals associated with one or more humans and instructions to avoid emitting sterilizing radiation onto the one or more humans.

56. The method of claim 43, wherein receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving instructions to avoid emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas.

63. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

emitting sterilizing radiation substantially constantly.

64. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

emitting sterilizing radiation as a pulse.

65. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light.

66. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometers.

70. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

directing sterilizing radiation emitted from one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

72. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

avoiding emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more humans.

73. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

avoiding emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas.

74. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas.

76. The method of claim 43, wherein emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more areas.

48-50. -50. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

57-62. -62. (canceled)

67-69. -69. (canceled)

71. (canceled)

75. (canceled)

77-99. -99. (canceled)

100. A sterilization system comprising:

means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors; and

means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation substantially constantly.

102. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as a pulse.

103. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light.

104. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometers.

105. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 180 and 300 nanometers.

106. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 250 and 280 nanometers.

107. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation as gamma radiation.

108. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with directing sterilizing radiation emitted from one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

109. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with shaping sterilizing radiation emitted from one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

110. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

receiving one or more signals associated with one or more humans.

111. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving one or more signals associated with one or more humans and instructions to avoid emitting sterilizing radiation onto the one or more humans.

112. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving one or more signals that indicate one or more distances between surfaces within one or more areas.

113. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions to avoid emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas.

114. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas.

115. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more spatially defined portions of one or more areas.

116. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more areas.

117. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more surfaces.

118. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more areas in a prioritized manner.

119. The system of claim 100, wherein means for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors comprises:

means for receiving instructions associated with emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas in a prioritized manner.

120. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation substantially constantly.

121. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation as a pulse.

122. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light.

123. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometers.

124. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 180 and 300 nanometers.

125. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 250 and 280 nanometers.

126. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation as gamma radiation.

127. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for directing sterilizing radiation emitted from one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

128. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for shaping sterilizing radiation emitted from one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

129. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for avoiding emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more humans.

130. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for avoiding emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas.

131. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas.

132. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more spatially defined portions of one or more areas.

133. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more areas.

134. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more surfaces.

135. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more areas in a prioritized manner.

136. The system of claim 100, wherein means for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving comprises:

means for emitting sterilizing radiation onto one or more surfaces within one or more areas in a prioritized manner.

137. A sterilization system comprising:

circuitry for receiving one or more signals from one or more detectors; and

circuitry for emitting sterilizing radiation in response to the receiving.