Parametric control in pulsed light sterilization of packages and their contents
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms at a target object comprising:
- container enveloping the target object, wherein the container transmits light in a spectrum of from between 180 nm and 300 nm;
a flashlamp system for generating high-intensity, short-duration pulses of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum, and for deactivating microorganisms within the target object by illuminating the container with the pulses of light having been generated;
a photo-sensitive detector, positioned so as to receive a portion of each of the pulses of light as a measure of an amount of light illuminating the target object, for generating an output signal in response thereto; and
a control system, coupled to the flashlamp system and the photo-sensitive detector, for determining, in response to the output signal, whether the pulses of light are sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the target object.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An approach for sterilizing microorganisms at a target object employs a flashlamp system including means for generating pulses of light, and for deactivating microorganisms within the target object by illuminating the target object with the pulses of light having been generated; a photo-sensitive detector positioned so as to receive a portion of each of the pulses of light as a measure of an amount of light illuminating the target object, for generating an output signal in response thereto; and a control system, coupled to the flashlamp system and the photo-sensitive detector, for determining, in response to the output signal, whether the pulses of light are sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the target object. In accordance with this approach sterilizing microorganisms involves steps of generating a pulse of light; deactivating microorganisms at the target object by directing the pulse of light having been generated at the target object; receiving a portion of the pulse of light as a measure of an amount of the pulse of light illuminating the target object; generating an output signal in response to the receiving of the portion of the pulse of light; and determining; in response to the generating of the output signal, whether the pulse of light is sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the target object.
133 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms at a target object comprising:
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container enveloping the target object, wherein the container transmits light in a spectrum of from between 180 nm and 300 nm; a flashlamp system for generating high-intensity, short-duration pulses of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum, and for deactivating microorganisms within the target object by illuminating the container with the pulses of light having been generated; a photo-sensitive detector, positioned so as to receive a portion of each of the pulses of light as a measure of an amount of light illuminating the target object, for generating an output signal in response thereto; and a control system, coupled to the flashlamp system and the photo-sensitive detector, for determining, in response to the output signal, whether the pulses of light are sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the target object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for sterilizing microorganisms in a target object comprising:
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generating a high-intensity, short-duration pulse of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum; deactivating microorganisms at the target object by directing the pulse of light having been generated at a container enveloping the target object, the container transmitting light in a spectrum of from between 180 nm and 300 nm; receiving a portion of the pulse of light as a measure of an amount of the pulse of light illuminating the target object; generating an output signal in response to the receiving of the portion of the pulse of light; and determining, in response to the generating of the output signal, whether the pulse of light is sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the target object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms within a container comprising:
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the container enveloping a product, wherein the container transmits light in a spectrum of from between 180 nm and 300 nm; a flashlamp system for generating high-intensity, short-duration pulses of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum, for directing the pulses of polychromatic light at the container and for deactivating microorganisms within the container by illuminating the container with the pulses of light having been generated; a photo-sensitive detector, positioned so as to receive a portion of each of the pulses of light as a measure of an amount of light illuminating the product, and for generating an output signal in response thereto; and a control system, coupled to the flashlamp system and the photo-sensitive detector, for determining, in response to the output signal, whether the pulses of light are sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the container. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for sterilizing microorganisms within a container comprising:
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generating a high-intensity, short-duration pulse of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum; deactivating microorganisms within the container by directing the pulse of light having been generated at the container enveloping a product, the container transmitting light in a spectrum of from between 180 nm and 300 nm; receiving a portion of the pulse of light as a measure of an amount of the pulse of light illuminating the product; generating an output signal in response to the receiving of the portion of the pulse of light; and determining, in response to the generating of the output signal, whether the pulse of light is sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the container. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification