Methods and systems for monitoring sterilization status

• US 8,178,042 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/584,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20070237674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 422/3, 422/62
• US Class Current: 422/62
• 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 2/10 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 monitoring sterilization status are provided.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more human sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more human sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more detected object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more detected object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses that is determined based at least in part on one or more factors complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses that is determined based at least in part on one or more factors complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more qualitative object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more qualitative object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses is below at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses is below the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses is equal to or above at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses is equal to or above the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses is within range of at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses is within range of the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one building space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one building space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization range that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization range that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one qualitative space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one qualitative space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with usage evaluation of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with usage evaluation of one or more spaces.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with timing evaluation of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with timing evaluation of one or more spaces.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more detected values and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more detected values.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling opening of at least one door if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling one or more switches if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining one or more object sterilization statuses, (ii) determining whether the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces; and

(iii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining at least one space sterilization level based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces;

(ii) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level; and

(iii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces comprises:

one or more processing components configured for (i) determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces and (ii) (a) outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces or (b) outputting one or more other signals if the one or more object sterilization statuses does not comply with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

20. A method at least partially implemented using one or more processing components comprising:

determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces; and

outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.

21. One or more non-transitory media bearing one or more instructions for facilitating operations comprising:

determining whether one or more object sterilization statuses complies with at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces; and

outputting one or more signals for enabling entrance and/or exit if the one or more object sterilization statuses complies with the at least one space sterilization level that is determined based at least in part on recorded data associated with one or more criteria evaluations of one or more spaces.