Sterilization methods and systems

• US 8,277,724 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• 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): Yoo, Regina M.
• Application Number:
  US11/396,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20070231189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,377 Days
• Field of Search: 422/1, 422/3, 422/22, 422/24
• US Class Current: 422/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation

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. A sterilization method comprising:

determining if one or more objects are absent from one or more areas; and

transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation in response to the determining, wherein the transmitting one or more signals to one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation in response to the determining includes;

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if one or more objects are absent from one or more areas comprises:

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if one or more objects are absent from one or more areas comprises:

determining if one or more shadows are present within the one or more areas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more areas according to one or more sterilization levels assigned to the one or more areas.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation substantially constantly.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as a pulse.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation as ultraviolet light having a wavelength between 100 and 400 nanometers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to direct sterilizing radiation emitted from the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to avoid emitting sterilizing radiation onto the one or more objects.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation in response to determining one or more distances between one or more surfaces within the one or more areas comprises:

transmitting the one or more signals to the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to instruct the one or more sources of sterilizing radiation to emit sterilizing radiation onto the one or more areas in a prioritized manner.