Portable antimicrobial ultra violet sterilizer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sterilization unit consisting of a cubical enclosure which uses a sequenced supply of ozone and ultraviolet radiation in the C band (UVC) wave length to sterilize. In use, an article to be sterilized is positioned atop a glass plate mounted between two sources of UVC radiation sources and ozone is first supplied to the enclosure for a period of 15 seconds to 60 minutes followed by a supply of UVC radiation for a period of 15 seconds to 60 minutes.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM AND RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority from provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 61 / 171,346 filed Apr. 21, 2009. Said application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates generally to sterilizing systems, and more particularly, to a portable antimicrobial ultraviolet sterilizer for inactivating bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, viroids and spores.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]The use of portable sterilizing devices is known in the prior art. By way of illustration, medical facilities generally sterilize equipment by using autoclaves having a pressurized steam and superheated water process. This process is commonly used in microbiology, medicine, body piercing, veterinary science, dentistry, podiatry and metallurgy. Autoclaves are also used in curing carbon-fiber composite parts and rubber parts and for the treatment and steriliz...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]To sterilize, an object is placed on a silica or quartz glass or sapphire plate shelf in the interior of the chamber. The door is then closed. The ozone lamp is electrically powered and emits UV radiation in the interior of the chamber at 185 nm to create ozone gas in the chamber. Then, the UVC lamps are electrically powered and emit UVC radiation at 253.7 nm in the interior of the chamber. Any DNA based organisms on the objects being sterilized are destroyed and rendered harmless. It is further noted that using UVC type radiation in a self contained portable enclosure could be considered “green,” environmentally safe, and controlled with no adverse effects or residuals.

[0024]It is yet another object of this invention to provide a UV sterilizer that is economical from the viewpoint of the manufacturer and consumer, is susceptible of low manufacturing costs with regard to labor and materials, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices for the consuming public, thereby making it economically available to the buying public.

Problems solved by technology

This steam sterilization process requires many steps and resources.

Drawbacks of these autoclaves include high energy consumption, time waste due to multiple step disinfecting sequences, environmentally toxic and costly harsh germicidal chemicals, and the deteriorating effects of the steam process on stainless steel surfaces.

There are also well known safety risks attendant with high power and high pressure machinery such as autoclaves, namely, where the water inside the autoclave has managed to become superheated, the pressure gauge may not indicate the presence of steam even though the temperature may be significantly higher than the local boiling point for water.

If the autoclave is opened in this state and the superheated water is disturbed, a steam explosion becomes possible.

This phenomenon can easily produce fatal burns to people in the vicinity of the explosion.

Other inherent limitations of this prior art technology exist because damp heat is used, and thus heat labile products (such as some plastics) cannot be sterilized this way or they will melt.

The prior art sterilization systems such as steam autoclaving, even at increased temperatures, and ethylene oxide gas are not effective to prevent the transmission of prions and viroids via medical and surgical equipment.

This has well known drawbacks since hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide may be corrosive to some instruments, such as gold-plated instruments.

There is also associated damage to the autoclaves caused by the sodium hydroxide.

There is condensate formation during the cycle and hazardous substances such as sodium hydroxide condensate in the autoclave that causes corrosion.

Some sterilizer manufacturers have stated that this will void their warranty.

Additionally, autoclaving with sodium hydroxide poses hazards to operators as a result of the caustic vapors.

However, this process has not been reduced in practice to a readily accepted device and method for common usage.

While these prior art UV sterilizers are presumably adequate for their intended purposes, none of these prior art devices are configured adequately to a portable device or applications that can be used as commercial medical grade sterilization units that replace conventional autoclaves or for low cost portable home units.

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