Removal of pathogenic contamination from human contact points.

Abstract

To provide an instrument that enables rapid and efficient sterilization of mediators at points of human contact. [Solution] The pathogen decontamination device includes a housing comprising an access door configurable to be in an open or closed position, an opening for positioning the housing over or around a medium, an opening means for opening the access door in response to a trigger or trigger event, and one or more ultraviolet sources disposed inside the housing and configured to decontaminate the medium. The pathogen decontamination device may include one or more sensors configured to detect a trigger event. One or more sensors may include an obstacle sensor, a motion sensor or detector, a light sensor, an acoustic sensor, and / or a thermal or infrared sensor. The access door may include one or more access panels. One or more ultraviolet sources may generate UV-C radiation having wavelengths in the range of 200 to 280 nm.

Claims

1. A device for removing pathogenic bacteria contamination, A housing including an access door configurable to be in an open and / or closed position; An opening for positioning the housing so as to surround the mediating object; An opening means for opening the access door in response to a trigger event; One or more ultraviolet sources disposed inside the housing and configured to decontaminate the medium; One or more sensors configured to detect the trigger event; and A pathogenic contamination removal device comprising one or more sensors, the aperture means, and / or a microcontroller configured to control one or more ultraviolet sources.

2. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to claim 1, wherein the opening means is a drive unit assembly or mechanism configured to open the access door in response to the trigger event.

3. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more sensors include an obstacle sensor, a motion sensor or detector, a light sensor, an acoustic sensor, and / or a thermal or infrared sensor.

4. The pathogenic bacteria contamination removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contamination removal includes inactivating 99% or more of the pathogenic bacteria population.

5. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more ultraviolet sources generate UV-C radiation having a wavelength in the range of 200 to 280 nm.

6. The pathogen contamination removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more ultraviolet sources include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs include one or more semiconductor chips and / or one or more LED arrays.

7. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one or more inner surfaces of the housing are coated with a UV reflective coating.

8. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mediating material includes a door handle, a bathroom latch, a bolt, a gas pump handle, a retail point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a shopping cart handle, an elevator control panel, a public telephone, a paper towel dispenser, a computer keyboard, a toilet handle and / or seat.

9. The pathogenic bacteria contamination removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing is airtight or semi-airtight when the door is in the closed position.

10. A pathogenic bacteria decontamination device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the one or more ultraviolet sources arranged inside the housing are configured to decontaminate all exposed surfaces of the mediator.

11. The pathogenic bacteria contamination removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing is configured to substantially prevent re-contamination of the mediating material by wind-borne pathogens after irradiation.

12. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the device is pre-assembled and configured to be fixed onto the medium without additional assembly.

13. The pathogenic bacteria contamination removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the access door includes a laminated access panel.

14. A method for decontaminating a vector, comprising using a decontamination device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for enclosing the vector and decontaminating all exposed surfaces of the vector by ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI).

15. A device for removing pathogenic bacteria contamination, A housing including an access door configurable to be in an open and / or closed position, wherein one or more inner surfaces of the housing are coated with an ultraviolet reflective coating, and the housing is airtight or semi-airtight when the door is in the closed position; An opening for positioning the housing so as to surround the mediating object; A drive assembly or mechanism configured to open the access door in response to a trigger event; One or more ultraviolet sources disposed inside the enclosure and configured to decontaminate all exposed surfaces of the mediator; One or more sensors configured to detect the trigger event; and A pathogenic contamination removal device comprising one or more sensors, the aperture means, and / or a microcontroller configured to control one or more ultraviolet sources.

16. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors include an obstacle sensor, a motion sensor or detector, a light sensor, an acoustic sensor, and / or a thermal or infrared sensor.

17. The pathogenic bacteria contamination removal device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the contamination removal includes inactivating 99% or more of the pathogenic bacteria population.

18. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the one or more ultraviolet sources generate UV-C radiation having a wavelength in the range of 200 to 280 nm.

19. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the one or more ultraviolet sources include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and the LEDs include one or more semiconductor chips and / or one or more LED arrays.

20. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the mediator includes a door handle, a bathroom latch, a bolt, a gas pump handle, a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a shopping cart handle, an elevator control panel, a public telephone, a paper towel dispenser, a computer keyboard, a toilet handle and / or seat.

21. The pathogenic bacteria decontamination device according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the housing is configured to substantially prevent recontamination of the mediator by wind-borne pathogens after irradiation.

22. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the device is pre-assembled and configured to be fixed onto the medium without additional assembly.

23. The pathogenic bacteria removal device according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the access door includes a laminated access panel.

24. A method for decontaminating a vector, comprising using a decontamination device according to any one of claims 15 to 23 for enclosing the vector and decontaminating all exposed surfaces of the vector by ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI).

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