Ultraviolet discharge lamp device

Abstract

To provide ultraviolet discharge lamp apparatuses having features of improving the efficiency of the ultraviolet light generated, increasing the versatility of the apparatuses, and reducing and / or eliminating time-consuming and cumbersome provisions that are required by conventional systems.SOLUTION: Apparatuses are provided which include: a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light; a power circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp; and a reflector system configured to redirect ultraviolet light emitted by the discharge lamp. Further provided is a system including processor-executable program instructions for: receiving data concerning characteristics of a room in which one or more disinfectant sources are located; and determining one or more independent operational parameters of the one or more disinfectant sources based on the received data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a system for controlling the operation of an ultraviolet discharge lamp assembly and a sterilization device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ultraviolet discharge lamp device having one or more reflectors, Methods for operating such apparatus, and operating parameters and disinfection schedules for sterilization devices The present invention relates to a system for determining [Background technology]

[0002] The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section. .

[0003] Generally, a disinfection system involves exposing one or more surfaces and / or objects to a disinfectant. Inactivate or kill residual microorganisms on one or more surfaces and / or objects. The application of the sterilization system is to sterilize, disinfect objects, and rooms / areas. Examples of sterilization systems include, but are not limited to, decontamination of surgical instruments, food or Examples of area / room decontamination systems include those used for sterilizing pharmaceutical packaging. , used in hospital rooms to disinfect surfaces and objects in the room, and Those used in agricultural activities, such as those used on breeding animals and / or livestock Disinfection of the area / room is essential to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from being present in the environment and causing infection. This is becoming increasingly important as more and more microorganisms, particularly those resistant to antimicrobial agents, become apparent. This is becoming important as organisms become more common in the environment and increasingly difficult to address. It is coming.

[0004] The challenge with traditional room / area decontamination systems is applying disinfectant to all surfaces that need to be disinfected. In particular, many conventional room / area decontamination systems require cost-effective dispersion. Space and size constraints limit the number of disinfectant sources a system can contain. In conventional room / area decontamination systems, the directionality of the disinfectant is fixed. Conventional systems use large doses of disinfectant to simultaneously disinfect many surfaces within a room or area. It is often configured to deliver a disinfectant to the entire area. The problem with this is that some parts of the room or volume are over-exposed to the sterilant, which This effectively wastes disinfectant and potentially reduces the time and effort required to carry out the disinfection process. Furthermore, in some cases, the disinfectant is not diffused throughout the room, resulting in waste of time and / or energy. When using disinfectant, some parts of the room / area, especially surfaces that are relatively far from the disinfectant source and / or surfaces that are not in line with the disinfectant source, should be Surfaces that are not in a straight line will not receive a sufficient amount of disinfectant. This can result in a large number of unwanted pathogenic microorganisms remaining on the surface or object. Humans who subsequently come into contact with these surfaces are susceptible to infection.

[0005] A further problem with conventional room / area decontamination systems is the difficulty in carrying out the disinfection process. The problem is that there is no consideration and priority given to the objects and surfaces in the room. If the disinfection process of a room / area is interrupted earlier than the allotted time, Potentially contaminated objects and / or surfaces may not be adequately disinfected. In particular, the disinfectant source of the room / area decontamination system must be such that the disinfectant is distributed from the source to the periphery of the room / area. sterilant exposure to a substantially uniform level throughout the room / area (one or more Often located or installed near the center of a room (rather than near a number of specific objects) Similarly, if the system includes multiple disinfection devices, a given disinfection process may be required to disinfect the entire room. To poison the air, the device must be focused on the entire chamber, rather than on the vicinity of one or more specific objects. They are often uniformly distributed.

[0006] In some embodiments, the disinfectant source in the room / area decontamination system is a disinfectant source in the patient room. The disinfectant source may be located near the object or surface, such as a bed, but the disinfectant source must be located near the specific object or surface. Positioning it close to more heavily contaminated objects such as door handles or room light switches Address the need to disinfect other objects or surfaces in the room / area that may be affected. Furthermore, if the disinfectant source is fixed at a specific location in the room, it may not be possible to The effectiveness of the disinfectant source placement on the object is lost if the object is moved. , if the room contains one or more disinfectant sources that can be freely positioned in the room, The task of locating the source is generally performed manually and is therefore labor intensive. Furthermore, these latter configurations are prone to placement errors. Room characteristics for placing the source (e.g., size, area configuration, and / or relative position of objects in the room) It does not involve analysis of the location of the

[0007] Surfaces and objects ranging from chemical methods such as bleaching to more advanced methods such as ultraviolet (UV) disinfection There are many different methods for disinfecting objects. UV irradiation in the culture medium is effective in inactivating and in some cases killing microorganisms. It is known that ultraviolet light technology for disinfecting and / or sterilizing items is effective. Some UV disinfection devices use discharge lamps to produce ultraviolet light. In addition to being used for disinfection and sterilization applications, discharge lamps are also used to treat e.g. - Used to generate ultraviolet (UV) light for a wide range of applications, such as curing. A discharge lamp refers to a lamp that produces light using an internal discharge between electrodes in a gas. This discharge creates a plasma that provides the emitted light. In the case of flash bulbs or flash lamps, the light produced is continuous once the lamp is triggered. Other configurations of discharge lamps, also called discharge lamps, produce light for very short periods of time. Discharge lamps are sometimes used to provide cyclic pulses of light, thus A commonly used flash lamp is a xenon flash bulb.

[0008] Various types of discharge lamps have been investigated to provide UV light for various applications. , particularly with respect to the propagation of ultraviolet light (i.e., distance and angle of incidence to the target object), Study of discharge lamps to improve the efficiency of ultraviolet light produced in devices with discharge lamps The reason for this lack of progress is the lack of food sterilization devices and single-pair Many devices that have discharge lamps, such as disinfection devices, require a heater to be installed in close proximity to the lamp. It is configured to treat articles arranged in a linear array, and therefore transmits UV light. There is little or no improvement in UV light efficiency by changing the seeding. In addition, room / area decontamination systems are specifically designed to distribute UV light over a wide area. Therefore, changing the propagation of UVs from the system would be a hindrance to this purpose. Furthermore, the use and versatility of many devices equipped with discharge lamps is limited. For example, many food sterilization and single-object disinfection devices are self-contained units, particularly are designed for the treatment of certain articles and therefore generally not intended for the treatment of other articles. or features that improve the versatility of the system for use in other applications. Some devices require time-consuming and / or cumbersome measures to protect the user from injury. For example, pulsed ultraviolet light technology generally uses very bright and intense visible light. Xenon flashes produce pulses of light across a broad spectrum, from deep ultraviolet to infrared, including Use a lamp. Exposure to visible and ultraviolet light is harmful and therefore should be kept within the confines of the device. Alternatively, measures such as confining the pulsed light within a shielding window in the room where the room decontamination unit is used are necessary. This becomes:

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to develop an ultraviolet discharge lamp device having characteristics that improve its use. It is beneficial that such a feature improves the efficiency of the UV light produced and increases the device's usability. Improved usability and reduced time-consuming and cumbersome measures required by traditional systems; and / or Additionally, features include but are not limited to those that eliminate the need for conventional room / area decontamination systems. It would be advantageous to develop a room / area decontamination system that is more effective and efficient than the conventional system. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The following description of various embodiments of the system in no way limits the subject matter of the appended claims. should not be construed as [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] Embodiments of the device disclosed herein include a discharge lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light. a power supply circuit configured to operate the discharge lamp; and a device for detecting ultraviolet light emitted by the discharge lamp. a reflector system configured to redirect the linear light from the light emitted by the discharge lamp; In some embodiments, the device does not include an optical device for generating a laser. Some of these embodiments include a support structure that contains the circuitry and supports the discharge lamp. In some cases, the reflector system redirects ultraviolet light propagating away from the support structure to the exterior of the device. The device is configured to redirect the device to a side, in an area that is about 2 to about 4 feet from the floor of the room in which the device is disposed. Additionally or alternatively, in other embodiments, the reflector system is configured to be mounted from the support structure. The device is configured to redirect ultraviolet light propagating away from the device to the area surrounding the outer surface of the device. and the reflector system is further reoriented towards this surrounding area during operation of the device. When all the ultraviolet light is collected, it is configured to occupy the entire surrounding area. Even in this case, in some embodiments, the reflector system of the devices disclosed herein includes a repositionable reflector.

[0012] An embodiment of the system includes a disinfectant source and a processing subsystem with a processor and program instructions. the program instructions include a system for determining a physical attribute of the room in which the disinfectant source is located. The processing subsystem is further configured to: Based on the received data, a location within the room is determined, thereby determining the location of the disinfectant source and / or disinfectant. a processor-executable program for positioning the orientation of the component with the agent source; Contains instructions.

[0013] Other embodiments of the system include multiple disinfectant sources and one or more processors and a processing subsystem with program instructions executable by one or more processors of In some cases, data regarding the characteristics of rooms that accommodate multiple disinfectant sources may be received. determining one or more independent operating parameters for multiple disinfectant sources based on the data obtained; To make the determination, one or more processors may execute program instructions. In this case, for each of the multiple disinfectant sources, the target location or area in the room where the disinfectant source is to be disposed and comparing two or more of the target locations, regions, objects, or surfaces. For comparison, one or more processors may execute program instructions. Such a system may further detect two or more target locations within a predetermined distance of each other. and / or upon detecting that two or more target regions overlap, one or more of the following to change the planned disinfection process of at least one of the disinfectant sources: One or more processors may execute program instructions to perform multiple corrective actions. It is Noh.

[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the accompanying drawings. If so, it will become clear. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ultraviolet discharge lamp device having a horizontally positioned discharge lamp. [Figure 2a]FIG. 2a shows an alternative arrangement for accommodating an optical filter in the ultraviolet discharge lamp device shown in FIG. [Figure 2b] FIG. 2b shows another alternative arrangement for accommodating an optical filter in the ultraviolet discharge lamp device shown in FIG. [Figure 2c] FIG. 2c shows yet another alternative arrangement for accommodating an optical filter in the ultraviolet discharge lamp device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration of the ultraviolet discharge lamp apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the discharge lamp mounted external to the support structure of the apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ultraviolet discharge lamp device with a vertically positioned discharge lamp. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an alternative configuration of a discharge lamp assembly for the ultraviolet discharge lamp device shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a perspective view showing an alternative configuration of an optical filter for the ultraviolet discharge lamp device shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a perspective view showing another alternative configuration of an optical filter for the ultraviolet discharge lamp device shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a system including a plurality of ultraviolet discharge lamp devices. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates a system that includes one or more disinfectant sources and a processing subsystem having processor-executable program instructions for determining operating parameters and disinfection schedules for the one or more disinfectant sources. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flow chart outlining a method for which the processor-executable program instructions of the system shown in FIG. 9 are configured to be performed. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flow chart outlining another method for which the processor-executable program instructions of the system shown in FIG. 9 are configured to be performed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example. However, the drawings and detailed description of the drawings are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified. It is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form originally disclosed, nor to the contrary. and all modifications, equivalents and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be understood that equivalents and alternatives are intended to be covered.

[0017] Turning now to the drawings, exemplary embodiments of a discharge lamp apparatus are provided. 1 to 3 show lamps arranged vertically parallel to the plane of the device supporting the lamps. Illustrative Configurations of Devices with Insulated Lamps (Hereinafter referred to as "Horizontally Positioned Lamps") 4 to 7 show the structure of the lamp support device. Example of a device with a vertically positioned discharge lamp (hereinafter referred to as "vertically positioned lamp") FIG. 8 shows a system having two discharge lamp devices. As will be explained in detail, the devices and features described herein are suitable for use when the discharge lamp is "horizontal" and and is not limited to that depicted in the drawings, including but not limited to a "vertical" position. , emphasizing a particular feature by depicting it at a larger scale than other features It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0018] Each of the devices described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 includes a discharge lamp configured to generate ultraviolet light. Therefore, the device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 is called an "ultraviolet discharge lamp device." In some embodiments, the discharge lamp of the device may be configured to produce light in other ranges. Although the device may further comprise an "ultraviolet discharge lamp device," the device described herein is a reference to the device. In any case, the device described with reference to Figs. However, it does not have an optical device for generating a laser from the light emitted by the discharge lamp. Therefore, in some embodiments, the device may be referred to herein as a non-laser device. In other words, the device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 converts the light emitted by the discharge lamp into a laser beam. As will be explained in more detail below, The apparatus described in reference to 8 is adapted to expose the entire area, chamber and object to ultraviolet light. and therefore produces narrow, diffraction-limited beams of light, such as those produced by lasers. Instead, it is designed to distribute light over a wide area.

[0019] As used herein, the term "discharge lamp" refers to a lamp that utilizes an internal discharge between electrodes in a gas. Refers to a lamp that produces light. The term also includes gas discharge lamps, which use an ionizable gas The term also refers to the production of light by sending an electrical discharge through a Also included are surface discharge lamps, which direct a discharge along the surface of a dielectric substrate in the presence of a gas; Light is generated by generating a plasma along the surface of the substrate. Discharge lamps considered for the device described in the document include gas discharge lamps and surface discharge lamps. The discharge lamp may further comprise one or more types of gases used and a method for operating the lamp. The pressure at which the fluid flows can be characterized by the pressure at which the fluid flows. Discharge lamps include low pressure, medium pressure and high intensity discharge lamps. Multiple gases include helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water hydrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, mercury vapor, sodium vapor, and any combination thereof Furthermore, the discharge lamps contemplated for the devices described herein may include It may be of any size and shape depending on the design specifications of the device. Discharge lamps considered for the described device include those that produce continuous light and those that produce short-term light. The latter are referred to herein as flash bulbs or flash lamps. A flash bulb or flash lamp used to deliver a returning pulse of light is referred to herein as a It is called a pulsed light source.

[0020] The gas discharge lamps typically used to produce continuous light are mercury vapor lamps, This can be assumed for some of the devices described in the specification. It emits light with a peak intensity of 253.7 mm, which is thought to be particularly applicable to sterilization and disinfection. It is therefore commonly referred to as ultraviolet germicidal radiation (UVGI). The commonly used flash lamps considered for this device are xenon flash lamps. In contrast to vapor lamps, xenon flash bulbs emit a wide spectrum of light, from ultraviolet to infrared. and thus produces light of a spectrum known to be germicidal (i.e., about 20 Xenon flash bulbs provide a full range of UV light (from 0 to approximately 320 nm). In the spectrum known to be bactericidal (i.e., about 260 to about 265 nm), Furthermore, xenon flash bulbs generate a great deal of heat, This too can further aid in inactivating or killing microorganisms.

[0021] Although not readily available to date, as mentioned above, the devices described herein Some of these are intended for surface discharge lamps. Surface discharge lamps emit light in a spectrum known to be germicidal (i.e., from about 200 to about 300 Hz). In contrast, however, surface discharge lamps produce ultraviolet light over a wide wavelength range (20 nm). , operate at higher energy levels for the pulses compared to xenon lamps, and therefore Operates with better UV efficiency and offers longer lifespan than mercury vapor lamps, xenon The above description and comparison of flash lamps and surface discharge lamps includes such lamps. It should be noted that the present invention is not intended to limit the devices described herein. The above description and comparisons are particularly relevant to the radiation characteristics of ultraviolet discharge lamp devices depending on the purpose and application of the device. It is provided solely to provide factors that one skilled in the art can consider when selecting an electric lamp. be.

[0022] As mentioned above, the apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 can be used to measure the entire object and / or area / chamber. It is configured to distribute the ultraviolet light over a wide area so that it can be processed. Therefore, the apparatus described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 is particularly suitable for use in laser applications. It is not designed to produce a narrow beam for a specific small target. When configured to distribute line light, the device described with reference to FIGS. The present invention is particularly applicable to disinfecting, decontaminating, and / or sterilizing areas and / or rooms. For example, the apparatus described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 may be used to disinfect a hospital room, may be used in agricultural activities, including on farm animals and / or livestock. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 may be used in a plant To reduce microbial growth on or to sterilize surgical instruments, food or pharmaceutical packaging It may also be used for a wide range of applications, as described with reference to Figures 1-8, involving exposure to ultraviolet light. Other applications of the device may be in polymer curing and medical procedures.

[0023] In some cases, the devices described herein may be specifically directed to disinfecting rooms. Specifically, and as will be explained in more detail below, the apparatus described with reference to FIGS. Some of the features presented in relation to the device (especially the inclusion of an optical filter, the support of the device) a reflector system for redirecting ultraviolet light propagating from the support structure; and / or the system is adapted to move throughout the room while The discharge lamp device is particularly suitable for room disinfection equipment. Most of the devices described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 are intended as room disinfection devices. For reasons of clarity, the device described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 is specifically a floor-based, freestanding device. However, the present invention is directed to a portable indoor disinfection device. The features described for the device are room disinfection equipment or floor-based, portable The present invention is not necessarily limited to a freestanding configuration. The features are applicable to any type of ultraviolet discharge lamp device. "Indoor disinfection" refers to the cleaning of a demarcated area suitable for human habitation and the It means to inactivate, destroy, or prevent the growth of carrier microorganisms.

[0024] The room disinfection devices described herein are available in floor-based, wall-based and However, a wide range of configurations are possible, including ceiling-based and room disinfection devices. Although they may be located in the ceiling of the room or in or against the walls, they are often UV rooms. It is advantageous to position the internal disinfection device away from such structures. One of the main factors that influences the intensity of UV light (and therefore UV disinfection efficiency) is the distance from the target. Therefore, in many cases, ultraviolet disinfection equipment is installed near the center of the room or near areas suspected of contamination. It is advantageous to position the sensor in the vicinity of the object being measured, minimizing the distance to the object. In environments where room disinfection equipment is used in multiple rooms in a building (e.g., hospital), the equipment must be portable and For these reasons, the devices described herein and shown in the drawings Many are aimed at freestanding, portable and floor-based room disinfection devices.

[0025] In general, the devices described with reference to Figures 1-8 are intended to distribute light substantially unidirectionally or multidirectionally. As used herein, "configured to distribute light in substantially one direction" means "configured to distribute light in substantially one direction." "Comprised of" means that the majority of the light emitted from the discharge lamp is propagated in a single direction, with only minor This refers to a device configuration that propagates light at angles less than 30° from this direction. All outside light distribution is expressed in the words "configured to distribute light in multiple directions." A room disinfection device configured to distribute light in a substantially unidirectional manner may be installed on a wall or ceiling. and / or have a discharge lamp within the boundaries of the device. and a secondary optical component system for redirecting light propagating away from the device. In contrast, a room that is configured to distribute light in multiple directions may be The internal disinfection device is designed to prevent light from propagating in a direction away from the structure on which the discharge lamp is supported and / or the device. a discharge extending outward from the structure having a secondary optical component system for redirecting the It may also have a lamp.

[0026] The rooms are generally located at various heights and distances from a given point in the room (this is Increasing the number of faces and varying their positions, including objects of different sizes and shapes, The ultraviolet light equipment used for indoor disinfection is designed to emit ultraviolet light in many directions (i.e., multi-directionally). Furthermore, as mentioned above, it may be advantageous to configure the device to distribute the heat among various parts of the room. To reduce the distance to the object and effectively increase the disinfection efficiency of the UV light emitted by the device, It may be advantageous to position the ultraviolet room disinfection device away from the walls of the room. Further to this idea, at least some of the ultraviolet light produced by the discharge lamp is absorbed by the device. to propagate to an area surrounding the outer surface, and further to this surrounding area during operation of the device. If all the UV light propagating to the UV chamber is collected, it will fill this entire surrounding area. It may be effective to provide an internal disinfection device. Such a device may be located on the ceiling or wall. The ultraviolet room disinfection equipment is different from the equipment shown in the figure. This is explained in more detail below.

[0027] Returning to FIG. 1, an exemplary ultraviolet discharge lamp device having a horizontally positioned lamp is shown. In particular, a device is provided that is disposed within a support structure 24 and supports a discharge lamp 22. The support structure 24 is preferably provided vertically parallel to the plane of the device 20 (i.e., on the upper surface of the device 20). 2 shows an apparatus 20 having a discharge lamp 22 (mounted parallel to the surface). As will also be explained in more detail below, the ultraviolet discharge lamp devices described herein are The present invention is not limited to embodiments in which the lamp is provided in a "horizontal position." The ultraviolet discharge lamp device may be mounted at any angle relative to the surface plane of the support structure that supports the discharge lamp. Further, the ultraviolet discharge lamps described herein may include discharge lamps provided at 1000 nm. The device is not limited to embodiments in which a discharge lamp is provided adjacent to the upper surface of the device. The ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein includes any exterior surface of the device, including the sidewalls and bottom surface. It may also have a discharge lamp disposed adjacent to a side surface.

[0028] As used herein, horizontally positioned and Vertically positioned lamps are specifically mentioned because these lamps Used to enhance some of the novel features of the ultraviolet discharge lamp device disclosed herein However, such disclosure is not intended to be a substitute for the disclosure herein. It should be interpreted as necessarily limiting the arrangement of discharge lamps within an ultraviolet discharge lamp device. Furthermore, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described in this specification is not a supporting structure as shown in FIG. The present invention is not limited to embodiments in which a discharge lamp is located within the boundaries of the structure. In particular, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device, as will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. It is also possible to have the discharge lamp disposed at least partially outside the support structure.

[0029] In addition to the discharge lamp 22, the device 20 includes a power supply circuit 26 disposed within a support structure 24 and Trigger circuit 30, and the power supply circuit and trigger circuit are connected to discharge lamp 22 as shown in FIG. Generally, the power supply circuit 26, the trigger circuit 30, and the connecting circuitry are included. The arrangement is adapted to operate the discharge lamp 22 (i.e., to deliver a discharge to the lamp and generate a current within the lamp). In particular, a trigger circuit 30 is used to trigger a discharge. A trigger voltage is applied to the ignition electrode of the lamp 22, where the ignition electrode is wound around the lamp. It may be attached to the lamp or may be the anode or cathode of the lamp; A power supply circuit 26 (e.g., a capacitor) is used to provide a voltage between the cathode and anode of the lamp. In some cases, particularly when the discharge lamp device includes a flash bulb, The trigger circuit 30 may also be called a pulse generator circuit. The trigger voltage is applied to the gas inside the lamp. It ionizes, which increases the gas's conductivity and creates an arc between the cathode and anode. It will be possible to form

[0030] As mentioned above, in some cases, discharge lamp 22 is a continuous light lamp, such as a mercury vapor lamp. In such an embodiment, the trigger circuit 30 typically provides less than 1000 volts. (The term "high voltage" as used herein may be used interchangeably with "high voltage" or "high voltage" as used herein.) ("Voltage" refers to voltages greater than 1000 volts.) In other embodiments, discharge lamp 22 is a flashlight. Flash bulbs can be used at higher voltages, generally between 2000 and 150,000 V. An example of the voltage range of a trigger circuit for a xenon bulb is about 2 0 to 30 kV. By comparison, the voltage range of the energy storage circuit for a xenon lamp is In any case, the device 20 includes a device having a voltage of about 1 to about 10 kV, as shown in FIG. Such a central processing unit (CPU) 32, a user interface 34, and an indoor occupancy sensor 3 Additional electrical circuitry to provide power to other features, including but not limited to 6 may also include:

[0031] Although not essential, one or more operations of device 20 may be computer operated. Well, therefore, in some embodiments, device 20 executes applicable program instructions. Additionally, the device 20 may optionally include a CPU 32 for controlling the operation and and in some cases to provide the user with a means to activate a particular mode of operation. To provide users with a means to access the data collected from the device, In some cases, the user interface 34 Alternatively, the device 20 may be separate from the device 20 but may communicate with the device 20 via wired or wireless communication. In this way, the device 20 can be remotely controlled. The room occupancy sensor 36 is an optional safety feature that generally detects whether a person is in the room. The device 20 is configured to determine the distance by motion detection or light recognition, etc. Other optional features include wheels 38 and handles to affect the portability of the device. However, these may be omitted depending on the design specifications of the device.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the device 20 includes an optical filter 40, a cooling system 44, and a reflector system. As described in more detail below, the optical filters, cooling system, and The configuration of the reflector system and the arrangement of the discharge lamps are consistent with the ultraviolet light devices described herein. Indeed, with reference to Figures 2-7, one or more of these features may vary. With respect to this, an alternative embodiment to the configuration shown and described with reference to FIG. Each such embodiment may include a support structure and associated structures such as those described with respect to FIG. Components, specifically, a support structure 24, a power supply circuit 26, a trigger circuit 30, a CPU 32, a user The interface 34, the room occupancy sensor 36, the wheels 38 and the handle 39. However, for simplicity and different configurations of the optical filter and reflector systems shown In order to emphasize the placement of the discharge lamps, these features are not shown in Figures 2-7. do not have.

[0033] As mentioned above, the devices described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 are each configured to generate ultraviolet light. In some embodiments, the discharge lamp of the device further comprises a visible It may also be configured to generate other ranges of light, including but not limited to light. In some cases, the visible light produced is very bright and / or scattered. In particular, but not necessarily exclusively, when For example, a xenon flash lamp emits light over a broad spectrum similar to that of sunlight. It produces pulses of light with a wide spectrum, but the intensity of the visible light is up to 2 times that of sunlight. 0000 times. Thus, in some embodiments, the devices described herein , and an optical filter configured to attenuate visible light. The devices described herein may capture most of the visible light spectrum, more than 75% of the visible light spectrum, or The optical filter is configured to attenuate light across the visible light spectrum. However, in other embodiments, the optical filter may be configured to filter less than most of the visible light spectrum. In either case, the optical filter may be configured to attenuate a portion of the light. It may be configured to attenuate a large portion of light in a predetermined portion of the visible light spectrum, and in some cases Some are designed to attenuate more than 75% or all of the light in a given portion of the visible light spectrum. It may be configured as follows.

[0034] The devices described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 are configured for ultraviolet light exposure and therefore include optical filters. The filter must attenuate visible light and allow ultraviolet light to pass through. In some embodiments, the optical filter is a visible light band-stop filter. In either case, the optical filter may be an ultraviolet bandpass filter. The optical filter is configured to pass a majority of light in a predetermined portion of the ultraviolet light spectrum. In some embodiments, 75% of the light in a predetermined portion of the ultraviolet light spectrum In some cases, the UV light spectrum may be passed through. The predetermined portion may be a majority of the ultraviolet light spectrum, more than 75% of the ultraviolet light spectrum, or all ultraviolet light. However, in other embodiments, the ultraviolet light spectrum may be used. The predetermined portion may be less than most of the ultraviolet light spectrum. In this embodiment, the optical filter is adapted to pass light in a particular portion of the ultraviolet spectrum. For example, if the device is to be used for disinfection, decontamination or sterilization purposes, the optical filter The filter is designed to capture most of the germicidal UV spectrum (i.e., approximately 200-320 nm), over 75% of the Alternatively or additionally, optical filters may be used. is the largest portion of the ultraviolet light spectrum known to have optimal germicidal properties (i.e. , about 260-265 nm), more than 75%, or may be configured to pass all light. .

[0035] Exemplary optical filters that can be used as optical filters for the ultraviolet discharge lamp devices described herein include: Typical optical filter glass materials are available from SCHOTT No. 1 in Elmsford, NY. Schott UG5 glass filters available from North America, Inc. Schott UG5 glass filters attenuate most of the visible light spectrum. On the other hand, it allows about 85% of ultraviolet light in the range of about 260 to about 265 nm to pass through. Other optical filter glass materials with similar or different characteristics may be used depending on the design specifications of the device. In other cases, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein may be used. The optical filter contemplated herein may be a film having any of the optical properties described above. In such an embodiment, the film may be disposed on an optically transparent material such as quartz. In other embodiments, the light sources contemplated for the ultraviolet discharge lamp devices described herein may be used. Optical filters are a combination of optical filter glass material and a film placed on top of it. The optical filter glass material and film may each be configured to attenuate visible light. It is structured as follows:

[0036] As used herein, the term "optical filter material" refers to a material that blocks a specific spectrum of wavelengths. Materials designed to affect the spectral transmittance of light by increasing or decreasing In contrast, the term "optically transparent" as used herein refers to a specific wavelength spectrum. A material that allows light to pass through without substantially blocking or attenuating the light. The preferred optically transparent materials are well known. The term "film" refers to a thin layer of material, and the term "coating" refers to a layer of material spread over a surface. The films contemplated for the optical filters described herein include solid or are semi-solid forms and therefore encompass solid substances and gels. The films considered for optical filters can be liquid, semi-solid, or or solid form, and after application, the liquid and semi-solid forms later become solid or semi-solid. Can be converted.

[0037] In either case, the light source disposed within the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein The efficiency of optical filters decreases over time due to solarization. Solarization is the process of removing the optical structure that transmits ultraviolet radiation. It is a phenomenon involving the time-related decrease in the ability of constituent elements to undergo UV radiation exposure. In embodiments, optical filters are contemplated for the ultraviolet discharge lamp devices described herein. The data includes a solarization rate that is approximately an integer multiple of the deterioration rate of the discharge lamp provided in the device. In other words, the discharge lamp may be solarized by a factor of the solarization rate of the optical filter. The term "factor" in characterizing optical filters is represents the mathematical definition of this term, specifically, a number that can be evenly divided into another number. It represents a number that can be divided without remainder. The degradation rate is approximately equal to any integer (including 1) times the degradation rate of the discharge lamp. In some embodiments, the solarization rate of the optical filter is similar to the degradation rate of a discharge lamp. Or they may be the same.

[0038] Generally, discharge lamps are designed to operate at a certain number of times (i.e., a certain number of triggers to generate plasma). is guaranteed to withstand the expected deterioration of one or more of its components. For example, pulsed light sources are often guaranteed to have a specific number of pulses. For the devices described herein, such usage counts are used to determine the number of charges discharged during each operating period. By integrating the amount of UV light emitted and the number of triggers that the discharge lamp is guaranteed to use, By this, the deterioration rate of the discharge lamp can be characterized. A degradation rate that correlates with the solarization rate of the optical filter may be calculated. If the degradation rate is approximately an integer multiple of the degradation rate of the discharge lamp in the device, the component is advantageously This reduces equipment downtime by replacing components with independent features. Furthermore, the replacement timing of the item can be determined by the embodiment in which the replacement time is shortened compared to the embodiment in which the replacement time is ... When monitoring light for a particular purpose, the monitoring The process may be simplified. See Figures 1 and 3 for other features that address polarization, specifically The parameters related to the operation of the lamp, the transmittance of the optical filter, and the thermal recovery system in the device. Refers to a sensor system configured to monitor whether the system contains This is explained in more detail below.

[0039] Several different exemplary configurations and arrangements of optical filters and any ancillary components are described. 1 to 7, the following will be described in detail. Several different configurations of the device are described below for receiving the optical filter in the closed state. The optical filters of the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 are the optical filters described above. For the sake of brevity, these features are not repeated for each embodiment. As mentioned above, optical filters are particularly useful in indoor environments, although not necessarily limited to these. This is suitable for indoor disinfection equipment. This allows the room disinfection equipment to distribute light to the environment of the equipment. This is why the device is generally constructed without a housing to contain the light. The inclusion of an optical filter is useful in some of the devices described herein. While beneficial, this is not necessary and may therefore be omitted in some embodiments. Note that this can be omitted.

[0040] Another distinguishing feature exemplified for the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein is the A reflector system configured to redirect ultraviolet light propagating away from the support structure. Generally, the reflector system considered for the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein is The stem is used to increase the size of the area exposed to ultraviolet light by the device, Reducing the distance that light travels to a target object or area and / or One such purpose is to improve the angle of incidence of ultraviolet light onto the area. Several different exemplary configurations and arrangements of reflector systems configured to achieve one or more The device is described in more detail below and shown in Figures 1-7. In particular, the device has a repositionable reflector. Further, the present invention describes a device for detecting ultraviolet light propagating away from a support structure of the device by: Apparatus having a reflector system configured to redirect light around an outer surface of the apparatus - Patent Application 20070122999 As mentioned above, such a configuration is particularly applicable to room disinfection devices. .

[0041] Additionally, ultraviolet light propagating away from the device's support structure is directed to a surface outside the device where the device is placed. A reflector system configured to redirect the light to an area that is about 2 to about 4 feet above the floor of the room in which it is installed. Generally, the area is about 2 to about 4 feet from the floor of the room. The areas are considered "high touch" areas of the room, as frequently used objects are typically placed in these areas. Examples of objects typically found in high-touch areas of a room include desktops, Computers, keyboards, telephones, chairs, door and cabinet handles, light switches Additionally or alternatively, the height of the patient room may include, but is not limited to, Examples of objects in the contact area include a bed, a bedside table, a tray table, These areas are considered high-touch areas, and Such areas are generally considered to be the areas most likely to come into contact with bacteria, and several studies have shown that This indicates that high contact areas may be the areas with the highest density of bacteria. For this reason, at least some of the ultraviolet light should be placed about 2 to 4 feet above the floor of the room. A reflector system as described herein may be advantageously directed at such an area. Included in the device for use in achieving a purpose.

[0042] Although not necessarily so limited, the reflector systems described herein may be used in rooms It is particularly suitable for indoor disinfection devices, since indoor disinfection devices generally distribute light within the environment of the device. and therefore does not include a housing to trap and reflect light. For the reasons stated above, many of the ultraviolet discharge lamp devices described in this specification and shown in the drawings The present invention relates to a floor-based room disinfection device, wherein the discharge lamp is mounted on a support structure of the device. However, as mentioned above, such a strong The disclosures contained herein unnecessarily limit the configuration of the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein. For example, the optical fiber may be positioned adjacent to the sidewall surface of the device's support structure. In an embodiment in which the discharge lamp is arranged to propagate ultraviolet light, the reflector system of the apparatus coupled to the top portion of the sidewall surface to reflect light downward or upward to a concentrated area. The device includes a reflector and / or a reflector coupled to a lowermost portion of the sidewall surface. In other cases, a discharge lamp is provided to transmit light below the lower surface of the device. The reflector system includes a reflector below the discharge lamp. Increasing the size of the area exposed to the light beam and allowing the ultraviolet light to propagate to the target object or area. Decreasing the distance and / or modifying the angle of incidence of the ultraviolet light onto the target object or area. For better performance, several other arrangements are suitable as well.

[0043] In either case, as explained in more detail below, the devices described herein The reflector system considered for this purpose includes one or more reflectors, may be of any size or shape and may be adjusted within the device to achieve the desired redirection of light. Additionally, the reflector or reflectors may be made of a material that provides the desired light redirection. The material may be any material found to be suitable for the construction of the devices described herein. An exemplary reflector material that has been found to be suitable for many of the configurations is ALANOD Aluminum. 4300UP M available from nium-Veredlung GmbH & Co.KG iro-UV, which has been found to be suitable for many of the device configurations described herein. Other exemplary reflector materials are available from W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Available GORE® DRP® Diffuse Reflector Other reflector materials may be added or removed depending on the design specifications of the reflective system. may be used instead. In either case, the reaction described with reference to FIGS. Each of the embodiments of the reflection system has the features of the reflection system described above. For the sake of brevity, these features will not be repeated for each embodiment. As well as including optical filters, it is beneficial to include a reflector system in some devices. Although this is not necessary, it may be omitted in some embodiments. Furthermore, the optical filter and reflector system features are mutually exclusive to the device. It is not inclusive or comprehensive, and therefore a device may include one or both of these features. good.

[0044] Returning to FIG. 1, the device 20 is configured to attenuate the visible light emitted from the discharge lamp 22. The optical filter 40 is configured to reduce visible light emitted from the discharge lamp 22 in FIG. The optical filter 40 for attenuating visible light is specifically configured as a filter for attenuating visible light. The optical properties of the filter and the optical filter aligned with the discharge lamp 22 above the discharge lamp 22 are As shown in FIG. 1, the optical filter 40 is placed in a cup-shaped housing 4. 2 and flush with the upper surface of the support structure 24, The optical filter 40 constitutes a part of the housing that seals the discharge lamp 22. As will be explained in more detail in the following, the apparatus described herein regulates the temperature of a discharge lamp. and storing the lamp within an enclosure including a cooling system for achieving a desired temperature. The optical filter 40 is a part of the housing of the discharge lamp 22. By using the filter as a filter, the incorporation of an optical filter into the device 20 can be simplified. However, in some embodiments, the discharge run It may be beneficial to provide the optical filter 40 separate from the housing of the amplifier 22. Therefore, the optical filter may be aligned and not aligned with the discharge lamp depending on the desired operation of the device. Such a configuration is described in more detail below, and An exemplary variation of device 20 incorporating such an arrangement is shown in Figures 2a-2c.

[0045] The cooling systems contemplated for the devices described herein may vary and generally include: The cooling system is dependent on the design specifications of the equipment. An exemplary cooling system that can be used is a forced draft system. The cooling system 44 shown in FIG. Air inlet 46, air intake duct 48, fan 50, temperature sensor 52, air duct 54, and and airflow outlet 56. In some cases, the airflow inlet 46, the air One or more of the air intake duct 48, the air duct 54 and the air outlet 56 may be air filters. In some embodiments, the air duct 54 and / or the air outlet The port 56 may additionally or alternatively include an ozone filter. In some cases, the ozone filter may be omitted from the device. Ozone is generally The use of a discharge lamp 22 provides a more efficient illumination if the lamp produces ultraviolet light with wavelengths shorter than about 240 nm. This spectrum of UV light is produced as a by-product of the oxidation of the oxygen atoms in the oxygen molecule. This causes the dissociation of the bonds in the air, starting the ozone production process. and air quality, and therefore the use of ozone by devices Ozone emissions are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Ozone is an effective disinfectant. It is also known that the amount of ozone produced by discharge lamps is not known by the EPA. If the ozone exposure limit is lower than the ozone filter limit set forth in the It is beneficial to remove

[0046] In any case, the cooling system is not intended to be limiting with respect to device 20 and other devices described herein. Various configurations of outlet ducts for stem 44 are possible. For example, in some configurations: The cooling system may be configured with air outlets on the lower sidewalls of the support structure 24 or on the bottom surface of the support structure 24. The advantages of such an alternative configuration include, in particular, air outflow. Improved ozone filter performance and environmental impact when the port is located on the bottom surface of the support structure 24. In either case, the devices described herein , and may include a cooling system for the remaining components within support structure 24. Therefore, the support structure cooling system is integrated with the cooling system 44 for the discharge lamp 22. However, in other embodiments, the two cooling systems may be separate. The inclusion of one or more cooling systems may be beneficial in some of the devices described herein. While useful in some cases, this is not necessary and therefore In some embodiments, it may be omitted.

[0047] As mentioned above, the device 20 may include a reflector system 60. Generally, a reflector system The stem 60 is configured to redirect ultraviolet light propagating away from the support structure 24. The reflector system 60 is configured to achieve this purpose by arranging the reflectors 62 as follows: The position, shape, size and angle of the light guides 24 are particularly important in transmitting light above the upper surface of the support structure 24. and a discharge lamp 22 within the device 20 for redirecting the transmitted ultraviolet light. A reflector 62 is provided above the discharge lamp 22. Generally, the redirection of ultraviolet light is performed by Up to the device and adjacent objects (including the lower surface of the object, as well as the upper and side surfaces of the object) In particular, redirecting the ultraviolet light through reflector 62 reduces the distance it travels. to a surface (e.g., the ceiling of the room in which the device is located) and back to an object adjacent to the device. This also prevents movement of the device to the upper surface. to be incident on the underside of the object (such as by reflection from the floor of the room in which the device is located). This reduces the distance that the beam of light must travel. As shown in FIG. 1, a reflector 62 is provided on the upper side of the support structure 24, and is connected to the ceiling of the space in which the apparatus is configured. It may also include spaced apart reflectors. The stem 60 may place a reflector in or on the ceiling of the room in which the device is located.

[0048] In some cases, the reflector system 60 may be configured to direct the ultraviolet light onto the target surface at an angle of incidence. For example, the reflector 62 may be designed with a particular size and / or shape. may be resized and / or repositioned to obtain the optimum angle of incidence on the object. Exemplary configurations in which the reflector 62 is repositionable are described in more detail below. In any case, in some embodiments, the reflector system 60 may be provided with one or more additional reflectors (i.e., in addition to reflector 62). For example, in some cases, reflector system 60 may comprise reflectors coupled to the sidewalls of support structure 24. , which is configured to redirect the ultraviolet light received from the reflector 62. The inclusion of such an additional reflector helps direct the UV light below the object in the room. Additional reflectors may also or alternatively be used, and generally , any of the purposes described above with respect to reflector 62 and associated reflector system 60. The device is designed (i.e., with respect to size, shape, and arrangement) to achieve one of the following:

[0049] In some embodiments, the reflector system 60 may be configured to reflect light propagating in a direction away from the support structure 24. The ultraviolet light is redirected to an area that is about 2 to about 4 feet above the floor of the room in which the device 20 is located. In particular, as mentioned above, such an area is a high contact area. It may be advantageous to redirect the UV light to such areas. As such, the reflector system 60 is configured to deflect ultraviolet light propagating away from the support structure 24. The outer surface of the device may be configured to redirect light toward the surrounding area. For example, reflector 62 shaped and sized to redirect ultraviolet light into the area surrounding the support structure 24. Alternatively, the reflector 62 may direct ultraviolet light into the area surrounding the reflector system 60. It may be of a shape and size that redirects the line of light. A conical reflector 62 is particularly suitable for achieving such redirection.

[0050] As used herein, the term "encircle" refers to forming a continuous circle around an object. The term is not limited to embodiments that surround the entire object or a large portion of the object. "An ultraviolet discharge lamp as described herein is used to illuminate the exterior surface of the device so that ultraviolet light surrounds the exterior surface of the device. The phrase "may constitute a device" means that the device is configured to surround at least some of the exterior of the device. It also refers to the formation of a continuous ring of ultraviolet light surrounding the device during operation. The present invention is directed to a method for detecting ultraviolet light in a surrounding area, such that if all ultraviolet light propagating to the surrounding area is collected, it will cover the entire surrounding area. The phrase "may constitute an ultraviolet discharge lamp device as described in this document" means that the device may be operated Each portion of a continuous ring area around the device is exposed to ultraviolet light for a period of time that is Represents.

[0051] Regardless of the configuration of the reflection system 60 or whether the device 20 also includes a reflection system 60 . Regardless of whether the device 20 is mounted within a support structure 24, in some embodiments, the device 20 may be mounted within a support structure 24. Redirecting the light emitted from the lamp 22 in a direction of light propagation away from the support structure In particular, the device 20 includes a discharge lamp 2 The light emitted from the side and bottom surfaces of the discharge lamp 22 is mixed with the light emitted from the top surface of the discharge lamp 22. The light source may include a reflector system configured to redirect the light in the same direction as the incoming light. An embodiment with a reflective system may include a floor and / or a cup-shaped housing 42 with reflective material. However, other configurations of the devices described herein may be used. Firing systems are also possible.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, the reflector system 60 includes a support beam 6 for suspending a reflector 62. 4, 66. Such a cantilevered support structure is merely an example, and the reflector Various other support structures are contemplated for 62. The reflector 62 is suspended above the discharge lamp 22. Regardless of the mounting structure, in some cases, the reflector system 60 may be 0 to allow some light propagating to the upper side of the reflector system 60 to pass through. An example of an embodiment having a support beam 66 including a through hole 68 is shown in FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, the reflector 62 may be provided with a through hole for such purpose. In other embodiments, the reflector system 60 may have no such through holes at all. Notwithstanding the above, the size of reflector system 60 and more specifically the size of reflector 62 The size may vary from device to device. In some cases, the area dimensions of the reflector 62 are The area dimensions of the housing containing the lamp 22 may be equal to or larger than the area dimensions of the housing. In this way, substantially all of the light propagating from support structure 24 is directed towards reflector 62. However, in other embodiments, the area dimensions of the reflector 62 may be adjusted to accommodate the discharge lamp. The area of ​​the housing containing the support structure 22 may be smaller than that of the housing. Some of the light propagating from structure 24 is directed beyond reflector 62 .

[0053] In some cases, reflector system 60, regardless of its size and configuration, is shown as an outlined The reflector 62 is configured to move horizontally and / or vertically as shown by the double arrow. In this way, reflector 62 can be a repositionable reflector. In some embodiments, the reflector 62 may move between multiple operations of the device 20, Thus, in some cases, reflector system 60 may be configured to provide repositionable reflectors for different locations within device 20. In another embodiment, the reflector system 60 includes means for fixing the reflector system 60 in a desired position. , and may include means for moving reflector 62 during operation of device 20. The movement of the sensor 2 may be continuous or periodic during operation of the device 20. Thus, the reflector 62 can be moved, possibly while the discharge lamp 22 is emitting light. The expression that the device 20 is in operation refers to the operation of the discharge lamp 22 (specifically, the discharge lamp 22). The components of the device are activated to produce a radiating plasma in the lamp. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the discharge lamp 22 and configured to generate continuous light each time the lamp is triggered, and thus In such a case, the expression that the device 20 is in operation is used to trigger the lamp. In another embodiment, the flash lamp is Alternatively, a pulsed light source may be used for the discharge lamp 22 and the device 20 may be in operation. The expression represents the time that light is emitted from the lamp and the time between flashes.

[0054] In either case, in some embodiments, the reflector 62 is moved and The means for fixing the reflector 62 at different positions within the device 20 may be or one or more linear actuators for the beam 66, and one or more linear The processes that the CPU 32 processes to affect the actuator movement and its timing. In some embodiments, the reflector 62 can be manually In such a case, the reflector can be moved to a different position within the device 20. An exemplary means for securing 62 to support beam 64 and / or support beam 66 is The reflector 62 may have a notch along the reflector 62 and a protrusion on the reflector 62 to receive the notch, or vice versa. Moving the reflector 62 and / or fixing the reflector 62 in different positions within the device 20 Various other means for doing so are equally conceivable, and the device is therefore not limited to the above-described embodiment. In either case, the movement of the reflector 62 relative to the discharge lamp 22 is not affected. For example, reflector 62 may be provided for easy storage or portability of device 20. In some cases, it may be removable from the device 20.

[0055] In some cases, the movement of reflector 62 is based on the characteristics of the room in which device 20 is located. More generally, in some embodiments, the characteristics of the chamber are accessed and / or analyzed. Such information can be used to determine the location of the reflector 62 and / or the movement characteristics of the reflector 62. It may be advantageous to determine a number of operating parameters for the device 20, including but not limited to: For example, if a relatively large number of objects in a room are in the same general area, they may be more visible than in other areas of the room. It is beneficial to position the reflector 62 so as to direct most of the light into this area. For another embodiment of determining the operating parameters of a disinfectant source based on characteristics, see FIGS. 2a-2c. (determining the position of the optical filter 40 based on the characteristics of the chamber), and referring to FIG. (Determine the position of the optical filter / reflector assembly based on the characteristics of the chamber), and Figure 9, 10 for further explanation.

[0056] Generally, as used herein, the phrase "chamber characteristics" refers to physical and non-physical attributes of a chamber. Non-physical characteristics of a room include the identifier used to refer to the room (e.g., room number and / or or room name) and occupancy information about the room (e.g., infection information or patient status of the patient who occupied the room) The physical location of the room, including but not limited to the schedule of who will occupy the room. The characteristics may be the size and / or dimensions of the room and / or the surfaces, objects and / or This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the number, size, distance, location, reflectivity and / or identity of the items. In some cases, the physical characteristics of the room may be determined by one or more pathological agents present in the room. It may be the identification of the aircraft, and furthermore, the location within the room, particularly within a particular area of ​​the room or within a particular area of ​​the room. It may also be the number or density of one or more such organisms on a surface. "Disinfectant source operating parameters" refers to any parameters that affect the operation of the disinfectant source. The disinfectant source also represents the disinfectant source run time, the disinfectant source location, the component with the disinfectant source, This includes, but is not limited to, the orientation of the product, and / or the power supplied to the disinfectant source. As used in this document, the term "disinfectant source" means one or more sources used to generate and dispense disinfectant. represents an assembly of multiple components, possibly for performing the generation or distribution of a disinfectant For example, the discharge lamp 22 in FIG. 1, the power supply The circuit 26, trigger circuit 30, optical filter 40 and reflector system 60 collectively form a disinfection Alternatively, the entire device 20 may be referred to as the disinfectant source.

[0057] In some embodiments, the device 20 may include data listing characteristics of the room in which the device 20 is located. The system may include a database or be configured to access such a database. Alternatively, the device 20 may collect and / or analyze data relating to the characteristics of the room in which the device is located. In such a case, the generated data may include a system 70 for generating the data. Accordingly, any method known in the art for collecting, generating, and / or analyzing chamber characteristics may be used. Systems such as spatial sensors, optical recognition systems and / or dosimeters may be used, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the system 70 is operationally Alternatively, the CPU 32 may be coupled to the room characteristics from the database. In either case, the CPU 32 is configured to access the data in the and obtaining and accessing data regarding the characteristics of the room in which the device 20 is located. Based on this data, the operating parameters of the device 20, such as the position of the reflector 62, are determined. In some embodiments, the determined operating parameters may be provided via a user interface. 34, thereby allowing a user of the device 20 to identify the reflector 62. The device may signal an operating parameter of the device 20, such as moving the device to a specific position. In other cases, the CPU 32 automatically sends the determined operating parameters and associated commands. In the device 20 for automatically initiating operating parameters, such as automatically moving the reflector 62. The device may be configured to transmit the information to the above means.

[0058] In some embodiments, system 70 may be used to measure the size of an object or object in a room in which device 20 is located. may measure the dose of ultraviolet light received at a point, particularly an object or object in a room. Measuring the dose of ultraviolet light received at a point allows for optimal positioning of reflector 62. This can help determine the operating parameters of the device 20, such as by adjusting the One of the main factors that affects the UV light intensity on an object is the distance to the object. Other main factors are , is the angle of incidence of light. The dose of ultraviolet light can be measured, and such measurements can be used to determine the operating parameters of the device 20. (e.g., by moving the reflector 62 to optimize the angle of incidence on an object or point, etc.) Through the operative coupling of system 70 to CPU 32, CPU 32 Measurement results are obtained from the system 70, and based on these measurement results, the position of the reflector 62, etc., of the device 20 is determining operating parameters and relaying the determined operating parameters to the user interface 34; and / or commands related to the determined operating parameters, 20 for automatically actuating the reflector 62 (such as by moving the reflector 62). Generally, any system known in the art for measuring ultraviolet light dose may be used. A system may be used as the system 70. Examples include ultraviolet dosimeters and radiometers. Examples include:

[0059] As mentioned above, the efficiency of discharge lamps and optical filters decreases over time due to solarization. Furthermore, discharge lamps generally experience fatigue in their components after a significant number of uses. Therefore, in some embodiments, The ultraviolet discharge lamp device considered here is a device that measures one or more parameters related to the operation of the discharge lamp. monitor one or more parameters related to the transmittance of the optical filter, and possibly the In particular, such a sensor system includes a sensor system configured to: and a device for determining when to replace the discharge lamp and possibly the optical filter. useful for monitoring the efficiency of UV light emitted by the Generally, one or more parameters related to the transmittance of an optical filter are The same parameters may be monitored for discharge lamp operation. However, discharge lamps are generally guaranteed to have a certain number of pulses, so additional or alternative Alternatively, the number of pulses may be monitored. In either case, the sensor system and one or more parameters related to both the operation of the discharge lamp and the transmittance of the optical filter. When monitoring a component, the sensor system measures the same or different parameters for the two components. In some embodiments, the sensor system may be configured to monitor a parameter. The device is configured to measure one or more parameters associated with the discharge lamp and the optical filter. However, in other embodiments, the sensor system may include a single sensor. , including separate sensors for measuring each parameter of the discharge lamp and the optical filter. That's fine.

[0060] An exemplary sensor system for the device 20 of FIG. 1 is disposed below the reflector system 60. and a sensor 74 provided in the housing with the discharge lamp 22. Generally, sensors 74 are used to monitor parameters related to the operation of the discharge lamp 22. More specifically, the light emitted by the discharge lamp 22 before passing through the optical filter 40 may be 1 shows a sensor disposed on the sidewall surface of a cup-shaped housing 42. Although sensor 74 is shown, sensor 74 may be located anywhere within the housing of discharge lamp 22. In other embodiments, sensor 74 may be omitted from device 20. In particular, in some implementations In an embodiment, the sensor 72 measures a parameter related to the operation of the discharge lamp 22 (e.g., pulse count). The sensor 74 is therefore not required. Even in this case, the sensor 72 is used to measure a parameter related to the transmittance of the optical filter 40. Therefore, the sensor 72 receives light that has passed through the optical filter 40. The reflector may be located anywhere on or near the device 20 so as to accommodate the reflector. Although the sensor 72 is shown mounted on the underside of the stem 60, such placement is exemplary.

[0061] As noted above, in some cases, the lamp may be aligned with the discharge lamp depending on the desired operation of the device. It would be advantageous to be able to position the optical filter without alignment. The present invention includes embodiments for use in various indoor spaces, with or without windows. As mentioned above, it is advantageous to have an optical filter aligned with the discharge lamp in a room with a window. In contrast, however, closed-loop systems without windows are used to prevent unnecessary deterioration of the optical filters. It would be beneficial to be able to position the optical filter in a closed chamber without aligning it with the discharge lamp. Specifically, the visible light produced by a discharge lamp in a closed room is invisible, so this light is filtered out. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the optical filters that transmit ultraviolet radiation are not required. The capacity of the cells decreases with time of exposure to UV radiation due to solarization. Therefore, the ability to position the optical filter without aligning it with the discharge lamp can improve the overall efficiency of a given device. This provides a method for extending the life of optical filters for the

[0062] The optical filter is configured to be positioned both in alignment with and out of alignment with the discharge lamp 22. Exemplary variations of the device 20 are shown in Figures 2a-2c. In particular, Figures 2a-2c show a discharge run As part of the housing of the filter 22, the change in the arrangement of the optical filter 40 relative to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2a to 2c show examples of the arrangement of the optical filter both aligned and not aligned with the discharge lamp. These are merely examples of configurations for packaging, and such exemplary disclosures and illustrations are not intended to be limiting. , should be construed as limiting the configuration of the devices described herein with respect to such subject matter. 2a-2c show a modification of the device 20 shown in FIG. 2a to 2c show only a part of the device for the sake of simplicity. In particular, FIGS. 2a-2c show a discharge lamp 2 within a support structure 24. Only the placement of the optical filter 40 relative to the housing containing the optical filter 2 is shown. See FIG. Features shown in Figures 2a-2c that have the same configuration as those previously described are designated by the same reference numerals (all That is, a discharge lamp 22, a support structure 24, an optical filter 40, and a cup-shaped housing 4 2) and for the sake of brevity, the description of such features will not be repeated. 2a-2c, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a-2c are different from FIG. 1 in that they do not have optical filter 40 as part of the The housing lid 82 generally includes a novel feature, specifically a housing lid 82. , made of optically transparent material, including but not limited to quartz.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 2a, a variation 80 of the device 20 includes an optical filter on the lid 82 of the housing. In such a configuration, in some embodiments, an optical filter 40 is provided. Filter 40 is mounted on support structure 24 (i.e., the portion of support structure 24 that includes housing lid portion 82). Alternatively, the optical filter 40 may simply be placed on the support structure without any means for fastening it to the support structure. Alternatively, variation 80 includes means for securing optical filter 40 to support structure 24. In either case, the optical filter 40 may be manually disposed on the housing cover 82. FIG. 2b shows a variation 80 of FIG. 2a. 2b shows a slightly modified version 84 of the device 20. In this way, the optical filter 40 can be attached to the housing. The device may be mounted on the lid 82 of the device and may be removed from this position without being separated from the device. The hinge 86 can be rotated by 90 to 180 degrees relative to the position of the optical filter 40 shown in FIG. The optical filter 40 may be configured to pivot at any angle between . The optical filter 40 is positioned in an upright position and in a position above the discharge lamp when moved from above the discharge lamp. The position can be anywhere between the top 22 and the opposite position on the support structure 24. Movement of the optical filter 40 in such embodiments may be manual or automated. A different variant of the device 20 is shown in Figure 2c, which is represented by a horizontal double arrow. The optical filter is aligned with the discharge lamp 22 along the upper surface of the support structure 24 so that and an optical filter mounted on a slider (not shown) for moving the filter out of alignment. The movement of the optical filter 40 on the slider can be manual or automated. Good too.

[0064] The arrangement allows the optical filter 40 to be positioned both in and out of alignment with the discharge lamp 22. Regardless of the configuration of the device 20, the device 20 is configured such that the optical filter 40 is aligned with the discharge lamp 22. Some implementations are designed to protect against exposure to ultraviolet light when not in use. In an embodiment, the device 20 may be configured to remove and / or reposition the optical filter 40 from the device. Additionally or alternatively, the optical filter 40 may include a compartment in which the optical filter 40 can be placed during installation. The device 20 is configured to have the optical filter 40 positioned out of alignment with the discharge lamp 22. In either case, as described above, the Each of the embodiments disclosed in 2a to 2c may be automated and therefore may be used in conjunction with the methods described herein. The ultraviolet discharge lamp device has an optical filter both aligned and not aligned with the discharge lamp. In addition to being configured to encase a discharge lamp, in some embodiments the device means for automatically moving the optical filter into aligned and misaligned positions with the optical filter; Such means may include any of the means known in the art for moving an object. In some embodiments, the optical filter may include one or more means for moving the optical filter. The decision on whether to move the optical filter and / or the timing of moving the optical filter is made by the device 2. However, in other cases, the decision to move the optical filter is left to the discretion of the user. The determination of when to set and / or move the optical filter may be automated. To do so, device 20 includes program instructions executable by CPU 32.

[0065] As mentioned above, in some embodiments, features of the chamber can be accessed and / or the chamber features can be Advantageously, the information is analyzed and used to determine a number of operating parameters of the device 20 . In particular, it is possible to determine whether the room in which the device 20 is located has windows and, based on this data, to determine the optical filter. It is advantageous to determine the location of the filter 40 in the room in which the device 20 is located. In embodiments where a window is sensed, an optical filter may be added before the discharge lamp is operated to produce light. 40 may be arranged in alignment with the discharge lamp 22. Conversely, the room in which the device 20 is arranged may be In embodiments where the window is not detected, the optical filter is removed before the discharge lamp is operated to produce light. The optical filter 40 may be disposed out of alignment with the discharge lamp 22. Any configuration that provides this effect may be added to the components described above for affecting the movement of reflector 62. As noted above, device 20 may include one or more Contains a database listing the characteristics of a number of rooms or has access to such a database configured to access and / or collect and / or generate data regarding room characteristics The system 70 includes a sensor for detecting the presence of a reflective surface, typically including, but not limited to, a reflective sensor. Any system known in the art for determining whether a room has a window, In this case, the system 70 may be used. 2 obtains and / or accesses data and performs optical filtering based on the data. and / or determining the location of the filter 40 and relaying the determined location to the user interface 34. or a command relating to the determined position for automatically moving the optical filter 40. It may be configured to transmit to means within the device 20.

[0066] FIG. 2c shows a configuration in which a slider (not shown) for the optical filter 40 is integrally provided. Optional features of the apparatus 20 include a thermal recovery chamber 90, typically adjacent the support structure 24. As mentioned above, the ability of optical filters to transmit ultraviolet radiation is reduced by solarization. However, in some cases, the optical filter If the filter is heated to a high temperature, such as around 500°C, the solarization effect is reversed. While such processes may be performed independently of device 20, in some embodiments, they may be performed while the device is inactive. Replacement optical filters are available to reduce downtime and / or while restoring optical filter 40. This process is advantageously incorporated into the device 20 so as to avoid the need for a separate printer. Due to the high temperatures required to reverse the effects of solarization, a thermal recovery chamber 9 0 is preferably a chamber separate from the support structure 24. Furthermore, To prevent thermal degradation / damage to the components, a thermal recovery chamber 90 is provided. It would be advantageous to configure the device to not only withstand the heat generated, but also to substantially contain that heat. do.

[0067] As indicated by the downward pointing arrow in FIG. 2c, in some embodiments, device 2 0 may be configured to move the optical filter 40 into the thermal recovery chamber 90. In some embodiments, this may be done manually. In this state, the movement of the optical filter 40 into the thermal recovery chamber 90 In particular, the transmittance of the optical filter 40 is measured. Using the information collected from the sensor 72, the optical filter is moved into the thermal recovery chamber 90. The inclusion of a thermal recovery chamber is beneficial in some systems. However, this is not a necessary requirement and may therefore be omitted in some embodiments. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2c, the thermal recovery chamber 90 and the optical filter 40 are mounted on the slider. The features in are not mutually exclusive or inclusive to the device, and therefore the device It may include either or both of these features. Indeed, the optical filters described herein may Any device including the device described above with reference to Figures 1, 2a, 2b and Figures 3 to 7 may be used. The present invention includes a thermal recovery chamber, including those described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] As mentioned above, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described in this specification is a support such as that shown in FIG. It is not limited to embodiments in which the discharge lamp is located (i.e., contained) within the boundaries of the structure. Rather, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device is at least partially supported by a support structure 24. The discharge lamp 22 may be disposed at least partially outside the An alternative exemplary embodiment of device 20 disposed externally to the support structure is shown in FIG. As shown, variation 92 may include a different optical filter for device 20 than that shown in FIG. Specifically, the optical filter 40 is replaced with another optical filter 94. In addition to being configured to attenuate visible light propagating to the upper side of the discharge lamp 22, The optical filter 94 is provided in consideration of the fact that the discharge lamp 22 is provided above the support structure 24. The discharge lamp is configured to attenuate visible light propagating laterally from the discharge lamp. Such conversion of pump 22 may, in some embodiments, result in a cup-shaped pump, as shown in FIG. The housing 42 may be omitted from the support structure 24. In this example, the optical filter 94 In this case, as shown in FIG. In some embodiments, a modified version may be used to redirect light emitted from the bottom of the discharge lamp 22 upward. 92 includes a reflective flat surface 96 disposed below the discharge lamp 22 .

[0069] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described in this specification is a device in which the discharge lamp is "horizontally Rather, the ultraviolet discharge lamps described herein are not limited to embodiments in which the ultraviolet discharge lamp is disposed at a "position" other than the "position." The lamp support device may include a discharge lamp mounted at any angle relative to the surface plane supporting the discharge lamp. The lamp is positioned in a "vertical position" (i.e., with respect to the plane of the device supporting the lamp). Examples of ultraviolet discharge lamp devices having discharge lamps (vertically arranged in the vertical direction) are shown in Figs. As shown in Figure 1, each such embodiment includes a support structure, a power supply circuit, a trigger circuit, The path and any associated components (e.g., CPU, user interface, sensors, room temperature, etc.) However, the term "heat recovery chamber" is used interchangeably with "heat recovery chamber" and "heat recovery system." For clarity and to highlight the different configurations of the optical filter and reflector systems shown. These characteristic parts are not shown in each of Figures 4 to 7. Therefore, these characteristic parts will not be described with reference to FIGS.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 4, a support structure 102 is supported on the support structure 102 and is oriented vertically relative to the plane of the support structure 102. The apparatus 100 is shown with a discharge lamp assembly mounted vertically in the direction of the arrow. The assembly is surrounded by an optical filter 106 and includes a fan 108 and an ozone filter 11. 9. The discharge lamp assembly further includes: It includes a base 110 supported on a base 114 and an air filter 112. In this embodiment, the optical filter 106 forms a wall of the housing that encloses the discharge lamp 104. Together with the fan 108, this forms a forced air cooling system for the device 100. 100 is a reflector fixed to an ozone filter 119 on top of an optical filter 106. 118. Features of the reflector 118, the discharge lamp 104 and the cooling system of the device 100; and the optical properties of the optical filter 106 are generally such that it filters out all ultraviolet radiation considered herein. These include those mentioned above with respect to the electric lamp assembly, and for the sake of brevity, these will not be repeated. As with the above-described embodiment, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described in this specification For other configurations of the device, several of the components included in device 100, particularly optical filter 106, may be used. , replacing the reflector 118, the ozone filter 119 and the cooling system of the device 100; and / or Therefore, the finished product and configuration of the components shown in Figure 4 are not necessarily inclusive of each other. It is not comprehensive.

[0071] Additionally, the device 100 may include additional components (i.e., components other than those shown in FIG. 4). For example, in some embodiments, the device 100 may include: An optical filter 106 is provided between the discharge lamp 104 and the optical filter 106 and spaced apart from them. It may also include a transparent intermediate barrier. An exemplary material for the intermediate barrier may be quartz. However, the composition is not limited to this. The intermediate barrier is a housing that seals the discharge lamp 104. 119. Therefore, there is no vertical gap between the fan 108 and the ozone filter 119. and may be part of the cooling system of the device 100. The optical filter 106 is a separate glass piece spaced apart from the intermediate barrier. The lamp is secured to the base 110, the fan 108, and / or the reflector 118. Incorporating an intermediate barrier between the discharge lamp 104 and the optical filter 106 The optical filter 106 can be provided both in an aligned and unaligned manner. The optical filter 106 can be moved independently of the discharge lamp 104 if desired or during operation of the device. In particular, the intermediate barrier is advantageous when it is desired to move the discharge lamp 104 104. This allows the optical filter 106 to be moved without sacrificing the cooling system.

[0072] As described in more detail below, in some embodiments, the devices described herein The optical filter is moved (e.g., rotated or vibrated) around a central axis during operation of the device. However, in general, concerns about damage to discharge lamps mean that It is not desirable to move the pumps in the same manner. Therefore, in some embodiments, The optical filter 106 may be fixed to the base 110 or the fan 108, while the reflector The device 100 may be spaced apart from the container 118, or vice versa. There may be one or more additional components coupled to the optical filter 106, The additional components are the optical filter 106, the base 110, the fan 108 or the reflector 1 18 is configured to block light, particularly visible light. An exemplary component that is particularly well suited to the function is densely packed bristles.

[0073] In either case, the amount and flow rate of the cooling gas discharged from the device varies significantly. and generally depends on the design specifications of the device, but in some embodiments, As was discovered during the development of the device described in this publication, the cooling system outlet ducts must be installed in the ceiling. When directed at an indoor area, the volume and flow rate of gas is sufficient to trigger a water sprinkler system. Thus, in some cases, the device 100 may be mounted above a discharge lamp assembly. The device may also have a cap component spaced apart from the device, so that the cap component is positioned on the device rather than above it. An exemplary configuration of the cap components is shown in FIG. This is explained in more detail below. An alternative solution to prevent this is to prevent the discharge lamp from exceeding a specified maximum operating temperature. To the extent possible, the flow rate of the gas passing through the lamp assembly is reduced. Conversely, operating a discharge lamp at a lower temperature generally extends lamp life and In some cases, it may be advantageous to reduce the gas flow rate, as this would theoretically produce more UV light. (i.e., if this does not cause the discharge lamp to exceed its maximum operating temperature) (even if) undesirable.

[0074] Figure 5 shows the cooling system being installed so that exhaust gases from the cooling system can be directed to the side of the device rather than above it. Above the discharge lamp assembly of the device, more specifically, the cooling system within the discharge lamp assembly. Modification 1 to the device 100 having a cap component 117 above the outlet of the cylinder. 5, the cap component 117 is configured to receive the object placed thereon. The dome shape prevents the device from being damaged by the discharge lamp. The present invention is not limited to embodiments that include a cap component on the top of the pump assembly. Therefore, the top of the discharge lamp assembly is covered to prevent objects from being placed on it. Furthermore, the inclusion of the cap component 117 may be For embodiments in which the ozone filter 119 comprises the entire top of the discharge lamp assembly, In particular, any of the devices disclosed herein may be used to remove exhaust gas from a cooling system. The cooling system may include a component spaced from the outlet for directing the gas.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the device 100 is coupled to a base 114. The linear actuator 116 generally includes a discharge The lamp assembly and its attached reflector 118 can be moved in and out of the support structure 102. Such a configuration can be used to operate the device 100 while it is not in use, particularly To protect the discharge lamp assembly and its attached reflector from damage during transportation, In another embodiment, the linear actuator 116 is advantageous for controlling the movement of the device 100. During this time, and possibly while the discharge lamp 104 is emitting light, the discharge lamp and In particular, in some embodiments, A discharge lamp and an attached lamp are used to assist in the distribution of ultraviolet light within the room in which the device is installed. It is advantageous to move the reflector during operation of the device 100. Other methods for effecting movement of the reflector and its attached reflector may also be used. The device contemplated herein therefore uses a linear actuator to achieve this purpose. For example, the device 100 may alternatively be a fixed laser. The discharge lamp assembly and the lamp assembly attached thereto may be provided with a rail along which the discharge lamp assembly and the lamp assembly attached thereto may be provided. In either case, the discharge lamp assembly is movable during operation of the device. The arrangement for moving the reflector is such that the device is attached to a reflector and / or a discharge lamp assembly. This is not exclusive to embodiments that include a reflector mounted above the discharge lamp assembly. do not have.

[0076] The device 100 is configured such that the discharge lamp 104 extends beyond the outer surface of the support structure 102. Therefore, the optical filter 106 is configured to surround the discharge lamp 104, and Therefore, in the case shown in Figure 4, the optical filter may be cylindrical. The structure 106 may be an optical filter glass formed into a right cylindrical shape, or may be made of, for example, quartz. Alternatively, the film may be an optically transparent film having the desired optical properties disposed on a right cylindrical substrate such as a As will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the optical system surrounding the discharge lamp 104 Other configurations of filters are possible. In still other cases, the optical filter 106 may be In particular, as mentioned above, the inclusion of an optical filter is not limited to the above. Although beneficial in some applications, this is not a necessary requirement.

[0077] The apparatus 100 is configured so that the discharge lamp 104 extends beyond the outer surface of the support structure 102. The advantage of this configuration is that the discharge lamp 104 emits, and in some cases, the optical filter 1 UV light passing through 06 surrounds the exterior surface of the device without the need to include a reflector 118. In particular, the discharge lamp 104 essentially extends beyond the outer surface of the support structure 102. The presence of the discharge lamp 104 causes the discharge lamp 104 to emit light, possibly through an optical filter 106. The passing ultraviolet light surrounds the lamp housing, which in turn covers the outer surface of the device. The height of the support structure 102 and the height of the discharge lamp assembly are determined by the height of the support structure 102. The extension of the discharge lamp 104 beyond the outer surface of the casing 102 allows the discharge lamp 104 to The emitting ultraviolet light also surrounds the support structure 102. Further, in some embodiments, , the extension of the discharge lamp 104 beyond the outer surface of the support structure 102 allows for ultraviolet The light propagates to an area that is about 2 to about 4 feet above the floor of the room in which the device is located. As mentioned above, there are cases where high-touch areas in a room require particularly effective disinfection. In still other cases, suspending the discharge lamp 104 above the support structure 102 is not an option. Although this is beneficial in distributing light around the Notably, the discharge lamp 104 may alternatively be mounted on the support structure 102. The support structure 102 may be disposed in a partially assembled manner.

[0078] The extension of the discharge lamp beyond the outer surface of the support structure provides a means for propagating light around the device. to redirect ultraviolet light propagating away from the device so as to be effective in The reflector system is suitable for some embodiments of the devices described herein, particularly for vertically positioned In devices with a discharge lamp that is shielded, however, this is not necessary. As shown in Figure 4, the device 100 may include such a reflector system. Thus, the reflector system of the device 100 is configured to reflect the ozone filter on top of the optical filter 106. The reflector 118 is fixed to a filter 119. With the discharge lamp assembly (i.e., vertically within and outside the support structure 102) Although it is advantageous to move the device, the configuration of the device is not limited to this. Alternatively, reflector 118 may be removed from the discharge lamp assembly within device 100. Such a configuration may involve using a reflector to optimize redirection of ultraviolet light to a specific area, etc. This is advantageous in embodiments where it is desirable to move the device independently of the device assembly. Other alternative configurations of 00 have the same or similar diameters and are spaced apart relative to each other as shown in FIG. The reflector 118 and ozone filter 119 are arranged vertically. A reflector 118 forms the top of the discharge lamp assembly. 1 shows a variation 115 of the device 100 including a bottom portion. Such a configuration advantageously allows for more Allows more airflow through the lamp housing for a more efficient cooling system In yet another embodiment, the ozone filter 119 is omitted from the device 100, and the air The filter and / or optical filter may be replaced.

[0079] In either case, the reflector 118 may be circular as shown in FIG. In some embodiments, the reflector 118 may be specifically conical. In some embodiments, the reflector 118 is equipped with some ultraviolet light. The device 100 may also include holes to allow propagation to the upper side. In some embodiments, the device 100 may emit light propagating from the discharge lamp 104 and / or the reflector 118. The device may include one or more additional reflectors to redirect incoming ultraviolet light. For example, in some embodiments, the device 100 is disposed around the base of a discharge lamp assembly. In some cases, an additional reflector may be added to the discharge lamp assembly. , so that the additional reflector moves with the discharge lamp assembly. In other embodiments, an additional reflector is secured to the top surface of the support structure 102 and supports the discharge lamp assembly. The assembly may move through it. The additional reflector may be circular and even conical, although other shapes are also contemplated. 8, or even whether the device 100 includes a discharge lamp 1 The base supporting the fan 104 (eg, the top of the fan 108) may include a reflector.

[0080] As described above, in the ultraviolet discharge lamp device disclosed in this specification, the discharge lamp 10 Other configurations of the optical filter surrounding 4 are possible and are shown in Figures 6 and 7. The variations in the device described herein are indicative of the various configurations of optical filters that are possible with the device described herein. Note that the suffix "s" is used to emphasize the structure of the suffix "s" shown in Figures 6 and 7, although not shown. The device variations may include any of the components shown and described in Figures 1-5. For example, these modifications may be made to any of the components and elements of the lamp assembly described with reference to FIG. It may also include a reflector 118. Furthermore, depending on the design specifications of the device, the ozone filter of FIGS. The size of the filter 119 may be varied from that shown and / or the ozone filter 119 may be varied. 19 may be omitted from the configurations of FIGS.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows a variation of the device 100 having a multifaceted optical filter 122 surrounding the discharge lamp 104. 6 shows a multifaceted optical filter 122 mounted on a support structure 102. Such an arrangement is exemplary. Similarly, the multifaceted optical filter 122 may be suspended above the support structure 102. In this embodiment, the multi-faceted optical filter 122 and associated discharge bulb 104 are partially supported by the support structure 102. In either case, the multifaceted optical filters are generally fused together. The multi-faceted optical filter 122 includes six panels. In particular, the present invention relates to the devices described herein. A contemplated multi-faceted optical filter may include any number of optical filter panels. Furthermore, the optical filter panel may be made of optical filter glass material, or may be made of e.g. It may be made of an optically transparent substrate such as quartz, and a film having the desired optical properties may be applied to the substrate. In either case, in some embodiments, an optical filter panel is disposed on the The strips are made of narrow strips of different materials (such as metal or plastic) to support the structure. In some cases, one or more of the narrow strips may be partially or completely The narrow strip is provided around the discharge lamp. It helps redirect the light emitted from

[0082] In some embodiments, particularly those in which the optical filter is made of an optical filter glass material. In some cases, polyhedral optical filters are cheaper than cylindrical optical filters. A drawback to using multi-faceted optical filters is that the plates are fused together and / or the support strips are Where the trip is placed, ultraviolet light is blocked, thus preventing the device from reaching multiple One way to overcome this drawback is to In particular, the device 100 can be moved while the device is in operation. The ultraviolet light propagating in the surrounding area is concentrated so that it can occupy the entire surrounding area. The multifaceted optical filter is moved around the central axis while the device is in operation. Rotate the multifaceted optical filter by more than one revolution, or by rotating it by less than one revolution while the device is in operation. In some embodiments, the multifaceted optical filter moves only a portion of a revolution. , this portion corresponds to the number of optical panels with multi-faceted optical filters. In an embodiment where the optical filter includes six optical panels, the multi-faceted optical filter is rotated 1 / 6 of a revolution. You just need to move it.

[0083] In any case, some of the devices described herein may be configured to rotate around a central axis. Such means may include means for moving the optical filter at the object. In a further embodiment, the mechanism for moving the The timing of moving the optical filter around the central axis can be automated. It is desirable that the PU32 contains executable program instructions. As mentioned above, some implementations In an embodiment, the optical filters of the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein are Although movement around the central axis is advantageous, concerns about damage to the discharge lamp generally preclude this. It is not desirable to move the discharge lamps in the same manner. In the modified example 120, an intermediate barrier is provided between the discharge lamp 104 and the polyhedral optical filter 122. As mentioned above, the intermediate barrier is part of the housing around the discharge lamp 104. Furthermore, the multi-faceted optical filter 122 may be configured to move independently of the intermediate barrier. You may do so.

[0084] In yet another embodiment, the multifaceted optical filter 122 moves about a central axis during operation of the device. In particular, the adjacent optical filters of the multifaceted optical filter 122 may not be configured to move. The light propagating from the panel converges at a point, and thus the central axis of the device 100 is The ultraviolet light penetrates the outer surface of the device 100 without moving the multifaceted optical filter 122 around. In yet another embodiment, the discharge lamp 104 may be surrounded by an optical filter. From the fused area of ​​the panel and / or support strips positioned on the multifaceted optical filter 122 For example, the discharge lamp 104 includes a U-shaped " U-shaped electrodes with spaces between the "bars" greater than the width of the fused area and / or support strip. In either case, the device 100 may be a discharge lamp 10 At least some of the ultraviolet light emitted from the multifaceted optical filter 122 passes through the multifaceted optical filter 122. Alternatively, the optical filter may be configured to surround the outer surface of the device. Support strips are placed on the fused areas of the filter panel and / or on the multifaceted optical filter 122. The gaps caused by the gaps are not significant, so the multi-faceted optical filter Therefore, the movement of the controller 122 is not required.

[0085] FIG. 7 shows yet another configuration of optical filters that can be used in the devices described herein. In particular, FIG. 7 shows an assembly of an optical filter 126 and a reflector 128 surrounding the discharge lamp 104. 7 shows a variation 124 of the device 100 having a bridging. , the optical filter 126 and reflector 128 are approximately evenly spaced along the cylindrical sidewall of the assembly. However, the optical filter 126 may be of a different size than the reflector 128 assembly. the optical filter 126 is larger than the portion along the side wall of the mirror, and the optical filter 126 is positioned at the edge of the reflector 128. Other configurations are possible, including smaller sections along the side walls of the assembly. Among the optical filter / reflector assemblies contemplated for the devices described herein are: A general description is an assembly that includes an optical filter and a reflector facing the optical filter, or vice versa. It becomes Numbri.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 7, the reflector 128 may also comprise a top portion of the assembly. However, alternatively, the optical filter 126 may comprise the top portion of the assembly. or a structure having a combination of a reflector 128 and an optical filter 126 including the top of the assembly. Other configurations for the top of the assembly are also contemplated, such as an optical filter / reflector. It should be noted that the shape of the vessel assembly is not limited to a perfect cylinder as shown in FIG. Rather, one or more of the reflector 128 and optical filter 126 may be used to separate the multiple panels. In some cases, the assembly may therefore have a polygonal prism shape. Alternatively or additionally, the top of the assembly may be sloped, or more generally, the height Such a configuration allows the UV light to be redirected downwards to desired areas in the room. It is particularly advantageous if at least a portion of the top portion includes a reflector 128, as in In this configuration, exhaust gas from the cooling system of the device is circulated through the chamber in which the device is disposed. This is advantageous to prevent the air from being sent directly to the ceiling.

[0087] In either case, the optical filter / reflector assembly of FIG. 7 is It is effective in targeting specific areas in a room adjacent to the device, such as high areas. In some embodiments, the optical filter / reflector assembly may be configured to move. For example, in some cases, the optical filter / reflector assembly is configured to vibrate. Such a configuration may be used to project a predetermined target area onto a surface where the optical filter / reflector assembly is stationary. It is sometimes advantageous to have a larger range than the effective UV radiation range. The optical filter / reflector assembly may be configured to rotate. However, in some embodiments, movement of the optical filter / reflector assembly may cause the device 100 to For example, if a relatively large number of objects in a room are located in the same place, If it is in a general area, the optical filter will be used to direct light to a specific area relative to other areas in the room. It is beneficial to position the reflector / reflector assembly.

[0088] Similar to the device 20 described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2a-2c, the device 100 may include one or Contains a database listing the characteristics of multiple rooms or has access to such a database and / or the device 100 is configured to collect data regarding the characteristics of the room. and / or generating system 70 for generating, collecting and / or generating chamber characteristics. Alternatively, any system known in the art for analyzing may be used. The devices may include dosimeters, spatial sensors and / or optical recognition systems. 100 further acquires data and, based on the data, adjusts the optical filter / reflector assembly. and relaying the determined location to the user interface 34 and / or Automatically moves the optical filter / reflector assembly according to the position command given The device 100 may include a CPU 32 for transmitting the information to a means within the device 100 for performing the operation.

[0089] In addition to or as an alternative to the above features, in some embodiments, the features described herein may be The ultraviolet discharge lamp device includes a plurality of discharge lamps. According to the above description of the features, an optical filter and / or In some embodiments, the device may include a reflector system. a discharge lamp having an optical filter configured to attenuate most of the Alternatively, a discharge lamp without an optical filter disposed adjacent thereto may be provided. The preferred configuration may be to change the discharge lamp depending on whether it is desired to attenuate the visible light during operation of the device. In some cases, it is advantageous to alternate the use of a discharge lamp. Some or all of the above may be operated by the same power supply circuit and / or the same trigger circuit. In other embodiments, the device may have a separate power supply circuit and / or a separate power supply for each discharge lamp. In either case, the term "one or more trigger circuits" is used herein. A plurality of devices each having a plurality of discharge lamps are connected to each other (i.e., forming a system). It is considered that it is advisable to configure the device to operate in a manner that disinfects the room. A plurality of ultraviolet discharge lamps including lamp assemblies 134, 144 and sensors 136, 146. An exemplary system 130 is shown, including devices 132 and 142. The dotted line between indicates that these units can be configured to work together and / or This indicates that the device can be connected via a central processing unit.

[0090] In either case, the device having multiple discharge lamps or the device having multiple discharge lamps The system may be configured to operate these discharge lamps simultaneously, in series or as separate units of the device / system. When multiple discharge lamps are operated simultaneously, This is advantageous as it reduces the time required to treat the affected area. To further minimize the time required to treat an area while preventing "overuse" The device / system may also include a device / system operating parameter, such as the intensity or pulse frequency of each lamp. The data is based on ultraviolet light reflected from the target object or features of the room in which the device / system is located. The system is configured to correct for ultraviolet light reflected from features in the room or from target objects. a database or one or more sensors and field In some cases, a sensor for each discharge lamp unit is used. The device / system may use ultrasound, infrared or other methods to map the room in which the device / system is installed. Other sensors may also be included, and in some embodiments, the device / system may include a The room is mapped to the pump unit. is also included in devices containing a single discharge lamp that is not necessarily part of a multi-device system. It's fine.

[0091] In either case, the device / system CPU must be at least 1800 kB on all target surfaces. To ensure that the dose is delivered, one or more maps are analyzed to determine the required UV light dose. Additionally, the CPU of the multi-lamp unit / system determines the total processing time for the room. The system allocates power to each discharge lamp to optimize the reflection. This is achieved using feedback from a sensor used to measure the emitted ultraviolet light. Information from all sensors (e.g., emitted UV light, room size / shape) , and the positioning of all bulb units) into the equation or This can be fed into an algorithm to optimize the decontamination rate within a certain area. For example, in one system configuration, two The units can be used to treat different parts of an area or even different rooms. When the sensor detects that one of them is receiving the required dose of UV light, the corresponding In some embodiments, the remaining units may shut down. and can be pulsed at higher frequencies if required. It can detect whether there is a common space between different parts and then process this common unit. Instruct the second unit to exclude this area from the dose calculation for the first unit. The sensor system may be as complex as possible. The direction of the reflected ultraviolet light is changed by changing the height, direction and / or shape of the reflector. By changing the setting, the operating time can be optimized.

[0092] In some embodiments, a device or device that moves around the room to provide multiple focal points for UV light distribution. In such cases, a system can be created (using ultrasonic or infrared sensors or reflective sensors). A device / system that moves around a room using information obtained from room sensing (using ultraviolet light) The device / system can move using motor-driven wheels and avoid obstacles. The device / system may be equipped with sensors to measure real-time movement as it moves. Through sensing in real time, and mapping the dose each surface receives as it moves, the chamber is The user may manually push the device / system around the room, while the device / The system maps the room, the device / system CPU analyzes this map and Determine the correct dose at each location for the operation of the system. Use the map and dose requirements. This allows the moving device / system to vary its speed as it passes over different surfaces.

[0093] 9-11, a system for controlling the operation of a sterilization device, more specifically A system for determining operating parameters and a disinfection schedule for a sterilization device is provided. In particular, FIG. 9 illustrates one or more disinfectant sources and the operating parameters of the one or more disinfectant sources. and processor-executable program instructions for determining the disinfection schedule. FIG. 10 illustrates a system in which the processor-executable program instructions of the system illustrated in FIG. FIG. 11 shows a flow chart outlining a method that is adapted to perform the method shown in FIG. Overview of other methods that the system's processor-executable program instructions are configured to execute 9-11. In general, the system and process described with reference to FIGS. The process is applicable to any system that includes a disinfectant source. "Disinfectant source" means one or more components used to generate and dispense a disinfectant. represents a collection of, in some cases, any of the components used to effect the production or dispersion of a fungicide. In some embodiments, the device or apparatus includes a disinfectant. In such a case, the system may include a set of components for generating The components involved in the generation of the disinfectant are referred to as the disinfectant source, or alternatively, the device or In other embodiments, the device or apparatus may comprise multiple disinfectant sources. disinfectant sources (i.e., multiple components for generating multiple sources of one or more germicides) (multiple sets of items).

[0094] In any case, the term "bactericide" as used herein means a substance that kills microorganisms, especially diseases. To inactivate or kill microorganisms that carry and / or cause disease (i.e., pathogens) As used herein, the term "kill" refers to an agent that causes the death of an organism. In contrast, the term "inactivate" as used herein means to inactivate an organism without killing it. This means that the bacteria cannot reproduce and therefore cannot be inactivated. The term "bactericide" refers to an agent that renders microorganisms unable to reproduce but leaves the organisms viable. Generally, one or more of the consumption methods contemplated for the systems and processes disclosed in FIGS. The poison source may be a liquid, vapor, gas, plasma, ultraviolet light, and / or high intensity narrow spectrum (HI NS) is configured to generate a disinfectant in the form of light. Possible disinfectant source(s) for the systems and processes shown are shown in Figures 1-8. The discharge lamp device may be a liquid, vapor, gas or Examples of disinfectant sources that may be configured to dispense plasma sterilants include liquid foggers, spray bottles, and including, but not limited to, plasma torches, and atomization systems including wet and dry atomization systems. As used herein, the term "fog" refers to a gas that is formed by the dissolution of small droplets of liquid. As used herein, germicide fog is classified as a liquid germicide. can be.

[0095] In some embodiments, liquid, vapor, gas, or plasma sterilants may be used in a variety of ways. For example, boiling water, steam, and heated air can Due to the temperatures at which they are used, they may be effective sterilants. The bactericidal effect of a disinfectant depends on the presence of charged particles, not on the molecular composition of the charged particles that form the plasma. As used herein, "molecularly composed" refers to the The elemental composition of a substance (i.e., the number of atoms that make up the substance and In some cases, the type of liquid, vapor, gas or plasma disinfectant used to kill microorganisms. The inactivating and / or killing function is attributed to the elements that make up the disinfectant; Such disinfectants are therefore molecularly constructed to inactivate and / or kill microorganisms. This can be expressed as:

[0096] An example of a gaseous disinfectant that is molecularly designed to kill microorganisms is ozone. Examples of plasma sterilants that are molecularly configured to inactivate or kill reactive oxygen species include: The use or production of a substance that is molecularly designed to inactivate or kill microorganisms. Examples of liquid and vapor sterilants that are used include bleach, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, alcohol, tetravalent ammonium Liquids and disinfectants with basic disinfectants, including but not limited to ammonium compounds or ozone. In all these cases, liquid and steam sterilants may be water-based or The system and process disclosed in Figures 9-11 may be considered. The source or sources of disinfectant depend on the mode of use of the disinfectant and the molecular makeup of the disinfectant. The inactivation or killing function may be achieved by the use of a sterilizing agent.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 9, one or more disinfectant sources 160 and any one or more disinfectant sources 162, 164. In particular, the system 150 includes one or more disinfectant sources 162, 164. The dotted lines that demarcate 62, 164 indicate that these are optional features of system 150. Generally, the system 150 may use only one disinfectant source or any number of disinfectants. The system 150 may include any number of disinfectant sources, including a single disinfectant source. or any number of devices or apparatuses including multiple sources of disinfectant. The system 150 may optionally include a single disinfection device with one or more disinfectant sources. In another embodiment, the system 150 may include a , including a plurality of disinfection devices or apparatuses, each having one or more disinfectant sources.

[0098] In either case, the disinfectant source or sources in the system 150 may be fixed in the room. In embodiments where the system 150 includes multiple disinfectant sources, In this case, some of the disinfectant sources need to be fixed in the room, and the rest should be portable. In yet other embodiments where the system 150 includes multiple disinfectant sources, all of the disinfectant sources may be The devices may be fixed indoors or may all be portable. The disinfectant source(s) contemplated for the systems and processes disclosed in 11 include liquid in the form of body, vapor, gas, plasma, ultraviolet light and / or high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light In embodiments where system 150 includes multiple disinfectant sources, the disinfectant may be generated in various forms. In some embodiments, the disinfectant source or sources may be liquid, vapor, gas, plasma, ultraviolet light, and / or is any source configured to produce a germicide in the form of high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light. It should be noted that the disinfectant sources may be a combination of the above or may only contain the same type of disinfectant source. Please note.

[0099] As described in more detail below, one or more disinfectant sources 160 and any one or more for determining the operating parameters and disinfection schedule for the multiple disinfectant sources 162, 164; The process outlined in Figures 10 and 11 is based on the characteristics of the room in which the system 150 is located. Therefore, the disinfectant source(s) of the system 150 and the disinfectant source(s) The device or devices and the apparatus or apparatuses are especially designed for room disinfection. More specifically, the system 150 includes one or more disinfectant sources and one or more disinfectant sources. One or more devices with a source of toxic agent and one or more apparatuses are provided to treat the chamber. The term "room disinfection" as used herein refers to a disinfectant that is dispensed over a wide area. This refers to the cleaning of a delimited area suitable for human habitation to eliminate the presence of carrier microorganisms in this area. Inactivation means the destruction of, or the prevention of the growth of, carrier microorganisms. The room disinfection devices and apparatus described, in particular the systems and processes described with reference to Figures 9-11 Possible processes include floor-based, wall-based and ceiling-based. They come in a variety of configurations, including well-based ones.

[0100] As further shown in FIG. 9, the system 150 includes a processor 156 and 10 and 11. The processing subsystem 152 includes executable program instructions 154. As will be described in more detail below with reference to the program instructions 154, the program instructions 154 control the system 150 a disinfectant source (e.g., one or more disinfectant sources 160 and possibly one or more determining the operating parameters and / or disinfection schedule of the number of disinfectant sources 162, 164; As used herein, the term "program instructions" generally refers to instructions that are executed by a computer upon receipt of input. signals, recording the receipt of signals, timing and / or Determining whether an action can be initiated and initiating and / or controlling the device's operation Represents instructions in a program that are configured to perform a specific function, such as sending a signal to terminate Program instructions can be implemented in any of a variety of ways, especially as procedures. This includes software-based, component-based and / or object-oriented technologies. The instructions can be, for example, ActiveX controls, C++ objects, Java objects, etc. as desired. Beans, Microsoft Foundation Classes ("MFC") or other technologies or are implemented using the methodology. Program instructions that implement the processes described herein. is transmitted over a carrier medium such as a wire, cable or wireless transmission link.

[0101] In some embodiments, the processing subsystem 152 may include one or more of the systems 150. a single treatment unit connected to each of the disinfectant sources of the system 1; If 50 contains multiple disinfectant sources, it may be considered a central processing unit. In some embodiments, the processing subsystem 152 is a system 15 One or more devices with one or more disinfectant sources or one or more In still other cases, the processing subsystem 152 is an entity separate from the system 1. 50. In addition, other embodiments may be implemented in a device or apparatus that includes one or more disinfectant sources. In an embodiment, the processing subsystem 152 includes multiple processors, each of which and located on different devices or apparatuses with one or more disinfectant sources of the system 150. In such cases, the treatment subsystem 152 may be configured to accommodate devices with multiple disinfectant sources. In some embodiments, the system may be at least partially distributed among the devices. Each device or apparatus with one or more disinfectant sources of the system 150 includes a processor and It contains program instructions 154.

[0102] Referring to FIG. 10, a sterilization system may be configured based on the characteristics of the room in which one or more disinfectant sources are located. a program for determining one or more operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources of the system; A flowchart outlining the process is provided. Thus, the method includes receiving data regarding characteristics of a room in which one or more disinfectant sources are located. Such a process includes: and / or accessing a database containing such information, as shown in block 174. receiving data from one or more sensors in the room that generate such data. In the latter case, in some embodiments, one or more sensors may be In other cases, the disinfectant source or sources and treatment subsystems are separate from the sensor. One or more of the disinfectant sources may be within one or more of the disinfectant sources of the sterilization system; or If the treatment subsystem is separate from one or more disinfectant sources, It is placed inside the system.

[0103] Generally, as used herein, "chamber characteristics" refer to physical and non-physical attributes of a chamber. Non-physical characteristics of a room include the identifier used to refer to the room (e.g., room number and / or is the room name) and occupancy information about the room (e.g., infection information of the patient who occupied the room or The physical characteristics of the room, including but not limited to the schedule of occupancy of the room. is the size and / or dimensions of the room and / or the number of surfaces and / or objects within the room , size, distance, location, reflectivity and / or identification or prioritization, but must In some cases, the physical characteristics of the room may include, but are not limited to, one or more It may be the identification of pathological organisms (i.e., detection from sample analysis) and furthermore, the detection of pathogens in the laboratory. the number or density of one or more such organisms in a particular area of ​​the chamber or on a particular surface of the chamber. As used herein, "disinfectant source operating parameters" refers to the This refers to any parameter that can affect the operation of the disinfectant source, such as run time, consumption, etc. The location of the disinfectant source, the orientation of the component with the disinfectant source, the disinfectant dosage parameters of the disinfectant source, and and / or the power supplied to the disinfectant source.

[0104] As shown in block 180 of FIG. 10, the method further comprises: determining one or more independent operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources based on the data; In general, there are many ways to carry out such a process. In particular, in some embodiments, this process involves a list of room characteristics and one or more accessing a database containing one or more predetermined operating parameters corresponding to the disinfectant source; For example, non-physical characteristics of the room such as the room number, room name, or occupancy information about the room. may be entered into the user interface of the sterilization system, and the entry of such data The method includes the steps of: determining one or more parameters of one or more disinfectant sources; You may then begin accessing the database.

[0105] In particular, a pre-assigned room identifier (such as "103" or "operation room") is used in the user interface. Such correlation information can be entered into the interface (by keying or scanning a bar code, etc.) The location of one or more disinfectant sources located in such rooms is determined from a database containing a summary of the locations of the disinfectant sources. One or more operating parameters may be determined. Such embodiments may, among other things, determine one or more It is applicable to sterilization systems that include multiple portable disinfection devices and therefore multiple different Another example is occupancy information about a room (e.g., the number of patients who occupied the room). infection information or patient room occupancy schedule) into the user interface, From the information, one or more operating parameters of the one or more sanitizer sources may be determined. Such embodiments are particularly useful when the patient occupying the room has been diagnosed with a specific spore-forming bacterial infection. have had and / or been treated for, or are known to have a weakened immune system This is applicable when a patient with a medical condition (such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)) enters the room. In such cases, the operating parameters determined for one or more disinfectant sources may be Based on illness.

[0106] In some cases, the above process may be implemented based on the number and / or type of disinfectant sources or devices provided in the room. In particular, the room number, room name or occupancy information for the room may be used as a factor. In addition to inputting non-physical characteristics of the room, such as information, into a user interface, one or more a disinfectant source disposed in the room to determine one or more operating parameters of the disinfectant source; Alternatively, the number and / or type of devices may be entered into a user interface. If so, the database accessed in such an entry will include the number and / or It contains one or more additional fields related to the type, which are Each of the identified room characteristics and the corresponding one or more operating parameters of each disinfectant source In some cases, specific consumption data may be applied based on the characteristics of the room. The above-described embodiments may be implemented using one or more portable disinfection devices. The term "sterilization system" is not exclusively applicable to one or more portable disinfection systems. Also applies to sterilization systems that have the device in combination with a disinfectant source fixedly located in the room. Note that in the latter of these embodiments, it is possible For example, the operating parameters listed in the database are based on the public standards of a fixedly located disinfectant source in a room. It is preset based on the location of the knowledge.

[0107] A database is used to determine one or more operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources. Access to the device is limited to non-physical characteristics of the room (such as the room identifier or occupancy information about the room). In particular, the database may additionally or alternatively be located in the room. One or more physical characteristics of the disinfectant source(s) that may be placed (room size and / or and / or the number, size, distance, location, and reflectivity of surfaces and / or objects within the room. and / or identification or prioritization, etc.) and the corresponding Such an embodiment also includes one or more predetermined operating parameters. a disinfectant source or sources disposed in the room to determine one or more operating parameters of the disinfectant source or sources; The number and / or type of disinfectant sources or devices may be increased as a factor.

[0108] In either case, the physical attributes are input via a user interface, or via one or more sensors in the room. An example embodiment is where the size of the rooms is known and an accessible database is created for different rooms. For a range of sizes or chamber sizes, different run times, different disinfectant emissions, and / or This may involve different power levels being supplied to the disinfectant sources. They tend to require longer and / or more effective disinfectant exposure compared to smaller rooms, however Therefore, the run time, sterilant output, and / or power level supplied to the disinfectant source may be adjusted based on the size of the room. It would be advantageous to set up a database based on the characteristics of the room and the disinfection Other correlations with the operating parameters of the agent source are possible, and therefore the above examples are not provided herein. It should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

[0109] Determining one or more operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources based on room characteristics. An alternative is to use algorithms that correlate such variables. In this embodiment, the algorithm selects one or more disinfectant sources based solely on the physical characteristics of the room. In other cases, the algorithm determines one or more operating parameters of the room. One or more of the disinfectant sources based on a combination of physical and non-physical attributes. In any embodiment, one or more sources of disinfectant are provided. In addition to or instead of determining the operating parameters of the Therefore, the use of a particular disinfectant source may be selected based on the characteristics of the room. Similar to the embodiments of the method, in some embodiments the algorithm may consider room characteristics in addition to room characteristics. This is based on the number and / or type of disinfection devices installed within the facility. Although not specified, the determination of one or more operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources may be required. When multiple room characteristics affect the determination, it is advantageous to use an algorithm-based process. Additionally or alternatively, if multiple operating parameters are desired to be determined and / or multiple disinfection If you want to determine one or more independent operating parameters for a source, you can use the algorithm. It is advantageous to use a model-based process, especially when the range of correlated variables is larger than the range of variables. It becomes more complex as numbers play a role, and so in such cases, Algorithms are more appropriate than resources.

[0110] In some cases, the room characteristic data received in block 170 of FIG. As shown in blocks 176 and 178, the system identifies locations, areas, objects and / or surfaces within a room. In such cases, the independent operation of one or more disinfectant sources, as shown in block 180, may be utilized. The process of determining the parameters may be performed in block 176 or block 178 (i.e., database or algorithm), based on identified locations, areas, objects or surfaces As shown in block 176, in some embodiments, the The acquired room feature data is used to identify locations, areas, objects, and / or surfaces within the room. , according to a predetermined association between the priority and the identified locations, areas, objects and / or surfaces ( database or algorithm), identified locations, areas, objects and / or tables Each facet is assigned a priority ranking (e.g., a number or letter). In this case, the priority ranking for at least some of the surfaces is The assignment of priority rankings in block 176 may be based on the amount of time since disinfection. The aim is to introduce prioritization of locations, areas, objects and / or surfaces within a room. Alternatively, it is possible to prioritize locations, regions, objects and / or surfaces. A priority ranking may be pre-assigned. The tags may include, but are not limited to, numbers, letters, and words such as "high" and "low." Includes any type of symbol that represents a hierarchical order of importance between locations, areas, objects and surfaces. It's fine.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 10, in some embodiments, the priority assigned in block 176 Using the ranking symbols, as shown by the arrow between block 176 and block 178, However, block 176 identifies target locations, regions, objects, and / or surfaces. The dotted lines that bound the 178 indicate that these processes are optional. Therefore, in some embodiments, block 176 may be removed from the process. The data of the room characteristics received in block 170 is used to calculate the (e.g., by database or algorithm) to identify target locations, areas, objects and In other cases, block 178 is omitted and block The locations, areas, objects and / or surfaces identified in block 176 are used to generate a In yet another embodiment, the block Both 176 and 178 are omitted from the method, thus the process outlined in FIG. In some cases, blocks 170 lead directly to block 180. In identifying locations, regions, objects and / or surfaces, the process of block 180 For each disinfectant source, one or more target locations, areas, objects and / or surfaces are Note that one or more operating parameters are determined that are specific.

[0112] The process of identifying target locations, regions, objects and / or surfaces in block 178 may involve various These may be implemented in a variety of ways, and typically involve the use of For example, in some cases, the target is the maximum distance from each disinfectant source. , i.e., if no other devices are detected at the maximum distance from the device to the object or in the vicinity, disinfection This may be identified by sensing the maximum distance from the agent source (ie, using a distance sensor). In other embodiments, the target may be determined by detecting the shortest distance from each disinfectant source or by detecting a specific distance from each disinfectant source. Alternatively, a sensor may be used to identify objects in a room. The dimensions of the object and / or surface are assessed and this data is used to determine the sensors and / or treatments of the sterilization system. The processing subsystem determines what the object and / or surface is (e.g., a bed in a patient room, a night table, etc.). (e.g., IV pole or IV pole) can be confirmed.

[0113] In some such embodiments, targets are identified based on identified objects or surfaces. For example, in some cases, a target region is selected based on a relatively large number of objects or In other embodiments, the target region is identified based on one or more high priority The ranking identifies objects and / or surfaces based on their presence within a region. Target locations, objects, or surfaces based on prioritization of locations, objects, and / or surfaces within the room. In some cases, the identification of a target location, area, object or surface may be Identify a subset of locations, areas, objects, and surfaces located near each disinfectant source. and designating one location, area, object, and surface within each subset as a target. This designation process may include designating a location, area, object or surface, and Many different methods can be used, including but not limited to prioritizing the number of disinfectant sources and / or the distance from each disinfectant source. It may be based on various qualifiers.

[0114] a database for determining one or more operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources; There are many ways to create a process and / or algorithm. The method is illustrated in blocks 184 and 186 of Figure 10. In particular, block 184 includes one or more The independent operating parameters of the room are determined by the furniture and / or equipment in the room, rather than the floor, walls and ceiling of the room. In some of these cases, In some cases, the process further involves disinfecting the furniture and equipment in the room for a pre-set amount of time. Then, one or more secondary action steps are performed to prioritize disinfection of the floor, walls, and / or ceiling of the room. Generally, the furniture and fixtures in a room are attached to the floor, walls, and These surfaces are more likely to harbor bacteria than ceilings, so disinfecting these surfaces is a priority. It is advantageous to adapt the disinfection process in such a way that such priorities are reflected in the disinfection schedule. A shorter and / or more efficient disinfection process can be achieved by performing or at least ensure that a sufficient amount of disinfection is available if the disinfection process is interrupted early. It can increase the chances of it being over.

[0115] As mentioned above, the area about 2 to about 4 feet above the floor of the room is used for high-use objects. These areas are considered "high contact" areas of the chamber because they are typically located in these areas. By considering areas as high contact areas, such areas are generally considered to have a high probability of contact with bacteria. High-contact areas are considered to be the areas with the highest density of bacteria, and several studies have shown that high-contact areas have the highest density of bacteria. For this reason, it is recommended to place the area about 2 to 4 feet above the floor of the room. One or more independent teams will be assigned to prioritize disinfection of furniture and / or equipment surfaces in a given area. Additionally or alternatively, it may be advantageous to adapt one or more of the established operating parameters. Independent operating parameters can be controlled between different furniture and / or equipment or between furniture and / or equipment. It is often advantageous to match between different components of the installation, e.g. For dollars, ensure a higher and / or longer disinfectant dose than the vertical surface of the cabinet. To adapt the operating parameters of the disinfectant source to the needs of the room where it is to be disinfected, Other preferences among equipment and components are contemplated as well.

[0116] As shown in block 186 of FIG. 10, in some embodiments, The process may measure one or more independent operating parameters based on the location, area, object and / or or a high priority that may be assigned or pre-assigned in block 176 to the surface. This includes matching surfaces to be disinfected preferentially with a rank order. Similar to the Lock 184 process, the block that implements such priorities for disinfection schedules Lock 186 process allows for a shorter and / or more efficient disinfection process or at least ensure that a sufficient amount of disinfection is available if the disinfection process is interrupted early. In some of these cases, the The law disinfected surfaces with the highest priority ranking for a pre-determined amount of time. Then, one or more surfaces may be used to preferentially disinfect surfaces with lower priority rankings. Blocks 184 and 186 are shown in FIG. In the figure, the dotted lines indicate that these blocks are optional. In particular, one or more operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources are calculated based on data on room characteristics. Many other methods have been used to match based on The scope of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the depiction of FIG.

[0117] As further shown in FIG. 10, the process optionally includes independent operation of one or more disinfectant sources. It includes a block 182 for determining the schedule of parameters. In this context, the term "schedule" refers to a series of steps performed sequentially on one or more disinfectant sources. The operation of executing the process of block 180 represents a series of operation parameter specifications. As explained in the previous section, the decision on the schedule of operating parameters depends on the furniture in the room. and facilities and / or locations, areas, objects within the room. Based on pre-assigned prioritization of objects and / or surfaces. may be used to adapt the schedule as well.

[0118] Regardless of the method for determining one or more operating parameters of one or more disinfectant sources, In some embodiments, the process of FIG. 10 may be implemented using one or more independent operating parameters. The information includes a block 188 that transmits information to one or more disinfectant sources in response to the , one or more run times of one or more disinfectant sources, one or more disinfectant sources a command to adjust the discharge of disinfectant from one or more disinfectants; In yet another embodiment, see block 180. Depending on the decision process performed in reference to the In some cases, the information sent to one or more disinfectant sources indicates the location in the room where the disinfectant source is located and / or constitutes one or more disinfectant sources It may be one or more orientations of one or more components. One or more disinfection devices with one or more disinfectant sources are arranged to be mobile. and / or have been configured to comply with the information they receive. One or more of the parts can be moved. Alternatively, one or more of the parts determined in block 180 can be moved. Multiple operating parameters are displayed on the user interface, allowing the user of the sterilization system to The user can activate one or more operating parameters.

[0119] An embodiment of the process outlined in FIG. 10 that may be of particular use in room disinfection is: Such embodiments are described in detail below, and further enhancements are made thereto. However, specific disclosure of such embodiments is within the scope of the disclosure set forth above with respect to FIG. It should not be construed as limiting.

[0120] One system that may be of particular use in room disinfection is a disinfectant source and processor. and a processor configured to receive data regarding the physical characteristics of the room in which the disinfectant source is located. a processing subsystem with program instructions capable of: one of the systems for accessing a database containing data and / or generating data; The sensor may be for receiving data from one or more sensors. In this case, the treatment subsystem will perform an indoor disinfection process to locate the disinfectant source based on the received data. and / or the orientation of the components that make up the disinfectant source. In some cases, the program instructions may further include instructions that are executable based on the data. Establish a schedule of locations within the room where disinfectant sources will be located and / or disinfectant sources. To determine the schedule of orientation of one or more components. In some embodiments, the disinfectant source is one of multiple disinfectant sources comprising the system. In such cases, the system's programming instructions may include locating each of the multiple disinfectant sources. and / or one or more of each of multiple disinfectant sources to determine the location in the room where the disinfectant will be dispensed. The processor may be executable to determine the orientation of the component.

[0121] The disinfectant source(s) of the above-described system may be one or more of a liquid, vapor, gas, plastic, or Zuma, ultraviolet light and / or high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light disinfectant source. In addition, one or more adjustable components of one or more disinfectant sources may be connected to one or more consuming devices. Examples of moving components of a light-based disinfectant source include: , the optical filter constituting the disinfectant source, or the ultraviolet discharge lamp device shown in Figs. This may include any component of a reflector system that constitutes a disinfectant source, such as those described above. In some embodiments, the disinfectant source may include, but is not limited to, one or more disinfectants. The device or apparatus may be configured to move relative to the device or apparatus. An example of a configuration would be a movable spotlight with 180° or even nearly 360° movement capability. Other configurations of the mobile disinfectant source are also contemplated. For example, In some embodiments, the disinfectant source may be configured to travel along a track. The device or the entire apparatus containing the disinfectant source is particularly designed to be moved to different positions in the room. It may be done.

[0122] In either case, the disinfectant source is moved and / or one or more of the disinfectant sources In embodiments where the disinfectant source is configured to move components, the treatment subsystem may further and positioning the disinfectant source at a predetermined location and / or arranging the components in a predetermined orientation. the processor includes program instructions executable by the processor to transmit information for the disinfectant source to the disinfectant source. In yet another embodiment, the predetermined position and / or the predetermined component orientation may be determined through a user interface. The user of the sterilization system may issue one or more operating parameters. In either case, the method may be adapted to the specific needs of the individual. The disinfectant source is an ultraviolet light disinfectant source with a repositionable reflector. Such disclosure should not be construed as limiting the scope of the systems and / or methods described herein. In any case, the above-mentioned system should not be Therefore, the system can be configured in any of the ways described above. In particular, the system is not necessarily limited to receiving data about the characteristics of the The system may be configured to receive data relating to non-physical characteristics of the room. A program to determine the isotropic parameters of the disinfectant source based on the characteristics of the room. In particular, the system described above may include instructions for locating a disinfectant source in a room. and / or is not necessarily limited to determining the orientation of the components that make up the disinfectant source.

[0123] Another system that may be of particular use for room disinfection is one that uses multiple disinfectant sources as well as one or receiving data regarding characteristics of a room having multiple processors and multiple disinfectant sources. To this end, the one or more processors may have executable program instructions for processing subsystems. Further, the program instructions may select one or more of a plurality of disinfectant sources based on the data. For determining multiple independent operating parameters. In particular, one or more independent The operating parameters determined are specific to each disinfectant source. Operating parameters include the disinfectant source run time, the location or velocity of the disinfectant source in the room, and the amount of disinfectant consumed. The orientation of the components that make up the disinfectant source, the disinfectant emissions from the disinfectant source, and / or the In some cases, the program instructions may further include data-based schedule independent operating parameters for each of the multiple disinfectant sources based on room characteristics. Generally, multiple disinfectant sources are available, including liquid, gas, vapor, and plasma. Multiple sources of ultraviolet light and / or high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light disinfectant. The disinfectant sources may comprise disinfectant sources of the same type, or at least some of which may be mutually exclusive. The system described above may also include a combination of different disinfectant sources. It is sufficient if the device has any of the configurations described above with reference to the above.

[0124] A disinfection system that may be particularly suitable for the system described above includes multiple disinfectant sources, and Additionally, the treatment subsystem distributes the independent power requirements to each of the photodisinfectant sources as determined by the treatment subsystem. In place of the power distribution means, a disinfectant Each of the sources includes a power control circuit. In such a case, the processing subsystem, the power control Sends independent signals to the circuit to set the amount of power each sanitizer source uses to generate light In either case, the program includes processor-executable program instructions for: The different photodisinfectant sources may be distributed among different devices, located in the same device, or The photodisinfectant system described above may be an indoor system using multiple disinfectant sources. Such disclosures are believed to be particularly suitable for disinfection, but the systems described herein and / or methods. In particular, other types of killing A disinfectant source may be used in the same system and / or the system may be adapted to accommodate changes other than power. It may be configured using the operating parameters.

[0125] As will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 11, in some embodiments, Disinfectant sources are compared with each other in relation to the location, area, object and / or surface they target for disinfection. In some cases, the collaboration effort is It involves separate devices communicating with each other, particularly including disinfectant sources located on separate devices. The system, including the presence / positioning relative to each other and / or the disinfection of one or more of the The agent source is used to target the location, area, object and / or surface for disinfection. More specifically, in some cases The device may detect the presence of a substance through a sensing system, including but not limited to ultrasonic sensing or infrared sensing. In another embodiment, at least one device is configured to detect each other through a protocol. and the location of the device or the target location, area, object or surface of the device disinfectant source. and program instructions executable by a processor to transmit the information. Therefore, the sterilization device of the system described herein is not affected by the presence or absence of other sterilization devices in the room. It is sufficient that the position of the object can be known or confirmed.

[0126] The device is configured to transmit information regarding the target location, area, object, or surface of the device's disinfectant source. If configured to, another device receives this information and a processor-executable program for comparing the disinfectant source to a target location, area, object, or surface of the disinfectant source. However, in addition or alternatively, The power supplies information about the target locations, areas, objects or surfaces of multiple disinfectant sources to a central processing unit. In either situation, the system performs the following with reference to FIG. As will be explained in more detail below, two or more locations, objects, or surfaces may be located a predetermined distance from one another. As soon as it detects that two or more regions are within a certain distance or that two or more regions overlap, it The system is further configured to perform a number of corrective actions during the disinfection process. The device records the areas it has disinfected and can deprioritize or areas not be considered to be disinfected in subsequent stages of the disinfection process. It is composed of.

[0127] Referring to FIG. 11, the processor-executable program instructions for the system shown in FIG. 1 is a flow chart outlining a method adapted to be performed for FIG. 11 illustrates a method for coordinating information about target locations, areas, objects, or surfaces of multiple disinfectant sources. and two or more locations, objects, or surfaces within a predetermined distance from each other. Or as soon as two or more regions are detected to overlap, the target position, region, object or performing a change in the operating parameters of one or more of the surfaces and / or disinfectant sources. As shown in blocks 190 and 192 of FIG. , for each of the plurality of disinfectant sources, a target location,area within the room where the plurality of disinfectant sources are to be disposed; As used herein, the term "discriminate" includes discriminating between objects or surfaces. 3. Target location based on chamber characteristic data, as described with reference to block 178 of FIG. Determining / identifying an area, object, or surface includes user input, barcode scanning, or receiving target locations, areas, objects or surfaces by accessing a database or the like. In either case, blocks 194 and 196 In this method, two or more target locations, objects, or surfaces are determined to be within a predetermined distance from each other. or whether two or more target regions overlap. The predetermined distance is In some cases, the target location, object, or surface may be the same. It may be a threshold value indicating whether or not there is a

[0128] If the determination at block 194 or block 196 is "no," the method continues at block 198 and based on the identified target location, area, object or surface for the disinfectant source. Continue preparing the system for the disinfection process. The process of FIG. 8 may be implemented by using one or more independent disinfectant sources, as described with reference to FIG. However, in an alternative embodiment, this may involve determining the operating parameters. Such a process may be performed before blocks 194 and 196. The process of block 198 is carried out as described with reference to block 188 of FIG. 10, where each disinfectant and transmitting information to the disinfectant source in response to an independent operating parameter of the source. In an alternative embodiment, the process of block 198 may include configuring one or more operating parameters as desired by a user. and displaying the one or more of the information on the interface, wherein the user of the sterilization system can The operating parameters can be activated.

[0129] If the determination of block 194 or block 196 is "yes," the method returns to block 2 00 and perform one or more corrective actions, particularly to remove at least one of the multiple disinfectant sources. Blocks 202 and 204 are used to modify one or more planned disinfection processes. It is provided to provide an example of corrective action, but other corrective actions are possible. Both blocks 202 and 204 are executed for block 200, or blocks 202 and 204 are executed for block 200. Only one of these may be performed for block 200. As shown in block 202, The corrective actions correspond to two or more detected locations, areas, objects and / or surfaces. distinguishing between different target locations, regions, objects or surfaces for at least one of the agent sources; Another corrective action may be to use two or more detectors, as shown in block 204. Activation of at least one of the disinfectant sources corresponding to the selected location, area, object and / or surface. In such a case, the operating parameters to be changed may be The data includes the run time of the disinfectant source, its location in the room, and the layout of the components that make up the disinfectant source. direction, the amount of disinfectant emitted from the disinfectant source, and / or the power supplied to the disinfectant source. Depending on the device, two or more detected locations, areas, objects and / or surfaces may correspond to a disinfectant source. , and performing one or more corrective actions in block 200. In particular, if the determination in block 194 or block 196 is "yes," If so, a predetermined operating parameter for the disinfectant source is compared, which comparison is performed in block 200. The reference is used as a factor in one or more corrective actions to be taken.

[0130] The processor executable program instructions outlined in Figures 10 and 11 may be used to Although described as part of a system containing a poison source, processor-executable program instructions are not required. It should be noted that the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. In particular, the method outlined in Figs. The processor-executable program instructions are independent and not necessarily associated with any particular sterilization system. More specifically, the program shown in Figs. The processor executable program instructions are commercially available for incorporation into one or more sterilization systems. The software may be distributed on a publicly identifiable recording medium. As used herein, the term "recording medium" refers to a medium configured to hold one or more sets of program instructions. This refers to any electronic medium created using a memory, including read-only memory, random access memory, This includes, but is not limited to, a magnetic or optical disk or magnetic tape.

[0131] Those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that the present invention provides a method for detecting ultraviolet radiation having one or more reflectors. It is believed that the present invention provides a discharge lamp device and a method for operating such a device. It should be understood that the present invention further provides a method for controlling the operating parameters and / or disinfection schedule of a sterilization device. In particular, the system will provide a "smart" (i.e., the operating parameters of the sterilization device are adjusted taking into account one or more characteristics of the room. (determine the data and / or disinfection schedule). Configure the system to optimize the room disinfection process (e.g., time, efficiency, and thoroughness). Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art as described herein. It will be clear from the perspective.

[0132] For example, the above discussion emphasizes the construction of ultraviolet discharge lamp devices for disinfection purposes. The scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto. In particular, the ultraviolet discharge lamp device described herein is It may be used in any application that utilizes ultraviolet light. The system and process for determining the meter and disinfection schedule shall be consistent with any disinfection system. This description is therefore intended to be illustrative only. This disclosure is intended to teach those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. The forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. It is understood that elements and materials shown and described herein may be substituted, Also, parts and processes may be reversed and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently. all of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. It will be apparent that the present invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims. Changes may be made to the elements described in the specification.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a disinfectant source; and a process subsystem including a processor and program instructions executable by the processor; the process subsystem is configured to receive data regarding non-physical attributes of the room, including identification information for the room and / or occupancy information for the room, and data regarding physical characteristics of the room that are different from the non-physical attributes; determine a runtime for the disinfectant source to disinfect the room using an algorithm that correlates the data regarding the non-physical attributes of the room with the data regarding the physical characteristics of the room; and, after determining the runtime, send a command to one or more means within the apparatus to automatically initiate the runtime; The physical characteristics include the size and / or dimensions of the chamber, the number, size, distance, position, reflectivity and / or identity of one or more surfaces and / or objects within the chamber, and / or the number, concentration and / or identity of one or more pathological organisms within the chamber.

2. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further instructions for determining one or more additional operating parameters of the disinfectant source for disinfecting the room based on data regarding the non-physical attributes of the room and / or data regarding the physical characteristics of the room, the one or more additional operating parameters including a location of the disinfectant source within the room, a speed at which the disinfectant source moves through the room, an orientation of components comprising the disinfectant source, a discharge rate of germicide from the disinfectant source, and / or power supplied to the disinfectant source.

3. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant source is an ultraviolet lamp, the device further comprising one or more sensors that measure an amount of ultraviolet light, and the program instructions are further instructions for modifying the execution time based on measurements from the one or more sensors that measure the amount of ultraviolet light.

4. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program instructions for determining a run time of the disinfectant source include program instructions for determining a schedule of run times of the disinfectant source to disinfect the room.

5. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant source comprises a liquid, vapor, gas, plasma, ultraviolet light, and / or high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light disinfectant source.

6. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant source, when positioned within the chamber, is configured to emit disinfectant into an area from about 2 feet to about 4 feet above the floor of the chamber.

7. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disinfectant source comprises a plurality of disinfectant sources, and the program instructions further identify a target location, area, object, or surface within the room for each of the plurality of disinfectant sources based on data regarding the non-physical attributes of the room and data regarding the physical characteristics of the room, and determine one or more individual operating parameters for disinfecting the target location, area, object, or surface for each of the plurality of disinfectant sources.

8. An apparatus comprising: a sterilization device; and a process subsystem including a processor and program instructions executable by the processor; the sterilization apparatus is configured with a sterilant source, wheels disposed along a bottom of the sterilization apparatus, and a motor for automatically moving the sterilization apparatus through at least a portion of a room or area; the process subsystem is configured to receive data regarding non-physical attributes of the room, including identification information of the room and / or occupancy information regarding the room, and data regarding physical characteristics of the room that are different from the non-physical attributes; determine a speed at which the sterilization device will move throughout the room to sterilize the room using an algorithm that correlates the data regarding the non-physical attributes of the room with the data regarding the physical characteristics of the room; and, after determining the speed, send one or more commands to the motor to automatically effect the speed; The physical characteristics include the size and / or dimensions of the chamber, the number, size, distance, position, reflectivity and / or identity of one or more surfaces and / or objects within the chamber, and / or the number, concentration and / or identity of one or more pathological organisms within the chamber.

9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further instructions for determining one or more additional operating parameters of the sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the room based on data regarding the non-physical attributes of the room and / or data regarding the physical characteristics of the room, the one or more additional operating parameters including a run time of the sterilization apparatus, a position of the sterilization apparatus within the room, an orientation of components that make up the sterilization apparatus, a discharge rate of a germicide from the sterilization apparatus, and / or power supplied to the sterilization apparatus.

10. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the disinfectant source is an ultraviolet lamp, the device further comprising one or more sensors that measure an amount of ultraviolet light, and the program instructions are further instructions for varying the rate based on measurements from the one or more sensors that measure the amount of ultraviolet light.

11. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the program instructions for determining a speed at which the sterilization device moves through the room to sterilize the room include program instructions for determining a schedule of a speed at which the sterilization device moves through the room to sterilize the room.

12. 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the disinfectant source comprises a liquid, vapor, gas, plasma, ultraviolet light, and / or high intensity narrow spectrum (HINS) light disinfectant source.

13. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the disinfection device is configured to emit disinfectant into an area from about 2 feet to about 4 feet above the floor of the room when placed within the room.

14. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sterilization apparatus comprises a plurality of sterilization apparatuses, and the program instructions further identify a target location, area, object, or surface within the room for each of the plurality of sterilization apparatuses based on the data regarding the non-physical attributes of the room and the data regarding the physical characteristics of the room, and determine one or more individual operating parameters for sterilizing the target location, area, object, or surface for each of the plurality of sterilization apparatuses.

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