Near field safe antimicrobial wavelength disinfection via optical fibers, light guides, or light pipes for percutaneous or indwelling ambulatory disinfection of catheters, vascular access lines, drains, endo-tracheal tubes and similar medical devices

Abstract

Far UV-C wavelengths provide safe and effective antimicrobial disinfectants without genotoxic or ocular toxicities associated with broadband UV-C disinfection. Antimicrobial wavelengths must be applied judiciously to avoid dysbiosis of human and environmental microbiomes. Disclosed is the application of far UV-C or other safe antimicrobial wavelengths via optical fiber delivery to disinfect percutaneous or indwelling medical devices such as various medical grade catheters (urinary, IV), tubes or drains which are a primary source of nosocomial infection. A central photon source is configured to deliver disinfecting antimicrobial wavelengths into one or more optical fibers, light pipes or light guides embedded or molded into such devices to distribute disinfecting wavelengths near field to specific animate and inanimate targets for optimal efficacy with limited, radiant dosing minimizing antimicrobial exposure of non-targeted surfaces to reduce or eliminate infectious pathogens, reduce nosocomial infection while minimizing impact on human and environmental microbiomes.

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