Alternating UVA/UVC System for Human-Safe Coronavirus Surface Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UV light systems for reducing coronavirus levels on surfaces pose health risks to humans due to deleterious effects on the eye and skin, necessitating a safer alternative.

Innovation Solution

An alternating UVA/UVC system with controlled emission cycles and a controller to ensure safe exposure levels, using UVA to inhibit growth and UVC to reduce coronavirus levels without harm to humans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If UVC light is used to reduce coronavirus levels on surfaces, then coronavirus reduction effectiveness is improved, but health risks to humans (eye and skin damage) worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoronavirus reduction effectivenessVSAvoidhealth risks to humans

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system alternates between UVC light emission periods and UVA light emission periods, with UVC used periodically to reduce coronavirus levels and UVA used during other periods to inhibit growth. This periodic switching allows the system to achieve effective coronavirus reduction through UVC while avoiding continuous exposure that would cause health risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the wavelength parameter of UV light emission between UVC (200-280 nm) and UVA (315-400 nm) modes. By switching between these different wavelength ranges, the system can achieve effective coronavirus inactivation when needed while using safer UVA radiation during other times to maintain growth inhibition without causing excessive harm to human tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If high power UVC light is used to achieve rapid coronavirus inactivation, then inactivation speed is improved, but damage to human epidermis and dermis worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinactivation speedVSAvoiddamage to human epidermis and dermis

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic UVC emission followed by UVA emission periods. During UVC phases, high power can be applied for rapid inactivation of remaining viruses, while the subsequent UVA phases provide growth inhibition and allow tissue recovery, preventing cumulative damage to epidermis and dermis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous antiviral action by switching between UVC (for inactivation) and UVA (for growth inhibition) modes. This ensures that viral reduction is maintained over time without requiring continuous high-power UVC exposure that would cause tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If continuous UVC exposure is used to maintain coronavirus reduction, then viral reduction level is improved, but safety for human exposure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviral reduction levelVSAvoidsafety for human exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system alternates between UVC and UVA emission periods, using UVC periodically to maintain viral reduction levels and UVA during other periods to provide growth inhibition while allowing human tissue recovery. This periodic switching maintains reliability of viral reduction while ensuring safety for continuous human exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses UVA light as an intermediary during periods when UVC is not active. UVA serves as a mediator that continues to inhibit viral growth while being safer for human exposure, bridging the gap between UVC inactivation phases and providing safe maintenance periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively reduces coronavirus levels by up to 100% on surfaces while ensuring safety for humans, with no adverse effects on eyes and skin.

Implementation Method 1

UVC and UVB could be absorbed by RNA or DNA molecules and induce photo-chemical fusion of the adjacent pyrimidines into covalent-linked dimers such as thymine/cytosine dimers in DNA or uracil/cytosine dimers in RNA

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhoto-chemical fusion of pyrimidines: Photo-oxidation

Implementation Method 2

UVA can provide oxidative damage to DNA, lead to production of reactive oxygen species and induce membrane damage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidative damage: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

UV light sources are known to be very effective in reducing coronavirus levels on surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV light absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12458715B2Ultra-violet A (UVA) and ultra-violet C (UVC) system and methods for inactivation, reduction and inhibition of growth of coronavirus

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 HELIOS SHIELD LTD

AI summary

A UVA/UVC system for reducing active levels, on a surface, and inhibiting further growth of coronavirus on the surface, wherein the system has no deleterious effects on a human, in particular on a human eye or epidermis and dermis, wherein the system includes:iv) at least one UVA light source;v) at least one UVC light source; andat least one controller connected to each of the at least one UVA light source and the at least one UVC light source, for controlling at least one parameter of each of the UVA light source and UVC light source.