Blue-Violet Lighting for Occupied-Space Pathogen Inactivation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling pathogens in environments such as healthcare facilities and food processing areas are either labor-intensive, difficult to monitor, or ineffective, and many methods involving UV-light, ozone, or chemical fumigation are toxic to humans, requiring environments to be sealed off during decontamination.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system that includes a lighting device with at least one lighting element configured to provide light toward a target area, with the light having a pathogen-inactivating component in the wavelength range of 400 nanometers to 420 nanometers, producing an irradiance of at least 0.01 mW/cm2 at a surface 1.5 meters from the lighting device, thereby inactivating pathogens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UV-light, ozone or chemical fumigation is used to deactivate pathogens, then pathogen deactivation effectiveness is improved, but human safety deteriorates due to toxicity requiring space sealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen deactivation effectivenessVSAvoidhuman safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter of light from traditional UV-C (200-280nm) to visible blue-violet light (400-420nm). This parameter change maintains pathogen deactivation effectiveness while eliminating the harmful effects associated with UV radiation, allowing the lighting device to be used in occupied spaces without requiring sealing or special safety precautions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts potentially harmful UV radiation into beneficial visible light in the 400-420nm range. This visible light range is safe for human exposure while retaining the pathogen deactivation capability, effectively transforming a harmful approach into a safe and practical solution for continuous use in occupied environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If hygiene methods are used to control pathogens, then human safety is maintained, but pathogen control effectiveness deteriorates due to being labor-intensive and temporarily effective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehuman safetyVSAvoidpathogen control effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual hygiene practices (mechanical cleaning, disinfection procedures) with an automated optical system. The lighting device continuously emits light in the 400-420nm range that actively deactivates pathogens, providing permanent rather than temporary effectiveness and eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting device provides self-service pathogen control by continuously emitting light that automatically deactivates pathogens in the environment. The system requires no human intervention once installed, constantly maintaining pathogen-free conditions through the inherent properties of the emitted light

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If environments are sealed off for decontamination using toxic methods, then pathogen deactivation effectiveness is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to space unavailability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen deactivation effectivenessVSAvoidspace availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device enables continuous pathogen deactivation without interruption to space usage. The visible light in the 400-420nm range can be emitted continuously in occupied spaces, providing ongoing protection while maintaining full productivity and space availability, unlike sealing methods that cause complete downtime

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

The lighting system effectively inactivates pathogens in environments without the need for sealing off the space, providing a safe and efficient method for decontamination while also serving as a means of illumination.

Implementation Method 1

the provided light having at least a pathogen-inactivating first component in a first range of wavelengths of 400 nanometers to 420 nanometers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotodisruption: Photodissociation

Data Source

PatentUS12264815B2Method of providing doses of light sufficient to deactivate dangerous pathogens throughout a volumetric space over a period of time

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 LEGRAND LIGHTING MFG CO

AI summary

A method of inactivating one or more pathogens in an environment. The method includes providing light from at least one lighting element of a lighting device installed in the environment, the at least one lighting element configured to provide light toward a target area in the environment, the provided light having at least a pathogen-inactivating first component in a first range of wavelengths of 400 nanometers to 420 nanometers. The pathogen-inactivating first component of light produces an irradiance of at least 0.01 mW/cm2 as measured at a surface in the target area that is unshielded from the lighting device and located at a distance of 1.5 meters from an external-most luminous surface of the lighting device. Providing the light causes the one or more pathogens to be inactivated.