Camera-Monitored Flash Disinfection for Touch-Contaminated Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plumbing systems experience hot water service lag due to long distances between hot water heaters and fixtures, leading to inefficiencies and inconvenience, while antiseptic measures for surfaces are not effectively integrated into daily plumbing systems for hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A plumbing system with a control mechanism that recaptures and reuses hot water, combined with self-sterilizing and antiseptic technologies for surfaces, including camera-monitored disinfecting devices and antiseptic dispensing mechanisms, to ensure efficient energy and water use and enhanced hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If hot water recirculation systems are implemented to reduce hot water service lag, then hot water availability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hot water recirculation system into multiple zones or circuits, allowing different recirculation strategies for different parts of the building. This reduces overall system complexity by managing recirculation in distributed segments rather than a single complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-regulating recirculation mechanisms that automatically adjust flow based on temperature sensors and demand detection, eliminating the need for complex manual controls or continuous pump operation. The system serves itself by maintaining hot water readiness without constant external intervention.
2Ease of operation
If touch-based surfaces are used for user interaction, then ease of operation is improved, but hygiene and contamination risk worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous antimicrobial treatment of touch surfaces through integrated dispensing mechanisms that constantly apply antiseptic agents. This continuous action maintains hygiene without interrupting the usability of touch surfaces, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary antimicrobial agent between the user's hand and the surface, creating a protective barrier that allows touch interaction while preventing direct contact with contaminants. This mediator enables both ease of operation and hygiene protection simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Surface disinfecting and sterilizing devices, systems and methods are provided. Surface disinfecting systems provided include a control system with one or more camera(s) and an aimable, rapid disinfecting and/or sterilizing device(s), all of which may be installed within a public or other high-traffic environment, and configured to monitor and treat all touched surfaces within the environment. The control system determines a cooling time for each such touched surface and type of treatment, and prevents treatment from occurring when treated surface(s) are accessible by human body part(s) or other objects within the environment. The invention may be provided on or in any form of user interface that may be physically touched by a user. For example, in some embodiments, the invention may be provided to treat, disinfect and sterilize door handles, touchscreens, or other user controls, and any other user interfaces bearing a risk of carrying microbes and pathogens.