Ceiling Light Fixture with UV Reflector and Baffles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disinfection techniques for infectious diseases are labor-intensive and impractical for effectively decontaminating large areas, including hospital rooms, due to the volume of air and surfaces, as well as the difficulty in accessing and treating airborne pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A light fixture integrated into a conventional ceiling opening that combines general lighting with UVC lighting, featuring a precision multi-part reflector system and a UV light regulator to direct UVC light within a narrow plane, minimizing human exposure and using a separate reactor for air treatment, which can be controlled based on occupancy to optimize disinfection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual disinfection techniques are used to decontaminate surfaces and air in hospital rooms, then disinfection can be performed, but the process becomes labor intensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical disinfection processes with an automated UV-C lighting system. The system uses UV-C lamps integrated into ceiling fixtures to automatically disinfect air and surfaces without requiring physical manual intervention, thereby maintaining disinfection effectiveness while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating labor-intensive manual decontamination processes
Solution Approach 2:
The UV-C disinfection system operates autonomously without requiring continuous human operation. The system self-regulates through occupancy sensors that automatically activate or deactivate the UV-C lamps based on whether the room is occupied, enabling the disinfection process to serve itself without manual intervention while maintaining reliable pathogen reduction
2Reliability
If a mobile UV lighting assembly is transported to each room for disinfection, then air and surface disinfection can be achieved, but the process becomes laborious due to transport and scheduling efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-C disinfection capability is pre-installed and integrated into the ceiling infrastructure of each room beforehand. This preliminary action eliminates the need for transporting mobile assemblies between rooms, as the disinfection system is already in position and ready for automatic operation when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces occupancy sensors and control systems as intermediaries between human presence and UV-C lamp operation. These intermediaries automatically manage the activation and deactivation of disinfection based on room occupancy status, eliminating the need for manual scheduling and operation while ensuring comprehensive disinfection coverage
3Reliability
If UV light is directed into the room for surface disinfection, then surface pathogen reduction is achieved, but human exposure to UV light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different parts of the UV lighting system. UV-C lamps are positioned and directed to specifically target surfaces and air pathways for disinfection, while occupancy sensors and control mechanisms create localized protection zones that prevent UV light from exposing occupants. This local differentiation allows effective surface disinfection while minimizing harmful human exposure
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 solution provides efficient and targeted air and surface disinfection, reducing labor costs and improving practicality by ensuring effective pathogen reduction in large environments while minimizing exposure risks.
Implementation Method 1
A light fixture configured to be disposed within a room and operable to provide visible light for the room and air disinfection via application of UV light to air flowing through an air treatment chamber
Implementation Method 2
one or more baffles may be disposed within the air chamber to substantially prevent UV light from leaking past the one or more baffles into the room
Data Source
AI summary
A light fixture is provided to be disposed within a room and operable to provide visible light for the room and air disinfection via application of UV light to air flowing through an air treatment chamber. In one embodiment, one or more baffles may be disposed within the air chamber to substantially prevent UV light from leaking past the one or more baffles into the room. In one embodiment, a UV light regulator may be provided to selectively control an amount of UV light directed into the room.