Confined-Environment Surface Disinfection With Airborne Sensor Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual disinfection procedures in confined environments are prone to errors, leading to unreliable traceability and potential health and safety risks, while existing automated systems lack efficient waste reduction and traceability features.

Innovation Solution

A method involving an environmental identification device, object recognition means, and a sanitizing apparatus that dispenses airborne decontaminating agents, with sensors to monitor and certify disinfection based on concentration and contact time, ensuring compliance with predefined quality standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual disinfection procedures are performed by operators, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but reliability and measurement precision deteriorate due to transcription errors and evaluation errors in traceability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraceability reliabilityVSAvoidmanual operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service automation where the sanitizing apparatus autonomously performs disinfection procedures and automatically records traceability data without requiring manual intervention for transcription or evaluation, thereby improving reliability while reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect decontaminating agent concentration and automatically records disinfection parameters, substituting human operators with an automated measurement and recording system to eliminate transcription errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If decontaminating agent is dispensed to ensure thorough disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but substance loss and waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoiddecontaminating agent waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback control where sensors continuously monitor the concentration of decontaminating agent in the confined environment and provide this information to the control system, which adjusts the dispensing rate to maintain optimal concentration levels without excessive application, thereby reducing substance waste while ensuring disinfection effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts dispensing parameters such as flow rate and duration based on real-time concentration measurements and environmental factors, optimizing the amount of decontaminating agent used to achieve effective disinfection while minimizing waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If dispensing time is extended to ensure adequate contact time for disinfection, then disinfection quality is improved, but time loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection qualityVSAvoiddisinfection procedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes dispensing parameters including concentration, flow rate, and duration based on the specific confined environment characteristics and decontaminating agent properties, achieving effective disinfection in optimized timeframes rather than using fixed extended durations, thus reducing time loss while maintaining quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Ensures reliable disinfection traceability, reduces waste, and guarantees effective disinfection by monitoring airborne product concentration and contact time, adhering to EN standards, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

detecting the concentration of airborne decontaminating agent in the confined environment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConcentration detection:

Implementation Method 2

dispensing said decontaminating agent in the air by a diffuser element of the sanitizing apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirborne dispersion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS20250262339A1Disinfection of surfaces in confined environments

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 WORK IN PROGRESS BIO-MEDICAL SRL

AI summary

A method of performing, tracking, and controlling airborne disinfection of surfaces of a confined environment and objects contained therein is provided. The method involves associating an environmental identification device to the confined environment and providing a plurality of objects associated with recognition elements and a sanitizing apparatus. Identification information about the confined environment is acquired from the environmental identification device, information about the objects is acquired from the recognition elements, and information is acquired about a decontaminating agent to be dispensed into the confined environment. The acquired information is processed and a dispensing time is calculated. The decontaminating agent is dispensed by a diffuser of the sanitizing apparatus for a calculated dispensing time. The concentration of the decontaminating agent in the confined environment is detected and certification information is made available about the airborne disinfection of the surfaces within the confined environment and the objects contained therein.