Room Sanitization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sanitization methods in hospitals and public places are inefficient, time-consuming, and costly, often leaving residues and posing hazards, while relying on human labor that can lead to incomplete cleaning and increased risk of infectious disease transmission.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatic fluid delivery system that uses a housing with a reservoir, nozzle assembly, pump, and controller to dispense disinfectant fluid in a controlled manner, ensuring a dwell time of at least one to ten minutes for effective sanitization, utilizing electrostatic charging to ensure thorough coverage of surfaces without over-saturation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If manual spraying and wiping methods are used for sanitization, then coverage can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical wiping with an automated electrostatic spray system that uses electrostatic charging to deposit disinfectant uniformly on surfaces. The system uses a spray nozzle that charges disinfectant particles electrostatically, allowing them to be attracted to and adhere on surfaces without manual contact, thereby reducing time and labor while maintaining coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic spray system automatically distributes and deposits the disinfectant through electrostatic attraction, eliminating the need for manual wiping. The charged particles self-adhere to surfaces including vertical and overhead surfaces, providing self-service coverage that reduces labor intensity and time.
2Area of stationary object
If sprinkler type systems are used for area sanitization, then entire areas can be covered, but large residues are left and areas become unusable until drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sprinkler-based liquid dispensing with electrostatic spray technology that charges disinfectant particles. These charged particles are attracted to surfaces and deposit as a thin, uniform layer rather than pooling as liquid residue. The electrostatic attraction ensures precise deposition only where needed, minimizing excess residue while covering entire areas including vertical and overhead surfaces.
3Ease of operation
If manual wiping by janitorial crews is used, then cleaning can be performed, but errors and incomplete cleaning occur due to human oversight
Solution Approach 1:
The electrostatic spray system performs sanitization automatically without human intervention. The system self-regulates the spray pattern, coverage area, and deposit uniformity through electrostatic principles, eliminating human error and oversight. The charged particles naturally distribute themselves uniformly across all surfaces within the treatment area, ensuring complete and consistent coverage without relying on operator skill or attention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and controllers that monitor the sanitization process in real-time, ensuring proper coverage and dwell time. The electrostatic field distribution can be monitored and adjusted to maintain optimal performance, providing feedback control that ensures reliable and complete sanitization without human oversight errors.
4Reliability
If UV devices are used for operating room sanitization, then contamination can be reduced, but the process takes a long time and requires room closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces UV irradiation with electrostatic spray disinfection. The spray system can be applied quickly to all surfaces including vertical and overhead surfaces, achieving effective sanitization in a fraction of the time required by UV devices. The electrostatic deposition ensures immediate coverage and the disinfectant begins working upon contact, eliminating the extended exposure times required by UV methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses rapid, periodic spray pulses that quickly deposit disinfectant layers on all surfaces. The electrostatic charging and deposition process occurs in seconds, allowing the entire room to be sanitized in a matter of minutes rather than the hours required by UV treatment, thereby minimizing room downtime while maintaining effectiveness.
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 system provides rapid, effective, and thorough sanitization, reducing downtime in hospitals and public spaces by ensuring all surfaces are treated with a sufficient dwell time to kill contaminants, minimizing the risk of infection and allowing for quick reuse of areas.
Implementation Method 1
The system utilizes an electrostatic delivery system that sprays an electrically charged fluid, such as a disinfectant, into the air which will utilize the charge of the walls and the ceiling for facilitating the dispersion of the sanitization fluid throughout the entire room
Implementation Method 2
The synergistic effect of the electrostatically charged sanitization fluid and the respective structure is that the fluid is drawn throughout the respective adjacent airspace due to the charged particles being attracted to the non-charged air particles
Data Source
AI summary
A disinfecting system for a room having at least a first and second wall defining a room dimension including a housing having a reservoir containing a disinfecting fluid, a nozzle assembly including a nozzle and a nozzle controller for dispensing the disinfecting fluid into a room, and a pump for communicating the disinfecting fluid from the reservoir to the nozzle assembly. A controller controls the dispensing of the disinfectant. A dispensing profile controls the dispensing of said disinfectant. The dispensing profile utilizes the dimensions of the room as instructions for the central controller to identify the range for dispensing the disinfecting fluid. The central controller utilizes the dispensing profile instructions for manipulating either the pump, fan or nozzle assembly to dispense a desired volume of the disinfectant fluid at a range as identified by the dispensing profile. Wherein the amount of sanitization fluid dispensed will remain in a fluid state within the room constituting a dwell time of at least between one minute and ten minutes.