Far-UVC Air Disinfection System for Personal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultraviolet disinfection devices for air are large, harmful to humans, and require facemasks that obstruct breathing and speech, making them unsuitable for portable personal use against airborne pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A compact, battery-powered air disinfection system using 200-230 nm far-UVC radiation to kill airborne pathogens directly in the inhaled air, eliminating the need for obstructive facemasks and ensuring safety for users by minimizing biological penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional germicidal UV light sources (250-280 nm) are used for air disinfection, then effective pathogen destruction is achieved, but health hazards to users occur due to penetration into human cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of UV light from conventional 250-280 nm to far-UVC 207-222 nm range. This parameter change maintains germicidal effectiveness while reducing biological penetration depth, thereby eliminating health hazards to users. The specific wavelength shift is the key parameter modification that resolves the contradiction between disinfection effectiveness and user safety.
2Reliability
If facemasks with UV light sources are used for personal protection, then pathogen filtration is improved, but breathing obstruction and speech intelligibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system (facemask physical barriers) with an optical disinfection system (far-UVC light irradiation). Instead of mechanically blocking pathogens with filters that obstruct breathing, the system uses 207-222 nm UV light to destroy pathogens in the air before inhalation, thereby maintaining protection effectiveness while eliminating mechanical obstruction to breathing and speech.
3Reliability
If high-intensity shortwave ultraviolet lamps are used for disinfection, then pathogen destruction capability is improved, but device size and power requirements increase making portable use impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential disinfection function from bulky conventional UV lamps and ballast systems, isolating only the necessary 207-222 nm light source and minimal control electronics. By removing unnecessary components (large ballasts, AC power requirements, excessive housing), the system achieves portable dimensions while maintaining effective germicidal capability through the efficient far-UVC wavelength range.
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
Provides effective personal protection against airborne pathogens without obstructing breathing or speech, ensuring safety and freedom of movement while reducing the risk of infection for the user and those around them.
Implementation Method 1
irradiates the airflow with energy in the electromagnetic spectrum
Implementation Method 2
the far-UVC range of 200 nm-230 nm has similar anti-microbial and anti-viral properties as conventional germicidal UV lights
Implementation Method 3
light in this far-UVC wavelength range has a very limited biological penetration depth. Although the penetration is limited, it is still much larger than the size of viruses and bacteria, therefore far-UVC light is able to kill these pathogens
Implementation Method 4
Shortwave far-UVC photons at 200-230 nm range have germicidal effect without penetrating or damaging live human cells
Data Source
AI summary
Wearable UV air disinfection system in a compact and fully portable form factor. Practical air disinfection system may be worn by a user to kill or deactivate germs, viruses or other pathogens, which are located in the air to be breathed by the user. Air being inhaled or exhaled by the user is exposed to Ultra-Violet C-band (UVC) radiation. This UVC radiation is lethal to undesirable germs, viruses and other pathogens. In this manner, pathogen-free air is being inhaled or exhaled by the user.