Self-Disinfecting Device With Translucent Housing And UV-C Light Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for disinfecting hand-held devices such as mobile computers and bar code scanners in hospital environments are inefficient and dependent on the quality and thoroughness of cleaning, posing health risks due to residual pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A self-disinfecting device with a translucent housing and an ultraviolet light source powered by an electrical source, which emits light at a wavelength and intensity that kills bacteria without harming human skin, integrated into the device's design to continuously disinfect its surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cleaning solutions are used to disinfect devices, then bacteria reduction is achieved, but the effectiveness is dependent on the quality and thoroughness of manual cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an automated UV-C lighting system that performs disinfection autonomously without requiring manual intervention. The system includes a UV-C light source, power source, and control circuitry that automatically activates the disinfection function, eliminating dependency on manual cleaning quality while ensuring consistent disinfection effectiveness.
2Reliability
If UV light is used to disinfect the device surface, then continuous disinfection is achieved, but the light must be contained within the housing to protect users
Solution Approach 1:
The housing incorporates translucent panels in specific locations where UV-C light can pass through to disinfect external surfaces. These translucent portions are strategically positioned to allow targeted UV exposure of high-touch areas while maintaining opacity in other regions for user protection. This localized transparency approach enables continuous disinfection without requiring the entire housing to be transparent or complex shielding structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the housing material is made translucent to allow light passage, then disinfection of external surfaces is enabled, but the material selection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies translucent housing materials with particular optical properties that allow UV-C light transmission. By defining the required light transmission parameters rather than restricting to specific materials, the invention enables use of various translucent plastics and polymers that meet the optical criteria, balancing manufacturability with disinfection 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 solution provides a continuous and efficient disinfection method that reduces bacterial contamination on the devices, enhancing patient and staff safety by ensuring a cleaner environment without relying on manual cleaning quality.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet light source positioned within the housing for emitting light at a wavelength and an intensity that kills bacteria on the outer surface of the housing's translucent material
Data Source
AI summary
A self-disinfecting device includes a housing with translucent material and an internal light source that is used to reduce surface pathogens on the translucent material. The device includes a processor and a light source positioned within the housing. At least a portion of the housing is translucent to radiation, and the light source emits radiation at a wavelength and an intensity that kills pathogens residing on the outer surface of the housing.