UV-C Area Sterilizer with Reflective Partition Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hospital-acquired infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, fungi, and viruses are prevalent, and existing disinfection methods are ineffective, hazardous, or environmentally unfriendly, particularly in large areas like operating rooms.
Innovation Solution
An ultraviolet C (UV-C) area sterilizer is integrated into building structures, using UV-C generators to direct and reflect UV-C radiation from architectural partitions to kill pathogens, with sensors measuring the cumulative dose to ensure effective disinfection and automatic shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas disinfection is used to eradicate surface contaminates, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but worker safety and environmental impact deteriorate due to hazards and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical gas disinfection with UV-C radiation technology. The UV-C sterilizer uses ultraviolet light at wavelengths of 200-280nm to achieve disinfection through photonic action on microbial DNA, eliminating the need for hazardous chemical gases while maintaining disinfection effectiveness and improving worker safety and environmental compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of disinfection from chemical concentration (gas phase) to electromagnetic radiation intensity (UV-C wavelength 200-280nm). This parameter transformation allows achieving the same disinfection goal without the harmful side effects associated with chemical gases, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and safety
2Ease of operation
If liquid disinfectants are used on surfaces, then ease of application is improved, but effectiveness deteriorates on difficult surfaces and antibiotic resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces liquid chemical disinfectants with UV-C radiation. The UV-C sterilizer emits ultraviolet light that penetrates and inactivates microorganisms on various surfaces including keyboards, television sets, and monitoring controls without requiring liquid application, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving effectiveness and preventing antibiotic resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV-C radiation as an intermediary disinfection mechanism that acts directly on microbial DNA without requiring surface contact or penetration. This intermediary approach allows disinfection of complex surfaces where liquid disinfectants fail, resolving the contradiction between ease of application and effectiveness
3Reliability
If UV-C radiation is used for area disinfection, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but safety concerns worsen due to worker exposure risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates radiation sensors that continuously monitor UV-C radiation levels in the environment. When the sensors detect that the cumulative dose has reached the effective threshold for pathogen elimination, they provide feedback to automatically shut down the UV-C generators, thereby ensuring disinfection effectiveness while preventing excessive worker exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary safety measures including positioning UV-C generators in architectural partitions to direct radiation away from occupied spaces, and installing radiation sensors before operation to establish baseline safety conditions. These preliminary actions prevent harmful exposure while maintaining 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 UV-C area sterilizer effectively disinfects large areas like operating rooms, reducing infection risks by ensuring a lethal dose of UV-C is achieved without harming people or the environment, and can sanitize or sterilize surfaces within a reasonable time, such as less than 20 minutes.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet C (UV-C) generators generate UV-C that is directed to architectural partitions of an enclosed area
Implementation Method 2
The architectural partitions reflect UV-C to kill pathogens in the enclosed area
Implementation Method 3
Once an effective cumulative dose of UV-C has been reflected to radiation sensors, as measured by the sensors
Data Source
AI summary
An ultraviolet area sterilizer or disinfector is incorporated into a building structure where concern exists regarding the presence of pathogenic bacteria on environmental surfaces. Ultraviolet C (UV-C) generators generate UV-C that is directed to architectural partitions of an enclosed area. The architectural partitions reflect UV-C to kill pathogens in the enclosed area. The device transmits a calculated dose of UV-C from a fixture mounted to an architectural partition in the enclosed area. Once an effective cumulative dose of UV-C has been reflected to radiation sensors, as measured by the sensors, the device shuts down.