UV-C Decontamination Device with Reflector Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decontamination methods, particularly with liquid cleaning agents, are often ineffective for disinfecting surfaces due to shape and material constraints, and there is a need for safe and efficient tools to reduce the spread of viruses and harmful organisms.
Innovation Solution
A decontamination device featuring a housing with a light source emitting UV-C and/or UV-A light, guided by a light guide with a reflector device, and an interface for controlled operation, allowing for safe and efficient disinfection of various surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid cleaning agents are used for disinfection, then hygiene protection is provided, but they are ineffective for surfaces with specific shapes and materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces liquid cleaning agents with a UV-C light-based decontamination device. The device uses electromagnetic radiation (UV-C light) instead of mechanical/chemical liquid agents, allowing disinfection of surfaces that are difficult to reach with liquids, including complex shapes and materials that liquid agents cannot effectively contact or penetrate.
2Productivity
If UV light is directed effectively for rapid decontamination, then exposure time is reduced, but heat management becomes critical for component lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs heat sinks with optimized thermal conductivity parameters to manage heat generated by high-power UV-C LED arrays. The heat sink design changes thermal parameters (conductivity, surface area) to efficiently dissipate heat, enabling the system to operate at high power levels for rapid decontamination while maintaining component temperatures within safe operating limits for extended device lifetime.
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 device provides rapid and secure decontamination of surfaces, reducing exposure time and improving hygiene by directing UV light effectively, while ensuring safe operation and extended component lifetime through improved heat distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide for guiding light from the light source towards a UV-transparent area of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The light guide comprises a reflector device having a reflector structure in a proximal surface of the reflector device, the reflector structure comprising a plurality of reflector cavities
Data Source
AI summary
A decontamination system, decontamination assembly, decontamination device and related methods are disclosed, the decontamination device comprising a housing comprising a head part and a handle part; a light source configured to emit UV-C light; a light guide for guiding light from the light source towards a UV-transparent area in the head part of the housing; and an interface, wherein the light guide comprises a reflector device having a reflector structure in a proximal surface of the reflector device, the reflector structure comprising a plurality of reflector cavities comprising a first set of reflector cavities and a second set of reflector cavities, each reflector cavity having a reflector surface, the first set of reflector cavities including a first primary reflector cavity having a first primary reflector surface, and a first secondary reflector cavity having a first secondary reflector surface, and the second set of reflector cavities including a second primary reflector cavity having a second primary reflector surface.