UV Disinfection System with Dynamic Parameter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UV disinfection systems cause excessive damage to materials and pose safety risks due to high UV energy levels, and existing systems fail to effectively connect data from multiple workflows to understand and mitigate hospital-acquired infections, particularly in high-touch areas.
Innovation Solution
A low-dose UV treatment method that adjusts UV intensity and exposure time based on calibration, using a UV intensity meter, and incorporates a disinfection control system that dynamically adjusts parameters to ensure adequate disinfection while minimizing material degradation and user exposure, with features like lockouts, proximity detection, and data tracking for infection monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional UV disinfection systems use high UV energy levels, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but material degradation and user safety risks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts UV intensity and exposure time based on real-time sensor feedback from the environment. The control system modifies treatment parameters during operation to maintain effective disinfection while preventing excessive material degradation and ensuring user safety through adaptive parameter control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes UV treatment parameters (intensity, duration, wavelength) based on calibrated measurements from UV intensity meters and environmental sensors. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than using fixed high-dose settings, the system achieves effective disinfection with reduced material damage and improved safety profiles.
2Reliability
If UV treatment parameters are fixed at high levels, then disinfection reliability is improved, but material lifespan worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed high-dose UV treatment to dynamic parameter adjustment based on real-time environmental sensing. The control system continuously adapts UV intensity and exposure duration to achieve adequate disinfection with minimal cumulative damage to treated materials, extending their operational lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates UV intensity meters and environmental sensors that provide real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust UV treatment parameters dynamically, ensuring sufficient disinfection effectiveness while preventing excessive cumulative exposure that would degrade materials over time.
3Loss of information
If multiple workflow data sources are integrated, then infection tracking capability is improved, but system complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple workflow data sources (UV treatment records, environmental sensors, workflow management data) into a unified platform that performs multiple functions: tracking disinfection effectiveness, monitoring environmental conditions, and analyzing infection risks. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity rather than increasing it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines data from UV treatment systems, environmental sensors, and workflow management into a single integrated platform. By merging these previously separate systems into one unified architecture, the platform reduces overall system complexity while enhancing infection tracking and analysis capabilities through comprehensive data correlation.
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 effective disinfection with reduced material damage and user safety, while enabling data-driven infection control by tracking and adjusting UV treatment parameters in real-time, thereby reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections.
Implementation Method 1
UV-C radiation has a short wavelength and contains more energy than UV-A- and UV-B radiation. It includes the greater part of the entire UV range and has a strong germicidal effect in the range of 254 nm.
Implementation Method 2
the UV intensity and exposure time of a UV treatment device are uniquely adjusted based on an initial calibration using a UV intensity meter
Implementation Method 3
We track both the proximity exposures to accumulate dose allowances over time
Data Source
AI summary
A low dose disinfection and control system that utilizes empirical and theoretical data to compare performance, sensor data, stored patterns, historical usage, use intensity indexes over time and tracking information to provide a sophisticated data collection system for disinfection. The data can be used to dynamically control UV treatment parameters. This tracking is designed to enable a learning and feedback tool that helps to modify behavior and the understanding of infection. The present invention provides a system for integrating UV treatment into products. The product may include an outer layer of UV transmissive material forming an external touch surface. The UV disinfection system includes a UV source internal to the product. In use, the internal UV source produces UV-C light that passes into and permeates the outer layer to treat the touch surface. A UV reflective layer may be disposed beneath the outer layer.