UV Sterilization System for Forced-Air Patient Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Forced-air convection warming systems in operating rooms pose a risk of nosocomial infections due to the potential for airborne pathogens to be introduced into the sterile field, as they often draw in pathogen-laden air and lack effective filtration, leading to contamination within the heating chamber.
Innovation Solution
A compact, quiet, and unobtrusive air sterilization and disinfection system that incorporates an airflow and irradiation management chamber with UV LEDs, high-efficiency particulate filters, and a blower/warmer to sterilize air before warming, ensuring pathogen-free air is delivered to the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If forced-air convection warming systems are used to maintain patient body temperature, then patient thermal regulation is improved, but the risk of nosocomial infection increases due to airborne pathogen contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sterilization of air using UV-C radiation before the air enters the heating chamber. This pre-treatment eliminates pathogens from the air stream before warming, preventing contamination while maintaining the thermal regulation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sterilization chamber with UV-C LEDs between the air intake and the heating element. This intermediary component acts as a barrier that neutralizes pathogens without interfering with the thermal convection process, resolving the contradiction between warming and contamination prevention.
2Ease of operation
If compact forced-air warming units are positioned near the patient bed for portability, then ease of operation is improved, but the air intake draws in pathogen-laden air from non-sterile areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes pathogens from the air stream using UV-C sterilization before the air enters the heating chamber. By taking out the harmful pathogens while retaining the useful air flow, the system maintains operational flexibility while preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful pathogen-laden air intake into a benefit by using the same air stream that would otherwise be contaminated as the medium for UV-C sterilization. The air flow that draws in pathogens becomes the vehicle for delivering sterilization throughout the system.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard particulate filters are used in forced-air warming systems, then some particle removal is achieved, but filtration effectiveness is insufficient and depends on maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical particulate filtration system with a UV-C radiation sterilization system. This substitution eliminates the maintenance-dependent mechanical filters and uses electromagnetic radiation to achieve reliable pathogen elimination without moving parts or consumable filter media.
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 system effectively achieves a 2 log (99%) kill rate of airborne pathogens, providing clean and pure air for patient temperature management while being suitable for surgical environments.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the air stream to a dosage of UV radiation sufficient to penetrate and kill the pathogens
Implementation Method 2
a turbulator that creates a turbulent flow
Implementation Method 3
Forced-air convection systems are well-described in the prior art and typically use a pump and heater system to blow warm air
Data Source
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AI summary
An improvement to UV sterilization and disinfection devices and methods is disclosed. An apparatus for sterilization and disinfection includes: a compact, highly effective air sterilization and disinfection apparatus, which delivers clean, pure air directly into a blower/warmer device for clean and effective management of patient body temperature.