Ultraviolet Sterilization for Protective Suits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current chemical-biological protective suits are non-breathable, leading to heat stress and lack a mechanism for detoxifying chemical and biological agents, with existing ultraviolet-based sterilization methods facing challenges in ensuring thorough disinfection due to shadowing and limited adsorption capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system incorporating a disinfection chamber and handheld ultraviolet unit that uses multiple ultraviolet sources to irradiate surfaces from various directions, inducing fluorescence and adjusting sterilization based on image and fluorescence data to ensure comprehensive disinfection, while also providing a breathable protective suit with integrated ultraviolet disinfection for air and surface sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple ultraviolet sources are used to irradiate surfaces from various directions, then sterilization completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization system is divided into multiple independent ultraviolet sources positioned at different locations and angles. Each source independently irradiates specific areas of the protective suit, ensuring complete coverage including shadowed regions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive sterilization while maintaining modular simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial dimensionality by positioning ultraviolet sources at multiple angles and locations around the protective suit. Instead of a single source, the system uses sources arranged in three-dimensional space to eliminate shadowing effects and ensure all surfaces receive adequate irradiation, thereby improving sterilization completeness without significantly increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If chemical-biological protective suits are made non-breathable to provide robust protection, then protection reliability is improved, but heat stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical detoxification systems with ultraviolet radiation-based sterilization. Instead of relying on heavy chemical filters or absorbent materials that increase suit weight and complexity, the system uses UV-C radiation to sterilize the protective suit externally, allowing the suit material to remain lightweight and breathable while maintaining protection reliability.
3Reliability
If adsorbents are used to detoxify chemical agents, then detoxification capability is improved, but adsorption capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical adsorption-based detoxification with physical ultraviolet radiation-based sterilization. UV-C light directly inactivates biological agents and decomposes chemical contaminants through photolysis, eliminating the need for adsorbent materials with limited capacity. This substitution provides unlimited detoxification capability without consuming adsorbent substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultraviolet radiation, particularly UV-C, acts as a strong oxidizing agent that decomposes chemical bonds in contaminants. This photo-oxidation process effectively detoxifies chemical agents by breaking down their molecular structures, providing a capacity-limited independent detoxification mechanism that does not rely on adsorbent saturation.
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 sterilizes surfaces and air, reducing heat stress and enhancing protection by ensuring thorough disinfection of chemical and biological agents, even in shadowed areas, and providing a breathable suit for improved user comfort.
Implementation Method 1
inducing fluorescence and adjusting sterilization based on image and fluorescence data
Implementation Method 2
uses multiple ultraviolet sources to irradiate surfaces from various directions
Implementation Method 3
UV-C light can destroy the DNA and/or RNA (genetic material) of pathogens
Data Source
AI summary
A system capable of detecting and/or sterilizing surface(s) of an object using ultraviolet radiation is provided. The system can include a disinfection chamber and/or handheld ultraviolet unit, which includes ultraviolet sources for inducing fluorescence in a contaminant and/or sterilizing a surface of an object. The object can comprise a protective suit, which is worn by a user and also can include ultraviolet sources for disinfecting air prior to the air entering the protective suit. The system can be implemented as a multi-tiered system for protecting the user and others from exposure to the contaminant and sterilizing the protective suit after exposure to an environment including the contaminant.