UVA Lighting System for Safe Pathogen Inactivation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems that use visible light for disinfection are inefficient, costly, and pose health risks due to high power consumption, limited disinfection effectiveness, and adverse physiological effects, while UV-based systems are hazardous to humans and require high irradiance levels for effective pathogen inactivation.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system that generates light with wavelengths between 280 to 380 nanometers, reducing power consumption and increasing disinfection efficiency while minimizing exposure risks to humans by using lower irradiance levels and being less perceptible, thus achieving higher inactivation rates with reduced physiological disturbances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If UV light (200-300 nm) is used to inactivate pathogens, then inactivation rate is improved, but safety for human exposure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen inactivation rateVSAvoidhazard to human beings

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter from the traditional germicidal UV range (200-300 nm) to the UVA range (315-380 nm). This parameter change maintains pathogen inactivation capability while significantly reducing the harmful effects on human skin and eyes, allowing safe operation in occupied spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the traditionally harmful UV-C range into a beneficial UVA range that can still inactivate pathogens but is safe for human exposure. The harmful short-wavelength UV is replaced with longer-wavelength UVA that has sufficient germicidal activity while being non-hazardous to humans.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If violet or blue light is used to inactivate pathogens, then safety for human exposure is improved, but inactivation rate deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety for human exposureVSAvoidpathogen inactivation rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the wavelength parameter within the visible range by selecting UVA (315-380 nm) instead of violet (400-450 nm) or blue (450-495 nm) light. This parameter change achieves a balance where the inactivation rate is significantly higher than violet/blue light while maintaining safety for human exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses higher irradiance levels of UVA light compared to traditional violet/blue light systems to achieve effective pathogen inactivation. By operating at optimized power levels, the system achieves 90-99% inactivation rates that were previously only attainable with harmful UV-C.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If high flux density of visible light is used for disinfection, then inactivation effectiveness is improved, but power consumption deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoidelectrical power required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter to UVA (315-380 nm) which has higher germicidal efficiency per unit of energy compared to violet or blue light. This parameter change reduces the total power required to achieve the same level of pathogen inactivation, improving electrical efficiency by 10-50%.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves 90-99% pathogen inactivation with significantly lower power density and irradiance, enhancing electrical efficiency, reducing system costs, minimizing color distortion, and ensuring greater photobiological safety for humans.

Implementation Method 1

Some known systems use UV light in the range of 200 to 300, including the UVC range and some of the UVB range, to inactivate pathogens by damaging their DNA or RNA

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDNA/RNA damage by UV light: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

At the longer wavelengths (e.g. UVA), the inactivating portion of the light generated by one or more of the light sources 102 may inactivate the pathogens by catalyzing chemical surface reactions on exterior surfaces such as the cell membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhoto-catalysis: Photo-oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS11666674B2Light disinfection system and method

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS LLC

AI summary

A lighting system includes a light source configured to generate light to inactivate one or more pathogens. The light includes an inactivating portion. In one embodiment, a method for inactivating one or more pathogens and optionally concurrently illuminating a room having one or more human occupants while the pathogens are inactivated is also provided. The method includes generating light from a light source to inactivate the one or more pathogens. The light is generated with an inactivating portion of the light.