UVGI Fomite Decontamination Apparatus with Sensor-Triggered Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for decontaminating germs on human touch points, such as door handles and elevator buttons, are inefficient and prone to rapid recontamination, especially in high-traffic areas.
Innovation Solution
A germ decontamination apparatus that uses ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to decontaminate fomite regions of objects attached to a support structure, featuring a housing with a movable access door and sensors to detect user presence and initiate decontamination cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning with sanitizers and disinfectants is used, then germ decontamination is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and surfaces are prone to rapid recontamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with automated ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. The UVGI system automatically decontaminates surfaces without requiring manual intervention, eliminating the time-consuming nature of manual cleaning while maintaining effective germ elimination. The system can be triggered by sensors to activate UV treatment immediately when needed, providing rapid decontamination without human labor constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous or near-continuous decontamination capability through automated UVGI systems that can operate repeatedly without interruption. Unlike manual cleaning that requires human availability and breaks in the cleaning cycle, the UVGI system can continuously monitor and treat surfaces, ensuring persistent germ-free states even in high-traffic areas where rapid recontamination occurs.
2Reliability
If antimicrobial materials are applied to fomites, then germ killing capability is enhanced, but the materials require lengthy contact time and are ineffective against rapid recontamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical antimicrobial materials with physical ultraviolet irradiation. UVGI provides immediate germicidal action without requiring the lengthy contact times needed for chemical agents to penetrate and kill microorganisms. The UV light directly damages microbial DNA and proteins, achieving rapid sterilization that outpaces the speed of recontamination in high-traffic environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanism of germ killing from chemical-based to physical radiation-based. This parameter change enables instantaneous action - UV light kills germs on contact without requiring the prolonged exposure times needed for antimicrobial chemicals to diffuse through porous materials or penetrate biofilms. The system can deliver high doses of UV irradiation in seconds, matching the rapid pace of recontamination.
3Reliability
If automated mechanical sanitizing machines are used, then cleaning consistency is improved, but the devices are complex and require maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex automated mechanical sanitizing machines with a simpler UVGI system. Instead of using mechanical brushes, sprayers, or rollers that require calibration, maintenance, and replacement, the system uses ultraviolet light emission and detection. This substitution dramatically reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining consistent decontamination performance through automated sensor-triggered UV activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of germ killing from complex mechanical systems and isolates it as a simple UV irradiation process. By removing mechanical components and focusing solely on UV light delivery, the system achieves cleaning consistency without the complexity of mechanical motion control, material dispensing mechanisms, or multi-stage processing systems required by traditional automated sanitizers.
4Reliability
If cleaning agents are applied to surfaces, then pathogen reduction is achieved, but the agents pose environmental hazards and health risks to personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical cleaning agents with physical UV irradiation. This substitution eliminates the environmental and health hazards associated with harsh disinfectants while maintaining effective pathogen reduction. UVGI kills microorganisms through physical damage to their genetic material and proteins, without leaving chemical residues that pose risks to personnel or the environment. The system provides a clean, safe alternative that maintains public health standards without compromising worker safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful chemical properties of traditional cleaning agents into beneficial physical radiation. Instead of using chemicals that harm the environment and human health, the system uses UV radiation that provides the same germicidal effect without any harmful byproducts. The UV light delivers precise, targeted microbial destruction while leaving no chemical residue, transforming a harmful approach into a safe and environmentally friendly solution.
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 apparatus achieves rapid and efficient sterilization of human touch point fomites, reducing the risk of infectious disease transmission and maintaining a germ-free surface between uses.
Implementation Method 1
one or more ultraviolet light sources disposed inside the chamber and configured to decontaminate the fomite region
Data Source
AI summary
A germ decontamination apparatus includes an enclosure including an access door configurable to be in an open or closed position, an opening for positioning the enclosure over or around a fomite, opening means for opening the access door in response to a trigger or triggering event, one or more ultraviolet light sources disposed inside the enclosure and configured to decontaminate the fomite. The germ decontamination apparatus may include one or more sensors configured to detect a triggering event. The one or more sensors may include an obstruction sensor, a motion sensor or detector, a light sensor, a sound sensor, and/or a heat or infrared sensor. The access door may include one or more access panels. The one or more ultraviolet light sources may produce UV-C radiation with a wavelength in the range of 200-280 nm. Methods of use and systems comprising the germ decontamination apparatus are also provided.