Lighting device that deactivates dangerous pathogens while providing visually appealing light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for deactivating pathogens in environments, such as healthcare settings and food processing, are either labor-intensive, temporarily effective, or involve toxic substances like UV-light and ozone, which pose risks to humans and limit usage.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device equipped with LEDs emitting disinfecting light across specific wavelength ranges (380-420 nm, 460-480 nm, 530-580 nm, and 600-650 nm) that combines to form visible light, ensuring effective pathogen deactivation while maintaining a safe and aesthetically pleasing illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-light is used to deactivate pathogens, then pathogen deactivation is effective, but human toxicity increases and the environment must be sealed off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameters of the light source from traditional UV-C (200-280 nm) to visible light ranges (400-700 nm), specifically using combinations of blue (460-480 nm), green (530-560 nm), and red (630-650 nm) wavelengths. This parameter change maintains pathogen deactivation effectiveness while eliminating human toxicity associated with UV exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful UV radiation into beneficial visible light that serves dual purposes: maintaining effective pathogen deactivation while providing useful illumination for occupied spaces. The visible light wavelengths, particularly in the blue-green-red spectrum, are shown to be effective against pathogens while being safe for human exposure
2Reliability
If ozone and chemical fumigation are used for pathogen control, then decontamination is successful, but human toxicity increases and environments must be sealed off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical fumigation methods (ozone, chemical agents) with a physical light-based system. The visible light emitting diodes provide decontamination through photonic action on pathogens without introducing toxic chemicals into the environment, eliminating the need for sealing off spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates harmful chemical substances and replaces them with beneficial visible light that provides both illumination and decontamination functions, improving air quality while maintaining effectiveness
3Reliability
If hygiene methods are used for pathogen control, then some pathogens are deactivated, but labor intensity increases and effectiveness is limited and temporary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service decontamination system where visible light emitting diodes automatically deactivate pathogens without requiring human intervention for cleaning or maintenance. The system provides continuous or periodic automatic decontamination of surfaces and air, eliminating the need for manual hygiene practices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous pathogen deactivation through constantly operating or periodically cycling visible light sources, providing ongoing protection rather than temporary effects from manual cleaning. The system maintains continuous useful action in decontaminating environments
4Reliability
If disinfecting light with specific wavelengths is used, then pathogen deactivation is effective, but visual appeal of the light is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple wavelength components (blue 460-480 nm, green 530-560 nm, and red 630-650 nm visible light) into a combined illumination that provides both effective pathogen deactivation and visually appealing light. The combination of these wavelengths creates a perceivable visible light that is aesthetically acceptable while maintaining disinfection efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional light source that simultaneously provides illumination for visual purposes and decontamination for health purposes. The visible light emitting diodes serve dual functions: lighting the space with visually appealing light and deactivating pathogens through specific wavelength exposure
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 device effectively deactivates pathogens without human toxicity, allowing continuous use in occupied spaces and providing a visually appealing light that meets disinfection standards, reducing healthcare-associated infections and food spoilage.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light-emitting elements including one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in the housing and configured to each produce disinfecting light having a wavelength in a first range of wavelengths
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device configured to deactivate pathogens in an environment. The lighting device includes a housing, means for mounting the housing to a surface in the environment, one or more first light-emitting elements arranged in the housing and configured to each produce disinfecting light having a wavelength in a first range of wavelengths, and one or more second light-emitting elements arranged in the housing and configured to each produce disinfecting light having a wavelength in a second range of wavelengths different from the first range of wavelengths. The disinfecting light produced by the first light-emitting elements and the disinfecting light produced by the second light-emitting elements mix to form a combined light, the combined light being visible light other than white light.