Wall or surface mounted light fixture with an air decontamination system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air and surface disinfection methods in healthcare facilities are labor-intensive, leave residues, and struggle to effectively decontaminate airborne pathogens without posing safety risks during maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A wall- or surface-mounted luminaire with an internal air decontamination system using UV-C germicidal sources and fans to recirculate and disinfect air, combined with visible light sources for illumination and safe maintenance access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UV-C germicidal sources are used for air decontamination, then air disinfection effectiveness is improved, but safety risks during maintenance worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair disinfection effectivenessVSAvoidsafety risks during maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire is divided into separate functional modules: a removable ballast housing containing the UV-C source and control circuitry, and a fixed luminaire body. This segmentation allows the UV-C source to be isolated in a protective housing that can be safely removed and replaced without exposing technicians to harmful radiation, while maintaining effective air disinfection when the unit is operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A protective housing or enclosure acts as an intermediary between the UV-C source and the maintenance technician. This housing includes interlocked safety features that prevent access to the UV-C source during operation and provide shielding during maintenance activities, thereby eliminating direct exposure risks while preserving the germicidal effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If recessed inverted T bar ceiling-mounted light fixtures are used, then air decontamination coverage is improved, but installation and maintenance safety worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair decontamination coverageVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of mounting the heavy decontamination fixture recessed in the ceiling where maintenance requires dangerous disengagement, the invention inverts the approach by wall-mounting or surface-mounting the luminaire. This allows technicians to safely access and service the unit from the front without needing to disconnect it from the mounting surface, eliminating the safety hazards of overhead work while maintaining effective air treatment coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from ceiling-mounted (vertical dimension) to wall-mounted or surface-mounted (horizontal dimension) installation. This dimensional change provides safer maintenance access while the strategic placement on walls or surfaces above beds ensures the decontamination chamber effectively treats air in the patient care zone, maintaining coverage effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If heavy recessed light fixtures are used, then structural support requirements are improved, but installation complexity and risk worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural support capacityVSAvoidinstallation complexity and risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the mounting approach from heavy ceiling-recessed installation to lighter wall-mounted or surface-mounted configuration. This eliminates the need for complex structural ceiling support modifications and heavy-duty mounting hardware, reducing installation complexity and risk while providing adequate structural support through standard wall mounting procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Provides efficient, residue-free air disinfection without requiring unsafe maintenance procedures, ensuring continuous operation and safety in healthcare settings.

Implementation Method 1

UV light used to destroy bacteria and other pathogens is typically below 390 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet radiation: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

Ultraviolet C or Germicidal light source technology is known to destroy the DNA or ability of bacteria and other pathogens to reproduce

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGermicidal effect: Photo-oxidation

Implementation Method 3

one or more fans inside the housing that recirculate the air in a room and subject the air to the UV radiation inside the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir recirculation: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11293665B2Wall or surface mounted light fixture with an air decontamination system

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 POLIDORO JOHN

AI summary

A wall- or surface-mounted light fixture with a housing containing one or more external visible light sources to illuminate the space where the light fixture is mounted, one or more UV emitters inside or outside the housing to destroy bacteria and pathogens, and one or more fans inside the housing that recirculate the air in a space and subject the air to the UV radiation inside the housing, destroying bacteria and pathogens in the air passing though the housing.