U.S. patent application number 15/209257 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-03 for decontamination enclosure and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daylight Medical, Inc.. Invention is credited to Roderick M. Dayton.
Application Number | 20160317686 15/209257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55909690 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160317686 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dayton; Roderick M. |
November 3, 2016 |
DECONTAMINATION ENCLOSURE AND METHOD
Abstract
Provided are a method and apparatus for decontaminating personal
protective equipment while it is being worn by a person. A booth
having a plurality of internally-reflective surfaces defines an
interior space with dimensions suitable for receiving a standing
person wearing the personal protective equipment. A plurality of
UVC light sources are arranged to emit UVC light into the booth,
and are operational while the person wearing the personal
protective equipment is within the interior space. A door is
selectively closeable to enclose the interior space and interfere
with UVC light escaping the interior of the booth into an ambient
environment of the booth, and a controller is operable to
selectively operate the UVC light sources while the person wearing
the personal protective equipment is standing within the interior
space.
Inventors: |
Dayton; Roderick M.;
(Strongsville, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Daylight Medical, Inc. |
Middleburg Heights |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55909690 |
Appl. No.: |
15/209257 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/US2015/058807 |
Nov 3, 2015 |
|
|
|
15209257 |
|
|
|
|
62074191 |
Nov 3, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/10 20130101; A61L
2202/25 20130101; A61L 2202/14 20130101; A61L 2202/122 20130101;
A61L 2/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61L 2/10 20060101
A61L002/10; A61L 2/24 20060101 A61L002/24 |
Claims
1. A method of decontaminating personal protective equipment, the
method comprising: while a person wearing the personal protective
equipment to be decontaminated is present within a booth having an
internally-reflective surface, operating a plurality of UVC light
sources arranged to emit UVC light into the booth; maintaining
operation of the UVC light sources while the person wearing the
personal protective equipment is in the booth to expose surfaces of
the personal protection equipment to the UVC light for a
predetermined period of time suitable to achieve a desired level of
decontamination of the surfaces of the personal protective
equipment; and de-energizing the UVC light sources after expiration
of the predetermined period of time.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UVC light sources are
activated after the person wearing the personal protective
equipment has entered the booth.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: monitoring an
integrity of the booth; and in response to detecting a condition
that could potentially allow the UVC light to escape the booth,
terminating operation of the UVC light sources.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said terminating the UVC light
sources comprises deactivating the UVC light sources prior to
expiration of the predetermined period of time.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said de-energizing the UVC light
source comprises deactivating the UVC light sources prior to a door
of the booth is opened to allow the person wearing the personal
protective equipment that has been decontaminated to exit the
booth.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time
comprises a length of time sufficient to achieve at least a 1
log.sub.10 pathogen reduction of contagions on the surfaces of the
personal protective equipment exposed to the UVC light.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining operation of the
UVC light sources to expose the surfaces of the personal protective
equipment to the UVC light comprises emitting UVC light in a
direction that requires the UVC light to be reflected by the
internally-reflective surface prior to reaching the personal
protective equipment.
8. A decontamination apparatus comprising: a booth having a
plurality of internally-reflective surfaces that define an interior
space having dimensions suitable for receiving a standing person
wearing personal protective equipment; a plurality of UVC light
sources arranged to emit UVC light into the booth; a door that is
selectively closeable to enclose the interior space and interfere
with UVC light escaping the interior of the booth into an ambient
environment of the booth; and a controller operable to selectively
operate the UVC light sources while the person wearing the personal
protective equipment is standing within the interior space.
9. The decontamination apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller
is accessible to, and operable by the person wearing the personal
protective equipment from within the interior space to allow the
person to control operation of the UVC sources from within the
interior space.
10. The decontamination apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality
of the UVC light sources are adjustable by the person from within
the interior space while the UVC light sources are operational.
11. The decontamination apparatus of claim 10, wherein the
plurality of the UVC light sources are each coupled to an
adjustable arm to render the UVC light sources adjustable relative
to the interior space of the booth.
12. The decontamination apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a
platform comprising a surface that is substantially transparent to
UVC light on which the person wearing the personal protective
equipment is to stand to allow a bottom surface of footwear being
worn by the person to be exposed to the UVC light emitted by at
least one of the UVC light sources.
13. The decontamination apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
controller comprises a timer operational to initiate deactivation
of the UVC light sources after expiration of a predetermined period
of time.
14. The decontamination apparatus of claim 13, wherein the
predetermined period of time is selectable from a plurality of
pre-programmed time periods stored by the controller.
15. The decontamination apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a
window provided to at least one side wall defining the interior
space, the window being closed by a flexible material that is
substantially transparent to visible light, but interferes with
transmission of UVC light from the interior space to the ambient
environment.
16. The decontamination apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a
vent provided to at least one side wall defining the interior space
to allow an exchange of air between the interior space and the
ambient environment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This application relates generally to a method and apparatus
for decontaminating objects and, more specifically, to a method and
enclosure in which clinicians wearing personal protective equipment
are exposed to a decontamination agent to render the exposed
surfaces of the personal protective equipment pathogen reduced.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Physicians, nurses, aid workers and other clinicians who
treat patients with infectious diseases often wear personal
protection equipment ("PPE") to limit their exposure to the
pathogen. During treatment, exposed surfaces of the PPE will often
come into contact with the bodily fluids of patients, and become
contaminated with the pathogen. Pathogens on the PPE can be carried
to transitional areas where the clinicians remove their PPE, and
remain viable to infect the clinicians and others within the
vicinity for extended periods of time, thereby defeating the
purpose of wearing the PPE in the first place.
[0005] Traditional decontamination efforts have included dousing
the PPE in bleach or other disinfectant before the PPE is removed
from the clinicians. Although effective, liquid disinfectants such
as bleach commonly contain active ingredients such as sodium
hypochlorite, which causes irritation of the clinicians' airways
and can cause skin burns. Further, in remote regions of the world
liquid disinfectants may not be readily available for use, despite
their potential side effects.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an apparatus and
method for rendering PPE pathogen reduced without first requiring
removal of the PPE. Such an apparatus and method should limit the
spread of a pathogen carried by the PPE to the clinician or another
person without exposing the clinician wearing the PPE to harm from
a decontamination agent.
[0007] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure includes
a method of decontaminating personal protective equipment. Such a
method includes, while a person wearing the personal protective
equipment to be decontaminated is present within a booth having an
internally-reflective surface, operating a plurality of UVC light
sources arranged to emit UVC light into the booth. Operation of the
UVC light sources is maintained while the person wearing the
personal protective equipment is in the booth to expose surfaces of
the personal protection equipment to the UVC light for a
predetermined period of time suitable to achieve a desired level of
decontamination of the surfaces of the personal protective
equipment. The UVC light sources are de-energized after expiration
of the predetermined period of time.
[0008] According to another embodiment, the present disclosure
includes a decontamination apparatus including a booth having a
plurality of internally-reflective surfaces that define an interior
space having dimensions suitable for receiving a standing person
wearing personal protective equipment. A plurality of UVC light
sources are arranged to emit UVC light into the booth, and a door
is selectively closeable to enclose the interior space and
interfere with UVC light escaping the interior of the booth into an
ambient environment of the booth. A controller is operable to
selectively operate the UVC light sources while the person wearing
the personal protective equipment is standing within the interior
space.
[0009] The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to
provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or
methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview
of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended
to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such
systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some
concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed
description that is presented later.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0010] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and
arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in
detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decontamination booth in a
closed state in which PPE worn by a clinician is to be rendered
pathogen reduced;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the decontamination booth
shown in FIG. 1 in an open state, allowing the entry and exit of a
clinician wearing PPE;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway view of a decontamination
booth in which a clinician wearing PPE is being exposed to UVC
light as a decontamination agent, wherein the clinician is standing
on a platform 44 (FIG. 3) that is substantially transparent to UVC
light to expose the bottom of the clinician's footwear to the UVC
light through the platform;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram schematically depicting a method of
decontaminating PPE while that PPE is being worn by a clinician
following exposure to a pathogen;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a decontamination booth in
an open state, and housing a portable UVC decontamination apparatus
as the UVC source; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of two UVC bulbs connected in
series.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and
is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention.
Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to
the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or
similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be
shown in somewhat schematic form.
[0018] It is also to be noted that the phrase "at least one of", if
used herein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of
the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For
example, the phrase "at least one of a first widget and a second
widget" means in the present application: the first widget, the
second widget, or the first widget and the second widget. Likewise,
"at least one of a first widget, a second widget and a third
widget" means in the present application: the first widget, the
second widget, the third widget, the first widget and the second
widget, the first widget and the third widget, the second widget
and the third widget, or the first widget and the second widget and
the third widget.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a decontamination
booth 10 in which personal protection equipment ("PPE") 12 (FIG. 3)
being worn by a clinician 14 can be decontaminated, thereby
rendering the PPE 12 pathogen reduced. Rendering the PPE 12
"pathogen reduced" does not necessarily require the surfaces of the
PPE to be 100% sterile, free of any and all living organisms that
can viably reproduce. Instead, to be considered pathogen reduced,
there must be a lower level of living contagions on the
decontaminated PPE 12 capable of reproducing or otherwise causing
an infection after performance of the decontamination process than
the level that existed on the PPE 12 prior to performance of the
decontamination process. For example, the exterior surfaces of the
PPE 12 can be considered to be pathogen reduced if at least a 1
log.sub.10 reduction of such contagions on the exposed surfaces
remain infectious (i.e., no more than 1/10th of the
biologically-active contagions originally on the exposed surfaces
of the PPE 12 remain active or infectious at a time when the
decontamination process is completed). According to yet other
embodiments, the surfaces of the PPE 12 can be considered pathogen
reduced once at least a 3 log.sub.10 reduction (i.e., 1/1,000th) of
such contagions on the exterior surfaces of the PPE 12 is
achieved.
[0020] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the PPE 12 can
include any protective garments and/or equipment worn to protect
clinicians from pathogens, such as pants, jackets, gloves,
overalls, coveralls, hazmat suits, goggles, masks, face shields,
helmets, hats, shoes, shoe covers, self-contained breathing
apparatuses, etc. Such articles of PPE 12 can optionally be
airtight, and can optionally be substantially opaque to certain
wavelengths of light. For example, the articles of PPE 12 can be
substantially opaque to ultraviolet C ("UVC") light, which is
electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength from approximately 280
nm to approximately 100 nm. To be substantially opaque to this
light, the articles 12 can block at least 90% of UVC light, and
optionally at least 95% of UVC light imparted thereon.
[0021] The decontamination booth 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
includes a rigid frame 16 that supports a shell 18 made from a
flexible material to form a cubical enclosure in which the PPE 12
worn by the clinician 14 is to be exposed to a decontamination
agent and rendered pathogen reduced. The frame 16 can be formed
from a plurality of interlocking segments. For example, each
segment can include both a male end and a female end. The segments
can be assembled end to end by inserting the male end of one
segment into the female end of another segment, optionally by hand
and without the assistance of any tools. The segments can
optionally be urged together, when assembled, by an elastic band
that extends through an interior passage defined by each segment.
But regardless of their configuration, the segments can be
repeatedly disassembled without damaging the segments to allow for
transportation of the decontamination booth 10 and assembled to
support the shell 18 that will define the cubical, or other shaped
of enclosure that can be closed to interfere with the escape of UVC
light or other decontamination agent.
[0022] When relocation of the decontamination booth 10 is desired,
the segments can be pulled apart and arranged parallel to each
other or otherwise broken down into a size that fits into a bag or
other portable container to be carried by hand. The decontamination
booth can optionally be used in conjunction with a hand-held,
battery operated UVC source (not shown) that can be used to emit
limited quantities of UVC light for testing the UVC protection
offered by the PPE 12 worn by the clinician 14. For example, the
hand-held, battery operated UVC source can be activated adjacent to
a portion of the PPE 12 pulled away from the clinician 14 wearing
it. A hand-held UVC meter can also be positioned adjacent to the
portion of the PPE 12, but separated from the hand-held, battery
operated UVC source by the portion of the PPE 12 to give the
clinician 14 a sense of the UVC blocking ability offered by the PPE
12 prior to the performance of a decontamination process within the
decontamination booth 10 while wearing the PPE 12.
[0023] For the sake of brevity and clarity, the decontamination
agent will be described herein below as UVC light. One or a
plurality of UVC light sources 20 (e.g., UVC bulbs) that emit UVC
light to be directed toward the surface(s) to be rendered pathogen
reduced can be supported within the decontamination booth 10. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a UVC light source 20 is supported by the
frame 16 adjacent to each corner of the decontamination booth 10,
and adjacent to the ceiling 22 of the decontamination booth 10. The
UVC light source(s) 20 described herein can be operatively
connected to a power plug that is to be inserted into a
conventional AC mains electrical socket supplied with electricity
by a public utility, for example. According to alternate
embodiments, electric energy can be supplied by a rechargeable
battery bank 25 (FIG. 5) operatively connected to the UVC light
source(s) 20. Regardless of the power supply, embodiments of the
decontamination booth 10 can include at least two, and optionally
three or four UVC bulbs that can each optionally be independently
controlled relative to the others. For example, each UVC source 20
can exhibit a minimum fluence of approximately 1 mW/s/cm.sup.2, or
145 mJ per five minute cycle measured at twenty five (25 in.)
inches from the respective source 20.
[0024] Embodiments of the UVC light sources 20 include UVC bulbs
20A and 20B that can be connected in series in an end-to-end
arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 6. Each bulb 20A, 20B can
optionally share a common configuration with the other bulb 20A,
20B. So configured, the bulbs 20A, 20B includes a cylindrical glass
tube region 35 with a male electrical connector 37 provided to a
first end and a female electrical socket 39 arranged at an opposite
end along a longitudinal axis of the bulbs 20A, 20B. The male
electrical connector 37 provided to the end of the bulb 20B not
shown in FIG. 6 can be plugged into base with a compatible female
electrical socket 39. The base can optionally include a controller
50 described below, or at least a switch that allows an operator to
turn the bulb 20B on and off. The male electrical connector 37 of
the other bulb 20A, which can include a metallic contact or other
plug feature as shown in FIG. 6, can be inserted into the female
electrical socket 39, which can include a sleeve lined with a metal
substance or other electrical conductor, of the other bulb 20A to
establish an electrical connection between the bulbs 20B, 20A.
Electric energy conducted between the female electrical socket 39
and the male electrical connector 35 energizes the bulb 20A. The
bulb 20B plugged directly into the base is controlled by the
controller 50 or other suitable control device and is considered to
be the "master" bulb, while the bulb 20A and any other bulb
electrically connected to the master bulb 20B are considered
"slave" bulbs, as their operation is dependent upon, and limited to
the operational state of the master bulb 20B in the present
example.
[0025] The shell 18 can be formed from any suitably-flexible
material such as a woven fabric, cross-woven ballistic Nylon, and
the like, or a combination including a plurality of different types
of flexible material. At least a portion of the material forming
the shell 18 can optionally be foldable, allowing the shell 18 to
be broken down and optionally folded into a size that allows for
transportation of the shell 18, by hand, in a bag or other suitable
container. When deployed, the shell 18 includes at least side walls
24, a ceiling 22, a floor 26, and a door flap 28. The interior
dimensions of the decontamination booth 10 can be any desired
value, allowing an adult human, for example, to stand therein
without hitting their head on the ceiling. For such embodiments,
the floor 26 of the decontamination booth 10 can measure
approximately 4.5 ft. by 4.5 ft. (e.g., approximately 20 sq. ft.),
and the side walls 24 can be at least approximately 7 ft. in
height, however, the dimensions can vary to accommodate any object
that is to be decontaminated within the decontamination booth 10.
For example, the interior of the decontamination booth can have a
height of at least 6 ft. Alternate embodiments of the shell 18 can
include at least one of: a window 30, and one or more vents 32. If
present, the window 30 can optionally be formed of an optically
transparent sheet of plastic, glass or other suitable material to
allow an occupant of the decontamination booth 10 to view the
environment outside of the decontamination booth 18. Although
optically transparent, the plastic, glass or other material forming
the window 30 can block, or at least interfere with the
transmission of UVC light, even while not concealed as described
below. For instance, the material can block at least 90% of the UVC
light, or at least 95% according to alternate embodiments. The one
or more windows 30 can also optionally be concealed from outside of
the shell 18 by a window flap 34 that, when closed, further
interferes with the emission of UVC light from the source(s) 20
within the shell 18. The window flap 34 can be formed of the same
flexible material that is opaque to UVC light forming the other
portions of the shell 18 (e.g., the walls 24, ceiling 22 and floor
26), and can be secured in place over the window 30 through the use
of any releasable fastener. For instance, the releasable fastener
can include a zipper assembly that extends about a significant
portion (e.g., 3/4) of the periphery 36 of the window 30. An
additional window flap 38 can also optionally be arranged to cover
the interior of the window 30, to be opened and closed by the
occupant of the decontamination booth 10 utilizing any suitable
releasable fastener (e.g., zipper assembly about the periphery 40)
that allows the additional window flap 38 to be repeatedly opened
and closed to selectively grant access to the window 30 from the
inside.
[0026] If present, the one or more vents 32 can form an aperture in
a vertical wall 24 of the shell 18 to allow air to enter and/or
exit the interior of the decontamination booth 10. The vent(s) 32
can include a thermal vent 32a (FIG. 2), through which air travels
as a result of a temperature gradient between the interior of the
decontamination booth 10 and the ambient, external environment of
the decontamination booth 10. According to alternate embodiments,
the vent(s) 32 can optionally include one or more forced-air vents
32b (FIG. 5), each including an aperture formed in a vertical wall
24 of the shell 18 in fluid communication with a fan, blower or any
suitable air mover 17 (FIG. 5) that is operable to move air into
the interior of the decontamination booth 10 through the forced-air
vent 32. For example, the air mover 17 can move any suitable volume
of air (e.g., 180 cfm) at a rate that can be exhausted through the
one or more thermal vents 32a, for example, so as to protect
against undesirable inflation of the decontamination booth 10. Each
vent 32 can optionally and independently include a segment of
material to interfere with the direct transfer of objects through
the walls 24, but such segments of material may optionally not
hermetically seal the aperture of the respective vent(s) 32.
[0027] The door flap 28 can also be formed from a segment of the
same material from which the walls 24, ceiling 22 and floor 26 are
formed. And like the window flaps 34, 38, the door flap 28 can be
closed through the use of a releasable fastener such as a zipper
assembly that extends at least partially (e.g., about 1/2 to about
3/4 of the circumference) of the door flap 28 to allow for ready
ingress to and egress from the decontamination booth 10. The door
flap 28 can optionally be configured to be manipulated from inside
the decontamination booth 10 and from outside the decontamination
booth 10. For example, a zipper mechanism can include a handle
segment that can be grasped from inside and/or outside of the
decontamination booth 10.
[0028] To further interfere with the escape of UVC light from
within the decontamination chamber 10, at least one, and optionally
each releasable fastener utilized to secure the window flap(s) 34,
38 and the door flap 28 closed can optionally include a light
shield 42. An example of such a light shield 42 can include a strip
of material that is opaque to UVC light, and extends over at least
a portion of the zipper when the cooperating portions of the zipper
are mated to maintain the window flap(s) 34, 38 and/or the door
flap 28 closed. According to alternate embodiments, the zippers can
include tightly-meshing teeth that, when mated, block substantially
all of the UVC light emitted within the decontamination booth 10.
Thus, the decontamination booth 10 can block at least 95%, and
optionally at least 99% of all UVC light emitted therein,
preventing the blocked light from reaching the ambient environment
of the decontamination booth 10.
[0029] The inward-facing surface (e.g., the surface viewable from
within the decontamination chamber 10 with all flaps closed) of at
least one, optionally a plurality of or all portions (e.g., floor,
walls, ceiling, flap(s), etc.) of the shell 18 can be provided with
a reflective material that reflects UVC light. For example, the
inward-facing surface(s) can be provided with an aluminized or
otherwise metalized material, Mylar (e.g., stretched polyester
film, also commonly referred to as biaxially-oriented polyethylene
terephthalate or "BoPET", for short) film, or any other suitable
reflector of UVC light.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the decontamination booth 10 can
optionally include a platform 44, false floor or other support on
which the clinician 14 wearing the PPE 12 can stand to be supported
at an elevation vertically above the floor 26 during a
decontamination process. At least a portion of the platform 44 on
which the clinician 14 stands can be formed from a material that is
substantially transparent (e.g., degrades intensity of UVC light no
more than 50%, or no more than 30% according to an alternate
embodiment, or no more than 20% according to yet another
embodiment) to UVC light. Thus, at least a portion of UVC light 46
emitted by the source(s) 20 and reflected upwardly by the
reflective surface of the floor 26 can pass through the platform 44
to be imparted on the underside of the clinician's footwear 48.
[0031] A controller 50 can also optionally be supported within the
decontamination booth 10 to allow the clinician 14 to initiate a
decontamination process and, optionally, manually terminate a
decontamination process already underway. The controller 50 can
include at least one of a start button 52 that can be pressed by
the clinician 14 while inside the decontamination booth 10 to
initiate a decontamination process during which the sources 20 are
energized, a stop button 54 that can be pressed by the clinician 14
while inside the decontamination booth 10 to terminate a
decontamination process to de-energize the sources 20; and a timer
56 that is operable to time a decontamination process and
automatically (e.g., without human intervention) initiate
termination of the decontamination process in response to
expiration of a predetermined period of time to achieve the desired
level of decontamination. For example, the timer 56 can be set for
any desired length of time that, once expired, causes the sources
20 to be automatically de-energized. By default, the duration of
the decontamination process as determined by the timer 56 can be
established at five (5 min.) minutes, but other values can
optionally also be utilized. Using the default value, once a
decontamination process is initiated, the sources 20 will be
automatically de-energized in response to expiration of the timer
56. According to alternate embodiments, the duration of the
decontamination process to be established by the timer 56 can be
adjusted, and/or a plurality of pre-programmed durations can be
included as default values of the timer 56. For example, the timer
56 can optionally be provided with a plurality of buttons, each
assigned a different, dedicated duration. Selecting such a button
initiates the decontamination process and causes the sources 20 to
be energized for the duration corresponding to the selected button.
The timer 56 can optionally be capable of being programmed, in real
time by a user and/or pre-programmed by a manufacturer, to conduct
decontamination cycles as short as one minute, and as long as
twenty four (24 hr.) hours.
[0032] The controller 50 can optionally also be provided with a
sensing component that can receive a signal or otherwise sense a
breach of the decontamination booth 10 while a decontamination
process is underway. For example, the controller 50 can be provided
with a light sensor that can detect certain changes in light (e.g.,
changes in the level of visible light outside of the UVC range)
within the decontamination chamber 10. The controller 50, based on
such sensed light gradients, can determine that the door flap 28
has been opened and terminate the decontamination process to
de-energize the sources 20. Of course, a light sensor is but one of
several suitable sensors that can be utilized by the controller 50
to determine that the sources 20 are to be de-energized. According
to an alternate embodiment, the controller can include a motion
sensor trained on the door flap 28. If the door flap 28 is opened
such a motion sensor will sense this condition and transmit a
signal to cause the controller 50 to de-energize the source(s) 20.
According to another illustrative embodiment, a sensor in
communication with the zipper provided to the periphery of the door
flap 28 can sense when the zipper is opened, and again transmit a
signal to cause the controller 50 to de-energize the source(s) 20.
According to another embodiment, the controller 50 can be in
communication with (e.g., via a wireless communication channel
and/or hardwired to) a remotely-located (e.g., located and
accessible by an operator outside of the decontamination booth 10)
fob 51 (FIG. 3) or other remote control to receive a
manually-entered termination instruction that causes the controller
50 to terminate an active decontamination process and de-energize
the source(s) 20. The fob 51 or other remote control device can be
limited to only an "ON" button 57 that activates a decontamination
process, only an "OFF" button 55 that terminates a decontamination
process, or a combination thereof.
[0033] Although the embodiments described above include the sources
20 of UVC light installed on the frame 16 as part of the
decontamination booth 10, alternate embodiments can include a
plurality of sources 20 provided to a portable UVC decontamination
apparatus 21 (FIG. 5) that is placed inside the decontamination
booth 10 along with the clinician 14. An example of such a portable
UVC decontamination apparatus 21 is described in U.S. Pat. No.
9,095,633 to Dayton, which is incorporated in its entirety herein
by reference. According to such embodiments, the decontamination
booth 10 can be as described above, but separate from the sources
20 and optionally the controller 50', which can be provided to the
portable UVC decontamination apparatus 21 itself as shown in FIG.
5. The portable UVC decontamination apparatus 21 of such
embodiments can be independently arranged within the interior of
the decontamination booth 10, as desired, and closed therein when
the door flap 28 is closed. The one or a plurality of sources
provided to such a portable UVC decontamination apparatus 21, each
adjacent to an end of an adjustable arm such that the position of
each source 20 can be adjusted relative to each other, and can be
energized and optionally de-energized as described herein to
achieve the desired level of decontamination, with the primary
difference being that the portable UVC decontamination apparatus 21
can be arranged independently of the decontamination booth 10.
Further, the position of each of a plurality of UVC light sources
20' provided to the portable UVC decontamination apparatus 21 can
be independently adjusted relative to each other. Such adjustments
can be achieved through manipulation of joints and/or other
portions of adjustable arms 27 coupling the UVC light sources 20'
to a base 29 of the portable UVC decontamination apparatus 21. The
adjustable arms 27 allow for adjustment of the positions of the UVC
light sources 20', even while the UVC light sources 20' are
operational (e.g., emitting UVC light).
[0034] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram schematically depicting a method of
decontaminating the PPE 12 while it is being worn by the clinician
14 following possible exposure to a pathogen. As shown in FIG. 5, a
placard 19 can optionally be secured to a wall 24 within the
decontamination booth 10 and display to a person therein
instructions on how to properly decontaminate PPE being worn by
that person. The placard 19 can optionally guide the person in
performing the following method. At step S100, the clinician 14
wearing the PPE 12 departs a location where a patient with an
infectious disease is examined and enters the decontamination booth
10 through the open door flap 28 before the PPE 12 is removed. The
clinician 14 or other person can then adjust the zipper to close
the door flap 28 and close the interior window flap 38 provided to
any open windows from within the decontamination booth 10. The
clinician can also optionally stand atop of the platform 44, if
present, to promote exposure of the clinician's footwear to
reflected UVC light 46 during the decontamination process.
[0035] At step S110, an instruction can be input to the controller
50 to commence the decontamination process and energize the sources
20 while the clinician 14 wearing the PPE 12 is enclosed within the
decontamination booth 10. This instruction can originate from any
of the sources described herein, such as the start button 52 of the
controller 50, a remotely-located fob, or any other suitable
control device.
[0036] Once the decontamination process has begun, the timer 56 can
monitor how long the sources 20 are active at step S120,
maintaining operation of the sources 20 while the clinician 14
remains in the decontamination apparatus for a predetermined period
of time that will achieve a desired level of decontamination. The
clinician 14 can remain in the decontamination booth 10 while the
sources 20 are energized without fearing harmful side effects of
UVC exposure because the PPE 12 blocks virtually all of the UVC
light, thereby preventing the UVC light from reaching the
clinician's skin. Accordingly, the PPE 12 should offer full body
protection, fully insulating the clinician 14 from the sources
12.
[0037] At step S130, one or more sensors can optionally monitor
changes in visible light, motion within the decontamination booth
10, etc. to determine whether the light integrity of the
decontamination booth 10 has been breached since the
decontamination process was initiated. If so, the controller 50 can
terminate the decontamination process and de-energize the sources
20. If not, however, the decontamination process is allowed to
continue through expiration of the period established by the timer
56, at which time the sources 20 are de-energized and the clinician
can exit the decontamination booth 10 at step S140. According to
alternate embodiments, monitoring the integrity of the
decontamination booth 10 to protect against the escape of UVC light
to an ambient environment where others who are not protected by the
PPE 12 could be exposed to escaping UVC light can include
monitoring a status of the door flap 28 to detect when the door
flap 28 has been opened. Such monitoring can be performed by
sensing a status of a zipper assembly or other closure mechanism to
determine when the door flap 28 has been opened or otherwise
breached during a decontamination cycle. Similar monitoring can be
performed to determine if a window (e.g., monitoring a zipper
assembly or other closure device) has been breached in a manner
that could potentially allow UVC light to escape the interior of
the decontamination booth 10. Regardless of the type of monitoring
performed, the sensing of any condition that could potentially
allow UVC light to escape from the interior of the decontamination
booth 10 into an unprotected ambient environment (e.g., where other
people who are not wearing PPE 12 may be present) can result in
premature (e.g., prior to successful completion of the
decontamination cycle) termination of the decontamination
cycle.
[0038] Although described above as decontaminating PPE 12 worn by a
clinician 14 for the sake of brevity and clarity, the present
disclosure is not so limited. Instead, the decontamination booth 10
and methods described herein can also be utilized to decontaminate
inanimate objects such as wheelchairs, for example, as well.
[0039] Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above
devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications
without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is
intended to include all such modifications and alterations within
the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that
the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or
the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner
similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted
when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
* * * * *