Apparatus for the disinfection of medical instruments
Inventors
Paul, Patrick J. • Arguello, Edward David • Modzelewski, Brent E.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10500294-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices, methods and systems of disinfecting medical instruments, more particularly blood glucose meters. A disinfection cradle including a flat base for positioning the cradle on a surface, the cradle having a receptacle configured to receive the diagnostic apparatus, and a UV source positioned in the receptacle that is configured to administer a disinfection cycle to the diagnostic apparatus by directing UV light outward at the diagnostic apparatus received in the receptacle, the UV light being able to act as a disinfecting agent to the disinfection cradle and diagnostic apparatus.
Core Innovation
A disinfection cradle for disinfecting a diagnostic apparatus includes a base with a flat bottom surface and a receptacle disposed on a top surface that receives a bottom portion of the diagnostic apparatus. The receptacle size and shape approximate the size and shape of the bottom portion of the housing, and the diagnostic apparatus comprises a housing and a test strip port on the bottom portion of the diagnostic apparatus in the housing.
A UV LED is positioned in the receptacle so that when the diagnostic apparatus is received in the receptacle, the UV LED aligns with the test strip port to administer a disinfection cycle to the test strip port. A transparent window is positioned between the UV LED and the test strip port when the diagnostic apparatus is positioned in the receptacle, and the transparent window is configured to act as a light pipe to focus UV radiation from the UV LED positioned behind the transparent window to the test strip port.
The disinfection cradle supports UV-LED disinfection of diagnostic apparatuses, particularly blood glucose meters, using controlled UV dose delivery to the strip-port target area. The cradle-to-meter electrical contacts enable communication and/or power, and the cradle supports bidirectional communication with a computer or network to generate and monitor a disinfection-history record.
The content also describes features for disinfection-cycle management, including a counter and/or timer that indicates cycle completion and can track incomplete cycles. An authentication and/or lockout mechanism is described so UV operation starts only with a legitimate inserted device, based on unique electronic ID.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes one independent claim with multiple dependent claims that refine the cradle structure and operational features. The independent claim contains 3 main inventive elements: UV LED alignment with the test strip port, a transparent window configured as a light pipe to focus UV radiation, and a receptacle sized to receive the diagnostic apparatus bottom portion with the test strip port positioned for alignment.
Aligned UV LED to administer disinfection cycle to test strip port
A UV LED positioned in the receptacle such that when the diagnostic apparatus is received in the receptacle, the UV LED is in alignment with the test strip port of the diagnostic apparatus to administer a disinfection cycle to the test strip port.
Transparent window configured as light pipe to focus UV radiation
A transparent window positioned between the UV LED and the test strip port when the diagnostic apparatus is positioned in the receptacle and configured to act as a light pipe to focus UV radiation from the UV LED positioned behind the transparent window to the test strip port.
Receptacle approximating housing bottom portion size and shape for positioning
A receptacle disposed on a top surface of the cradle which receives a bottom portion of the diagnostic apparatus, wherein a size and shape of the receptacle approximate a size and shape of a bottom portion of the housing.
Disinfection cradle for blood glucose meter
The diagnostic apparatus comprises a blood glucose meter.
Electrical contacts to supply power to the diagnostic apparatus
The disinfection cradle includes a receptacle with electrical contacts that supply power to the diagnostic apparatus.
Bidirectional communication to generate and monitor disinfection-history record
The disinfection cradle includes bidirectional communication so a health care establishment can generate and monitor a record of disinfection history for the diagnostic apparatus.
Tracking function indicating degree of completion of disinfection cycle
The disinfection cradle further includes a tracking function that monitors the disinfection cycle and indicates the degree of completion of the disinfection cycle.
Lock out function preventing operation until disinfection is completed
The disinfection cradle further comprises a lock out function that prevents the diagnostic apparatus from functioning until the cradle has administered the disinfection cycle to the diagnostic apparatus.
Across the independent and dependent claims, the cradle is defined by positioning a UV LED in alignment with a diagnostic apparatus test strip port, using a transparent window configured as a light pipe to focus UV radiation, and using a receptacle that approximates the diagnostic apparatus housing bottom portion for proper placement. Dependent claims further narrow the diagnostic apparatus to a blood glucose meter and add electrical contacts, bidirectional communication for disinfection-history recording, completion tracking, and a lockout preventing operation until the disinfection cycle is administered.
Stated Advantages
Enables administering a disinfection cycle to the test strip port with UV radiation focused to the port using a transparent window configured as a light pipe.
Provides disinfection-history record generation and monitoring via bidirectional communication with a computer or network.
Indicates the degree of completion of the disinfection cycle using a tracking function.
Prevents the diagnostic apparatus from functioning until disinfection is completed through a lock out function.
Supports UV operation only with a legitimate inserted device using authentication/lockout based on a unique electronic ID.
Documented Applications
Disinfecting diagnostic apparatuses, particularly blood glucose meters, where a BGM is placed in a receptacle and UV light is directed to the test strip port target area for a disinfection cycle.
Generating and monitoring a record of disinfection history for diagnostic apparatuses in a health care establishment via bidirectional communication with a computer or network.
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