Inspection and sanitation device and method
Inventors
Vasefi, Fartash • Barton, Kenneth Edward • MacKinnon, Nicholas Bennett • Carroll, David • Marinkovich, Sava
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12440593-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device is disclosed. The device contains a first light source configured to excite fluorescence emission of a first contaminant on a surface, and a first optical sensor configured to capture one or more images of the fluorescence emission of the first contaminant.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a handheld inspection-and-disinfection device that excites fluorescence emission of a contaminant on a surface and captures one or more images of the fluorescence emission with a first optical sensor. A first light source is configured to excite the fluorescence emission of a first contaminant on the surface, and the device includes a display configured to depict the surface and a first computer generated image representing the contaminant.
The computer generated image covers at least a portion of the surface shown on the display. The first light source comprises illumination of suitable wavelengths and power to kill the first contaminant, and the computer generated image comprises a first color and is configured to depict a second color.
After the first contaminant is killed, the computer generated image comprising the second color covers at least the portion of the surface shown on the display. The described system supports fluorescence inspection and disinfection in a coordinated workflow using excitation, optical capture, and display overlay that updates based on disinfection.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a fluorescence excitation and imaging device with a contaminant overlay on a display that changes color after the contaminant is killed. The claim set includes 7 inventive features, including pathogen limitation and wavelength-specific illumination and detection bands, as well as first and second excitation/imaging channels.
Fluorescence excitation, capture, and surface depiction with contaminant overlay
A device comprising a first light source configured to excite fluorescence emission of a first contaminant on a surface, a first optical sensor configured to capture one or more images of the fluorescence emission of the first contaminant, and a display configured to depict the surface and a first computer generated image representing the contaminant, wherein the first computer generated image covers at least a portion of the surface shown on the display.
Illumination configured to kill and color-updated contaminant representation after killing
The first light source comprises illumination of suitable wavelengths and power to kill the first contaminant, where the first computer generated image comprises a first color, where the display is configured to depict the first computer generated image comprising a second color, and where the first computer generated image comprising the second color covers at least the portion of the surface shown on the display after the first contaminant is killed.
Pathogen as the contaminant
The first contaminant includes at least one pathogen.
Ultraviolet illumination range for exciting fluorescence and disinfection
The first light source provides ultraviolet illumination light in the 260 nm to 290 nm wavelength range.
Ultraviolet fluorescence emission detection range
The first optical sensor is configured to capture fluorescence-emission images within a UV wavelength range of 320 nm to 370 nm.
Second wavelength-band fluorescence imaging with a second optical sensor
A second optical sensor is configured to capture one or more images of fluorescence emission in a second wavelength band.
Separate first and second illumination and fluorescence wavelength ranges with two imaging channels
The device includes a second light source and a second optical sensor to excite and image fluorescence emission from the first contaminant using separate first and second illumination wavelength ranges and separate first and second fluorescence wavelength bands.
Overall, the claim coverage is anchored on fluorescence excitation and imaging with a display overlay that changes color after the contaminant is killed, with refinements that limit the contaminant to pathogens and add wavelength-specific ultraviolet illumination and fluorescence detection ranges, as well as second-channel fluorescence excitation and imaging in a second wavelength band.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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