# US 10,369,379 B2 · Apparatus, method, and system for selectively effecting and/or killing bacteria > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,379 B2 - Document ID: US10369379B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/886,635 - Filed: 2015-10-19 - Published: 2016-04-21 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-07 - Assignees: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York - Applicants: The Trustees of Columbia University In the City of New York - Inventors: Gerhard Randers-Pehrson; David Jonathan Brenner; Alan Bigelow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369379B2 ## CPC - A61N 5/0624: {for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body} - A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - A61N 5/0601: {Apparatus for use inside the body} - A61B 2018/1807: {using light other than laser radiation} - A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials - A61N 5/0616: {Skin treatment other than tanning} - A61N 2005/0654: {Lamps} - A61N 2005/0655: {Tubes} - A61N 2005/0661: {ultraviolet} - A61N 2005/0667: {Filters} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract Certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an apparatus and method for generating at least one radiation can be provided. The exemplary apparatus and/or method can selectively kill and/or affect at least one bacteria. For example, a radiation source first arrangement can be provided which is configured to generate at least one radiation having one or more wavelengths provided in a range of about 190 nanometers (nm) to about 230 nm, and at least one second arrangement can be provided which is configured to prevent the at least one radiation from having any wavelength that is outside of the range can be provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for selectively killing or destroying at least one bacteria at a medical treatment site or in a medical treatment environment, comprising: generating, with at least one excilamp, at least one bactericidal radiation configured to selectively kill or destroy the at least one bacteria on or within a body, while avoiding harm to cells of the body, wherein the at least one bactericidal radiation has at least one wavelength that is in a range of 190 nanometers (nm) to 230 nm, and wherein a peak wavelength of the at least one bactericidal radiation is at least one of approximately at 207 nm or approximately at 222 nm; filtering, with a filter arrangement comprising at least one of a band pass filter or a combination of a low pass filter and a high pass filter, the at least one bactericidal radiation to prevent all ultraviolet wavelengths that are outside of the range from passing through the filter arrangement; allowing all wavelengths in the range of 190 nm to 230 nm to be provided to the body; fluorescing visible light to indicate that the at least one excilamp is operating; and irradiating the at least one bacteria using the allowed wavelengths and selectively killing or destroying the at least one bacteria. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the at least one bactericidal radiation using the at least one excilamp. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one excilamp includes at least one of a krypton-bromine lamp or a krypton-chlorine lamp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the filter arrangement includes at least one of a chemical filter or a dielectric filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the filtering the at least one bactericidal radiation to prevent all ultraviolet wavelengths that are outside of the range from passing through the filter arrangement includes filtering out the at least one bactericidal radiation that has a peak wavelength outside of the range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively killing or destroying the at least one bacteria includes, at a same time, avoiding harm to cells of the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the allowing all wavelengths in the range of 190 nm to 230 nm comprises allowing every allowed wavelength to pass therethrough. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the at least one bactericidal radiation from within a housing through a window thereof in a first direction that is approximately parallel to a second direction of irradiation of the at least one radiation through the window. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the at least one bactericidal radiation from within a housing through a window thereof in a first direction that is approximately parallel to a second direction of irradiation of the at least one radiation through the window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the allowing all wavelengths in the range of 190 nm to 230 nm comprises allowing every allowed wavelength to pass therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of bacteria has a cell diameter that is less than 1 μm, and wherein the generation or the filtering comprises modifying the at least one bactericidal radiation to penetrate and kill the at least one, and preventing a penetration of a nucleus of human cells that are approximately at a diameter of 10 μm and 30 μm.