# US 10,768,119 B2 · Applicator, applicator set, degree of cleanliness determination method, and degree of cleanliness determination system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,119 B2 - Document ID: US10768119B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/318,237 - Filed: 2015-06-17 - Published: 2017-04-20 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-25 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Shunsuke Takaki; G. Marco Bommarito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768119B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/94: Investigating contamination, e.g. dust (G01N21/85 takes precedence) - A61L 2/28: Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation or disinfection, e.g. indicators which change colour - G01N 21/8803: {Visual inspection (measuring projectors G01B9/08)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - 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 An applicator; an applicator set; a method for determining cleanliness of a surface using the applicator or the applicator set; and a system for determining cleanliness of a surface comprising the applicator or the applicator set. The applicator can include a marker composition and an applicator body capable of retaining the marker composition. The marker composition can include retroreflective particles and a dispersion medium, the blending ratio of the retroreflective particles being from 50 to 90 mass % on the basis of the total marker composition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An applicator comprising: a marker composition containing retroreflective particles and a dispersion medium, a blending ratio of the retroreflective particles being from 50 to 90 mass % on the basis of the total marker composition; wherein the dispersion medium comprises a water-soluble polymer, and an applicator body capable of retaining the marker composition; wherein an exposed part of the applicator body is capable of delivering the marker composition to a surface of an application target surface to be cleaned. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator body is porous. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicator body has interconnected cells in the interior of the applicator body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The applicator of claim 3, wherein the cell count of the interconnected cells is 15 to 100 cells per 25 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, further comprising: a retention body for retaining the applicator body so that at least part of the applicator body is exposed; and a lid body detachably attached to the retention body, for hermetically sealing the exposed part of the applicator body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An applicator set comprising a plurality of the applicators of claim 1, each applicator respectively comprising: a retention body for retention of the applicator body, the retention body retaining the applicator body so that at least part of the applicator body is exposed, and a lid part detachably attached to the retention part of another applicator, the lid part being capable of hermetically sealing the exposed part of the applicator body of the other applicator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The applicator set of claim 6, wherein a single applicator among the plurality of applicators is capable of being distinguished from the other applicators. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method for determining a degree of cleanliness, the method comprising: applying the marker composition to a surface to be cleaned using the applicator according to claim 1; cleaning the surface; irradiating light onto the surface; sensing a reflected light from the retroreflective particles; and determining a degree of cleanliness based on the result of sensing of the reflected light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A system for determining a degree of cleanliness, the system comprising: the applicator according to claim 1; a sensing means for sensing reflected light from retroreflective particles based on image data showing a condition of a surface to be cleaned; and a determination means for determining of degree of cleanliness of the surface to be cleaned based on results of sensing the reflected light obtained by the sensing means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the marker composition further comprises water, wherein the water is present in the marker composition at 3-25% by weight. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the marker composition further comprises an alcohol, wherein the alcohol is present in the marker composition at 4-16% by weight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the marker composition further comprises a humectant, wherein the humectant is present in the marker composition at 0.1-2% by weight. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the marker composition further comprises a pH adjusting agent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The applicator of claim 1, wherein the marker composition further comprises a surfactant. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The applicator of claim 14 wherein the marker composition, when dried, retains its water-dispersibility.