# US 11,433,153 B2 · Methods for organizing the disinfection of one or more items contaminated with biological agents > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,153 B2 - Document ID: US11433153B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/033,138 - Filed: 2020-09-25 - Published: 2021-01-21 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-01 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs - Applicants: The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs - Inventors: Chetan Jinedatha - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433153B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - G06K 7/10118: {the sensing being preceded by at least one preliminary step} - G06K 7/10415: {the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM (banking machines in general G07F19/00)} - G06K 7/10475: {arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices} - G06Q 50/22: Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H 40/63: for local operation - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/208: Hydrogen peroxide - A61L 2103/75: Room floors or walls - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation - 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) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract The invention provides method for organizing the disinfection of one or more items contaminated with biological agent(s) comprising (a) attaching a radio-frequency ID (RFID) tag to an item(s) to be disinfected; exposing the item(s) of (a) to a disinfecting means for a period sufficient to disinfect the item; and (c) obtaining a signal from the tagged item when disinfection is complete thereby organizing the disinfection of one or more items. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving a first signal indicating a patient has been discharged from a patient room; and responsive to the first signal, sending a second signal to a wireless communication tag of an item in the patient room to alter the display on the wireless communication tag. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal is a signal to alter the display, to be indicative of an unclean status for the item. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a medical device, machine or tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the item is readily removable from the patient room. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending the second signal comprises sending the second signal to wireless communication tags of multiple items in the patient room to alter displays on the wireless communication tags. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: subsequent to the step of sending the second signal, exposing the patient room to a disinfectant for a period sufficient to disinfect the item; and sending a third signal to alter the display on the wireless communication tag when disinfection is complete. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the third signal is a signal to alter the display to be indicative of a clean status for the item. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: exposing a designated space to a disinfectant, said designated space having one or more wireless communication tags; receiving a signal that a predetermined amount of the disinfectant has been detected; and subsequent to receiving the signal, sending a different signal of a predetermined strength to update displays only on a set of the one or more wireless communication tags that are within a set distance from the source of the disinfectant, wherein the predetermined strength is less than a signal strength constituting a maximum communication range of a transmitter sending the different signal, and wherein the different signal is to update the displays on the set of the one or more wireless communication tags to be indicative of a clean status for surfaces in the designated space comprising the respective set of one or more wireless communication tags. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the disinfectant is ultraviolet light. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising exposing the designated space to a fluidic disinfectant prior to exposing the item to ultraviolet light. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the disinfectant is hydrogen peroxide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the different signal is to change visual information exhibited on an electronic visual display of the wireless communication tag. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the different signal is to illuminate a light source on the display of the wireless communication tag. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the set distance is equal to or less than an upper limit of a set disinfection range of the source of the disinfectant. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the set distance is less than a dimension of the designated space. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the designated space is an area suitable for human occupancy.