# US 12,000,696 B2 · Systems and methods for detecting antimicrobial surface coatings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,696 B2 - Document ID: US12000696B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/205,928 - Filed: 2021-03-18 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-18 - Assignees: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Applicants: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Inventors: Katherine Urena Pimentel; Steven A. Poteet; Thomas Martz; David McConnell; Vijay V. Pujar; Irene Rexwinkle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000696B2 ## CPC - G01B 7/085: {for measuring thickness of coating} - G01N 33/32: Paints; Inks - A61L 2/232: layered or coated - C09D 5/14: Paints containing biocides, e.g. fungicides, insecticides or pesticides (C09D5/16 takes precedence) - G01N 27/041: {of a solid body} - G01N 27/20: Investigating the presence of flaws - G01N 33/0096: {Testing material properties on thin layers or coatings} - A61L 2103/50: Textiles, e.g. bedwear or towels - A61L 2103/75: Room floors or walls - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - 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) - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) ## Abstract A method may comprise measuring, by a conductivity or resistance measuring device, the conductivity or resistance of a surface of a substrate; comparing, by the conductivity or resistance measuring device, the measured conductivity or resistance to a reference value; and/or determining, by the conductivity or resistance measuring device, a presence or an absence of an antimicrobial system on the surface. The antimicrobial system may comprise a first coating, wherein the first coating may comprise an antimicrobial compound, wherein the antimicrobial compound may comprise a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a hydrocarbon chain therebetween, wherein the antimicrobial compound may comprise a cationic functional group on the first end and a silane group on the second end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: at least one of: measuring, by a conductivity measuring device, a conductivity of a surface of a substrate, or measuring, by a resistance measuring device, a resistance of the surface of the substrate; comparing, by the conductivity measuring device or the resistance measuring device, the measured conductivity or resistance, respectively, to a reference value; and determining, by the conductivity measuring device or the resistance measuring device, a presence or an absence of an antimicrobial system on the surface, wherein the antimicrobial system comprises a first coating, wherein the first coating comprises an antimicrobial compound, wherein the antimicrobial compound comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a hydrocarbon chain therebetween, wherein the antimicrobial compound comprises a cationic functional group on the first end and a silane group on the second end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the antimicrobial compound to the surface to form the first coating prior to the measuring the conductivity or the resistance of the surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the conductivity or the resistance of the surface comprises measuring the conductivity of the first coating resulting from the cationic functional group. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the reference value comprises a reference conductivity value, wherein, at least one of: in response to the measured conductivity value and the reference conductivity value differing beyond a predetermined threshold, the method further comprises reapplying the antimicrobial compound to the surface, or in response to the measured conductivity value being less than the reference conductivity value, the method further comprises reapplying the antimicrobial compound to the surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the measuring the conductivity of the first coating is completed via at least one of a voltmeter, a conductivity electrode, or a four-point probe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial system comprises an anionic compound. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the anionic compound comprises a sulfonate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the anionic compound is comprised in the first coating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the anionic compound is comprised in a second coating comprised in the antimicrobial system, wherein the second coating is disposed on the first coating. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein, in response to the antimicrobial system comprising the anionic compound, the anionic compound binds to the cationic functional group of the antimicrobial compound, deactivating a positive charge of the cationic functional group, and wherein the measuring the conductivity or the resistance of the surface comprises measuring the resistance of the antimicrobial system resulting from the anionic compound. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the reference value comprises a reference resistance value, wherein, at least one of: in response to the measured resistance value and the reference resistance value differing beyond a predetermined threshold, the method further comprises reapplying the antimicrobial compound to the surface, or in response to the measured resistance value being greater than the reference resistance value, the method further comprises reapplying the antimicrobial compound to the surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the measuring the resistance of the antimicrobial system is completed via at least one of a high resistance meter, a resistivity cell, or a four-point probe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cationic functional group is a quaternary ammonium group. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the silane group at least one of binds or couples to the surface of the substrate and the cationic functional group on the first end extends outwardly from the surface of the substrate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is an aircraft cabin surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the aircraft cabin surface is comprised in at least one of a passenger seat, a passenger suite, a passenger amenity, a control unit, a stowage/luggage compartment, a lavatory, a self-service bar or kiosk, or a galley.