# US 12,214,096 B2 · System and method for safely eradicating pathogens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,096 B2 - Document ID: US12214096B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/126,505 - Filed: 2023-10-05 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-01 - Assignees: Freestyle Partners LLC - Applicants: Freestyle Partners LLC - Inventors: Jennifer K Rosen; Benjamin X Feeney; Gregory D Degrazia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214096B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/084: Visible light - A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - A61L 2103/75: Room floors or walls - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - A61L 2209/16: Connections to a HVAC unit - 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 A system for eradicating pathogens is disclosed. A lamp is provided that emits a far-ultraviolet C (far-UVC) light generates an irradiation zone. A biometric sensor determines whether an individual is present in the irradiation zone. The biometric sensor signals a processor to determine whether the individual has been exposed to a threshold limit of far-UVC light. The processor determines whether the time an individual has been in the irradiation zone exceeds a threshold limit. If the individual has been in the irradiation zone a period of time exceeds the threshold, the lamp is deactivated. A pathogen detection sensor provides user feedback of the existence pathogens and signals the processor to terminate irradiation or provide user feedback to terminate irradiation. The system and method are included in a passenger compartment of a vehicle to eradicate pathogens on surfaces and aerosol. Threshold limits allow eradication while the vehicle is occupied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for eradicating pathogens, comprising the steps of: activating a lamp that emits a far-ultraviolet C (far-UVC) light and generates an irradiation zone; determining whether an individual is present in the irradiation zone; determining an amount of exposure to the far-UVC light that the individual receives in the irradiation zone; determining whether the amount of exposure exceeds a threshold; and if it is determined that the amount of exposure exceeds the threshold, deactivating the lamp. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the amount of exposure comprises determining an amount of time that the individual has been in the irradiation zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: identifying the individual that is present in the irradiation zone; and recording the amount of time that the individual has been in the irradiation zone over a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the individual is present in the irradiation zone is further defined by detecting the individual's skin, eyes, heart rhythm, vein pattern, fingerprints, hand geometry, DNA, voice pattern, iris pattern, or face detection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: detecting a pathogen within the irradiation zone; identifying the pathogen within the irradiation zone; determining a time period necessary to eradicate the pathogen; and generating a signal indicating when the time period has passed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method set forth in claim 5, wherein the signal comprises at least one of a visual indication and an audible indication. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining a distance between the lamp and the individual; determining whether the distance is greater than a predetermined distance; if it is determined that the distance is greater than the predetermined distance, generating a signal indicating that the distance is greater than the predetermined distance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method set forth in claim 7, wherein the signal comprises at least one of a visual indication and an audible indication. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method set forth in claim 8, wherein the visual indication comprises at least one ring of light. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method set forth in claim 8, wherein the visual indication comprises concentric rings of light. ### Claim 11 A system for eradicating pathogens in passenger compartments of vehicles, comprising: a lamp that emits a far-ultraviolet C (far-UVC) light thereby generating an irradiation zone; a biometric sensor that detects presence of an individual in the irradiation zone; a processor that receives a signal from said biometric sensor for determining an amount of exposure to the far-UVC light that the individual receives while present in the irradiation zone; said processor including a counter for tabulating an amount of exposure the individual has received while being within the irradiation zone thereby determining whether the amount of exposure exceeds a threshold: said processor terminating illumination of by said lamp when the individual meets or exceeds the threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein said counter counts at least one of time or irradiation energy the individual receives while being in the irradiation zone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system set forth in claim 12, wherein the biometric sensor identifies the individual that is present in the irradiation zone, and the processor records the amount of time that the individual has been in the irradiation zone over a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system set forth in claim 11, wherein said biometric sensor is configured for determining whether the individual is present in the irradiation zone by detecting at least one of the individual's skin, eyes, heart rhythm, vein pattern, fingerprints, hand geometry, DNA, voice pattern, iris pattern, and face detection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system set forth in claim 11, further comprising a pathogen sensor for detecting a pathogen within the irradiation zone and identifies the pathogen, wherein said processor is programmed for determining a time period necessary to eradicate the pathogen and generates a signal indicating when the time period has passed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system set forth in claim 15, wherein the pathogen sensor comprises one of a microbial sensor and a surface plasmon resonance sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system set forth in claim 11, wherein said lamp and said biometric sensor is disposed in a housing of a handheld device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system set forth in claim 11, wherein said lamp is disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system set forth in claim 18, wherein said lamp is disposed in at least one of a headliner, HVAC vent, and instrument panel of a passenger vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system set forth in claim 19, wherein said lamp is cooperatively aligned with an air circulation device within the passenger compartment of the vehicle thereby enabling said air circulation device to circulate air disposed in said passenger compartment through said irradiation zone of said lamp.