# US 12,214,102 B2 · Monitoring device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,102 B2 - Document ID: US12214102B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/602,853 - Filed: 2020-04-09 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-12 - Assignees: Randox Laboratories Limited - Applicants: Randox Laboratories Ltd - Inventors: Catherine McCooke; Peter Fitzgerald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214102B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/28: Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation or disinfection, e.g. indicators which change colour - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - G01J 1/429: {applied to measurement of ultraviolet light (using counting tubes G01T)} - G01J 1/44: Electric circuits {(for command of an exposure part G03B7/02)} - 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: 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) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract There is provided a sterilisation monitoring device for a molecular diagnostics analyser. The device comprises a sensor arranged in use to detect radiation; and an analysis unit connected to the sensor. The analysis unit is arranged in use to issue a signal when the radiation level incident on the sensor is lower than a threshold level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sterilisation monitoring device for a molecular diagnostics analyser, the sterilisation monitoring device comprising: a sensor arranged in use to detect ultraviolet radiation; and an analysis unit connected to the sensor, the analysis unit comprising: an inverted active low pass filter and a comparator, the sensor being connected at an input to the active low pass filter and an output of the active low pass filter being connected to an input of the comparator, the comparator being a voltage comparator and comprising a potential divider, an op-amp to which the potential divider and the output of the active low pass filter are connected, a pull-up resistor to which an output of the op-amp is connected, and an output to which the output of the op-amp and the pull-up resistor are connected, wherein the analysis unit is arranged in use to issue a signal from the output of the comparator when the ultraviolet radiation level incident on the sensor is lower than a threshold level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sterilisation monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the low pass filter is an RC filter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sterilisation monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the comparator is a dual differential comparator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sterilisation monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a light sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sterilisation monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the light sensor is an irradiance sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The sterilisation monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the threshold level is 110 Watts per minute (W/min) over a period of about 5 minutes. ### Claim 7 A system for a molecular diagnostics analyser, the system comprising: a sterilisation monitoring device comprising: a sensor arranged in use to detect ultraviolet radiation; and an analysis unit connected to the sensor, the analysis unit comprising: an inverted active low pass filter and a comparator, the sensor being connected at an input to the active low pass filter and an output of the active low pass filter being connected to an input of the comparator, the comparator being a voltage comparator and comprising a potential divider, an op-amp to which the potential divider and the output of the active low pass filter are connected, a pull-up resistor to which an output of the op-amp is connected, and an output to which the output of the op-amp and the pull-up resistor are connected, wherein the analysis unit is arranged in use to issue a signal from the output of the comparator when the ultraviolet radiation level incident on the sensor is lower than a threshold level; and a decontaminator comprising a ultraviolet radiation source, wherein the ultraviolet radiation source is arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation in use in a distribution area, wherein the sensor of the sterilisation monitoring device is positioned in the distribution area so as to receive ultraviolet radiation from the radiation source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet radiation source is an ultraviolet type C (UVC) source. ### Claim 9 A sample analyser for conducting a molecular diagnostic assay, the analyser comprising: a processing region; and a decontaminator comprising a ultraviolet radiation source mounted within the processing region, the ultraviolet radiation source being arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation in use in a distribution area to irradiate at least a portion of the processing region when in use; and a sterilisation monitoring device having a sensor arranged in use to detect ultraviolet radiation, the sensor being located on a surface of the processing region in the at least a portion of the processing region able to be irradiated by the ultraviolet radiation source, the device further having an analysis unit connected to the sensor, the analysis unit comprising: an inverted active low pass filter and a comparator, the sensor being connected at an input to the active low pass filter and an output of the active low pass filter being connected to an input of the comparator, the comparator being a voltage comparator and comprising a potential divider, an op-amp to which the potential divider and the output of the active low pass filter are connected, a pull-up resistor to which an output of the op-amp is connected, and an output to which the output of the op-amp and the pull-up resistor are connected, wherein the analysis unit is arranged in use to issue a signal from the output of the comparator when the ultraviolet radiation level incident on the sensor is lower than a threshold level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sample analyser according to claim 9, wherein the decontaminator is moveable within the processing region.