Event-triggered self-sterilization of article surfaces
AssigneeThe Invention Science Fund I, LLC
InventorsRoderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
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Abstract
Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve event-controlled self-sterilization of contact surfaces on articles or fixtures. A self-sterilizing contact surface structure allows chemical sterilizing agents to controllably flow in response to a contact event, from within the article to exude upon a portion of the contact surface.
Claims51
A self-sterilizing article, comprising:
- an article body;
- a lateral contact surface disposed thereon;
- and
- a chemical dispenser arranged to controllably pass a sterilizing chemical to the contact surface from within the article body generally perpendicularly through an interface extending laterally between the article body and the contact surface disposed thereon.
A contact surface structure disposed on an article, the contact surface structure comprising:
- an exterior contact surface having a lateral extent;
- and,
- an interior chemical flow-conductive region underneath the exterior contact surface contiguous to the exterior contact surface over at least a portion of its lateral extent,
- wherein the flow-conductive region is configured to controllably transconduct a sterilizing chemical agent to a portion of the exterior contact surface.
51-100. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.