Method and apparatus for fluid sterilization for patient support surfaces
AssigneeKap Medical
InventorsRaj K. Gowda, Dan F. Rosenmayer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for treating fluid provided to a patient support. An apparatus comprises a housing defining an interior space, an inlet in flow communication with a source of untreated fluid and the interior space, an outlet in flow communication with the patient support and the interior space, and a light source directed into the interior space such that light emitted by the light source bombards fluid flowing through the interior space with light within a wavelength range that destroys organisms within the fluid to thereby provide treated fluid to the patient support.
Claims22
An apparatus for treating fluid provided to a patient support, comprising:
- a housing defining an interior space;
- an inlet in flow communication with a source of untreated fluid and the interior space;
- an outlet in flow communication with the patient support and the interior space;
- and
- a light source directed into the interior space such that light emitted by the light source bombards fluid flowing through the interior space with light within a wavelength range that destroys organisms within the fluid to thereby provide treated fluid to the patient support.
A patient support system, comprising:
- a patient support having an air inlet for receiving air to at least partially inflate the patient support;
- and
- a UV chamber having an inlet for receiving unsterilized air from an air source into an interior space of a housing, a light source that emits light toward the unsterilized air in the interior space at a wavelength that sterilizes the air, and an outlet in flow communication with the patient support inlet to provide sterilized air to the patient support.
The system of 13, wherein the electronics include a microprocessor, enable logic connected to the microprocessor, a driver circuit connected between the enable logic and the light source, and a Hall Effect sensor connected to the enable logic.
A method of sterilizing fluid for use in a patient support, comprising:
- passing unsterilized fluid from a fluid source through an inlet into an interior space of a chamber;
- emitting ultraviolet light toward the fluid in the interior space at a wavelength of between about 255 nm and about 285 nm to thereby sterilize the fluid;
- and
- passing the sterilized fluid through an outlet of the chamber to an inlet of a patient support to thereby at least partially inflate the patient support with sterilized fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.