Printable ultraviolet-c (uv-c) chamber to decontaminate reusable personal protective equipment (ppe)
AssigneeThe Rockefeller University
InventorsAlexander Epstein, Thomas P. Sakmar, Thomas Huber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A UV-C decontamination apparatus is used to decontaminate PPEs, such as respiratory masks. The apparatus is formed from a 3D printing process which makes the manufacture and use widespread. The apparatus includes a 3D printed chamber and a lid for enclosing the chamber. At least one UV-C lamp is supported in the chamber. Activation of the lamp is designed to decontaminate the mask supported in the chamber from the lid. An electronic switch assembly permits activation of the lamp only upon locking closure of a lid to the chamber. In a further embodiment, the hook is rotatable on the lid so as to rotate the mask in the chamber upon lamp activation.
Claims26
A UV-C decontamination apparatus for decontamination of a respiratory mask, said apparatus comprising:
- a 3D printed chamber having a generally cylindrical wall, a closed bottom end and an open top end;
- said chamber defining an interior for insertably accommodating said N95 mask;
- a 3D printed removable lid for closing said open end;
- at least one activatable UV-C lamp arranged within said interior of said chamber extending from a bottom wall and adjacent an interior wall, activation of said at least one lamp designed to decontaminate said mask accommodated within said chamber interior;
- and
- an electronic switch assembly which permits activation of said UV-C lamp only upon locking closure of said lid.
A method of decontaminating a respiratory mask comprising the steps of:
- providing a 3D printed chamber having a generally cylindrical wall, a closed bottom end, an open upper end defining a chamber interior, said chamber having at least one activatable UV-C lamp adjacent the interior of said cylindrical wall;
- providing a 3D printed lid for enclosing said open upper end;
- providing an electronic switch assembly which permits activation of said UV-C lamp only upon locking attachment of said lid to said open upper end of said chamber;
- attaching said mask to an undersurface of said lid;
- locking said lid to said open upper end of chamber to position said mask within the interior of the chamber;
- and
- activating said UV-C lamp to decontaminate said mask within said chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.