# US 6,297,047 B1 · Ultraviolet sterilization of CO2 cell-culture incubator internal environments

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- Number: US 6,297,047 B1
- Document ID: US6297047B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/383,299
- Filed: 1999-08-25
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1999-08-25
- Assignees: SPX Corporation
- Inventors: Charles G. Butts
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6297047B1

## CPC

- C12M 37/00: {Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination (C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00)}
- A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
- C12M 41/14: {Incubators; Climatic chambers (per se B01L1/00)}
- B01L 1/50: {for storing hazardous materials in the laboratory, e.g. cupboards, waste containers (sample containers B01L3/50)}
- Y10S 435/809: Incubators or racks or holders for culture plates or containers
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- 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)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A cell culture incubator (10, 72) is provided which includes one or more UV lamps (40, 116) allowing continuous or semi-continuous on-demand incubator sterilization. The incubator (10, 72) includes a thermally insulated cabinet (12, 74) having an internal working chamber (14, 76) and a hingedly mounted door (16, 78). The sterilizing UV lamp (40) may be mounted in a circulating airflow passageway (62) to continuously sterilize air circulating through the working chamber (14). Alternately or in addition thereto, the lamp (116) may be mounted in the door (78) with a reflector (114) for focusing the UV radiation into the working chamber (76). Preferably, short-wave UV lamps are employed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An incubator comprising:
an incubator cabinet presenting an internal working chamber for incubation of samples;
an ultraviolet lamp operatively coupled with said cabinet for generating ultraviolet radiation capable of sterilizing said working chamber; and
an openable door, said door being U-shaped in vertical section, thus defining an internal concave area, said ultraviolet lamp carried by said door and oriented when said door is closed for directing said ultraviolet radiation towards said working chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The incubator of claim 1, said cabinet including a blower for circulating air along a path through said working chamber, said ultraviolet lamp located adjacent said path for sterilizing said circulating air.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The incubator of claim 1, said door including an inlet and an outlet spaced from the inlet for passage of circulating air through the door.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The incubator of claim 1, including a reflector carried by the door for reflecting ultraviolet radiation towards said working chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The incubator of claim 1, said lamp comprising an elongated, serpentine-shaped ultraviolet lamp.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The incubator of claim 1, said cabinet including a heating assembly for maintaining temperature conditions within said working chamber at a desired level.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The incubator of claim 6, said heating assembly comprising a plenum adjacent said working chamber and adapted to receive an indirect heating medium.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The incubator of claim 6, said cabinet including an openable door, said heating assembly comprising a resistance heater carried by said door.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The incubator of claim 6, including a temperature sensor operatively coupled with said heating assembly for controlling the heating assembly in order to maintain substantially constant temperature conditions within said working chamber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The incubator of claim 1, said working chamber including a plurality of spaced sample-supporting shelves.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The incubator of claim 10, said shelves being perforated for permitting airflow therethrough.