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US 8,137,615 B2Granted
Automated workstation for disinfecting objects and methods of use thereof
AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorJames Preston Van Hooser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated workstation or apparatus for disinfecting an object in a controlled environment is provided. A method for disinfecting an object in a controlled environment is provided.
Claims19
A method of treating an animal cage, the method comprising:
- detecting, with a sensor, an animal cage containing a live animal within a predefined area relative to a platform;
- and
- in response to detecting the animal cage, dispensing fluid from a pressurized fluid reservoir through a plurality of nozzles toward at least a portion of exposed surfaces of the animal cage and without endangering the live animal wherein dispensing fluid comprises spraying the fluid at a sufficient rate to disinfect the animal cage in approximately one second.
A method, comprising:
- sensing an object within a predefined area relative to a platform, wherein the platform is open to an external environment;
- and
- dispensing a fluid in response to sensing the object, wherein the fluid is dispensed from a fluid reservoir through a plurality of nozzles directed toward the object in the predefined area, and wherein the fluid is at approximately room temperature when the fluid is dispensed toward the object in the predefined area, and further wherein the fluid is dispensed at a sufficient rate to disinfect the object in approximately one second.
A method for treating an animal cage at an automated workstation, the method comprising:
- sensing with a sensor when the animal cage is present within a predefined treatment area of the workstation, wherein the animal cage contains a live animal;
- and
- dispensing fluid from a stored volume of fluid carried by the workstation in response to sensing that the animal cage is within the treatment area, wherein dispensing the fluid comprises spraying the fluid toward at least a portion of the animal cage at a sufficient fluid flow rate to disinfect the animal cage in approximately one second.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.