# US 9,433,693 B2 · Air-surface disinfection system, unit and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,693 B2 - Document ID: US9433693B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/283,870 - Filed: 2014-05-21 - Published: 2014-11-27 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-11 - Assignees: Aerobiotix, Inc. - Applicants: David Louis Kirschman - Inventors: David Louis Kirschman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433693B2 ## CPC - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation - A61L 2/26: Accessories - A61L 2103/75: Room floors or walls - A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps - A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs - A61L 2202/16: Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles - A61L 2209/11: Apparatus for controlling air treatment - 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) ## Abstract A system, unit, device and method are shown for providing substantially simultaneous disinfection of bacteria or other pathogens in air passing through the system using C-band ultraviolet radiation from an ultraviolet light source and that is also capable of substantially simultaneous and efficient disinfecting air and surfaces outside the device using the same ultraviolet light source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A disinfection unit comprising: a housing comprising a blower or fan for blowing air; a transparent tubular member for receiving air blown by said blower or fan and for directing it in a predetermined direction; a plurality of ultraviolet light sources supported by said housing and arranged in a predetermined pattern around said transparent tubular member such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources project ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing an environment outside said housing, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources also projecting ultraviolet radiation through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air blown through said transparent tubular member; and a controller coupled to said blower or fan and said plurality of ultraviolet light sources for controlling operation of the disinfection unit; wherein said disinfection unit further comprises a plurality of transparent interrupters situated in a passageway of said transparent tubular member to slow or create turbulence in the air passing through said transparent tubular member, and which each of said plurality of transparent interrupters being generally tubular and permitting at least some of the air passing through said transparent tubular member to pass through it. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said environment comprises at least one surface, said ultraviolet radiation comprising an intensity adapted to disinfect said at least one surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one surface is at least one of a surface of furniture or an interior surface of a medical room or hospital room. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined pattern comprises a generally circular pattern arranged around said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent tubular member is generally cylindrical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 5 wherein said transparent tubular member is silicate quartz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined pattern comprises a generally circular pattern arrange around said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 7 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated and each have an axis that is generally parallel to an axis of said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 7 wherein said transparent tubular member is silicate quartz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent tubular member is silicate quartz. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent tubular member comprises a first end situated on said housing in operative relationship to said blower or fan, said blower or fan drawing air in from a base of said housing and expelling it through an exit opening of said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined direction is generally vertical and upward. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated lamps emitting C-band radiation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The disinfection unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent tubular members are quartz tubular members. ### Claim 15 A disinfection unit comprising: a housing comprising a blower or fan for blowing air; a transparent tubular member for receiving air blown by said blower or fan and for directing it in a predetermined direction; a plurality of ultraviolet light sources supported by said housing and arranged in a predetermined pattern around said transparent tubular member such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources project ultraviolet radiation outward to facilitate sterilizing an environment outside said housing, said plurality of ultraviolet light sources also protecting ultraviolet radiation through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air blown through said transparent tubular member; and a controller coupled to said blower or fan and said plurality of ultraviolet light sources for controlling operation of the disinfection unit; wherein said disinfection unit comprises an end cap grate through which air may pass; said end cap being associated with first ends of said plurality of ultraviolet light sources and adapted to retain said plurality of ultraviolet light sources in an upright and spaced relationship. ### Claim 16 An air-surface disinfector comprising: a transparent tubular member defining a passageway for receiving air and for directing said air in a predetermined direction; and a plurality of ultraviolet light sources arranged in a predetermined pattern such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, ultraviolet radiation is projected inwardly through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air passing through said transparent tubular member and outwardly to facilitate sterilizing an environment or area around said plurality of ultraviolet light sources: wherein said air-surface disinfector further comprises a plurality of transparent interrupters situated in a passageway of said transparent tubular member to slow or create turbulence in the air passing through said transparent tubular member, and which each of said plurality of transparent interrupters being generally tubular and permitting at least some of the air passing through said transparent tubular member to pass through it. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said environment or area comprises at least one surface, said ultraviolet radiation comprising an intensity adapted to disinfect said at least one surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 17 wherein said at least one surface is at least one of a surface of a medical room or hospital room or furniture located therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said predetermined pattern comprises a generally circular pattern arrange around said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said transparent tubular member is generally cylindrical. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 20 wherein said transparent tubular member is silicate quartz. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said predetermined pattern comprises a generally circular pattern arrange around said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 22 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated and each have an axis that is generally parallel to an axis of said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 22 wherein said transparent tubular member is silicate quartz. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said transparent tubular member is silicate quartz. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said transparent tubular member comprises a first end situated on a housing in operative relationship to a blower or fan, said blower or fan drawing air in from a base of said housing and expelling it through an exit opening of said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said predetermined direction is generally vertical and upward. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated lamps emitting C-band radiation. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The air-surface disinfector as recited in claim 16 wherein said transparent tubular members are quartz tubular members. ### Claim 30 An air-surface disinfector comprising: a transparent tubular member defining a passageway for receiving of and for directing said air in a predetermined direction; and a plurality of ultraviolet light sources arranged in a predetermined pattern such that, when said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized, ultraviolet radiation is projected inwardly through said transparent tubular member to facilitate sterilizing air passing through said transparent tubular member and outwardly to facilitate sterilizing an environment or area around said plurality of ultraviolet light sources: wherein said air-surface disinfector comprises an end cap grate through which air may pass; said end cap grate being associated with first ends of said plurality of ultraviolet light sources and adapted to retain said plurality of ultraviolet light sources in an upright and spaced relationship and in operative relationship to said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 31 A method for disinfecting an area or environment, said method comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of ultraviolet light sources in a predetermined order such that they generally surround a predetermined interior disinfecting area; directing infected air through said predetermined interior disinfecting area; energizing said plurality of ultraviolet light sources so that they radiate said predetermined interior disinfecting area and disinfect said infected air that passes therethrough; said plurality of ultraviolet light sources generating ultraviolet light that radiates away from said predetermined interior disinfecting area to also disinfect air surrounding said plurality of ultraviolet light sources and at least one surface in said area or environment in which said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are energized; situating a plurality of transparent interpreters in a passageway of a transparent tubular member to slow or create turbulence in the air passing through said transparent tubular member, and which each of said plurality of transparent interrupters being generally tubular and permitting at least some of the air passing through said transparent tubular member to pass through it. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated lamps, said method further comprises the step of: arranging said plurality of ultraviolet light sources in a generally circular pattern. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated tubular ultraviolet lamps, said arranging step further comprising the step of: arranging said plurality of ultraviolet light sources around a transparent tubular member that defines said predetermined interior disinfecting area. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method as recited in claim 33 wherein said transparent tubular member is silicate quartz. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The method as recited in claim 33 wherein axes of said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated ultraviolet lamps, said method further comprising the step of: arranging said plurality of ultraviolet light sources such that their axes are generally parallel to an axis of said transparent tubular member. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources are elongated ultraviolet lamps, said method further comprising the step of: arranging said plurality of ultraviolet light sources so that their axes are generally vertical with respect to the ground. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources comprise a plurality of elongated lamps that are arranged in an upright and generally circular plan. ### Claim 38 (depends on 31) The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said plurality of ultraviolet light sources project light in a first direction into said predetermined interior disinfecting area and also in a second direction that is generally opposite said first direction, said light in said second direction being substantially uninterrupted until it encounters at least one surface, said at least one surface becoming substantially disinfected in response to said light. ### Claim 39 (depends on 31) The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said transparent tubular members are quartz tubular members.