초록 ▼

A disinfector disinfects an object having channels therein, such as an endoscope, by one or more light emitting diodes that emit UV-C radiation. The object, including interior channels of the object, is exposed to emissions of UV-C radiation. One or more light emitting diodes provide UV-C radiation

A disinfector disinfects an object having channels therein, such as an endoscope, by one or more light emitting diodes that emit UV-C radiation. The object, including interior channels of the object, is exposed to emissions of UV-C radiation. One or more light emitting diodes provide UV-C radiation to the interior channels of the object. Operation of the device through the channels is responsive to cumulative levels of radiation received by the sensor(s) associated with the light emitting diode(s).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel, comprising: a cable connected to a velocity controlled motor;a light emitting diode that emits UV-C radiation positioned near an end of the cable;a sensor associated with the light emitting diode and constructed and arranged to not r

1. A device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel, comprising: a cable connected to a velocity controlled motor;a light emitting diode that emits UV-C radiation positioned near an end of the cable;a sensor associated with the light emitting diode and constructed and arranged to not receive a material amount of direct UV-C radiation from the light emitting diode;a device for measuring a dosage of UV-C radiation received by the sensor; anda controller for controlling a velocity of the velocity controlled motor and attached cable and for controlling a rate of progression of the light emitting diode through the interior channel of the object in response to a UV-C radiation dosage received by the sensor. 2. The device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel as described in claim 1, the device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes spaced apart along a length of the cable, and having a sensor positioned adjacent to each the light emitting diodes, wherein the cable is withdrawn from the interior channel of the object by the velocity controlled motor in response to the UV-C radiation dosage received by each of the sensors. 3. The device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel as described in claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is separated from the sensor and the end of the cable is constructed and arranged so that UV-C radiation is not directly received by the sensor from the light emitting diode. 4. The device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel as described in claim 1, the device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel further comprising a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein at least one of said UV-C sensors is constructed and arranged to receive UV-C radiation reflected from at least a portion of said UV-C reflective interior surfaces; a device for measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation received by each of said UV-C sensors, and for terminating an emission of UV-C radiation by said UV-C radiation sources upon each of said UV-C sensors receiving a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation, wherein at least one of the UV-C radiation sources is a light emitting diode. 5. The device for disinfecting an object having an interior channel as described in claim 1, further comprising a terminal housing positioned at the end of the cable, wherein the light emitting diode and the sensor are positioned in the terminal housing relative to each other so that UV-C radiation is not directly received by the sensor from the light emitting diode. 6. A process of disinfecting an interior channel of an object, comprising the steps of: progressively exposing the interior channel of the object to UV-C radiation emitted from a light emitting diode that transmits UV-C radiation by progressively transporting said light emitting diode and a sensor associated with the light emitting diode through the interior channel of the object; measuring a dosage of UV-C radiation received by the sensor; and adjusting a rate of progression of the light emitting diode through the interior channel of the object in response to a UV-C radiation dosage received by the sensor. 7. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, wherein the light emitting diode that transmits UV-C radiation and the sensor are positioned near an end of a cable that is progressively transported though the interior channel of the object. 8. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, wherein the light emitting diode that transmits UV-C radiation and the sensor are positioned near an end of a cable that is progressively transported though the interior channel of the object, wherein the light emitting diode is separated from the sensor and UV-C radiation is not directly received by the sensor from the light emitting diode. 9. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, further comprising the step of exposing a UV-C conductive interior channel of the object to UV-C radiation emitted from a UV-C radiation source and transmitting UV-C radiation through the UV-C conductive interior channel, wherein a sensor is positioned at an opposite end of the UV-C conductive interior channel to receive UV-C radiation transmitted through the UV-C conductive interior channel; measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation received by the sensor; and terminating transmission of UV-C radiation when the desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation has been received by the sensor. 10. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, wherein a plurality of light emitting diodes are spaced apart along a length of the interior channel of the object, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is withdrawn from the interior channel of the object in response to a UV-C radiation dosage received by the sensor. 11. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, placing the object to be disinfected in a housing, said housing comprising a plurality of UV-C radiation sources in an interior thereof, and a plurality of UV-C sensors in an interior thereof, said housing further comprising UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said object is spaced apart from said UV-C radiation sources and said UV-C sensors; directing UV-C radiation from said UV-C radiation sources toward said object and toward said UV-C reflective interior surfaces, wherein said UV-C reflective interior surfaces reflect said UV-C radiation, and wherein at least one of said UV-C sensors receives UV-C radiation reflected from at least a portion of said UV-C reflective interior surfaces; measuring a cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation received by each of said UV-C sensors, and upon each of said UV-C sensors receiving a desired cumulative dosage of UV-C radiation, terminating an emission of UV-C radiation by said UV-C radiation sources. 12. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, wherein at least one of the UV-C radiation sources is a light emitting diode. 13. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, wherein a plurality of light emitting diodes are spaced apart along a length of the interior channel of the object, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes is withdrawn from the interior channel of the object in response to a UV-C radiation dosage received by the sensor, and having a sensor positioned adjacent to each the light emitting diodes. 14. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, wherein said object is a medical instrument. 15. The process of disinfecting an object as described in claim 6, wherein said object is an endoscope.