Switchable sterilizing cutting system
View Patent ↗Sectioning tools that emit self-sterilizing radiation. In one approach, the radiation is ultraviolet and/or plasmonic.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first member including a sectioning structure;
a radiation emitter optically directed to the sectioning structure;
a conversion structure positioned at the sectioning structure and configured to convert radiation from the radiation emitter to sterilizing radiation; and
a switch configured to modulate the radiation emitter by reducing a radiation level in response to proximity to a material, wherein the switch is further configured to modulate the radiation emitter in response to a force sensor.
2. An apparatus, comprising:
a first member including a sectioning structure;
a radiation emitter optically directed to the sectioning structure;
a conversion structure positioned at the sectioning structure and configured to convert radiation from the radiation emitter to sterilizing radiation; and
a switch configured to modulate the radiation emitter by reducing a radiation level in response to proximity to a material, wherein the switch is further configured to modulate the radiation emitter in response to a motion sensor.
3. An apparatus, comprising:
a first member including a sectioning structure;
a radiation emitter optically directed to the sectioning structure;
a conversion structure positioned at the sectioning structure and configured to convert radiation from the radiation emitter to sterilizing radiation; and
a switch configured to modulate the radiation emitter by reducing a radiation level in response to proximity to a material, wherein modulating the radiation emitter includes deactivating the radiation emitter.
4. A control system for a sectioning tool, comprising:
a sensor that senses a condition in the vicinity of the sectioning tool indicative of proximity to a material, and
a sensor logic that generates a signal in response to the sensor, wherein the generated signal is configured to reduce sterilizing radiation produced at a sectioning surface of the sectioning tool, wherein the sensor comprises a force sensor.
5. A control system for a sectioning tool, comprising:
a sensor that senses a condition in the vicinity of the sectioning tool indicative of proximity to a material, and
a sensor logic that generates a signal in response to the sensor, wherein the generated signal is configured to reduce sterilizing radiation produced at a sectioning surface of the sectioning tool, wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.
6. A control system for a sectioning tool, comprising:
a sensor that senses a condition in the vicinity of the sectioning tool indicative of proximity to a material, and
a sensor logic that generates a signal in response to the sensor, wherein the generated signal is configured to reduce sterilizing radiation produced at a sectioning surface of the sectioning tool, wherein the generated signal is configured to terminate the sterilizing radiation.