Device for disinfecting equipment and method of using the same
This disclosure relates to a device for disinfecting equipment, such as medical devices, surgical equipment, and/or CPAP components (or, CPAP equipment), including the various parts of a CPAP system, such as hoses, masks, pillows, couplings, humidifiers, etc., that require frequent cleaning and disinfecting. An example device includes a chamber, an ultraviolet (UV) light configured to emit UV light within the chamber, an ozone generator configured to generate ozone within the chamber, and a control unit configured to activate the UV light and the ozone generator simultaneously for a first period of time. A method is also disclosed.
1. A device for disinfecting equipment, comprising:
a chamber;
an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light within the chamber;
an ozone generator configured to generate ozone within the chamber;
a control unit configured to activate the UV light source and the ozone generator simultaneously for a first period of time,
a blower, the control unit configured to activate the blower for the first period of time;
a heater;
wherein, after the first period of time, the control unit is configured to activate the heater and cause the blower to continue to run for a second period of time,
wherein the control unit is configured to activate the heater to raise a temperature of the chamber to a predetermined temperature and to maintain the chamber at the predetermined temperature for a second period of time,
a vacuum pump;
wherein, after the second period of time, the control unit is configured to deactivate the heater and cause the blower to continue to run for a third period of time, and
wherein the control unit is configured to activate the vacuum pump during the third period of time.
2. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first period of time is seven minutes.
3. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the UV light source emits UV light at a wavelength of 254 nanometers (nm).
4. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the UV light source includes a 13 Watt UV-C bulb.
5. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the UV light source emits UV-C light.
6. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second period of time is seven minutes.
7. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump is activated near an end of the third period of time.
8. The device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a base; and
a closure moveable relative to the base between an open position and a closed position, wherein the base and closure provide boundaries of the chamber when the closure is in the closed position.
9. The device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the closure is lockable relative to the base and is only unlocked when one or both of a temperature of the chamber and a level of ozone within the chamber are below predetermined thresholds.
10. The device as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor;
an ozone sensor;
wherein the control unit is configured to interpret signals of the temperature sensor and the ozone sensor to determine a temperature of the chamber and a level of ozone within the chamber, respectively.
11. The device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the closure is only unlocked when there is no detectable level of ozone within the chamber.
12. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a volume of 7.5 cubic feet.
13. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the chamber is sized to receive at least one of CPAP components, medical devices, and surgical instruments.
14. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein, after the first period of time, the control unit is configured to deactivate the ozone generator and UV light source.