Sanitizing device
View Patent ↗A sanitizing device includes a nonlinear optical element, one or more laser diodes, a lens, and a battery pack. The one or more laser diodes are each configured to direct a beam of optical energy to the nonlinear optical element. Each beam of optical energy has a first wavelength and the nonlinear optical element is configured to produce UV-C energy having a second wavelength from the beams of optical energy. The lens is configured to focus the UV-C energy to cover a desired area for sanitizing purposes. The battery pack is configured for powering the one or more laser diodes.
1. A sanitizing device comprising:
a nonlinear optical element;
one or more laser diodes each configured to direct a beam of optical energy to the nonlinear optical element, wherein the beam of optical energy has a first wavelength, and wherein the nonlinear optical element is configured to produce UV-C energy having a second wavelength from the beams of optical energy;
a lens configured to focus the UV-C energy to cover a desired area for sanitizing purposes; and
a battery pack configured for powering the one or more laser diodes.
2. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the desired area is an area around a mouth and nose of a user to sanitize air breathed in and/or breathed out by the user.
3. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the sanitizing device does not include a membrane or filter for filtering air.
4. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the first wavelength is in a range of 440 nm to 450 nm.
5. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the second wavelength is in a range of 220 nm to 225 nm.
6. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the nonlinear optical element includes a barium borate crystal.
7. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the one or more laser diodes is three laser diodes each having an output of approximately seven watts.
8. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the one or more laser diodes are pulsed on and off.
9. The sanitizing device of claim 1 further including a switch for selectively activating and deactivating the one or more UV-C modules.
10. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the sanitizing device is configured as a wearable device.
11. The sanitizing device of claim 10 wherein the sanitizing device is configured to be worn on a head of a user.
12. The sanitizing device of claim 1 wherein the sanitizing device is attachable to a medical instrument.
13. The sanitizing device of claim 1 further comprising a fiber optic element for conducting the focused UV-C energy to a desired location.
14. A personal sanitizing device comprising:
an earpiece;
an arm extending from the earpiece, wherein the arm is configured to extend to an area adjacent a nose and/or a mouth of a user of the personal sanitizing device when the earpiece is worn by the user;
a barium borate crystal;
one or more laser diodes each configured for directing a beam of optical energy to the barium borate crystal, wherein the barium borate crystal is configured to produce a harmonic of the beam of optical energy, where the harmonic has a wavelength in the UV-C range and is output from the arm in the area adjacent the nose and/or mouth.
15. The personal sanitizing device of claim 14 further comprising a rechargeable battery configured for powering the one or more laser diodes.
16. The personal sanitizing device of claim 15 further comprising a charger for charging the rechargeable battery.
17. The personal sanitizing device of claim 14 wherein the beam of optical energy from the laser diode has a primary wavelength in a range of 430 nm to 460 nm.
18. The personal sanitizing device of claim 17 wherein the harmonic has a primary wavelength in a range of 215 nm to 230 nm.
19. The personal sanitizing device of claim 14 wherein the harmonic produced by the barium borate crystal is directed into a lens.
20. The personal sanitizing device of claim 14 wherein the harmonic is conducted through a fiber optic element in the arm.