SYSTEM FOR DISINFECTING LARGER SCALE SPACES AND EQUIPMENT
The present disclosure relates generally to systems, devices and methods for disinfection of space and equipment. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems, devices and methods, such as rolling enclosures, which use light sources, such as ultraviolet (UV) light, and more specifically UV-C light, to disinfect larger scale equipment or spaces. Systems and methods of the present disclosure are particularly useful in medical facilities for treating medical equipment or spaces, where the prevalence of pathogens requires frequent disinfecting.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of walls defining a chamber, the plurality of walls including a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, and a back wall;
a plurality of reflective units, the plurality of reflective units including a-set of reflective units disposed on an inner surface of each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, and the back wall, the set of reflective units disposed on each of the first side wall and the second side wall covering a majority of that side wall and including at least one reflective unit extending to a height of the bottom wall; and
an energy source configured to emit electromagnetic energy, the energy source housed within at least one of the set of reflective units,
a surface of each reflective unit from the plurality of reflective units configured to direct the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source toward an object disposed in the chamber such that the electromagnetic energy disinfects an exterior surface of the object.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is UV-C.
23 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the energy source is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy at an intensity of at least 100 μW/cm 2 at 1 meter.
24 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the chamber includes an inner height, an inner width, and an inner length of at least approximately 36 inches.
25 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of walls further defines an opening to the chamber, the chamber and the opening being sized to receive at least one of: a gurney, a wheelchair, or an intravenous (IV) pole.
26 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, and the back wall include a removable panel configured to be removed from the respective wall to enable access to at least one reflective unit from the plurality of reflective units or the energy source.
27 . The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising a front wall movable between (1) an open configuration to provide an opening to the chamber and (2) a closed configuration to seal the chamber and block the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source from exiting the chamber.
28 . The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the front wall includes a reflective surface configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source into the chamber.
29 . The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the front wall is connected to the first side wall or the second side wall by at least one hinge.
30 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the set of reflective units disposed on each of the first side wall and the second side wall are adjacent to and arranged substantially parallel to one another.
31 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the bottom wall includes a reflective surface configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source into the chamber.
32 . An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of walls defining a chamber, the plurality of walls including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls;
a plurality of reflective units including a set of reflective units disposed on an inner surface of each side wall from the plurality of side walls, the set of reflective units disposed on each side wall from the plurality of side walls covering a majority of that side wall and including at least one reflective unit extending to a height of the bottom wall;
a plurality of energy sources configured to emit electromagnetic energy, the plurality of energy sources including an energy source housed within at least one reflective unit from the set of reflective units such that the at least one reflective unit can direct the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source toward an object disposed in the chamber to disinfect an exterior surface of the object;
and
a control unit configured to control an operation of the plurality of energy sources.
33 . The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the control unit is further configured to present information indicative of a status of a disinfection procedure of the object.
34 . The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is UV-C.
35 . The apparatus of claim 32 , further comprising a front wall movable between (1) an open configuration to provide an opening to the chamber and (2) a closed configuration to seal the chamber and block the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source from exiting the chamber.
36 . An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of walls defining a chamber, the plurality of walls including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls;
a plurality of reflective units including a set of reflective units disposed on an inner surface of each side wall from the plurality of side walls, the set of reflective units disposed on each side wall from the plurality of side walls covering a majority of that side wall and including at least one reflective unit extending to a height of the bottom wall;
an energy source configured to emit electromagnetic energy, the energy source housed within at least one reflective unit from the set of reflective units such that the at least one reflective unit can direct the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source toward an object disposed in the chamber to disinfect an exterior surface of the object; and
a control unit configured to:
activate, after the user has been provided access to the chamber, the energy source to initiate a disinfection procedure of the object;
present information indicative of a status of the disinfection procedure during the disinfection procedure; and
communicate information associated with at least one of the user, the object, or the disinfection procedure to a compute device remote from the control unit.
37 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
receive an input from the user that specifies one or more parameters of the disinfection procedure; and
control an operation of the plurality of energy sources based on the input.
38 . The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the set of reflective units disposed on each of the first side wall and the second side wall are adjacent to and arranged substantially parallel to one another.
39 . The apparatus of claim 36 , further comprising a front wall movable between (1) an open configuration to provide an opening to the chamber and (2) a closed configuration to seal the chamber and block the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source from exiting the chamber.
40 . The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the front wall includes a reflective surface configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy emitted by the energy source into the chamber.