WO2023047122A1

WO2023047122A1 - Uv-c disinfection cabinet

Info

Publication number: WO2023047122A1
Application number: PCT/GB2022/052409
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tristan Williams
Original assignee: Finsen Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2021-09-24
Filing date: 2022-09-23
Publication date: 2023-03-30
Also published as: GB202113669D0; GB2614028A

Abstract

There is provided a UV-C disinfection cabinet comprising: a body defining an interior chamber for receiving an item to be disinfected; a closure element movable relative to the body from a closed position to an open position to enable access to the chamber; one or more UV-C emitters arranged with respect to the body to emit ultraviolet light into the chamber; a camera assembly arranged with respect to the body to view an item inside the chamber; wherein in the closed position, the body is sealed to prevent ultraviolet radiation emission from the cabinet.

Description

UV-C Disinfection Cabinet

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns UV-C disinfection cabinets for disinfecting small items.

Background of the Invention

UV-C disinfection cabinets can be used for disinfecting small items, such as items of medical equipment. Due to the potentially damaging nature of UV-C radiation to humans, such UV-C disinfection cabinets tend to be fully enclosed and remotely operated to minimise risk of UV-C radiation exposure.

A prior art UV-C disinfection cabinet is disclosed in GB2427113A. A body defines a chamber for location of an item to be cleansed, wherein the chamber comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light sources configured to minimise shadowing of ultraviolet light over the majority of the surface of the item in use.

The present invention seeks to improve on UV-C disinfection cabinets of the prior art, for example to provide a cabinet which is easier to use and/or to improve the control of the disinfection process in such a cabinet.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides UV-C disinfection cabinet according to claim 1.

The inventors have appreciated that in a UV-C disinfection cabinet which is sealed to prevent harmful radiation emissions to operators, incorporating a camera assembly within the chamber can improve the effectiveness and quality of the disinfection process by enabling monitoring and control of the disinfection process, without compromising the effectiveness of the UV-C disinfection. Such control has not previously been recognised in UV-C cabinet disinfection.

The cabinet may be box-shaped, or may have another shape. The body may comprise smooth internal sides facing the chamber. The UV-C emitters may be UV- C tube bulbs. The UV-C emitters may be attached to, arranged on, or in, the body. For example, the UV-C emitters may be embedded behind each of the smooth internal sides of the body, and behind the closure element, so that an item in the chamber can be irradiated on all sides. The closure element may be a door. The cabinet may be suitable for disinfecting small items, for example items of medical equipment. The interior chamber may have a height of less than 500mm, a depth of less than 500mm and a width of less than 500mm. The camera assembly may be attached to, arranged on, or in, the body.

The body may include a roof comprising a front portion adjacent the closure element, and the camera assembly may be located at the front portion of the roof. In other words, the camera assembly may be located adjacent the front edge of the roof.

The camera assembly may be arranged at an angle to the roof, such that the line of sight of the camera assembly is angled down into the chamber. Thus, the entire chamber may fall within the field of view of the camera assembly.

The camera assembly may comprise a CMOS sensor. CMOS sensors have been found to provide optimal performance during resilience testing, performing well and not degrading under UV-C exposure. Alternatively, other camera sensors may be used, provided that they meet the resilience testing requirements.

The camera assembly may be recessed into the roof. The camera assembly may be fully recessed into the roof.

The camera assembly may be partially recessed into the roof. For example, the camera assembly may comprise a portion which extends vertically down into the chamber. Such an arrangement has been found to be especially beneficial because the camera assembly can be positioned to partially extend into the chamber to enable a full field of view of the chamber whilst the remainder of the camera assembly can be recessed into the wall so as to minimise obstruction of UV-C radiation in the chamber, and simultaneously protect the components from UV-C damage.

The camera assembly may comprise a circuit board and a mount, the circuit board arranged at an angle to the mount, wherein the mount is attached to the roof, and the circuit board is partially recessed into the roof, and partially extends beneath the roof into the chamber. The mount may comprise a planar outer surface. The mount may comprise an enclosure shaped to wrap around the rear of the circuit board when recessed in the roof, providing further protection for the circuit board components.

The camera assembly may comprise a data output, wherein the data output is shielded by a metallic braided sheath. The data output may be a HDMI output.

The UV-C emitters may be configured to emit UV-C radiation at a wavelength between 250-260nm, for example 253.7nm.

In a second aspect there is provided a UV-C disinfection compartment according to claim 10. In a third aspect there is provided a UV-C disinfection chamber according to claim 11.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a UV-C disinfection cabinet according to the example embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the interior cabinet of the UV-C disinfection cabinet of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the interior cabinet of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the interior cabinet of Figure 3 along A- A;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a camera assembly according to the example embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a front view of the camera assembly of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the camera assembly of Figure 6 along A-A; and Figure 8 is a side view of the camera assembly of Figure 5.

Detailed Description A UV-C disinfection cabinet 1 (Figure 1) having a generally cuboidal shape comprises an inner housing 3 between upper 5 and lower 7 component trays, all housed within an outer housing 9. When assembled, the cabinet 1 has outer dimensions of 698mm in height, 599mm in width and 591mm in depth. The cabinet may be placed on a stand, on a table or other kind of support or directly on the floor. The inner housing 3 defines a chamber 10 into which an item to be disinfected is placed. At the front of the cabinet 1, a door assembly 11 provides access to the chamber at the beginning and the end of each disinfection cycle. Attached to the inner housing 3 as will be described in more detail herein, is a camera assembly 13 configured to view the interior of the inner housing (i.e. the chamber 10).

The inner housing 3 (Figures 2-4) defines an internal chamber which is 348mm in height, 477mm in width and 442mm in depth, comprising side walls 102, a floor 104, a roof 108 and a rear wall 106. Each of the side walls 102, roof 108 and floor 104, comprises an inner frame 112, an outer frame 114 and a plurality of UV-C tube bulbs 109a arranged therebetween. The bulbs 109a are arranged horizontally, are evenly spaced within the walls 102, roof 108 and floor 104, and extend along substantially the full depth of the inner housing 3. The rear wall 106 comprises a plurality of UV-C tube bulbs 109b. The bulbs 109b are arranged horizontally, are evenly spaced within the rear wall 106 and extend along the width of the inner housing 3. Recessed within the roof 108 of the inner housing 3 is the camera assembly 13. The camera assembly is located centrally across the width of the inner housing 3, and towards the front of the roof 108, near the opening to the chamber 10.

The camera assembly 13 comprises a mount 121 and a camera board 123 comprising a printed circuit board and a CMOS sensor. The mount 121 comprises a planar front face 125 which faces the chamber 10 when the camera assembly is in position on the inner housing 3. The planar front face 125 comprises a rectangular cut out 127 sized to accommodate the camera board 123. The camera board 123 is approximately the same size as the cut out 127 but is fixed at an angle to the planar front face 125, wherein a portion of the camera board extends out in front of the planar front face 125 and a portion of the camera board 123 extends back behind the planar front face 125. The angle of the board is set so that the field of view of the camera board incorporates the majority of the chamber 10. To protect the camera board 123, the mount is shaped to encapsulate the camera board 123 on the rear side (the opposing side to the planar front face 125.

During a disinfection cycle, the camera assembly 13 outputs a HDMI data output to a control screen (processor and user interface). Thus an operator utilising the tablet remotely can view the item(s) within the chamber and perform visual validation in real-time of a correct and satisfactory disinfection process. The camera may be powered-on for the duration of the disinfection cycle, or may be powered on part-way through the disinfection cycle for a specified period. Disinfection may be viewed live or recorded, and/or one or more images may be captured.

The EMC emissions of the camera HDMI output are shielded, to ensure EMC compliance. The HDMI output is shielded with a metallic braided sheath, to act as an electromagnetic absorbing screen (i.e. providing a Faraday cage).

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

In an alternative embodiment, the camera assembly may be located in a different part of the inner housing, for example at one side, or at the rear of the inner housing, provided that the camera assembly has a field of view which incorporates the entire disinfection chamber. The sensor type may vary, and not be confined to CMOS sensors.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

- 6 -Claims

1. A UV-C disinfection cabinet comprising: a body defining an interior chamber for receiving an item to be disinfected; a closure element movable relative to the body from a closed position to an open position to enable access to the chamber; one or more UV-C emitters arranged with respect to the body to emit ultraviolet light into the chamber; a camera assembly arranged with respect to the body to view an item inside the chamber; wherein in the closed position, the body is sealed to prevent ultraviolet radiation emission from the cabinet.

2. A cabinet according claim 1, wherein the body includes a roof comprising a front portion adjacent the closure element, and the camera assembly is located at the front portion of the roof.

3. A cabinet according to claim 2, wherein the camera assembly is arranged at an angle to the roof, such that the line of sight of the camera assembly is angled down into the chamber.

4. A cabinet according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera assembly comprises a CMOS sensor.

5. A cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the camera assembly is recessed into the roof.

6. A cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the camera assembly is partially recessed into the roof.

7. A cabinet according to claim 6, wherein the camera assembly comprises a circuit board and a mount, the circuit board arranged at an angle to the mount, - 7 - wherein the mount is attached to the roof, and the circuit board is partially recessed into the roof, and partially extends beneath the roof into the chamber.

8. A cabinet according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera assembly comprises a data output, wherein the data output is shielded by a metallic braided sheath.

9. A cabinet according to any preceding claim, wherein the UV-C emitters are configured to emit UV-C radiation at a wavelength between 250-260nm.

10. A UV-C disinfection compartment comprising: a plurality of upstanding walls, including a front wall comprising a closure element and an opposing rear wall; a horizontal floor; and a horizontal ceiling; the walls, floor and ceiling together forming an enclosure; a camera mounted in the compartment above the closure element and angled diagonally down towards a base of the rear wall.

11. A UV-C disinfection chamber for disinfecting an item therein, the chamber comprising: a plurality of upstanding walls, including a front wall comprising a closure element; a floor; a ceiling; a plurality of UV-C emitters associated with each of the walls, the floor and the ceiling and arranged to disinfect the item during use; and a camera; wherein the walls, floor and ceiling together provide an enclosure which is fully enclosed to prevent release of UV-C radiation from within the chamber to the surrounding environment; and wherein the camera is arranged with respect to the ceiling to view the item being disinfected.