Oh, patents! UV light sole-sanitizing technology (3)

Copyright © Francoise Herrmann

According to a University of Arizona-Rockport Shoes study cited in the patent US9272058B1, titled Sanitizing device, system and methods of use thereof, the transfer rate of pathogens, from footwear to uncontaminated surfaces, ranges between 90 and 99% (CIRI, 2001). This means that such pathogens as Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), Klebisiella Pneumonia,  and Serratia Ficaria, respectively responsible for extensive gastrointestinal, lung, and kidney damage, might easily be transferred into homes and workplaces simply when people are walking in (Barker et al. 2001). To resolve this problematic situation, the invention recited in US9272058B1 offers a UV light sanitizing solution. A solution requiring that a user stand on a UV light-emitting platform, for approximately 8 seconds, during which time the UVC radiation emitted will damage the DNA/RNA of pathogens, in turn making it impossible for any bacteria and/or viruses transported on the soles of the wearer’s shoes to replicate, and thus contaminate ambulatory surfaces.

Within the context of the COVID 19 pandemic and phased re-opening of the economy, this invention has generated renewed interest at hospitals, restaurants and other community and residential facilities (ABC News, 2020).  

The abstract of this invention is included below, together with the patent Figure 1, showing the UVC radiation-emitting platform, on which the wearer stands for shoe sole decontamination. This invention is otherwise versatile, in that the UV light-emitting source also functions as a wand, that might be removed from the platform box for sanitizing additional objects.  

A device that eliminates contaminants before they can be transmitted throughout a structure. The device may include a platform housing a disinfection source for selectively emitting UV-C light. The platform has a top. The top has two areas that pass the UV-C light with the remaining area of the top unable to pass the UV-C light. The two areas of the top are capable of supporting a person standing on the areas with a foot respectively on each area. The disinfection source is configured to emit the UV-C light when a person stands on the two areas, but not when there is no person standing on the two areas. The disinfection source may be removable from the platform for use in disinfecting objects.

 [Abstract US9272058B1] 

In particular, the patent Figure 1 depicts the device 10 comprising a substantially square box housing 12, with four sides 22a, 22b, 24a and 24b, built together to support the weight of a standing adult. The platform 20, on top of the housing 12, has two transparent shoe-print openings 26a and 26b, on which the user stands, and through which UV light is emitted, via a tubular UVC light source 14, for the purposes of sanitizing the user’s soles. The tubular UVC light source 14 may turn on and off automatically, as the user steps on and off the platform 20, so that no UVC light is emitted when noone is standing on the platform 20. 

The shoe-print openings 26a and 26b may be of any shape and size, without departing from the scope of the invention. For users with shoe sizes larger than the shoe print, repeat exposures to UVC light are recommended. For users with shoe sizes smaller than the shoe print, the unobstructed effects of any surrounding UVC light radiation are specified insignificant, in terms of potential harm, to the user standing on the device, or to additional people in close proximity.

Otherwise, the housing 12 is substantially hollow, with an opening 28, through which the tubular UVC light source 14 may be removed for use as a portable UVC sanitizing wand 40 (not depicted on Figure 1). The device 10 is powered by regular household current via a power cord 30. The device also has a switch 32, which may include a delay timer for the purposes of giving the user time to step onto the platform 20, prior to activation of the sanitizing UVC light.

Several marketed embodiments of this invention already exist. The YouTube video below demonstrates use of the Healthy Sole Plus System., a system that was laboratory-tested for effectiveness, in March 2020, against both SARS CoV1 and SARS-CoV2 (Sattar, 2020). The Healthy Sole Plus System includes a UV light shield in the toe portion of the platform, as well as onscreen means to assist with correct sole positioning on the platform. 

References

Barker, J. Stevens, D. and S.F Bloomfield (2001) Spread and prevention of some common viral infections in community facilites and domestic homes. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2001 (91) pp. 2-21. DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01364.x   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11442709/  

CIRI Staff (May 3, 2008) Study reveals high levels of bacteria on footwear. The Cleaning Industry Research Institute. https://www.ciriscience.org/a_96-Study-Reveals-High-Bacteria-Levels-on-Footwear

Healthy Sole Plus - https://www.healthysoleplus.com/

Holmes, H. (March 31, 2020) A sanitizer station promises to sanitize the soles of your shoes to kill viruses – ABC News. https://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-side/a-sanitizer-station-promises-to-sanitize-the-soles-of-your-shoes  

Sattar, S. (2020) Assessment of HealthySole UV Shoe Sanitizer Device for Decontaminating Hard, Non-Porous Environmental Surfaces: Testing against Human Respiratory Coronavirus 229E (ATCC VR-740) as a representative Healthcare-Associated Pathogen. CREM Co. Labs, Ontario, Canada.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c8d3c8f8dfc8c140ce20014/t/5e90d20060774a716d3d1c2a/1586549249068/CREM+CO+Final+Report+for+HealthySole+PLUS.pdf

Oh, patents! UV sanitizing light with integrated motion detection (2)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The award-winning invention recited in US2015343104A1 titled Radiated energy sterilization device and associated method relates to an electromagnetic UV radiation-emitting lighting system for sanitizing the frequently-used surfaces of a room, while also detecting the presence of occupants in the room. The UV radiation-emitting lighting system is designed to detect occupants in a the room, because UV radiation is generally considered harmful to skin and eyes. This invention is used in hospital settings for decontamination purposes, within the context of the prevention of HAIs (hospital-acquired infections).  However, much renewed interest for this invention now also exists within the context of the COVID 19 pandemic, currently phasing-in the re-opening of economic activity.  

The disclosed UV radiation-emitting lightbulb system with an integrated motion detection sensor was invented by the LightingScience Group Corp. A company with a large portfolio of patents and awards-winning products, connected to NASA collaborations and circadian rhythm research.

The abstract of this invention is included below, below together with the patent Figure 5, illustrating the inventive UV radiation-emitting, sanitizing lightbulb with integrated motion control. sensor. Specifically, Figure 5 depicts: the sterilization device 100, the UV emitting device 101, the detector 102, and a source of visible light 103 (on a different spectrum), so that the sterilization device 100 might function both as lighting, when the room is occupied, and as a sanitizing device when the room is vacated. This particular embodiment of the invention also includes a titanium dioxide (TiO2) dispersal system (104) for added photocatalysis, found most reactive in combination with 265 nm wavelength UV light.  

In general, the description of the invention provided in the patent is unlimited to the specified embodiments. Many different variations of the specification remain within the scope of the invention. Variations in terms of the configuration of the light bulbs, the types of sensors and objects or persons detected, the modes, intesity and duration or timing of light emission, as well as the integrated processors to control emission and detection, as well as TiO2 dispersal, when such an option is included.  

 A sterilization device comprising an ultraviolet (UV) electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitting device, a detector configured to detect occupancy of a room associated with the sterilization device, and a controller operably connected to each of the UV EMR emitting device and the detector. The detector is configured to send a signal indicating occupancy to the controller upon a detection of occupancy. The controller is configured to operate the UV EMR emitting device to emit UV EMR only upon receiving a signal indicating no occupancy. [Abstract US2015343104A1]

References

Lighting Science Group Corp. : https://lsgc.com/

LightFair Internation 2012 (May 11, 2012) Lighting Science Group Ushers In The Light Ages With Advanced LED Lighting Intelligence, Control And Design  https://www.ledinside.com/showreport/2012/5/lsg_201205_lfi

CES 2019 Innovation Award – L’Oréal My Skin Track pH sensor

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track pH sensor patch (with companion app) won a CES Innovation Awarded in the Wearable Technologies category. 

The sensor is designed to measure the skin’s pH level, using capacitance detection technology (e.g.; Touchchip®), in particular, though unlimited, to better customizing or evaluating skin product regimens. The sensor measures skin pH on a scale of 1 to 14. A high score, above 7 indicates an alkaline pH and a low score, below 7, indicates an acidic pH. Normal skin is slightly acidic with a pH ranging between 4.5 and 5.5. Skin with a pH below the normal acidic range is dry, and sometimes associated with conditions such as eczema and contact dermatitis. Skin with a pH higher than the normal acidic range is more oily, and is sometimes associated with conditions such as acne.

The L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track pH sensor invention is recited in the US patent application US20040171962A1, titled Apparatus and method to evaluate hydration of the skin or the mucous membranes. 

The invention invokes a sensor that measures pH in about 15 minutes, using an array of capacitative detection cells and a processor to convert the information obtained into an image, and/or into messages as congenial as “skin sufficiently (or insufficiently) hydrated” that are intelligible to an individual. The My Skin Track flexible pH sensor is a vast improvement on traditional methods of measuring skin pH, which are usually obtained via a skin care professional. It is also an improvement on rigid sensors of the prior art. 

The sensor has two dots which change color during the test, indicating when it is complete. The sensor delivers an image of the skin region analyzed, where the grayscale level of each pixel corresponds to the capacitance measurement taken by the capacitance detection cell. A grayscale of 0 on the image corresponds to black. A maximum grayscale of 225 corresponds to white. Everything in between corresponds to the varying shades of gray. 

In turn, the variation in grayscale of the image pixels is processed to indicate the level of hydration. The level of hydration possibly includes such information as the degree of hydration uniformity, which might conceivably vary according to the presence of microdroplets of sweat on the surface of the skin, and/or age spots. In this case, the degree of non-uniformity is processed as a standard deviation of non-intersecting mean gray scales. 

The L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track pH sensor will be rolled out this year, first to L’Oréal’s La Roche-Posay partner dermatologists, and then to the public. The My Skin Track pH sensor follows in the footsteps of the L’Oréal - La Roche-Posay My Skin Track UV sensor, unveiled at CES 2018, and available since Nov. 2018 at select Apple Store locations, and at Apple.com.

The abstract of the US patent reciting the pH sensor apparatus and method is included below together with Figure 1 extracted from the patent. Figure 1 shows a diagram of all the components of the pH sensing system, including the sensor (10) for measuring pH on a region of the skin, processing means on a microcomputer (20) or other interface device (30), enabling to transfer sensor data to the microcomputer (20). The microcomputer is connected via network (41), such as the Internet, to a remote server (40). Sensor data, including an image of the region analyzed, is displayed on the microcomputer screen (60) or other interface processing means, such as a mobile phone or tablet.

An image of the pH skin sensor patch, as marketed and worn is also included above.  

An apparatus enabling a person to evaluate the hydration of a region of the skin or the mucous membranes. The apparatus includes a sensor including an array of non-optical detection cells and processor apparatus arranged to deliver at least one piece of information relating to the hydration of the region on the basis of signals coming from the sensor. A method for evaluation of hydration is also provided. The apparatus and method can also be used for evaluating, e.g., aging or the effectiveness of a treatment regimen. 

[Abstract US20040171962A1]


References

L'Oréal

www.lorealparisusa.com 

L’Oréal Media Room – Sensor unveiled
https://mediaroom.loreal.com/en/loreal-unveils-prototype-of-first-ever-wearable-microfluidic-sensor-to-measure-skin-ph-levels/

My Skin Track UV @ Apple.com https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HML02ZM/A/la-roche-posay-my-skin-track-uv-sensor