Technical Field

The present invention relates to an advanced technology remote-controlled sterilization device which provides a quick, safe and effective in-situ sanitation of the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present.

Prior Art

Many applications aimed at the disinfection and sterilization of the indoor areas in order to prevent the airborne and respiratory infections have come to the fore after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the few studies on total bacteria and virus concentrations in indoor air, the bacterial concentrations of approximately 10 ⁵ CFU/m ³ and virus concentrations of 10 ⁶ CFU/m ³ are reported in various indoor and outdoor air, respectively. Humans are one of the largest sources of bioaerosol in their environment, since they carry 10 ¹² CFU of microorganisms in their epidermis and 10 ¹⁴ CFU of microorganisms in their alimentary canals. It is known that a large number of viruses are easily transmitted between people through a direct and indirect contact. The air exhaled by the infected person and the discharge such as coughing or sneezing can cause the virus to enter the air and transfer it directly to another person and the virus can also be transmitted indirectly after the contact with the table tops and surfaces such as a door handle in the environment in which the infected people are present, and after the contact with the personal belongings of the infected person.

Although there are many sanitation practices applied to prevent the spread of the contamination through the indirect contact, their effectiveness against the resistant microorganisms is limited. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the safe and quick sterilization of the indoor areas particularly used by the infected person and all the surfaces in these areas through the automation has gained even more importance. The sterilization of the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present has gained even more importance especially in public areas subject to the common use. In addition to the sterilization of the medical facilities such as hospitals, etc., the sterilization of many indoor areas such as schools, dormitories, cafeterias, workplaces, places of worship, sports halls, shopping centers has also gained great importance. This causes the spread of the infection from the public areas or common surfaces in these areas. Therefore, it has become necessary to develop the advanced technology applications for in-situ, fast, safe and effective sanitation for the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present.

Various disinfection and sterilization strategies are used to prevent the direct and indirect spread of such infections. The prominent disinfection and sterilization practices are mostly physical and chemical inactivation practices which aim to prevent the contamination which may occur during the indirect contact with the indoor areas and surfaces. The main practice to reduce the spread of the microorganisms is to use the hand sanitizers containing ethanol. These surface sanitation systems are effective in reducing the spread by the hand contact, but are ineffective in protecting against the airborne viruses. The uninfected person uses these alcohol-based disinfectants to kill the virus on the germ-laden surfaces previously left by the infected person. Of course, the hand sanitizers also do not protect against the inhalation of the airborne viruses. The masks used to prevent the contamination by the direct contact provide the protection only by filtration, especially against the viral diseases that may cause epidemics and pandemics. The ultraviolet radiation is an effective microbial control process which is often used to sterilize the indoor air, surfaces, water and surgical instruments. Depending on the wavelength of the applied UV light, three types of UV rays, namely UV-A (315-400 nm), UV-B (280-315 nm) and UV-C (100-280 nm), are used for the disinfection and sterilization. Among these wavelengths, UV-C is preferred to prevent the microbial contamination since it has the most lethal wavelength for the microorganisms. In order to eliminate the effect of the harmful UV rays on humans when UV-C rays are used to prevent the microbial contamination, the special filters which prevent direct contact with the person and UV light-damping ray traps have been developed.

In the photolytic inactivation process in which UV radiation is used, UV light directly penetrates the microbial cell and kills it by destroying the cell and protein structure. The microorganisms occurring in colony in the photolytic inactivation process sometimes shade each other and reduce the inactivation efficiency of UV radiation. Thus, the UV systems combined with the chemical sterilization processes have been accepted as a more reliable sterilization process. Today, the studies on the sterilization processes applied to prevent the infectious diseases are increasing. The number of the studies on the inactivation technologies such as chlorination, ozonation, and UV radiation, which are widely applied to prevent the epidemic diseases caused by the pathogenic microorganisms, and on the alternative hybrid and sequential inactivation technologies, in which these are used together, is increasing. The applications on the microbial inactivation of the indoor areas with the ultrasonic sterilization chemical dispersion systems under development are promising. The most important variable in the chemical sterilization process is the contact time. The longer the contact time for a fixed disinfectant concentration, the more bacteria die. This was first observed by Chick and is frequently used as the simplest model. The types of microorganisms also affect the effectiveness of the disinfectants. For example, the growing bacteria can be easily killed. In contrast, the bacterial spores are very resistant and the chemical disinfectants have little or no effect on them. Therefore, other disinfectant effects such as heat are used.

The main factors affecting the determination of the disinfection alternatives can be listed as effectiveness, cost, feasibility, need for the pilot study and side effects. The effectiveness means that the disinfection method provides the target level inhibition of the selected microorganisms and is reliable. The commonly used sterilization chemicals are chlorine compounds, chlorine gas (CI2), calcium hypochlorite [Ca(OCI)2], sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI), and chlorine dioxide (CIO2). Another disinfectant used is ozone. It is advantageous that the ozone is a strong disinfectant even at low concentrations. Along with these, the hydrogen peroxide and ammonium quaternary salts are also used for this purpose. The ultrasound occurs as a result of the vibrations created by the molecules in an environment during their movement. This sound is similar to the ripples occurring when a stone is thrown into still water. The ultrasound waves are the longitudinal waves with the frequencies above the audible range (16-18 Khz). For example, these waves can be obtained by applying an alternating electric field to a quartz crystal. In this way, it is possible to obtain the high ultrasonic frequencies up to 6x10 ⁸ Hz (= 600 MHz). According to the frequency they have, they are divided into the low and high frequency ultrasound. The low-frequency ultrasound waves with a frequency of 2-10 MHz are used in the field of health due to their low energies. The low-frequency ultrasound waves with a frequency of 20-100 kHz were discovered in the early 1950s. Today, it attracts wide attention and finds application in various fields.

When the ultrasound waves hit the surface of a liquid medium, the molecules in the liquid perform vibrational, rotational and translational motions, creating the micro-sized bubbles thanks to the vapor of the liquid or the air in the medium. These bubbles are called “cavitation”. The cavitations tend to extinct and are divided into the stable and temporary cavitations. The damping of the temporary cavitations is called “collapse” and releases the energy trapped inside the cavitations. Since the energy resulting from the collapses is used in the ultrasonic systems, there is a need for the formation of the temporary cavitations instead of the stable cavitations. The energy resulting from the collapses is used in the ultrasound processes. If the external pressure is high, the formation of the cavitations is difficult, but the collapses occur easily and are more severe. These events are local and instantaneous, and the period of the cavitations is 10 ⁸ seconds. These ultrasonic systems provide that the sterilization chemical to be used is applied to the application area with the highest efficiency.

In the current situation, the above-mentioned sterilization methods applied in the indoor areas in order to prevent the spread of the infections do not provide the full protection. There is no advanced technology sterilization device which can be remote-controlled and can take off and provides a quick, safe and effective in-situ sanitation of the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present. The indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present must be safely cleared of the microbial contamination without the need for labor. The development of a sterilization device is required, which can be remote-controlled and can take off and disperses the various sterilization chemicals by means of the ultrasonic dispenser without the need for labor while providing a safe use of the ultraviolet light in the areas with the high risk of contamination and inaccessible areas.

A method and an apparatus for cleaning and treating the HVAC systems with a deployed agent are described in the invention in the U.S. patent application document, numbered US10786587 (B1) and with the priority date 19.10.2015, in the state of the art. In said document, the method and an apparatus for cleaning and treating the HVAC systems with a deployed agent comprises preferably an aerosol generating device, multiple ventilation sealing devices, an outlet connection pipe, and an inlet connection pipe. The HVAC system comprises at least one supply channel and at least one return channel. The aerosol generating device comprises an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is connected to a return vent hole of at least one return channel by the outlet connection channel. A supply hole of the at least one supply channel may be connected to the inlet by the inlet connection pipe. However, if the aerosol generating device is kept in a housing, there is no need to connect the inlet to the supply vent hole. A booster chamber can be used to increase the flow rate of the dispersed agent through the aerosol generating device. In the invention in the state of the art, the cleaning process is carried out only through the HVAC system in said disinfection device. In the invention of the application, the disinfection process is performed with the chemicals dispersed by the ultrasound system in a remotely controlled manner, and there is an advanced technology sterilization device which provides a quick, safe and effective in-situ sanitation of the indoor areas, in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present, by the photolytic inactivation with a lamp with a UV-C light wavelength which does not produce ozone.

A room decontamination system and method and control devices are described in the invention in the U.S. model document, numbered US2017049915 (A1) and with the priority date 05.05.2014, in the state of the art. Said document includes the room decontamination systems and controllers and the methods for decontaminating a room. The room decontamination system can be a UV room decontamination system which uses UV radiation to perform a decontamination process in the room. A controller can determine whether the safe conditions for decontamination exist and, if they exist, initiate a decontamination process. Determining the safe conditions for the decontamination may be based on the light actuation detection and/or sensor data, which may include the presence detector data and door sensor data. Determining the safe conditions for the decontamination may include determining whether the sensors are operating properly. The controller can also determine whether the decontamination processes are required based on historical status data, for example, based on whether the room has been occupied since the last decontamination process. The invention in the state of the art describes a system which performs the room decontamination. The controller in said document is on the ceiling of the room and the disinfection process is carried out. The related invention includes the sterilization of the indoor area with one or more UV sources placed inside the closed room. Since the method can be used for the room in which it is installed, it is immovable and does not provide a safe use for UV radiation. However, in the invention of the application, the disinfection is carried out with an ultrasound system in a remotely controlled manner. The invention of the application provides, in practice, 100% inactivation of the viruses and bacteria which are or may be carried by the indoor areas contaminated or suspected to be contaminated. The sterilization device which can be remote-controlled and take off is movable to the desired environment. It is provided that the personnel in charge of sterilization perform their duties safely without the need to enter the area with the risk of contamination and without the need for labor.

The invention of the application relates to the development of a sterilization device which has a two-step inactivation mechanism (1. UV sterilization and 2. Ultrasonic chemical sterilization) for the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected, wherein said device can be remote-controlled and can take off and disperses the various sterilization chemicals by means of the ultrasonic dispenser without the need for labor while providing a safe use of the ultraviolet light in the areas with the high risk of contamination and inaccessible areas. The invention of the application is a device which is developed for the quick, easy, and safe in-situ sterilization of the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present and is suitable for use in all areas at risk in order to protect the public health. Apart from these, it is widely used in hospitals, clinics, microbial research, and private and public laboratories carrying out the disinfection and sterilization research, which have high microbial risk. In addition to the sterilization of the medical facilities such as hospitals, etc., it will provide a great convenience in the sterilization of many indoor areas such as schools, dormitories, cafeterias, workplaces, places of worship, sports halls, shopping centers.

In the state of the art, the technical features of the invention subject to the application and the technical effects of the invention subject to the application are not described. In the present applications, there is no advanced technology sterilization device which can be remote-controlled and can take off and provides a quick, safe and effective in- situ sanitation of the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present.

Objects of the Invention The object of the invention is to realize a movable sterilization device which provides, in practice, 100% inactivation of the viruses and bacteria which are or may be carried by the indoor areas contaminated or suspected to be contaminated.

Another object of the invention is to realize a sterilization device which is movable to the desired area because it can be remote-controlled and can take off.

Another object of the invention is to realize a sterilization device which allows the personnel in charge of sterilization to perform their duties safely without the need to enter the area with the risk of contamination and without the need for labor.

Another object of the invention is to realize a sterilization device which provides the efficient inactivation of the entire area with the minimum chemical use, due to the ultrasonic sterilization chemical dispersion system.

Another object of the invention is to realize a sterilization device which provides that the attached timer works as long as the device is inactivated, and the changeover time of the UV lamp is monitored, allowing the suitable use of UV lamp.

Another object of the invention is to realize a sterilization device which can be charged quickly.

Another object of the invention is to realize a sterilization device which creates a safe work environment by providing a suitable and effective use for all building structures with the high ceilings.

Summary of the Invention

A sterilization device realized to achieve the object of the invention and defined in claim 1 and dependent claims comprises a main body, a carrying arm, a carrying propeller, a sterilization unit, a UV sterilization source, a source carrying arm, an ultrasonic nebulizer, a sterilization dispersion system, a dispersion channel and a display system. After the indoor area in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present is determined, the sterilization device is controlled remotely and is positioned in said indoor area by air by means of the carrying propellers. The sterilization device entering the indoor area allows the entire area to be effectively sterilized by allowing the image of the indoor area to be monitored remotely via a screen by the cameras in the display system. The sterilization device entering the indoor area is observed with the display system and the sterilization unit is operated. The sterilization unit starts to operate to provide the sterilization of the indoor areas with the photolytic inactivation and chemical inactivation methods. With the activation of the sterilization unit, the UV sterilization source and the ultrasonic nebulizer are activated. Firstly, the UV sterilization source provides the sterilization in the infected indoor area by the method of the photolytic inactivation of the microorganisms by emitting UV-C rays which cannot produce ozone. Thus, the UV sterilization source provides the first microbial inactivation in the indoor area. Then, the ultrasonic nebulizer provides the sterilization chemical to be dispersed to the indoor area. The ultrasonic nebulizer provides the second microbial inactivation in the infected indoor area by dispersing the sterilization chemical through the ultrasonic waves. Thus, with the sterilization device, an infected indoor area can be sterilized remotely by the primary photolytic inactivation and the secondary chemical inactivation.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The sterilization realized to achieve the object of the present invention is shown in the attached figures, wherein

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the sterilization device.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the sterilization device.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the sterilization device.

The parts in the figures are individually numbered and the numbers corresponding to these parts are given below.

1. Sterilization device

2. Main body

3. Carrying arm

4. Carrying propeller

5. Sterilization unit

6. UV sterilization source 7. Source carrying arm

8. Ultrasonic nebulizer

8.1. Ultrasonic carrying arm

9. Sterilization dispersion system

10. Dispersion channel

11. Display system

An advanced technology remote-controlled sterilization device 1, which provides an in- situ sanitation by being controlled and moved remotely in the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present, comprises essentially at least one main body 2 which allows all the elements to be carried and attached thereto, at least one carrying propeller 4 located on the main body 2 and providing the main body 2 to move above the ground, at least one sterilization unit 5 which is connected to each edge of the main body 2 and provides the sterilization of said areas with the photolytic inactivation after the main body 2 reaches the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present, at least one UV sterilization source 6 which is connected to the main body 2, is located on each sterilization unit 5, has a UV-C beam wavelength which cannot produce ozone, provides the sterilization by the method of the photolytic inactivation of the microorganisms, and therefore provides the first microbial inactivation, at least one ultrasonic nebulizer 8 which is connected to the main body 2, provides the sterilization chemical to be dispersed in the indoor area, and provides the second chemical inactivation by dispersing the sterilization chemical through the ultrasonic waves, at least one sterilization dispersion system 9 which is located in the main body 2 and provides the storage and dispersion of all kinds of chemicals which can be used for the sterilization, at least one display system 11 which is connected to the main body 2 and allows the entire area to be effectively sterilized by allowing the image of the indoor areas, in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present, to be monitored remotely via a screen. A sterilization device 1 of the application is an advanced technology remote-controlled device which provides an in-situ sanitation by being controlled and moved remotely in the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present. The sterilization device 1 provides, in practice, 100% inactivation of the viruses and bacteria which are or may be carried by the indoor areas contaminated or suspected to be contaminated. The sterilization device 1 is movable to the desired area because it can be remote-controlled and can take off. The sterilization device 1 allows the personnel in charge of sterilization to perform their duties safely without the need to enter the area with the risk of contamination and without the need for labor. The sterilization device 1 provides the efficient inactivation of the entire area with the minimum chemical use, due to the ultrasonic sterilization chemical dispersion system. The sterilization device 1 provides that the attached timer works as long as the device is inactivated, and the changeover time of the UV lamp is monitored, allowing the efficient use of UV lamp. The sterilization device 1 can be charged quickly. The sterilization device 1 creates a safe work environment by providing a suitable and effective use for all building structures with the high ceilings. The sterilization device 1 comprises a main body 2, a carrying arm 3, a carrying propeller 4, a sterilization unit 5, a UV sterilization source 6, a source carrying arm 7, an ultrasonic nebulizer 8, a sterilization dispersion system 9, a dispersion channel 10, and a display system 11.

The sterilization device 1 of the invention has a two-step inactivation mechanism (1. UV sterilization and 2. Ultrasonic chemical sterilization) for the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected, wherein the invention relates to the development of a sterilization device which can be remote-controlled and can take off and disperses the various sterilization chemicals by means of the ultrasonic dispenser without the need for labor while providing a safe use of the ultraviolet light in the areas with the high risk of contamination and inaccessible areas. The sterilization device 1 in the invention of the application is a device which is developed for the quick, easy, and safe in-situ sterilization of the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present and is suitable for use in all areas at risk in order to protect the public health. Apart from these, it is widely used in hospitals, clinics, microbial research, and private and public laboratories carrying out the disinfection and sterilization research, which have high microbial risk. In addition to the sterilization of the medical facilities such as hospitals, etc., it will provide a great convenience in the sterilization of many indoor areas such as schools, dormitories, cafeterias, workplaces, places of worship, sports halls, shopping centers.

The main body 2 in an embodiment of the invention carries a carrying arm 3, a carrying propeller 4, a sterilization unit 5, a UV sterilization source 6, a source carrying arm 7, an ultrasonic nebulizer 8, a sterilization dispersion system 9, a dispersion channel 10, and a display system 11. The main body 2 allows all the elements to be carried and attached thereto. The main body 2 is adapted so that the additional units can be attached thereto.

In an embodiment of the invention, the carrying arm 3 and the carrying propellers 4 located on the carrier arms 3 provide the main body 2 to move above the ground. The carrying arms 3 are located on the main body 2. The carrying propellers 4 are connected to the carrying arms 3. The carrying propellers 4 provide the microbial inactivation with the maximum efficiency by being positioned with its sensors as close to the area or surface to be sterilized as possible. The carrying propellers 4 provide the main body 2 to take off and to be guided in a remotely controlled manner. Thus, the carrying propellers 4 provides the sterilization of the areas which are risky due to the contamination or hard to reach.

The sterilization unit 5 in an embodiment of the invention is connected to each edge of the main body 2. The UV sterilization source 6 is located on one surface of the sterilization unit 5. The ultrasonic nebulizer 8 is connected to one of the sterilization units 5. After the main body 2 reaches the indoor areas in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present, the sterilization unit 5 provides the sterilization of said areas by the photolytic inactivation and ultrasonic dispersion chemical inactivation methods.

The UV sterilization source 6 included in the primary inactivation mechanism of the invention is connected to the sterilization unit 5 in the main body 2. The UV sterilization source 6 is connected to the main body 2 by means of the source carrying arms 7. The UV sterilization source 6 has a UV-C light wavelength which cannot produce ozone. The UV sterilization source 6 is located on each sterilization unit 5. The UV sterilization source 6 provides the sterilization by the method of the photolytic inactivation of the microorganisms.

The ultrasonic nebulizer 8 included in the secondary inactivation mechanism of the invention is connected to the main body 2. The ultrasonic nebulizer 8 provides the sterilization chemical to be dispersed to the indoor area. The ultrasonic nebulizer 8 provides the second microbial inactivation by dispersing the sterilization chemical through the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic nebulizer 8 is located in the lower part of the main body 2 and provides the sterilization chemical to be dispersed into the indoor area through the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic nebulizer 8 provides the dispersion of the sterilization chemicals stored in the sterilization dispersion systems 9. In the sterilization unit 5, there is an ultrasonic nebulizer 8 with a frequency of 1.8 mHz, which is chemical resistant and which provides the sterilization chemical to be dispersed to the indoor area with the maximum efficiency.

The sterilization dispersion system 9 in an embodiment of the invention is connected to the main body 2. The sterilization dispersion system 9 provides the storage and dispersion of all kinds of chemicals which can be used for the sterilization. The sterilization dispersion system 9 consists of the chemical resistant structure and comprising one or more dispersion pumps and dispersion channels 10. The dispersion channel 10 comprises a lightweight chamber made of chemical resistant fiber-glass composite and which is connected to one or more chemical resistant dispersion pumps.

The sterilization device 1 in an embodiment of the invention provides the microbial decontamination of the indoor areas, in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present, with two inactivation mechanism in the form of the dispersed chemical sterilization by means of the sterilization unit 5, UV sterilization source 6, and ultrasonic nebulizer 8.

The display system 11 in an embodiment of the invention provides the areas in which the infected person is present or the infected indoor areas to be displayed to provide the sterilization. The display system 11 comprises the cameras. The display system 11 allows the entire area to be effectively sterilized by allowing the image of the indoor area to be monitored remotely via a screen. The sterilization device 1 in this embodiment of the invention is used as follows. After the indoor area in which the person infected or suspected to be infected is present is determined, the sterilization device 1 is controlled remotely and is positioned in said indoor area by air by means of the carrying propellers 4. The cameras in the display system 11 of the sterilization device 1 allows the entire area to be effectively sterilized by allowing the image of the indoor area to be monitored remotely via a screen. The sterilization device 1 entering the indoor area is observed with the display system 11 and the sterilization unit 5 is operated. The sterilization unit 5 starts to operate to provide the sterilization of the indoor areas with the photolytic inactivation and chemical inactivation methods. With the activation of the sterilization unit 5, the UV sterilization source 6 and the ultrasonic nebulizer 8 are activated. Firstly, the UV sterilization source 6 provides the sterilization in the infected indoor area by the method of the photolytic inactivation of the microorganisms by emitting UV-C rays which cannot produce ozone. Thus, the UV sterilization source 6 provides the first microbial inactivation in the indoor area. Then, the ultrasonic nebulizer 8 provides the sterilization chemical to be dispersed to the indoor area. The ultrasonic nebulizer 8 provides the second microbial inactivation in the infected indoor area by dispersing the sterilization chemical through the ultrasonic waves. Thus, with the sterilization device 1, an infected indoor area can be sterilized remotely by the first and the secondary microbial inactivation.