ANIMATE/INANIMATE PERSONAL AND PUBLIC SURFACES AND SPACES ESPECIALLY MEDICAL PPES, APPARATUS

The present invention relates to safe and effective antimicrobial light applied to simultaneously disinfect face masks/face shields and the person wearing them as a cornerstone of a broader novel effective disinfection strategy to prevent acquisition or transmission of infectious diseases by first of all addressing respiratory pathogen spread by inhibiting dispersement of infectious aerosols, droplets or splatters from the nose and mouth with an effective mask/shield barrier, and also by advantageously using the physical property of light known as the inverse square law where maximal germicidal power density depends on maintaining the close proximity of the light source to the target (hereafter referred to as near field, <100 cm and preferably <10cm) coupled with the antimicrobial properties of an exclusively narrow band of UV-C wavelengths known as far UV-C germicidal light (200-230 nm) or to include any germicidal wavelength whether UV or non- UV wavelengths found to be safe for direct skin and ocular exposure or at least direct skin and tissue exposure such as blue light of 400-470 wavelength which provides for safe and effective antimicrobial pathogen inactivation simultaneously for both animate (skin) and inanimate surfaces (device) and spaces (respiratory chamber). Furthermore, such safe antimicrobial wavelengths when applied topically to an individual’s various pathogen reservoirs may further reduce the abundance of pathogens which are shed, for example, in respiratory or oral secretions and thus in addition to barrier protection, further reduce the opportunity for microbial transmission from, for example, an infected patient to healthcare workers or others as an important advantage of this infection control strategy, as well as to aid in infection eradication. Ambulatory refers to the ability to use this decontamination method while PPE or personal items or various medical devices or apparatus are in use, (in similar fashion as a Holter ECG monitors). An extension of this invention’s unique combination of ambulatory, near field, application of safe antimicrobial wavelengths as part of a more comprehensive disinfection strategy involves incorporating and delivering safe near field antimicrobial wavelengths directly on a person/healthcare worker/patient to decontaminate their animate surfaces below the area of the antimicrobial face mask/face shield, to disinfect protective attire such as whole body PPE while in use, or to decontaminate personal use items by patients or healthcare workers while they arc using them or to decontaminate the medical device or apparatus being used to treat an infected patient, while they are using it such as a respiratory assist device, or to activate near field antimicrobial irradiance on potentially contaminated personal use item surfaces (mattress, sheets, blanket, pillow, commode seat) immediately while a patient is touching such fomite surface in each instance for the purpose of reducing an infected persons sources of pathogen burden whether in physiologic reservoirs or areas of their body, clothing or hands thus reducing their ability to transmit pathogens which also reduces an uninfected individual’s exposure risk for acquiring infection. Reducing an infected persons pathogen burden via antimicrobial wavelength disinfection may be expected to eradicate infection more quickly making this strategy an advantageous method of infection control for infected persons who may recover more quickly as well as uninfected persons who avoid illness, as a comprehensive strategy to prevent or control acquisition or transmission of communicable disease especially respiratory pathogens. The invention proposes a method and a variety of novel devices to provide consistently ‘near field’ (<100 cm, preferentially <10 cm from source to target) disinfecting irradiation using antimicrobial light, as previously defined, to advantageously apply a property of light intensity defined by the inverse square law, where close and known proximity of a target to photon light source provides the opportunity for optimal and more predictable germicidal dosing. This contrasts with a plethora of currently available whole room, upper room or similar type of germicidal proposed devices or even hand held devices where safe antimicrobial wavelengths are applied ambiently (>100 cm) to irradiate entire environmental targets, for example, an entire room and its contents, or to decontaminate the upper air of a room, or may be delivered at variable and inconsistent distances from a surface and are not specifically targeted to maintain a prescribed distance from a person (or animal) failingto insure germicidal dosing forpotentially contaminated animate surfaces or spaces, or infectious reservoirs, or fomite surfaces and where ambient germicidal dosing of items close to the light source receive markedly different germicidal doses of light compared to surfaces at a distance which require longer treatment times for a germicidal effect, and won’t achieve them if a contaminated animate surface (person) moves out of range. Current ambient whole room ultraviolet germicidal irradiance (UVGI) treatment devices and upper room disinfectants are used in many hospitals and clinics but do nothing to relieve a healthcare workers risk of exposure to contaminated PPE for themselves or patients while on the job during a pandemic, nor relieves the shortages of those items which similarly poses a risk for acquisition or transmission of disease pathogens. Furthermore, use of available upper room decontaminating UVGI devices does not target lower room equipment or furniture or fomite surfaces, and those that emit broad band UVC wavelengths (100-280 nm) require people to avoid the toxic properties of such wavelengths, or to find a smaller, confined antimicrobial light box for disinfection of stethoscopes, phones etc , most of which have not been designed to make use of safe antimicrobial wavelengths nor to be used while ambulatory. Furthermore, the mask/face shield that incorporates the use of safe antimicrobial wavelengths as an additional means to disinfect both the inhaled and exhaled air of a user offers a protective advantage to any uninfected user such as healthcare workers when an infected user wears them, especially when the infection is asymptomatic and casual exposure is more likely, but also because reducing pathogen burden in an infected person may facilitate infection eradication more quickly. This unique targeted approach to antimicrobial wavelength disinfection of respiratory input/output or fomite contamination from an infected user to reduce potentially contaminated surfaces and spaces near field to them as well as a method for providing protection to uninfected users in the setting of respiratory or other communicable pathogens can be advantageously applied to other types of PPE while also making them re-useable, and further be advantageously applied for infection control within the medical paradigm for various types of medical apparatus while in use by a patient meeting the same goal of making such apparatus continuously re-useable and decontaminated for exposure to healthcare workers or recovering patients while controlling spread of infectious pathogens, and possibly reducing pathogen burden for an infected user. Therefore, the direct application of safe, non toxic antimicrobial light such as far UVC wavelengths (200-230 nm) in a previously defined near field, to achieve a predictable dose on both animate and inanimate surfaces as a novel characteristic of the invention has particular utility in connection with face masks/shields as well as other personal protective equipment (PPE) and will be described in connection with such utility but also to include additional types of partial or full body germicidal coverings for PPE in healthcare as well as other settings, or advantageously applied to frequently touched personal use items in hospitals (i.e. blankets, pillows, sheets, commodes) while such items arc being used or frequently touched; or applied on personal use surfaces such as hospital gowns, intimate personal apparel, or other personal apparatus while in use or also applied within the healthcare food service sector to protect food service handlers and/or the healthcare workers and patients they serve, by application of this invention to the handlers themselves and food service items they handle where inadvertent contamination of food service items (serving dishes, plates, covers etc) by an asymptomatic person (current estimates are that >40% of COVID-19 infections are asymptomatic, 2020 Emerg Inf Disease) may pose an unexpected risk for transmission of infectious pathogens in both directions, and furthermore this method can also be used for disinfection of frequently touched surfaces in a healthcare setting that also serve as fomites (door knobs, light switches etc.) while being touched by a patient/healthcare workers/visitors.

Additional utility of near field, far UV-C or other safe antimicrobial wavelengths in LED’s or other portable photon sources, some of which may be miniature, single or in multiples or arrays or where disinfecting wavelengths also be distributed from a larger photon source via optical fibers, light tubes or light guides for decontamination of potentially infectious animate or inanimate healthcare surfaces and spaces uniquely applied in consistent near field location for predictable and targeted dosing in ambulatory settings or circumstances such as applied to simultaneously decontaminate respiratory medical apparatus surfaces while in use by a patient such as decontamination of a neonatal incubator while also focused on decontaminating the naso-pharyngeal areas of a baby being treated for pneumonia, or applied near field to decontaminate an endotracheal tube and the patient on a ventilators during treatment of an adult with respiratory infection, or applied to CPAP machines while in use to decontaminate the machine and associated animate surfaces of a patient using it in order to prevent infections, or for decontamination of other medical apparatus while in use such as endoscopes or bronchoscopes such antimicrobial light to be applied in a controlled and specified near field distance between a target surface and the light source to achieve more predictable disinfection at the minimal optimal effective dose of irradiance to reduce the acquisition or transmission of infectious pathogens and to reduce pathogen burden, while also reducing non targeted microbial wavelength irradiation which could disrupt environmental or human or animal microbiomes. This unique and comprehensive method of irradiant disinfection where both the animate and inanimate contaminated surfaces arc simultaneously disinfected while in use with the optimally effective prescribed dosing from a near field location of the light source, can be similarly applied for veterinary use to continuously disinfect potentially contaminated veterinary surfaces both animate (i.e., pets or veterinary workers), or inanimate (counter tops, pet extremity coverings, blankets, pillows, dog beds) while in use which can also be applied in non-clinical use areas, and relevant today to aid in preventing acquisition or transmission of zoonotic pathogens between animals or from animals to humans, such as monkeypox. Furthermore, it is anticipated that near field application of safe antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UVC wavelengths (200-230 nm) as described in this invention can be used to make PPE reusable relieving shortages or to decontaminate medical devices and fomite sources reducing pathogen spread.

Surgical masks, respirators and face shields have been used to help mitigate the spread of infectious diseases including, but not limited to the common cold, influenza, SARS, H1N1 Swine Flu, and most recently, COVID-19, aka “coronavirus”. However, it is well known various masks are not equal in efficacy. Effective prevention of the spread of airborne illnesses is particularly important for healthcare providers and first responders, who frequently come into contact with infected patients and not only require self-protection but also must avoid becoming a vector for infection. Furthermore, protecting members of the general public from contagious pathogens is also important to reduce further spread of infectious disease, the latter referring to RO or rate of transmission, along with the associated morbidity and mortality, as well as to ease hospital and health care duress during a pandemic. Inadequate effective mask supplies results in a hodge-podge of various mask types for healthcare workers or public use with mixed efficacy undermining the ability to credibly provide effective respiratory protection. A need exists for a consistent supply of credibly and consistently effective face and head respiratory protection from respiratory pathogens for health care professionals as well as inpatients of healthcare facilities and visitors.. Face shields provide a physical barrier to splatter, but by being open around the edges, cannot fully protect against aerosolized and droplet exposure. Face shields using traditional filtration methods must be enclosed to offer optimal protection against infectious aerosols. Despite the effectiveness of recently developed COVTD-19 vaccines to prevent disease causing mortality, continued infections, and a flurry of newly identified mutations and other microbial pathogens representing potential pandemic risks such as monkeypox make it prudent to have other options to help protect the population from respiratory or other pandemic or infectious agents transmissible at times via inhaled aerosols, droplets, or via the oral fecal route from contaminated surfaces. Fomite spread occurs by touching contaminants with hands and transmitting them to face and mouth or mucous membranes or may be from cutaneous locations for viruses such as monkeypox. Reducing exposure to inhaled pathogens is helpful in controlling respiratory pathogens which spread via inhaled aerosols or droplets, and adding individual protection for surface contaminants on skin, clothing or frequently touched potentially contaminated surfaces (fomites) will offer additional protection to reduce the spread of communicable diseases. There are currently many disinfection methods which do not simultaneously disinfect a contaminated inanimate surface as well as the animate infectious source, whether human or animal— the latter can be, for example, an infected hand which may contaminate many surfaces after being used to block a sneeze or cough. The sooner an infectious source is disinfected the more effective it is at preventing fomite spread. Some antimicrobial surface treatment products or sprays only briefly eradicate pathogens on a surface with nearly immediate re-contamination possible after they dry, others may provide disinfection which lasts for hours or even days, but require continuous reapplication of the product to maintain disinfection and only treat certain surfaces. Anti-microbial light such as broad band UV-C light (100 nm-280 nm) for decades has been a proven effective disinfectant strategy, but is limited in application due to its human toxicity and cannot be used on or in the direct presence of animals or humans to prevent the active spread of pathogens. Furthermore, a persons’ efforts to protect themselves from fomite infectious transfer requires continuous self-monitoring, with frequent handwashing or hand sanitizers after touching various surfaces to prevent acquisition or transmission of infection. A break in vigilance by any person whether uninfected or asymptomatically infected (assuming symptomatic people self-quarantine) can result in either acquisition or transmission of disease. Health care workers are at risk for selfcontamination every time they change contaminated PPE particularly if rushed to care for the next sick patient. A means of automatic and/or continuous ambulatory self- disinfection of both animate (living) and inanimate surfaces (e.g., PPE) is advantageous to help prevent pathogen acquisition and transmission and to allow for reuse or continuous use of PPE for healthcare providers, inpatients or other care givers. During times of pandemic when effective personal protective gear may be rationed due to high demand, the need for a continuous supply of all types of PPE, all of which ought to be changed every time a new exposure occurs, places financial, medical, and supply strains on the health care system with shortages and rationing of PPE for medical personnel as well as for the public. This is a likely factor for failure to effectively contain acquisition and transmission of infectious pathogens such as COVID-19. A need exists for continuously re-useable selfdecontaminating PPE during pandemics and other times to help prevent such shortages, and to help ease rates for acquisition and transmission of pandemic pathogens such as respiratory virus and other diseases in a healthcare setting.

Respirators, in conjunction with careful and comprehensive use of other personal protective equipment (PPE) combined with appropriate handling and disinfection techniques for contaminated animate or inanimate surfaces (i.e., frequent hand washing) or removal of contaminated clothing, for example, when leaving a laboratory are highly effective for preventing the acquisition and transmission of viral, bacterial, or other pathogens and are commonly used tools as part of infection control protocols by research and medical professionals. However, there are inherent limitations of the effectiveness of such protocols or tools when applied, for example, to emergency rooms, hospital wards or the general public’s efforts to reduce contagion. Even the most effective masks available today, including N95 respirators, may be used ineffectively by casual wearers or those who have facial hair, or who experience perspiration on the face that limits the occlusive fit of the mask, or who’s facial shape does not allow a perfect or secure fit or who feel claustrophobic and frequently touch or adjust the mask to breathe better. Such situations or manipulations potentially contaminate it or reduces efficacy if a wearer periodically lifts or loosens a mask for a deeper breath, admitting non purified or contaminated air into the respiratory chamber of the mask. Furthermore, even with optimal fit, no mask provides adequate protection against the force of a sneeze or cough if the wearer is infected, where forceful aerosols can permeate all current types of masks and respirator barriers In the case of COVID- 19 the virus is extremely small at less than 0.2 microns making an adjunctive means of anti- microbial protection within the respiratory chamber of a mask or face shield, a desirable goal. Furthermore, currently there arc no self decontaminating effective PPE options to allow wearers ambulatory use during decontamination. Healthcare workers cannot remain protected unless their PPE are frequently changed and replaced after any potential exposure, or changed when they exit an area of potential contamination to consume food or liquid. Current mask/shield barriers do not allow unconstrained communication , or allow a user to address their own infection symptoms (cough or sneeze) without removing their own PPE nor provide safe antimicrobial irradiance which may actually be therapeutic in reducing pathogen load if they become exposed and/or infected. A need remains to overcome the multiple limitations of imperfect masks, respirator or face shields especially during a respiratory pandemic and to improve the antimicrobial environment of a face shield by enclosing it, while offering a novel method of anti-microbial treatment. Likewise, a need exists to overcome the risk of self-contamination from other types of contaminated PPE such as gowns, surgical scrubs, head, hand and foot coverings, or to continuously address fomite transmission from various contaminated surfaces especially in a healthcare setting during a pandemic where sick patients can contaminate , for example, a hospital room or personal use items, or medical device treatment or diagnostic apparatus, thus exposing healthcare providers and workers, visitors or other patients to disease acquisition who then become vectors for further transmission. Any break in vigilance handling contaminated PPE or fomites after exposure further exacerbates risk for acquisition and transmission.

In the event of a shortage of personal protective equipment, including face masks, respirators and face shields, as well as surgical gowns, gloves, shoe coverings etc. healthcare providers and first responders are forced to reuse disposable, potentially contaminated PPE, increasing the likelihood of self infection or spreading infection to others. The CDC has approved the use of broad band, germicidal UV-C light (100 nm-280 nm) for decontamination of masks or PPE when they are isolated away from human contact, in order to allow reuse of N95 or similar masks or respirators. However, broadband UVC wavelengths are toxic to skin and eyes and makes exposure dangerous for humans, therefore, this option cannot occur while the PPE is in use, and is approved for only a limited number of exposures. Conventional respirators when worn properly by an infected person decrease the spread of their droplets by trapping them in the face cup but do nothing to decrease infectious pathogens already present on skin or in microbial reservoirs such as nasal or oral cavities. In fact, in some instances masks may actually create the moist environment that could increase viral or other pathogen replication and increase disease burden. A need exists to address the risk of pathogen burden and replication inside a face mask or shield.

Face shields advantageously provide ocular protection and also allow a more social visage of the wearers face during communication which can be more soothing to patients in times of pandemic and allow more social interaction between members of the public if they opt to wear such protective gear in public. Antimicrobial Face shields can allow positive identification of a person in situations when this is important (hospitals, clinics, banks or other commerce etc.). However, conventional face shields are not enclosed and do not filter air or protect the wearer from aerosolized pathogens such as COVID- 19 aka SARS-COV-2.

Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) offer an enclosed solid barrier respirator, and components can be cleaned, disinfected, as well as re-used and shared however, limitations of use in the healthcare setting include cost, limited view, blower noise and head covering which impairs hearing, reduced ability to use a stethoscope, need for replacement batteries, and need for proper disinfection and cleaning after each use or contamination exposure as well as the inability to use the PPE during decontamination. They are not self decontaminating. Such systems despite efficacy would not be considered readily accessible and useable for general healthcare personnel use due to noise, bulkiness and need for specialized disinfection procedures after contamination exposure. All current masks, respirators and shields must be removed during consumption of food, drink or medication leaving users exposed during these activities. Currently healthcare workers during pandemic emergencies report working many hours without food or drink in order to avoid removal of scarce, disposable PPE adding another level of discomfort during an already stressful work environment. Furthermore, none of the masks, respirators or shields assist persons experiencing rhinorrhea or cough themselves to deal with these issues without removal of the PPE, which exposes the user to contaminating the air and people around them. A need for a more effective, comfortable, socially useful, visually non-threatening and personally identifying method of portable respiratory protection with ambulatory decontamination from aerosolized pathogens exists. Similarly, a need exists for re-useable, self-decontaminating, ambulatory whole or partial PPE, for the rest of the body below a mask or face shield where surface contamination can lead to hand contamination of the user and increase the risk of pathogen transfer to others via fomite surfaces or the users own face, nose and mouth. And finally, a need exists for a more effective method of continuous individual or personal decontamination from frequently touched personal and public surfaces with 2 factor simultaneous decontamination of the fomite surface as well as the infected source, such as a hand, or contaminated clothing and skin on an infected person.

Ultraviolet (UV) light and in particular broad band UV-C light is known to cause damage and destruction to DNA of microbial pathogens and is effective to disinfect surfaces making it useful as a topical germicidal method in health care settings such as hospitals and clinics, as well as laboratories and has been used for this purpose for over a half century. UV light is divided into three main wavelength ranges, UV-A (315 nm-400 nm), UV-B (280 nm-315 nm), and UV-C (100 nm-280 nm), all of which have certain germicidal properties. Broad band UV-C light (100 nm-280 nm) at certain wavelengths causes damage to eyes and skin, and the DNA damage it inflicts on human cells can lead to skin and other cancers. Recently, however, a narrow subset of UV-C wavelengths, known as far UV-C light (200- 230 nm) has been shown to kill bacteria, virus, fungi, yeast and other pathogens, but is not absorbed by even the outer layers of the skin or the tears in the human eye obviating the risk of damage to these structures. This provides the opportunity to utilize the antimicrobial disinfection properties of far UVC wavelengths to provide novel disinfection on or adjacent to animate human or animal surfaces.

Researchers studying the far UV-C phenomenon postulated its benefits as an environmental germicidal agent which could be useful in cleaning pathogens from the air in public spaces, for example, by its use in public buildings as an overhead antimicrobial light. Additional suggestions by scientists are its ambient use in public spaces such as airports or application in airplanes, where the plane could become disinfected either periodically throughout the flight, or during the time between flights. Limitations of ambient application of far UV-C wavelengths (200-230 nm)include the inability to accurately predict or provide germicidal dosing to every potentially contaminated surface given the variable distance of a given light source to an infectious target such as an animate or inanimate surface or space, the obstruction of light beams posed by surface curves, corners or irregularities, or the inability to provide sufficient time to achieve disinfection if the target is moving away from the light. Antimicrobial light applied at a distance has variable power density impacting dosing efficacy and is hampered by uneven surfaces or crevices which may not receive an adequate germicidal dose. Furthermore, non targeted ambient antimicrobial irradiance may have unintended negative consequences for human and environmental microbiomes. Currently far UV-C light or other safe antimicrobial wavelengths found to be effective for decontamination and safe for skin or ocular exposure has not been utilized as part of individual protection strategies or for individual decontamination in a near field location or application at a known proximate distance (<100 cm, preferably < 10 cm) from the light source to a target surface or space, such as in personal protective equipment as a direct decontaminant for skin or surfaces near the skin such as clothing or PPE, or other tissue areas, such as the nose and throat as a means to directly prevent and even treat infection, where exposure to the light serves the dual purpose of anti-microbial protection for an uninfected user, as well as a therapeutic modality to reduce viral or target pathogen burden in an infected source and act as an infection containment device for an infected user reducing the RO of an infected source. Accordingly, the present invention in one embodiment offers the advantage of a two-factor respiratory protection system, the material of the mask creates a filtration barrier and the safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths appropriately dosed for near field application to destroy any ambient pathogens that escape through the barrier effectively decontaminating the respiratory chamber of targeted pathogens. Additionally for the wearer who has become infected, the topical application of far UV-C light or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths to infected reservoirs is anticipated to reduce or eliminate viral or target pathogen burden and either prevent, eradicate or reduce severity of illness. Furthermore, the near field application of the light in close proximity to the target or surface improves the power density based on the inverse square law and thus the accuracy and efficiency of germicidal dosing. This allows dosing at the optimally effective energy for the shortest amount of time, which when targeted, reduces un targeted antimicrobial irradiance to the microbiome.

Earlier applications of UV light in protective masks such as described in United States Patent No. 8,733,356 to Roth for an antimicrobial protective mask with broad band UV-C light emitting diodes in the wavelength range of 240-270 nm for sanitizing air being breathed by the wearer to detoxify respired air, is specifically designed to avoid direct light exposure to the wearer. This is because the broad band UV-C light was not safe for direct exposure to skin, eyes or the mucosa of the oropharynx.

Far UV-C light is recently identified as an effective germicidal wavelength, but has not been used in an ambulatory, near field application for direct exposure to a person’s skin or eyes within masks, face shields or other PPE or in or on surfaces to disinfect them while they are being exposed or used by persons in order to take advantage of its safety for skin and eye exposure. Applicants anticipate other wavelengths especially non UV visible wavelengths may also provide effective antimicrobial activity safe for skin and ocular exposure, in addition to far UV-C wavelengths, and can be delivered in the same near field application and in devices described in this application to provide ambulatory disinfection for masks, PPE, medical devices and apparatus or on other contaminated or potentially contaminated frequently touched human or veterinary fomite surfaces.

Accordingly, a need exists for a safe, ambulatory self-decontaminating germicidal face mask, respirator or enclosed face shield to create a respiratory chamber that not only protects the wearer from external pathogens, but optionally may be used to reduce pathogens on the skin and inside the nose and oropharynx or around the ocular areas of the wearer as both a protective and therapeutic modality. A similar need exists for a means of ambulatory self disinfection for all forms of personal protective equipment, and to address an individual’s risk of exposure from or transmission to fomite surfaces of personal use items or medical devices etc. Furthermore, the nasal cavity and mouth contain structures that are often reservoirs or entry areas for viral or other pathogenic microbes. A non pharmacologic readily available means of decreasing viral or other pathogen load in these or other accessible pathogen reservoir areas would be advantageous to reduce acquisition or transmission of pathogens while also potentially reducing severity of disease.

The present invention in one aspect provides a face mask, respirator, open or enclosed face shield comprising one, several or arrays of light sources or transmission of wavelengths via optical fibers, light tubes or light guides or networks thereof, including neon, incandescent, or fluorescent tubes or Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s), including the full range of UV wavelengths (100 nm-400 nm) manufactured or attenuated by optical filters such as prisms to emit only far UV-C wavelengths (currently defined as 200-230 nm), or may incorporate any light source which emits other safe antimicrobial wavelengths on the insidc/facial side of the mask, when such light sources have been identified as safe for skin and eye exposure, such light sources located in close proximity (near field) <100 cm and preferably <10 cm to the target, in order to create an ambulatory, efficient germicidal breathing chamber inside the nose and mouth cup of the mask or shield and reduce or effectively eliminate the inhalation of target pathogens by the wearer that can occur if ambient contaminated air escapes into the mask, including virus and bacteria, and also effectively reduces the transmission of target pathogens from an infected wearer. As used herein the far UV-C light source may originate from any UV light source configured, attenuated or filtered to generate far UV-C wavelengths. (200-230 nm) One preferred embodiment are miniature light sources which permit direct irradiance close or near field to a target surface and may require lower energy use to achieve optimal antimicrobial disinfection efficacy. However, any size light sources advantageously may be used with appropriate reflectors, light tubes, light guides, optical fibers incorporated with filtersand/or prisms configured to deliver and direct the light onto a target surface. In other aspects the antimicrobial light sources with special optical filters or in some instances delivered by optical fibers, are incorporated, embedded into various materials such as those that are translucent, silicon, polycarbonate or other plastics, water resistant, or as with optical fibers, light tubes or light guides may be woven or meshed into fabrics or other materials or attached as part of a smock or apron with various filters to angulate beams for targeted delivery in order to protect and decontaminate other types of PPE while in use (ambulatory) making them continuously useable and re-useable, to prevent acquisition or transmission of infectious pathogens, and/or to reduce pathogen burden on infectious surfaces or cutaneous reservoirs to aid in healing or eradication of infection. Similarly, application of this novel disinfection method to decontaminate a variety of fomite surfaces both animate and inanimate, addresses the infectious source that would otherwise increase the R0 or transmission to other fomite surfaces, whether the source is human or animal, and is unique and advantageous to limiting the spread of contagious pathogens. The ambulatory, selfdecontaminating germicidal properties of far UV-C light or any other antimicrobial wavelength safe for direct skin and ocular exposure allows the user continuous access to or to re-use their mask, respirator or face shield as well as other types of PPE without risk of acquisition or transmission of infection even if worn by or following exposure to people who arc infected — particularly useful if the latter arc asymptomatic, when measures such as handwashing or disinfectant after touching a particular surface, may not seem warranted. In the case of this invention, a particular device attachment has been described, incorporating or attaching a far UV-C wavelength emitter or any safe antimicrobial wavelength emitter, singly or multiple or in an array, using special optical filters and/or fibers to disperse, angulate or distribute light in a near field location to target surfaces can be used to turn any current disposable mask, respirator or face shield or other PPE into re-useable, selfdecontaminating face masks or shields or body coverings alleviating any current shortage. Furthermore, incorporating the far UV-C light or any other safe antimicrobial wavelength to irradiate a target in a near field location can be built in or made as an “add on” malleable nose attachment such as a nose ring to be used in or with any mask, respirator, shield or directly attachable by itself to the nares to radiate and disinfect air and nasal passages as air enters or exits the nose.

The present invention in another aspect provides an enclosed face shield comprising one or several or an array of photon sources such as neon, fluorescent or incandescent tubes or LEDs and may include the entire broadband UV-C wavelengths manufactured or attenuated and/or optically filtered to emit exclusively far UV-C wavelengths (range 200- 230 nm), or may emit any antimicrobial wavelength whether UV or visible light spectrum that is safe for direct skin or ocular exposure, configured to be distributed in a near field location from the light source to the target, in one embodiment on the inside facial side of the mask, in order to create an anti-microbial respiratory chamber inside the face shield to reduce or effectively eliminate the inhalation and acquisition of pathogens by the wearer, including viruses and bacteria, while also effectively reducing the transmission of pathogens during exhalation from the wearer. As used herein “near field location” means <100 cm and preferably <10 cm from the light source (or in the case of an optical fiber, the end of the optical fiber) to the target. The enclosed face shield may be configured with a continuous occlusive fit closely along the forehead, temples, lateral cheeks, jawline and at or beneath the chin of the wearer, and may include a sectioned lower chamber with a removable/replaceable mid-section of the shield around the nose and mouth, with replaceable sections to provide a variety of optional accessory functions such as a cough- sneeze guard; a rhinorrhea rolling absorbent anti-microbial pad; a resiliently deformable aperture or one way valve to allow admission of a straw or tube for liquid consumption; or a larger deformable self-sealing or mechanically sealing aperture for oral medications or eating; or a Radio-Frequency (RF) wireless communication microphone/auditory amplifier configured in such a way to provide privacy between close communicants, and to allow answering land line phone calls, with variable volume control for addressing even large audiences or classrooms in order to achieve improved communication while maintaining anti-microbial protection. The RF technology can be configured to allow cellular network communications, obviating the need to remove protective gear while answering cell phones or participating in large group communication.

. The known property of light known as the inverse square law where light intensity wanes by the square of the distance from the source, supports the advantage of close proximity (near field) delivery of safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths where a target that is twice the distance from a source receives only 14 the light intensity dose — for example, an object 20 cm away from a light source will receive only 14 the power density that occurs at 10 cm. The near field location and irradiance from a light source such as a light emitting diode ( LED) when distributed to a target area, or the transmission and delivery via optical fibers, light tubes or light guides allows more accurate and consistent surface target dosing compared to larger but more distant photon sources in currently available UV-C devices designed to deliver ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to ambient upper or whole room treatment modalities where distances from the source are variable, surface irregularities can obstruct light to portions of a surface altogether and areas furthest from the light source will receive exponentially lower doses of antimicrobial light. Furthermore, application of antimicrobial light in a specified near field target can allow for a lower power, far UV-C light source such as an LED to achieve sufficient and efficient germicidal dosing which in turn, can be made to avoid ozone production, the latter can result from photolysis of oxygen from far UV-C wavelengths emitted at higher power.

All near field, far UV-C wavelength or other safe antimicrobial wavelength embodiments in this invention provide an unexpected result over the prior art in that the related art in regard to masks tries to avoid direct exposure to people, in particular the skin or eyes, from damaging germicidal irradiance such as broad band UV-C wavelengths since broad spectrum UV-C light has known DNA toxicity, and is known to be carcinogenic when targeted to skin as well as damaging to eyes and furthermore, has not been designed to insure application of light occurs at maximal power density in a near field location. This invention therefore improves over the prior related art in that these masks and face shields can be worn during the disinfection process, and not only purifies inhaled air, it is engineered in a way to reduce viral or other target pathogen burden in exhaled air in an infected user and can be used to reduce pathogens on the skin or in the user’s likely pathogen reservoirs, the nose and throat or oropharynx, and ocular areas via near field exposure to safe antimicrobial wavelengths. In other embodiments the invention will couple the use of optimal power density by creating devices that insure near field irradiance with a safe antimicrobial photon source to effectively disinfect other forms of PPE while in use, and still other embodiments of a near field application of antimicrobial irradiance to decontaminate both animate or inanimate surfaces at the simultaneously in order to provide a more comprehensive individual disinfection approach to collectively decrease the public risk for acquisition or transmission of infectious pathogens, and in some instances treat or eradicate infection. Uniform distribution of safe antimicrobial wavelengths on PPE or animate and inanimate contaminated surfaces can also be enhanced by the selective use of reflective material or reflective surface treatments or in some cases use of optical fibers which act as a light source extender to deliver photons from an LED to the end of the fiber , light tube or light guide which is located in a near field location to the target surface.

Alternatively, special optical lenses such as prisms, comprised of, for example, opaque or clear, man-made and/or rare earth and/or naturally occurring crystalline structures, are disposed to attenuate or focus or distribute various wavelengths from photon sources , such as LED’s, incandescent, neon, and/or fluorescent tubes to emit exclusively far UV-C light wavelengths or any safe and effective visible antimicrobial wavelengths into the mask, respirator, or face shield or onto various forms of PPE and does not require isolation of the PPE during decontamination. In one embodiment the face mask, respirator, or face shield may be made self-disinfecting through the use special optical lenses such as prisms in order to direct the near field radiance toward specific target areas, or by use of a plurality of far UV-C lights, or distribution of irradiance via fiber optic lines singly, multiply or woven into the material of the mask or shield and/ or may similarly use lights emitting any safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength on the external and internal surfaces of the mask or shield. However, in a preferred embodiment the shield or mask may be made entirely or in part of clear constituents allowing light distribution on the interior or exterior to irradiate both sides of the mask and disinfect their surfaces simultaneously or the strategic use of reflective materials to help achieve this. The enclosed face shield may contain stationary or moveable or detachable wands or stylus to direct antimicrobial far UV-C or any safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths into reservoir areas of the nose and oropharynx, as well as toward ocular regions, and to enlarge an area of irradiance by moving a light source in various parallel directions to increase its area of radiance while maintaining a near field position from the light source to the target. Strategic use of reflective material or surfaces may also be used to assist in wavelength distribution as well as optical fibers, light tubes or light guides which can deliver photons at a particular wavelength, where the end of the optical fiber or emitter or diffuser location acts as the light source and may also be filtered to direct and deliver photons in a targeted near field location. Exposure of the target area to far UV-C wavelengths or light of any safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength, may be continuous, intermittent and/or pulsed with power and dosing adjusted to achieve optimal germicidal efficacy for the shortest period of time to deactivate specific pathogens. Limiting the time needed to achieve disinfection is advantageous for energy consumption for battery operated devices, but also protects the healthy aspects of the microbiome.

The mechanism of the removable section in the front of the enclosed face shield, may include mechanical attachments, or the use of rare earth magnets, which can also act as a viral attractant during inter changing of the sections. Attracted virus or other pathogens can then be deactivated by the far UV-C lights or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths. Further attributes of the attachments or face shield materials may include embedded particles such as copper, for added anti-microbial protection.

The invention also provides antimicrobial near field, far UV-C wavelengths or other antimicrobial wavelengths safe for skin and ocular exposure as may be identified now or in the future to use as a germicidal treatment incorporated into germicidal irradiance of animate (skin) or inanimate (clothing, furniture etc.) surfaces at risk of pathogen contamination, and comprising one or more or an array of light sources, or network of optical fibers, light tubes or light guides manufactured or attenuated to emit only far UV-C light of wave length of between 200-230 nm or can be understood to be effectively used with other light sources that emit only antimicrobial wavelengths safe for skin and ocular exposure, such wavelengths being emitted from photon sources including neon, fluorescent, incandescent LED’s or tubes located in close or near field proximity to surface or space targets of the wearer or emitted via optical fibers, light tubes, or light guides which act as an extension of the light source to deliver antimicrobial wavelengths to target areas where such light sources are embedded, encased, or attached onto or into frequently touched surfaces, the photon sources configured to be mobile or stationary, intermittent or continuous, and/or pulsatile, programmable for timing and/or movement, and may be activated automatically or manually such irradiance configured and dosed to eliminate or prevent microbial contamination of the user and reduce or prevent acquisition or transmission of disease, and/or at times when individually worn in various PPE to prevent infection or promote healing by reducing pathogen burden in the case of skin contamination or wound infection, wherein the PPE may, for example, be selected from, though not limited to, a group consisting of a surgical hat, a surgical or hospital gown or full hazardous material/bunny suit, gloves, leggings, sleeves, shoes, shoe covers, or intimate apparel, or of a space, aircraft or underwater helmet. Other circumstances where a two-factor disinfection system is advantageous occurs whereby a fomite surface and an infected user may be simultaneously disinfected while being treated include a blanket, a pillow, a cushion or furniture cover or bathroom commode. Additionally, the invention can be used to provide a unique two factor disinfection process for inanimate surfaces by not only disinfecting a contaminated surface but also the animate source of contamination (the touch of an infected person or animal) thus preventing further fomite contamination as part of a comprehensive disinfection strategy to control acquisition or transmission of infectious pathogens in healthcare settings to be described below. Among PPE which involve clothing such as a surgical hat, surgical or hospital gown, leggings, shoe covers, scrub shirts and pants, all of which may also be contaminated by blood or other bodily fluids during a hospital or clinic work day which incur laundry requirements for removal of such contaminants, a preferable embodiment of this invention is a detachable, rinseable, external covering such as a smock or apron incorporated, embedded, woven or encased with safe antimicrobial wavelength light source/sources configured as an outer covering layer, preferably light weight and water resistant material such as nylon or plastic, which may integrate photon sources similar in concept to net type LED lights similar in style to those used for Christmas tree lights, where the nets arc powered by a soft plastic covered electrical wire mesh, and the light sources are safe antimicrobial photon light source(s) or may involve integrating or enmeshing a network of optical fibers, light tubes or light guides which act as an extension of the LED or other photon source such as an excimer lamp to distribute exclusively safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths, such as far UV-C wavelengths (200-230 nm) focused or dispersed using special optical filters such as prisms to focus light at times at right angles in order to decontaminate any PPE surfaces, such coverings may be fitted with spacers to create a specified near field distance between the light source of the cover layer and the PPE targeted for decontamination. Specifically, spacers are configured to maintain a known near field distance (<100 cm, and preferably < 10 cm) between the light source which may be an LED or similar photon source, or the delivery end or diffuser openings of an optical fiber, light tube or light guide and the target surface or space, d may also be configured from any light weight natural or man-made material that can hold the weight of the lights away from the surface of the PPE target such spacers may be made from but not limited to, polyurethane foam, foam rubber, plastic or Styrofoam or similar light weight spacers preferably translucent and washable. Such optional PPE coverings and spacers will be configured to be washable or wipeable to easily remove and disinfect from blood and bodily fluid contaminants when necessary, but can be expected to maintain superficial decontamination of target pathogens for underlying PPE or animate surfaces.

In a further embodiment of the invention, reduction or prevention of acquisition or transmission or treatment of zoonotic or other respiratory or skin infections to include viral, bacterial or fungal pathogens in dogs, cats or other animals is achieved by decontamination of infectious surfaces and space, animate or inanimate, with near field application of single, multiple or an array of photon sources, or a solitary or network or mesh of optical fibers, light tubes, or light guides to distribute wavelengths from the photon sources to a near field location from the target (< 100 cm, or preferably < 10cm), such photon sources may include neon, fluorescent incandescent tubes or LEDs manufactured or attenuated and optically filtered to emit only antimicrobial wavelengths safe for skin and ocular exposure such as far UV-C wavelengths (200-230 nm), attached, embedded, encased, woven into or incorporated within veterinary PPE such as, but not limited to, protective neck/cone shaped collars or face masks that surround an animals nose and mouth and may be used as respiratory protection similar in function to the previously described embodiment for human use, or in another embodiment use of far UV-C wavelengths or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths emitted from photon sources in a near field configuration to achieve predictable dosing to decontaminate both animate and inanimate veterinary surfaces, and are advantageously used for surfaces while an animal is using them, such as, furniture, blankets or extremity or body coverings for decontamination of or treatment of, or containment of topical microbial infections such as virus, bacteria, fungus or yeast including such as infectious rashes(e.g., ringworm), ulcers or wounds which may shed pathogenic microbes using one or more or an array of photon light sources or to include a single, multiple, mesh or network of optical fibers, light tubes or light guides which distribute antimicrobial wavelengths at a particular dose to a specified near field target , such light sources may be mobile or stationary, automatic or manual, and/or programmable, may be pressure, temperature or motion sensitive and manufactured or attenuated and or filtered to emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UV-C wave lengths ( 200-230 nm) configured with special optical lens filters such as prisms to directionally beam germicidal light to an animals infectious target area(s) such as nose, mouth, airway or various skin or bodily areas or bodily fluid or excrement targets or onto wearable body coverings .

In a still further embodiment of the invention of comprehensive disinfection , where disinfection of a person and their personal surfaces may be beneficial while ambulatory, especially in a circumstance where PPE is not usually worn or available for continuous selfprotection but the potential for asymptomatic exposure to or from others poses a high risk there is provided a near field irradiant disinfecting zone, mobile or stationary, for reducing microbial pathogens such as viral, bacterial, fungal, mold and yeast pathogens on a person or animal, said disinfecting zone comprising a confinement area having an entrance, an exit, and a confinement area, comprising one or more or an array of photon sources, or to include a single or network of or cascading optical fibers which act as a conduit extension and delivery of irradiance from the photon light source, the latter to include neon, fluorescent, incandescent sources such as tubes or light emitting diodes, including full range of UV-C wavelengths, manufactured or attenuated and/or filtered to emit only , far UV-C light(200- 230 nm), or any safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength safe for skin and ocular exposure configured to deliver photons in a near field location (< 100cm, and preferably < 10cm), stationary or mobile, the latter may incorporate a mobile array of LEDs or mobile optical fibers, light tubes, or light guides designed to deliver antimicrobial irradiance to the persons physical contours and irradiate the target surfaces at a near field location for optimal energy efficiency, such dosing may be automatic or manually directed towards an interior target(s) in the confinement area, wherein the confinement area may be selected from, though not limited to, a group consisting of a mobile or stationary confinement stall, where mobile or stationary arrays of antimicrobial arrays or optical fibers are cascaded or moved to a near field distance of the target surfaces and contours of the person or animal such wavelengths may be delivered and may be filtered and/or focused such that irradiation is dispersed over exposed target surfaces of a person with extended arms and spread legs as occurs in airport scanners. Such decontamination may be used prior to entry or exit from, for example, hospitals or hospital rooms, airport gangways etc. In an alternate embodiment for the same person the decontamination may occur from an irradiant, standalone body contour type device, where a stand- alone, front and back robe or body suit — head to foot — can sandwich a person, front and back or side to side with conformable surfaces containing antimicrobial light sources which can be mobilized to achieve a specified near field distance, where antimicrobial light may also be irradiated using woven optical fibers, light tubes or light guides in various materials from stationary or mobile photon source arrays which may rotate, and/ or move linearly up and down using a mechanical arm, or in conjunction with optical fibers, light tubes or light guides which are integrated or attached or which cascade and designed to “leak” or diffuse wavelengths at desired intervals or locations to irradiate all exposed surfaces for disinfection, the confinement area may be selected from but not limited to the group consisting of a stationary or mobile enclosed entry stall, or such stall leading into a corridor, a tunnel, a security scanner or a gangway, or similar locale, where the person or animal in the stall is targeted for disinfection by the various light arrays which arrays may irradiate all surfaces in a near field simultaneously or be mobilized or focused or dispersed to do this consecutively to include a lighted floor or pedestal for the soles of the feet/shoes which have been shown to be a source of disease transmission; or in an alternate embodiment, such individual disinfection chamber or stall, may be configured to contain a stand alone variously sized body conforming suit like , configured to be light weight, including photon sources to target head, torso, back, arms and legs, and feet etc. and a front and back surface to sandwich a person who steps inside, or side to side surfaces, such as to sandwich an animal with 4 legs, where stepping onto an antimicrobial lighted floor addresses the soles of the feet, and where such devices may involve, as previous stated, various sizes and have a malleable configuration that may automatically or manually conform to irregular surfaces and sizes in order to apply near field, safe germicidal light such as far UV-C wavelengths from photon sources wherein optionally programmable sensors within said zone or device identify and map the target surface location and move or focus the light source(s) or beam in a near field location to all mapped targets in order to assure irradiation of all surfaces at a specified dose, or additionally or alternatively optical fibers, light tubes, or light guides may infuse a surrounding conformable surface, or cascade around a person or animal or various surfaces to deliver near field dosing designed to leak wavelengths at various targeted locations, or are woven into malleable fabric or other materials which are then positioned to surround a total body or known high risk areas to include each area for example to target a torso, a back or an extremity or can be incorporated or moved in various configurations or shapes to focus on a particular near field zone of irradiation for surface targets of the person or animal to deliver germicidal wavelengths dosed to decontaminate all target surfaces, such zone or device to be self-decontaminating of all surrounding surfaces inside the zone with appropriate irradiance and dosing, and in a preferred embodiment is battery powered for mobility or manufactured to be powered by conventional electrical outlets. Such surface decontamination when combined with an antimicrobial face mask can help sustain comprehensive infection control in any locale, for example a hospital or clinic, especially for asymptomatic carriers of a respiratory pathogen by containing and reducing or eliminating infectious pathogens.

The invention further embodies a method and device such as a far UV-C emitter or an emitter of any safe and effective anti-microbial wavelength incorporated into, for example, a functional covering, housing or casing or embedded or solid encasement molding of a surface, or integrated or woven in a fabric or other material, or suspended in such as inflatable or hollow encasements each configuration made to conform or attach to surface contours while creating a specified near field distance from the light source to the target surface area. Such surfaces may come from a group to include medical respiratory apparatus such as an infant incubator, oxygen tent, endotracheal tube, ventilatory assist device, or CPAP machine wherein the contact area is decontaminated by an attachment of or encasement of or embedded with one or multiple or an array of safe antimicrobial light sources or for example, a network of embedded or encased or woven optical fibers, light tubes or light guides directed or located in near field (<100 cm and preferably <10cm) toward or around both animate and inanimate surfaces to irradiate and disinfect the apparatus while in use but also targets and facilitates healing of, for example, a respiratory tract, oropharyngeal infection, head or neck or other areas where cutaneous wounds or lesions on a patient may be reduced or eradicated using such device. Furthermore, this invention provides for safe antimicrobial light source in a near field location into any article of manufacture having a contact area generally used for individual or public contact/touch wherein the article for disinfection may, as example, be selected from, though not limited to, a group consisting of a door handle or knob, a hand rail (stair case, escalator, moving walkway), and a switch, where use of safe, near field antimicrobial irradiance from a light source or an optical fiber, light tube, light guide or network may be embedded or encased and configured to irradiate the touch surface to achieve decontamination while simultaneously and effortlessly (passively) decontaminating the animate source of contamination (i.e. a person or hand from a symptomatic or asymptomatic source), to help disinfect a fomite surface to prevent further spread of infectious pathogens. This invention is particularly useful and unique as applied to fomite surfaces to create a comprehensive disinfection approach to prevent the acquisition and transmission of infectious pathogens from an asymptomatic source where the source may be unaware and fail to take precautions such as use of hand sanitizer or hand washing particularly as the latter requires an effort on the part of the infectious source. A system of disinfection that provides passive protection relieves the burden of continuous conscious effort on the part of busy health care providers as well as members of the public during pandemics.

In still yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method and devices for safely disinfecting food service items while they are being handled, readied or delivered, wherein the antimicrobial light source which is safe for skin and ocular exposure is integrated, embedded, encased or attached to the food service items or may be distributed by a single or network of optical fibers, light tubes or light guides delivering safe antimicrobial wavelengths radiating the external and internal surfaces or contents in a near field location which includes diffuser openings along a light pipe or light guide or the end of an optical fiber, to eradicate potential pathogen contamination especially in a health care setting, such items which are selected from, but not limited to, the group consisting of food service covers and coverings, plates, glasses, , comprising directing stationary or mobile, automatic or manual, one or more or an array of photon light sources whose zone of photon distribution may be extended by optical fibers, light tubes, light guides such sources to include neon, incandescent, fluorescent, tubes or LEDs, full spectrum UV lights (100-400 nm) manufactured or attenuated or optically filtered to emit only far UV-C wavelengths (200-230 nm) or photon sources that emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths onto internal and external surfaces of said items while said items are being handled, readied or delivered. Such embodiment can also be applied to veterinary food service items in a group consisting of but not limited to, individual dog or cat food dishes or watering dishes where devices simultaneously disinfect the service item handler, the service item, as well as the user while in use. Especially when coupled with an antimicrobial face mask/shield the foregoing offers increased protection against acquisition and transmission for food handlers and those they serve.

Summarizing, in one aspect we provide a method for reducing or eliminating microbial pathogens in an individual’s inhaled or exhaled air or reducing or eliminating an individual’s pathogen exposure from animate or inanimate surfaces (fomites) including pathogen exposure to viruses, bacteria, fungi, mold or yeast, comprising providing one or more, or an array of photon sources including such sources as neon, incandescent, fluorescent or LEDs which are emitting any UV or non UV safe antimicrobial wavelengths optically filtered and attenuated to emit only wavelengths which are safe for direct skin or ocular and/or potentially oropharyngeal exposure, such as far UV-C wavelengths (200-230 nm), integrating, embedding, encasing or weaving said light sources into and/or attaching to, for example, casings or coverings, or housings and activating said light sources in a near field location (<100 cm, preferably <10 cm) such as in masks or other personal protective equipment (PPE) or coverings for them, or in clothing or into or on medical devices, medical apparatus or personal use items particularly in a healthcare setting or commonly touched public surfaces(fomites), and mobilizing or directing one or more or an array of photon sources emitting said safe antimicrobial wavelengths in a near field location using various methods to mobilize, distribute or direct the beams from such sources, including rotating, or horizontal, vertical or diagonal movement of single, multiple or arrays of photon sources , or stationary or mobile LED ribbons or similar sources, and/or optical fibers, light tubes, or light guides singly, multiple, in mesh or networks working in conjunction with safe antimicrobial photon sources, and/or reflective surface capabilities to aid in photon distribution and/or specialized optical filter(s) such as one or more optical prisms configured to diffuse, angulate, disperse or spread safe antimicrobial wavelengths into the air or simultaneously onto targeted contaminated or potentially contaminated animate or inanimate surfaces at a particular near field location to achieve a specified antimicrobial dose such sources may be motion, pressure or temperature sensitive in order to achieve and maintain passive or purposeful, ambulatory decontamination of said animate (people, animal) and inanimate surfaces to prevent acquisition or transmission of pathogens during, for example pandemics or any other time or in circumstance when comprehensive or individual antimicrobial protection is advantageous for an individual especially in a healthcare setting and collectively for the all members of the public, and for the latter to include a disinfection chamber, or for individuals who seek antimicrobial self-protection in various degrees and optionally to be used as germicidal irradiance for animate pathogen reservoirs or on body parts or orifices, animate exhalations and/or fluids adjacent to such reservoirs or which may contaminate other surfaces in order to prevent acquisition or transmission of disease or promote healing by irradiant reduction or elimination of infectious pathogens.

We also provide two factor protection for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or therapeutic or diagnostic medical apparatus, medical appliances or non-medical apparatus or appliances or personal use items and articles which are configured to be disinfected and reusable by this invention, using previously described application of safe antimicrobial wavelengths from photon sources said wavelengths delivered in a near field location(< 100cm, preferably < 10 cm) of a target surface from the photon source or optical fiber, light tube or light guide delivery system while the PPE is being worn or used or while such medical or other apparatus or appliances are in use, or in areas of potential contamination to achieve decontamination thus preventing acquisition or transmission of infectious pathogens, or reducing or eliminating pathogen burden when focused or directed to pathogen reservoirs as a therapeutic modality during the use of such apparatus or appliances, and comprising incorporation of or attachment of, and or manufactured to be embedded, inserted, encased or woven into liners or coverings or housings for photon sources involving one or more or an array of stationary or mobile photon light sources including neon, fluorescent, and incandescent, LEDs to include the full range of UV wavelengths, manufactured or optically filtered and attenuated to emit only far UV-C wave lengths (between 200-230 nm) or other safe and effective UV or non UV antimicrobial photon sources as may be identified, such wavelengths distributed using a variety of methods which may include rotational or linear motion attachments or mechanisms which can allow light sources to rotate, move up and down, horizontal or vertical or diagonally parallel and near field to a surface , or optical fibers, light tubes or light guides attached or woven into coverings or casings, or such as smocks or aprons or housings or nettings to adjunctively distribute the wavelengths or which may include the use of special optical filters such as prisms to focus, and/or disperse and/or angulate beams, such wavelengths configured to be comprised of continuous or intermittent, and/or automatic/programmable or manually controlled light beams directed and applied in near field location from the light source which can simultaneously decontaminate target animate and/or inanimate surfaces and spaces, for ambulatory use and/or between each use, wherein the animate surfaces belong to humans or animals and inanimate surfaces which can include PPE, medical or other appliances, apparatus and articles including but not limited to the group consisting of a surgical hat, a surgical or hospital gown, gloves, leggings, sleeves, shoes, shoe covers, intimate apparel, or for example, a helmet as may be used like a mask to treat inhaled and exhaled air in aircraft, underwater, outer space or etc.; or as antimicrobial photon sources incorporated into coverings or casings for hospital room patient comfort items such as a sheet, a blanket, a pillow, a cushion or furniture cover or throws or commode seat or articles of similar functionality which are activated during use by a patient or other persons, or may also be incorporated into or a covering for potentially contaminated personally worn items of an infected user or such items that pose as fomites to patients, visitors, or hospital personnel or the general public and can be decontaminated simultaneously during ambulatory use such as a dental appliance, glasses/goggles, or underwear. Tn another aspect we provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or therapeutic appliances or personal use article as above described, wherein the safe antimicrobial wavelength are configured to be applied while the item is in use wherein said items are self - decontaminating, continuously usable during and between infectious exposures and reusable based on safe, effective and efficient near field (< 100 cm, preferably < 10 cm) application of antimicrobial light from previously identified photon sources which may be attenuated and filtered as necessary to emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths and may be used with special optical filters such as prisms, or may be used with optical fibers, to be focused or distributed to target near field antimicrobial irradiance on either or both internal and external surfaces of a particular fomite or other target or on a single surface when light transparent materials are used, and/or when light is directed and dispersed via filters, reflective materials or mobile options, and/or distributed via optical fibers to decontaminate all exposed animate and inanimate target surfaces or to reduce or eliminate pathogen burden when applied to infectious animate or inanimate reservoirs and wherein said items optionally are configured to be battery powered for ambulatory use creating continuously useable or reusable PPE or decontaminated personal use items in any location or while in use.

In yet another aspect we provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or therapeutic medical or other appliances or various inanimate frequently touched fomite surfaces at risk for pathogen contamination as above described, along with the contaminated or uncontaminated animate sources or surfaces such as a hand, is decontaminated by this invention preventing further fomite spread wherein the treatment surfaces to be advantageously decontaminated are selected from, but not limited to, the group consisting of frequently touched clinical or non-clinical fomite surfaces such as a door knob, a light switch, , an elevator touch pad, an escalator rail, whereby light source(s) are attached and/or designed and manufactured to be embedded, woven or encased into the device surface or into a covering for it, to achieve safe near field germicidal irradiation of such surfaces where distribution or focus of said wavelengths may be accomplished with special optical filters such as prisms, or also may be accomplished with optical fibers, light tubes, light guides which may be attached, embedded or woven into such surface coverings or casings where the end of the fiber functions as a light source or various openings or diffusers distribute wavelengths to intended targets at a near field distance to the target surface, applicants invention uniquely designed to invoke the advantage of the inverse square law of physics in regard to optimizing the strength, speed and efficacy of radiant density for germicidal inactivation, and not only decontaminates the inanimate fomite surface it is attached to but because of the specific wavelengths used, such as far UV-C, is safe and effective to decontaminate the animate source of infection such as a hand when it touches the surface of the fomite as well, in some cases such devices may be pressure, temperature or motion activated or sensitive so as to only activate when touched, thus limiting unnecessary ambient exposure and reducing impact on the environmental microbiome

In still yet another aspect we provide the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or therapeutic appliance as above described, wherein the appliances are selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, a respiratory assist device such as an infant incubator, baby basinet, oxygen tent, endotracheal tube, ventilator or CPAP device, or other potentially contaminated medical appliances such as endoscopes or bronchoscopes, where safe, antimicrobial photon sources such as far UV-C LEDs may be optically filtered such as with prisms, to achieve specific wavelengths or optionally dispersed or focused with such filters, and/or dispersed using optical fibers as previous claims have described in a near field configuration to not only disinfect the apparatus while it is in use, but also may be focused or moved to target infection reservoirs of the patient using it in order to reduce infectious pathogen burden and expedite infection eradication.

In yet another aspect we provide the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or therapeutic appliance as above described, wherein the appliance is selected from, but not limited to, the groups consisting of body surface coverings including immobilization coverings or wound protectors for hand, arm, leg, foot, torso wrap or whole body suit or various portions of these areas with such materials that are translucent to antimicrobial arrays on a treatment surface and such as silicon or plastics and may include any combination of features or materials including but not limited to: breathable, stretchable, inflatable, washable, absorbent, occlusive where such covering contains or houses or suspends or incorporates one or more or an array of antimicrobial photon sources, which may be filtered or attenuated in order to provide exclusively safe antimicrobial light such as far UV-C light, which may use specialized optical filters such as prisms to focus or disperse antimicrobial light, and/or may use optical fibers to disperse or filter light and designed to irradiate animate (i.c. skin) and inanimate (i.c. PPE, clothing, wraps or bandages) surface infection targets in a near field location (<100 cm, preferably <10 cm) and may be embedded, encased, integrated and housed in various ways in order to be attached to any treatment area in a near field location with any generally used methods such as Velcro, elastic bands, ties or self-adhesives, for human use or all such items have similar functionality for veterinary use such as a protective veterinary face mask or open or closed, protective cone that surrounds the area of a veterinary patients breathing chamber, or the use of ambulatory, near field safe antimicrobial wavelengths to simultaneously, and in an ambulatory setting to decontaminate animate or inanimate veterinary surfaces such as a pet or their protective skin coverings or beds.

In still yet another aspect, we provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or therapeutic appliance as above described, used to reduce or eliminate pathogen burden in infectious reservoirs in order to contain, reduce or eliminate infection and alone or in combination with other healing wavelengths such as red light, promote healing , all as part of a comprehensive infection control process.

We also provide a method for filtering and attenuating or focusing or dispersing safe antimicrobial wavelengths from photon sources including but not limited to neon, LED semiconductor, fluorescent, incandescent and the full range of UV wavelengths filtered to produce far UV-C light wavelengths (200-230 nm) which are safe for skin and ocular exposure, and/or light emitters for any UV or non UV safe antimicrobial wavelengths which may be identified which are safe for skin and ocular exposure , such optical filters to be constructed of various materials or combinations of materials to include man- made or rare earth or similar naturally occurring or crystalline materials, by configuring such optical filters which may be prisms to act as len(s) to attenuate and filter waves outside the desired wavelength in order to radiate for example exclusively far UV-C light, or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths and further using such filters as prisms to directionally angulate and focus or disperse radiant beams for a particular target or to create a larger zone of irradiance for a larger treatment zone such as one side or area of a surgical or hospital gown or other PPE or larger device surfaces, maintaining near field distance from the photon source to the target surface to maintain a more predictable, effective and efficient power density for germicidal light dosing over various target areas of PPE or medical devices etc.

In such method filters optionally may be applied to the ends of optical fibers, to further focus on or enlarge an area of near field safe antimicrobial wavelength distribution, too.

In yet another aspect, we provide a method of treating infectious pathogen on and in accessible locations or infectious reservoirs of an animal or human which comprises the near field application of safe, antimicrobial wavelengths from photon sources such as far UV-C LEDs or other UV or non UV wavelengths , comprised of emitting such wavelengths in continuous or pulsed, and/or automatic or programmable modes directed onto or into infectious reservoir area(s) of an animal or person to reduce pathogen burden and facilitate healing or eliminate infection and reduce acquisition or transmission of infectious pathogens as part of comprehensive infection control

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of some preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals depict like parts, and wherein:

FIGs. 1-2 are outer and inner views of face mask according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a face mask of FIGs. 1 and 2, and showing any light source manufactured, or attenuated or optically filtered to emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths such as, far UV-C light waves on the facial side of the mask according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of an enclosed face shield in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a face shield in accordance with another embodiment of our invention; and

FIGs. 8-34 are perspective views of still other embodiments of our invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be further understood by referring to the drawing figures. Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below. Although one embodiment of the invention is described in the context of a face mask, respirator or face shield, the inventive techniques described herein can be implemented as any face mask, respirator, face shield, or enclosed face shield including surgical masks or cloth masks and can also be applied to a broad swath of personal protective equipment, or medical devices or other fomite surfaces where two factor automatic or effortless decontamination of both animate and inanimate (fomite) surfaces may be simultaneously achieved providing a more comprehensive strategy for preventing acquisition and transmission of infectious pathogens. The application of far UV-C light or any safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength in an open face shield may offer effective nasopharyngeal protection if the light source is focused on or positioned adjacent to or within the nares, however, it would not provide the two-factor protection of a filtered and enclosed face shield where the air inside the face shield undergoes filtration and disinfection prior to entering the nares.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

As used herein safe antimicrobial wavelengths shall include far UV-C light which a subset of UV light waves identified to have no or minimal ability to impact the skin or eyes of a person exposed to it and non-toxic for human exposure in certain doses having a wavelength currently identified in the range of 200-230 nm (preferably 207-222 nm), and other wavelengths of visible light that are safe for direct skin and/or tissue exposure such as blue light of 400-470 nm wavelength. It is understood that other wavelengths such as non- UV wavelengths from the visible light spectrum have been or may be identified to have antimicrobial properties and also be safe and effective for direct skin, ocular or oropharyngeal exposure and be an effective photon source for this invention. Near field refers to the distance from the light source to the target in a range of 0-100cm, which is a determining factor for the dose of light to achieve decontamination, both animate and inanimate, to include but not limited to air, mouth cavity, nasal passages and mucosa, skin, clothing or other surfaces or spaces that contact skin or potentially contaminated surfaces (fomitcs) exposed to air and skin that may contaminate the oropharyngeal or respiratory or ocular areas or entry ways to infect a human or animal.

Moreover, the described features, structures, or characteristics of any part of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments even if not specifically described each time. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of any aspect or feature of the diagrams or of the appended claims and their equivalents. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention.

The present invention provides a face mask, respirator or face shield/enclosed face shield creating a respiratory chamber fitted with various embodiments of light sources manufactured or attenuated to emit exclusively safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths, such methodology is also provided to radiantly decontaminate a variety of PPE, personal use items or medical apparatus while in use to provide a unique two factor disinfection process for both animate (human or animal) and inanimate surfaces (fomite) in order to prevent acquisition and/or transmission of infectious pathogens , such methodology of which can be applied in an ambulatory setting to protect an uninfected user, such as a health care worker, and potentially treat or prevent infectious spread from an infected user, especially helpful for those who may be asymptomatic pathogen carriers, (possibly as much as 40% COVID- 19 infections) . Such devices when used may provide automatic, passive, continuous antimicrobial protection without conscious effort on the part of the user, making continuous protection more likely especially in the case of health care workers during a pandemic when attention may be focused on care giving rather than self-protection. In one preferred embodiment, far UV-C wavelengths can self-decontaminate PPE from a target pathogen and with appropriate dosing, reduce or safely eliminate microbes including viruses, algae, fungi, molds, yeasts, or other pathogens in the air, on the skin and inside the nose and mouth of the wearer by targeting far UV-C light directly to the respiratory chamber, skin, nasal passages, oropharynx and ocular area. In one aspect a respiratory face mask or face shield comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface; one or more or an array of light sources, or a single, multiple, or network of optical fibers to deliver such wavelengths in a near field location (<100 cm and preferably < 10 cm) where the light source is manufactured or attenuated and/or filtered to emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UV-C light (200-230 nm) into the interior of the face mask or face shield; optionally the same may be applied onto the exterior surface of the face mask or face shield and a switch preferably disposed on the external surface of the face mask or face shield. Activation of the switch activates the one or more or an array of light sources to emit safe antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UV-C photon sources. The invention further relates to a method of administering only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UV-C wavelengths in near field to the air and surface of the respiratory chamber, skin, nasal passages, and inside the mouth or toward the ocular area, since near field invokes the inverse square law of light intensity to efficiently reduce time to pathogen inactivation and effectively reduces the level of pathogens in order to reduce acquisition or transmission of infection, and furthermore onto the interior and exterior surfaces of a face mask or open or enclosed face shield to decontaminate these surfaces for continued use and reuse.

Light waves are affected by ambient altitude, therefore, an altitude sensor may be used to make filter adjustments to insure that the range of wavelengths in the mask, and respirator or shield remain in the intended far UV-C range or a range of effective safe antimicrobial wavelengths identified to be safe for skin, ocular or, in a preferred embodiment, also oropharyngeal exposure.

This invention may combine far UV-C and/or other safe antimicrobial wavelengths safe for skin and ocular exposure in an open or enclosed face shield or any face mask or respirator which allows a greater degree of anti-microbial protection in ambulatory use than any of the masks, respirators or face shields currently available and helps to overcome some of the limitations of this PPE by providing an additional mechanism for germicidal protection. Furthermore, intermittent targeted far UV-C and/ or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths inside masks, respirators or face shields or incorporated into other PPE may aid in reducing viral or other pathogen burden in reservoirs, including cutaneous locations when they occur. In the case of a clear face shield type respiratory chamber, maintaining a more social appearance for the user with improved breathing comfort may encourage their use in social settings outside the hospital or clinic while allowing the PPE to self- decontaminate against a particular pathogen making the device reusable and keeping it from becoming a fomitc for spread when used by or in the presence of infectious pathogens. A more social appearance encourages the public to take measures that reduce their risk for contracting illness in times of pandemic or elevated risk or transmission of symptomatic or asymptomatic disease. Face shield accessories for applicant’s invention overcome certain barriers to mask or shield use, which include improved communication; food, liquid or medication consumption; or ability to cough or address a runny nose while maintaining personal and ambient protection from respiratory contamination; such features provide previously unavailable functionality in PPE that are advantageous to healthcare personnel as well as the public at large.

FIGs. 1-3 illustrate a respiratory face mask 100 with a push button on the external side of the mask according to an embodiment of the invention. The respirator 100 comprises power source including a battery and circuit within a module 110 including photon sources manufactured or attenuated to emit exclusively far UV-C and or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths, and having an on-off switch (sealed push button switch) 111 on the external surface of the mask and flexible bands 120 that wrap around the back of the head to secure the face mask to the user. Module 110 may have a single or variable power modulator to allow a range of low dosing, for example but not limited to, 0.8-2.0 mJ/cm ² from the far UV-C light source such as LEDs which can destroy influenza, or at ~3 ml/cm ² /hr which has been determined to inactivate SARS-COV-2 within minutes. Other virus, or target pathogens will require specific dosing adjustments depending on the safe antimicrobial wavelength(s). In a preferred embodiment, the far UV-C light waves or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths in the mask may be transmitted through an LED or other light source within a u-shaped ring or similar malleable attachment 126 with two or more detachable photon light sources, such photon sources may be delivered via optical fibers and may include neon, fluorescent, incandescent tubes or light emitting diodes (LEDs), emitting only far UV-C or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths attached, embedded or encased to a wand or stylus 128, allowing the directional use of the safe antimicrobial wavelengths to be filtered and directed or focused into nasal or oropharyngeal passages where the viral or other pathogenic particle reservoirs reside. The u- shaped or other shaped safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength emitting ring can be built in to a mask or shield, or attached by a clip to a pre-existing mask or respirator or directly attached to the nares in a near field to target surfaces. The face mask, respirator or face shield also includes one or a plurality of light sources, the latter may be delivered via one or more or a network of optical fibers and the light sources may be manufactured or attenuated and/or filtered to emit exclusively far UV-C light or may use an alternate or additional light source that emits other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths 140 onto the facial and intemal/extemal surfaces of the face mask or respirator, alternatively or additionally lenses may be used to focus or disperse the light into nasal or oro-pharyngeal passages, masks or shields may also incorporate strategic use of light reflective surfaces to achieve comprehensive animate and inanimate antimicrobial surface irradiance. During use, the wearer also may periodically open their mouth while antimicrobial light is being transmitted to expose potential reservoirs of virus or a target pathogen to reduce viral or other pathogen load and deactivate target pathogens if present, based on specific dosing, or as prophylaxis against asymptomatic infection. The mask may further be selfdecontaminating, by providing one or a plurality of light sources 129 or network of optical fibers shown in phantom at 140 emitting safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths configured to direct such light onto the face of the wearer and also onto an exterior 130 of the face mask in order to decontaminate all surfaces of the mask against a target pathogen. Thus, the far UV-C light may be used to decontaminate both the mask, the skin and nasal and oral surfaces of the wearer, and also the air entering and leaving the mask. The mask may further comprise a skirt 132 around the edges and a nose clip 134 to form fit to the user’s face.

FIG. 3 is a side a view of the face mask 100 of FIGs. 1 and 2 and shows an example of antimicrobial light beams 140 paths.

Multispectral sensors can be used in the face shield to adjust wavelengths according to skin pigment and altitude variations to insure they are the desired safe antimicrobial wavelength.

Referring to FIGs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a face shield 400 in accordance with another embodiment the present invention. Face shield 400 comprises curved brow section 402 configured to substantially conform with a wearer’s forehead, and a lower face section 404 configured to cover the nose and mouth of the wearer. In order to increase comfort to the wearer, the brow section 402 and the lower face section 404 are padded with a soft deformable occlusive padding 406 allowing a shelf to hold the face shield a specified distance away from the face and skin in order to create a respiratory chamber, and to allow adequate space for ventilatory apertures, and air filtration. A pair of adjustable head straps, or other apparatus 408, 410 are provided for holding the face shield 400 to the head of the wearer. Alternatively, the face shield 400 may be configured to be attached to a helmet, cap or hat or other head covering or secured by clear head bands or head harness or bands like the stems of reading or safety glasses.

Face shield 400 is formed of a transparent plastic or other transparent material, and includes a battery powered module 412 similar to module 110 discussed above, powering one or more safe and effective antimicrobial light sources such as far UV-C wavelengths directed into the interior, and optionally onto the exterior of the face shield. In a preferred embodiment light sources 422 (see FIG. 6) are mounted adjacent the top of the head shield, and directed downwardly to flood the interior of the face shield with antimicrobial light. The light source can be stationary and fitted with specialized optical filters such as prism filters or made directionally mobile to expand its area of radiance. Various optical lenses which may be configured as special prisms may be used to direct or focus safe antimicrobial wavelengths toward desired targets. Strategic use of reflective surfaces or materials can enhance distribution of light beams. Alternatively, single, multiple or a network of optical fibers attached or embedded into the device can deliver and distribute safe antimicrobial wavelengths from the LED or other light source to a near field location at the end of the optical fiber (adjusted light source location) to animate (skin etc.) or inanimate (mask or shield) surface targets. Furthermore, air inlet fenestrations surrounding the face shield may be further enhanced with HEPA or other antimicrobial type filtration attachments or with activated charcoal filters. A one-way exhaust valve 424 on the shield will be situated below the mouth, in front of the chin, to aid in removal of exhaled CO2.

Referring particularly to FIGs. 6-8 in certain preferred embodiments, the face shield is enclosed and includes a detachable and removable/exchangeable section 440 which optionally may contain various accessories such as a manipulatable sneeze/cough guard, or rhinorrhea absorbent tissue role. Referring in particular to FIGs. 7 and 8, the removable/changeable section 440 may contain a one-way valve or other type of airtight drinking port 442 allowing insertion of a straw or other apparatus for liquid consumption, or insertion of a feeding tube for liquid nutrition while maintaining the safety of the respiratory chamber, and without need to remove the remaining personal protective elements. Removable section 440 may be mechanically attachable/detachable using, for example, fittings 450, or in a preferred embodiment, may be magnetically attachable to the face shield preferably using rare earth magnets 460 (see FIG. 9) and/or snap on type clips. Employing magnets has an advantage in that the magnetic field also may attract certain viruses which are polar. Also, radiating safe antimicrobial wavelength beams 462 may be aimed along the attachment seam and/or towards the nasal and/or oropharyngeal areas of the wearer. Additionally, a resiliently deformable self-sealing port 464 may be provided to permit flow of pressurized air or oxygen into the face shield to enhance inspired oxygen content for the wearer if this is deemed necessary or advantageous. Furthermore, optional slightly pressurized air in the respiratory chamber can provide a barrier to air entry when opening an aperture for food or medication.

Further, an array of light sources 480, to include distribution of wavelengths via encased and/or embedded and/or woven optical fibers manufactured or attenuated to emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UV-C light may be located around the removable lower section for activation when the lower section is removed and exposure to external unfiltered air occurs. Again, slightly pressurized air during removal or exchange can limit the entry of unfiltered air. As before, the far UV-C light may be used to decontaminate the shield, the skin and nasal and oral surfaces of the wearer, and the air entering and leaving the shield.

Also, if desired, a microphone/amplification/cell phone communication module 485 may be provided, along with auditory and amplification devices for close or distant communication, or to permit the wearer to listen to music, etc.

The face shield may include a removable stylus 490 which incorporates, embeds, or encases antimicrobial light sources where wavelengths may be distributed by a single, multiple or network of optical fibers which emit safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UV-C light, or where such light sources may be attachable to the exterior of the shield using magnetic or clip attachments. The face shield may also contain a mechanical attachment such as a bayonet fixture that can be used with other commercially available respirator filters.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only, and various changes may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, for example, varying the type of safe antimicrobial wavelength or using non-UV wavelengths in place of or in conjunction with far UV-C wavelengths. Additionally, the device may include optical lenses configured from prisms to focus and or direct light beams from the far UV-C light sources onto the nasal and/or oropharyngeal areas of the wearer or to disperse light for a broader painting of surfaces with antimicrobial light waves. Furthermore, reflective surfaces or coverings may be strategically used to assure the most efficient application and distribution of antimicrobial photon energy. And, additionally, optical fibers can be embedded, encased, woven or attached to distribute photon wavelengths from the photon source to a near field (<100 cm and preferably < 10 cm) location on a target surface. Also, a far UV-C or similar antimicrobial stylus may be configured to be aimed at specific therapeutic or potentially contaminated targets of the wearer and may have an optional multi spectral sensor to identify skin pigment variation and automatic atmospheric attenuation to modulate appropriate dosing adjustments between for example, 0.1 -3.0 mJ/cm ² or higher or lower depending on target pathogens and atmospheric conditions keeping in mind the equation for light dosing is: Dose (J/cm ² ) = Power Density ( mW/cm ² ) x time (sec) where power density varies according to distance of the target from the light source based on the inverse square law. A near field location results in higher doses of irradiance, and faster more efficient pathogen deactivation. Also, the face shield may include a removeable/exchangeable nose and mouth section to extend from the nasal area to below the mouth of the wearer, preferably removable using magnetic attachments (such as rare earth magnets) to accommodate optional accessories for variable functionality or environmental or therapeutic requirements. The mask or face shield also may include peripheral air fenestrations covered by HEPA or similar or other anti-microbial or decontaminant air filters to provide a two factor method of respiratory protection, especially when used in an enclosed face shield engineered with various features to offer the advantages of a clear visage of the wearer, improved communication, liquid or food consumption while improving respiratory protection of healthcare workers or various groups of the public such as teachers, or the general public during pandemic or other times. The mask or face shield also may include an airtight opening or aperture to allow passage of an endotracheal tube or other suctioning equipment. And, the face shield removeable section may include a mechanism for a cough/sneeze guard having, for example, an absorbable paddle, using a rocking mechanism which may be electrical or manual to move forward and backward. Or the removable section may contain a mechanism for rhinorrhea/nasal secretions absorption, for example, using a double roller for change of absorbable antimicrobial material (cloth or paper), which mechanism can be externally controlled as needed. Or the face shield removable section may contain a one way valve or air tight drinking port to admit a straw, feeding tube or other similar apparatus. Or the removable section may contain an aperture for food or medication consumption. Or the removable section may contain a microphone, amplifier, or other communication apparatus. The face shield removable section also may contain one or more bayonet style connectors for attachment of a variety of commercially available external devices such as long-lasting filtration devices. Also, if desired, the face shield may include ventilation ports along the top and sides of the face shield, which ventilator ports may include various types of anti-microbial air filters (e.g., HEPA, activated charcoal), and/or a one-way expiratory exhaust valve. And, the face shield may include a detachable section in the region of the nose and mouth exchangeable for various accessories, such attachment may be mechanically attached using water tight rubberized or plastic or other material to create occlusive connections and clips, or via magnetic attachments that may double as a viral attractant; such an attractant can be treated with anti-viral nanoparticles to de-activate any virus or sensitive pathogen or provide a target for safe antimicrobial wavelength deactivation.

Related ambulatory antimicrobial near field Respiratory disinfection protection for enclosed helmets

In a related embodiment to the antimicrobial disinfecting face mask/shield, single or multiple or an array of far UV-C wavelength emitters or emitters of other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths, stationary, moveable or configured with special optical filters such as prisms for target beam wavelength filtration, angulation or focus and/or incorporating wavelength distribution via optical fibers embedded, encased or woven into and may be incorporated into, for example, a helmet 500 (FIG. 10) for essentially the same purpose, advantages and features as the respiratory chamber, face shield with continuous, or intermittent or pulsatile light waves for use during space flight to control and decontaminate personal air space or the face and skin or oropharynx of the wearer to reduce or prevent acquisition or transmission of microbes, especially latent infections that have been reported to re-activate in space due to immune suppression reportedly caused by weightlessness, thus protecting users from exchange of infectious microbes between occupants of the space craft; similar type helmets may be used in confined air spaces such as submarines or submersible watercraft or aircraft and/or for use on or incorporated into head gear to maintain the wearers air purity, to reduce transmission of or pathogen burden of potential oropharyngeal latent pathogens if/when they emerge, or decontaminate hair or treat scalp or superficial head and neck infections as part of a comprehensive infection control strategy in space.

Ambulatory Disinfection of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) below the Neck

Also, while the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings have illustrated the invention in connection with personal protective equipment (PPE’s) in the form of face masks and face shields or helmets, germicidal wavelengths such as far UV-C can be utilized from a variety of photon sources such as neon, incandescent, and fluorescent tubes or light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other regular size or miniature photon sources including the full range of UV-C wavelengths manufactured or attenuated or optically filtered to emit only far UV-C wavelengths, or other photon sources that emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths in a near field or close proximity to a target, configured to incorporate or attach such germicidal light sources, or delivery and distribution of wavelengths from such light sources which may occur via single, multiple or a network of optical fibers, such wavelengths may be optically filtered, such filters may be prisms in order to direct the focus or beam to particular target areas, continuously or intermittent or pulsatile, automatic or manual or programmable some of which may be pressure, temperature or motion sensitive for activation in order to radiate safe antimicrobial wavelengths in very close proximity (near field of <100 cm, preferably < 10 cm) onto for example, contaminated various areas of skin such as extremities or Torso or an entire body in close near field contact of contaminated surfaces i.e., within about 20 cm, more preferably within about 10 cm, even more preferably within about 1cm and in some instances within a fraction of a millimeter to touching it, of a target to uniquely include and simultaneously treat both animate or inanimate surfaces in a variety of embodiments as follows:

• for advantageous use in manufactured or incorporated into for example as embedded, encased or otherwise suspended , woven, netting or enmeshed configurations, or with optical fibers which may be woven into fabrics or other materials in order to radiate safe antimicrobial wavelengths near field onto or into or as a protective covering for other PPE’s frequently worn, for example but not limited to, protective outerwear or attire for medical providers and first responders entirely or in part, such decontaminating outerwear or attachment may include, for example, a radiant apron or smock (FIGs. 11 and 11 A) that may open in front or back, and may cover exposed and high contamination risk areas such as the arms, torso, abdomen and upper legs with, for example, previously described configurations such as a web of or net like antimicrobial LED lights with beams dispersed upward to areas beneath a mask, or downward toward the legs and feet, or outward and back on itself to disinfect its own surface as well as the clothing or skin beneath it, configured to be manufactured preferably of translucent materials, preferably of light weight fabric such as nylon, or other materials such as silicon, plastic or similar water resistant material able to support one, or, multiple, or arrays or netlike configuration of photon sources, which may be miniature such as LEDs, or other types of photon sources as previously described, or which antimicrobial light source wavelengths may be distributed by being woven into fabric or other material such as with optical fibers, or may be suspended inside a malleable housing like clear bubble wrap in each case configured to be separated from underlying animate and inanimate surfaces at a specified near field location in order to provide consistent dosing to decontaminate surfaces continuously or during or after every exposure, while simultaneously decontaminating any exposed skin of the user and when combined with the previously described face mask can maintain continuous antimicrobial protection for an individual provider or user of said device. Other such examples are a medical providers protective outerwear or attire such as a white coat 520 (FIGs. 12A, 12B), 770 surgical scrubs (FIG. 13A) or hazardous material (hazmat) aka full bunny suits (FIG. 13B), or incorporation into gloves, sleeves, leggings, shoes and shoc/foot covers 540 (FIG. 14) or extremity coverings where in similar configuration safe antimicrobial wavelengths are activated continuously or intermittently, pulsed, or programmed for example on surgical hats 510 (FIG. 15), for hospital use to decontaminate the hat and to prevent animate surface contamination of the head or hair or in other embodiments for personal use may also potentially address local infections. An advantageous configuration of a partial germicidal PPE covering is a ‘pocket protector’ style antimicrobial, ambulatory, near field wavelength device (FIG. 12B) 522 which in one embodiment may be integrated into the PPE or in another embodiment attached in various described methods as an antimicrobial, ambulatory, near field pocket liner for example, fitted into as with one or multiple or an array of LEDs as in a net, or various configurations as has been previously described or woven into fabric or other materials as with optical fibers and in all instances such photon sources may be filtered with special optical filters such as prisms in order to focus or disperse wavelengths to advantageously decontaminate potentially contaminated targets, and may be configured to be motion and/or thermal and/or pressure sensitive configured to irradiate upward toward wrists and lower arms and inward when clipped in the pockets and inward and outward or at right angles using filters and/or reflective materials to irradiate itself and surrounding surfaces when clipped onto the outside of scrubs, white coats and health care providers (shown in phantom at 522), to decontaminate the pocket or near field surface, and or any instruments the provider may place there, and as effective and efficient simultaneous decontamination of hands/wrists such safe antimicrobial wavelength device located in the pockets of attire such as scrubs, or white coats or jackets or pants etc.; alternatively, the device is manufactured as a portable add on pocket/ liner to any clothing with pockets or attachable as an add on safe antimicrobial wavelength pocket, preferably bilaterally, to any waistband as a simple means to maintain hand decontamination . Many other configurations for partial or whole near field, ambulatory, safe antimicrobial wavelength, selfdecontaminating PPE can be contemplated.

Options for Beaming Wavelengths to maintain a Near Field Distance

As will be appreciated, a beam close to a target increases the power density while limiting the area of irradiation recognizing the value to maintaining a near field location for higher and documented shorter pathogen destruction time, conversely a need exists in certain cases to enlarge the radiant area or allow directional mobility of a smaller beam parallel to target surfaces to achieve antimicrobial irradiation of a larger area while maintaining near field proximity to the light source. Several configurations can be used to enlarge the area of irradiance for a given light source emitter of far UV-C or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength. For example, a malleable netting containing safe antimicrobial photon sources, for example, multiple far UV-C LED’s at prescribed intervals may be employed to support and configure the lights to maintain a specified distance which is then maintained in position using, for example, easily removeable and reusable adhesive spacers to hold the netting in position from, for example, an extremity surface area target, or an inflatable support or malleable surface similar to bubble wrap that suspends and/or secures the photon source(s) inside while it beams filtered or focused safe antimicrobial wavelengths on, for example, a leg ulcer or wound. Such photon source supports may allow a photon source to oscillate, rotate, move side to side or up and down within the supporting structure which can be secured in a parallel plane from the target surface to maintain a prescribed distance for predictable standardized dosing

Another configuration which may be used to enlarge an area of irradiance with various photon light sources for example, an array of LEDs in a ribbon configuration can be encased in a translucent and/or malleable casing such as nylon, silicon or plastic that allows, for example, extremity movement. Said array of LED ribbon lights can be moved up and down or side to side, or diagonally in parallel to a treated surface, thus expanding its area of coverage at a known distance. 750 (FIG. 16) In another embodiment LED lights may be disposed on a tiny turn table inside a protective casing that allows the turn table to rotate in a parallel plan to the treatment surface, expanding the radial area of radiant coverage while maintaining a specified distance from the surface (FIG. 17), or one or more tiny round tumtable(s) 740 embedded with one or preferably 2 or more lights, which rotate 180 degrees and parallel to the treatment plane can radially enlarge the treatment area.

However a preferred option that can obviate the need for a moving light source to enlarge treatment areas are the use of special optical filters such as may be specially designed prisms made from for example, rare earth (i.e. quartz) or other naturally occurring crystalline or manmade materials (i.e. Polycarbonate) which can angulate or focus radiated light beams from a far UV-C LED or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength photon source to a near field specified target or area of coverage. Alternately, optical fibers 765, 775 may be attached or integrated singly, multiples, or networked and/or enmeshed in fabric 760, 770 (FIG. 18) or other materials can effectively carry wavelengths for variable distances from a photon source to a location within near field of a target surface and can be woven or integrated or attached into various materials and can also be optically filtered with special filters such as prisms for focus, and/or angulation and/or dispersement.

Various embodiments of moveable or specially filtered or reflected, safe, near field antimicrobial wavelengths to enlarge treatment areas while delivering a predictable dose of antimicrobial energy can be conceived, for example, using far UV-C LED photon sources as an outer apron or smock layer which may be similar in configuration to net type LED Christmas tree lights (FIG. 19A), or in a tight or loose mesh of optical fibers (FIGs. 19B, 19C), or worn as photon sources suspended in a bubble wrap type fabric or material (FIGs. 19D, 19E, 19F) or integrated as a photon source array in rows which can be any shape, for example as in a single row rectangle or circle or vertical stacks or in such configurations as previously described, and other shapes as may be conceived to provide comprehensive irradiance for various surface shapes and sizes. Furthermore, while far UV-C germicidal irradiance or other antimicrobial photon sources as described in this application can work independently it should not be assumed to be incompatible with other non-antimicrobial, or non UV wavelengths that are therapeutic, and may be combined, for example, with near infrared or various redlight wavelengths to enhance wound healing in combination with wound decontamination from far UV-C or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths, as an advantageous combined healing approach to a comprehensive infection control strategy.

Furthermore, in any given embodiment of an safe antimicrobial wavelength device described herein manufactured and attenuated or optically filtered, the use of translucent constituents will facilitate the ability to radiate a target as well as for self-decontamination of all surfaces of such device making them continuously useable or reusable. Applicants further anticipate the strategic application of reflective surfaces and/or optical fibers to distribute light may also contribute to more efficient and effective germicidal light dispersion especially when irradiating irregular surface areas or spaces. Furthermore, near field activation of fewer light sources such as LED’s while utilizing configurations to radiate a larger area is advantageous as it allows for lower battery power usage.

Also, as shown in FIG. 20A, the light source is such as an LED with, for example, a full range of UV-C wavelengths fitted with an optical prism filter so as to emit only far UV- C light. An exemplary filter, as shown in FIG. 20B, where the light source could he an LED light source confirmed to emit only far UV-C light or could emit other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths, and a right-angle prism may be used to diffuse, disperse or spread the antimicrobial light in a near field location but over a larger or broader near field surface area to insure a prescribed dose of light or to beam the antimicrobial light back on itself to irradiate the surface beneath within a near field distance. Prisms can be combined to angle beams in various directions to specific areas felt to be at risk for contamination. Exemplary prism lenses that advantageously may be used to direct a far UV-C wavelength or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength or light beam from a source to achieve a more focused intensity or to broaden the area of coverage, or to beam the focus back onto itself at various angles are illustrated in FIGs. 20C to 201.

For a mask, PPE or other medical devices or apparatus containing space, disinfection may require movement of a light source either closer or further away when addressing surface irregularities which may be achieved with a retractable, moving or oscillating mechanism to move the light closer to a target (ex. nares) or further away in order to irradiate a variety of larger targets (ex. Face or breathing chamber).

Ambulatory Disinfection of Personal Use items or Personal contaminated Apparel while in use

Similar configuration for use on personal use items that function in or near potential pathogen reservoirs or high risk exposure areas pose an opportunity to improve disinfection for patients as well as reduce exposure to healthcare workers, by this invention, for example incorporation into dental appliances 560 (FIG. 21) to reduce pathogen burden in these areas or potentially treat oral/mouth/lips/gum infection such as periodontal disease, cold sores, yeast infections etc. as well as to avoid contamination for healthcare staff who may need to handle such objects.

Similar configuration for use on or incorporated into optical glasses or goggles 570 (FIG. 22) to reduce the risk of pathogen exposure, and if present, reduce or eliminate pathogen burden to ocular areas for a patient as well as to avoid fomite contamination when such items are used or handled by an infected patient and subsequently by healthcare personnel as part of a comprehensive infection control strategy targeting individual infection reservoirs. Similar configurations of safe antimicrobial wavelengths as previously described and for use on or woven into or incorporated into various materials such as translucent coverings or materials or the fabric of personal or intimate apparel 590 (FIG. 23) to potentially reduce the pathogen burden of cutaneous reservoirs as well as shedding ability of these areas to the apparel thereby reducing or eliminating the pathogen burden when present and improving the eradication of infection for an infected patient with infectious lesions in the area simultaneously reducing the risk of transmission of infectious pathogens to other fomite surfaces or to healthcare personnel who may otherwise be exposed to the apparel , or potentially reduce the risk of spreading certain STD’s by use of such device while reducing the risk of exposure for persons handling such articles after use as part of a comprehensive infection control strategy.

Ambulatory Disinfection of Potentially Contaminated Patient Comfort Items

Single or multiple or an array of far UV-C or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength light emitters stationary or moveable or optically filtered, which wavelengths may also be distributed via optical fibers, and which beams may via use of prism or other filters be focused and or broadly dispersed or angulated back behind themselves onto underlying surfaces to achieve larger areas of irradiance and decontaminate both overlying and underlying surfaces which may become contaminated during use by an infected patient, such wavelengths may be continuous, intermittent or pulsatile, automatic, manual and/or programmable and may be configured to be touch, pressure, temperature or motion sensitive to activate during use on or incorporation into pillows and cushions 530 (FIG. 24) or in furniture throws or covers (FIGs. 25A, 25B) , 531, 532)or for sheets and blankets or mattress (FIG. 26) in a hospital bed, where the latter may represent for example a thin air mattress type of configuration where safe antimicrobial wavelengths are advantageously simultaneously targeting a person or animal (animate source) while the patient comfort items are in use to maintain disinfection even in the presence of a symptomatic or asymptomatic infectious source, such photon sources may for example be suspended, enmeshed, woven, netted as part of a covering for or integrated into such personal comfort items and disinfection may be advantageously applied in other potentially infectious facility /location, or for personal/professional use in immune compromised settings (oncology or transplant wards) or wherever antimicrobial protection is desired as part of a comprehensive infection control strategy which may be combined with standard ambient strategics too.

In all instances safe antimicrobial wavelengths may be advantageously filtered to insure a safe wavelength, and may be focused or diffused or combined with reflective materials to address particular targets, and special optical filters such as prisms may actually divert a beam beneath itself to irradiate both the area above and below a particular photon source to achieve disinfection of an inanimate surface, and potentially an animate surface which lies above or below the photon source.

Ambulatory, Near Field Simultaneous Disinfection of Frequently touched surfaces and animate infectious source

Configuring devices manufactured to incorporate, embed, encase, suspend, weave or alternately attach such devices to various high risk surfaces as to emit only safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths such as far UV-C photon sources in a near field location and distributing wavelengths efficiently using various methods including optical fibers and specialized prism filters to focus or angulate beams, incorporating or embedding such light sources in a , casing, or covering or woven fabric or material incorporating optical fibers into for example a fitted attachment designed to achieve continuous or pulsed, manual or automatic or programmed irradiance to disinfect various contact surfaces when touched by an animate surface such as a hand, such surfaces may be door handles, door knobs, while the hand of an individual touches the handle, etc., (FIG. 27 A) where the photon source may be manufactured into the door knob, or attached with an outer casing (FIG. 27B), similarly the same configuration may be used to embed antimicrobial photon sources into a light switch (FIG. 27C) or elevator touch pad (FIG. 27E) or attach them via an added casing (FIG. 27D); a feature and advantage of applicants invention over prior art using broad band UV-C which must be used when people aren’t around or are out of reach of its irradiance, this invention doesn’t simply disinfect a contaminated fomite surface but also effectively disinfects the hand or various surfaces of an infectious source, and does so at the time they are touching the frequently touched surfaces reducing their ability to spread infection and possibly reducing their own infectious pathogen burden depending on the organism and dose of light applied to their pathogen reservoir. The use of photon sources in a near field location to create devices which target fomite pathogen exposure while reducing personal pathogen burden provides a unique and distinctive strategy for comprehensive disinfection alone or in addition to ambient approaches , enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of disinfection given that methods targeting general ambient spaces and surfaces often require longer exposure times where an infected person or hand that creates fomite contamination may not receive an adequate dose to achieve disinfection and thus allows them to continue to act as a potential fomite contaminant.

Ambulatory, Near Field Total Body Safe Antimicrobial Wavelength Disinfection followed by Mask/Face Shield

For disinfection of a person’s animate (skin, oropharynx, peri ocular areas) and inanimate surfaces (clothing, PPE) using far UV-C light sources or other safe antimicrobial wavelengths and/or making use of optical fibers in a net, web or mesh to distribute light from various germicidal light sources in a confinement area, using stationary or mobile arrays and sensors to automatically identify and map exposed surface locations and maintain a near field location between each antimicrobial light source and all surface targets for a specified dose period such confinement area may be a mobile or stationary stall or confined area, preferably with an antimicrobial lighted floor or base, incorporated with or having attached exclusively far UV-C photon sources or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength emitters 610 which optionally may be configured to move, e.g., up and down to scan a person within the stall (FIG. 28), or using a portable lamp or multiple arrays of photon sources (FIG. 29), to achieve personalized full surface decontamination of a person by adjusting the light source locations individually for subject size and personal surface contours, where such light sources are to be located, moved and beamed at a specified near field location (<100 cm, preferably < 10cm) with a specified dose of antimicrobial light to achieve disinfection before entry into a building such as a hospital, or room such as an intensive care unit, or an airport security scanner or airplane gangways or similar areas to disinfect a person or animal, or the person’s clothing and animate surfaces before the person (or animal) enters a room, clinic, hospital, airplane or a corridor or tunnel; alternatively such full body germicidal irradiation may be accomplished with a PPE type stand alone, step into full body suit configuration where such device has a head, torso , abdomen, pelvis, arms and legs and a front and back, or side to side configuration to sandwich a person or animal, such device made or configured with a malleable surface or comparable moveable arrays to contain, embed, encase, enmesh, suspend or create a net or mesh or weaving material or fabric incorporating the light source or arrays or distributing them via optical fiber networks, and be designed to allow the surface to be adjusted to conform to various shapes, contours, and sizes of persons or animals as part of a comprehensive infection control strategy, and more effectively maintaining protection against acquisition by an uninfected person or transmission by an infected person when combined with an antimicrobial face mask/shield. Ambulatory, Near Field, Simultaneous Disinfection of Medical Device/Apparatus and the Patient using it

Still other near field uses of far UV-C or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelengths for ambulatory germicidal use in a comprehensive infection control strategy are possible.

For example, near field, far UV-C light sources or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength light sources may safely be attached or incorporated as a single, multiple or array of lights, or distributed via optical fibers or optionally woven into a liner or encasement using antimicrobial light arrays or using optical fibers and filters or similar methods to achieve near field disbursement of safe antimicrobial wavelengths to disinfect or reduce microbial contamination of medical apparatus while it is being used by a patient, for example to disinfect an infant incubator while treating an infant with pneumonia, where such light sources may also be filtered to target the device as well as a patients infection reservoirs to reduce pathogen burden in an infected patient and the incubator 685, (FIG. 30), an additional benefit therefore accrues to healthcare staff reducing their risk of pathogen exposure. Such application to many other devices are contemplated, for example other respiratory assist devices such as endotracheal tubes and ventilators, CPAP machines, or combined with endoscopes or bronchoscopes are contemplated to simultaneously disinfect the device and reduce pathogen burden in a patient, as part of an overall pathogen control strategy in healthcare facilities.

Ambulatory Near Field Disinfection Devices for Food Service Handlers and Food Service Items

This invention seeks to reduce the risk of infection transmission that may be associated with food service in hospitals or similar or other venues by providing the same type of individual ambulatory disinfection for food service handlers and potential fomite surfaces specific to this sector as has been applied in PPE and personal use items. Near field, Far UV-C light sources or other safe and effective antimicrobial wavelength light sources can use special optical filters such as prisms to achieve wavelength accuracy, and can be integrated, embedded, encased or woven into various fabrics or materials or attached or beamed as single, multiple, or as an array and/or distributed via optical fibers which may be woven or attached to food service items to maintain a near field location (< 100 cm, preferably < 10 cm) to target a nearby animate surface such as a food handler in addition to the inanimate surfaces such as food service items food covers, plates, or even consumable items etc while they are handling them and, particularly when paired with an antimicrobial mask/shield may be used to safely protect and disinfect food service items while they are being handled, or readied for or delivered by reducing or eliminating risk of droplet, aerosol, or salivary splatter by use of an antimicrobial mask/shield (FIG. 6)then adding the advantage of antimicrobial light to PPE such as a smock or apron the latter with lighted pocket protectors and finally manufacturing or attaching near field, safe, antimicrobial photon sources to disinfect food sendee items while being handled such as food service covers and the hands that touch them (FIGs. 31 A, 3 IB, 31C) by all the previously described embodiments to include manufacturing, or integrating, embedding, encasing or attaching near field, safe antimicrobial photon sources or delivering such wavelengths as with enmeshing optical fibers over both external and internal surfaces, liners or coverings and will simultaneously radiate the food service item along with the hand(s) that touch it or similarly for food containers for room service or other consumable dietary delivery items in hospitals, clinics or the private sector while they are being readied for delivery or delivered. Such combined use of these ambulatory, safe for exposure, near field, antimicrobial wavelength devices provides a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of food service pathogen contamination both from the potentially infected food service handler (who may be asymptomatic) whose pathogen burden and ability to contaminate and create other fomite surfaces will be reduced as well as the food service item while it is in use both by the food handler and the food consumer, and when the consumer is an infectious source, such antimicrobial devices aid in protecting those who may handle potentially contaminated food service items after use by an infected person or animal. Safe Antimicrobial Wavelength, Near Field Disinfection for Veterinary patients, associated medical devices and surfaces

The same configurations of ambulatory, safe, antimicrobial wavelengths incorporated into various items as previously cited for use in humans can be manufactured or incorporated into or attached to various veterinary protective gear such as a head and nose cone apparatus FIG. 32A, or veterinary face mask or shield (FIG. 32B) that is open or closed, to reduce respiratory or other pathogen acquisition or transmission of pathogens in similar style and fashion to the previously described face mask/shield for humans.

The same configurations for use in veterinary type PPE 720 for ambulatory, near field application of safe antimicrobial wavelengths to various animal body areas to decontaminate superficial areas of skin and reduce pathogen burden to aid in infection control or eradication, and promote healing while preventing the spread of an infectious pathogen to reduce the risk of acquisition and transmission from contaminated surfaces that would accrue without such coverings (FIG. 33).

The same configurations to deliver antimicrobial light in a near field location for common veterinary animate or inanimate surfaces such as muzzles, torso, back, extremities, tails, where these areas may have a surface treatment covering, as well as for veterinary pillows, sheets, throws, blankets, cushions, and beds, etc. (FIG. 34) while they are in use, and where antimicrobial light simultaneously disinfects both animate and inanimate surfaces, to protect an uninfected animal from possible fomite exposure to disease pathogens, or reduce pathogen burden in an infected animal to help control disease transmission, such safe antimicrobial wavelength applications may be activated by pressure, temperature or motion detection.

Pathogen deactivation by safe antimicrobial wavelengths occurs more rapidly and efficiently when photon sources are in near field location to surface targets and this feature is a constant and novel aspect of this invention. In contrast to ambient methods using broad based UV-C wavelengths which cannot be used directly on animate surfaces, or upper room UVGI methods, applicant’s invention advantageously provides unique two factor decontamination and two factor protection: the decontamination of an individual person or patient who may pose as an infection source as well as the simultaneous decontamination of a fomite surface while also reducing the pathogen burden of an infected person; and by reducing fomite surfaces reduces the opportunity to transmit infection to others thus simultaneously reducing the risk of acquisition of infection by an uninfected individual. Therefore, this invention may be used alone or in combination with ambient disinfection strategies for comprehensive antimicrobial protection in a clinical as well as non-clinical setting, the cornerstone of this strategy begins with the use of a near field, safe antimicrobial wavelength face mask/shield followed by application of this invention in a near field location to disinfect PPE and other medical and personal use devices while being used by medical personnel and /or patients for simultaneous disinfection of clinical or non-clinical fomite surfaces as well as to maintain safe food service. Furthermore, applicants’ invention has unique therapeutic utility as a non-pharmacologic method to reduce an individual’s pathogen burden (the far UV-C mask or face shield) and promote healing when, for example, applied to similar near field antimicrobial devices to provide body or extremity therapeutic coverings for human skin pathogens or comparable veterinary use.

While the invention has been described particularly with respect to disinfecting surfaces and spaces of viral (e.g. COVID- 19, Monkeypox) and bacterial loads, the invention also has germicidal application for pathogenic fungi, molds and yeast etc. and as such may serve as a therapeutic option to treat cutaneous or infected surfaces which lend themselves to light exposure, for example cold sores, bed sores, cutaneous fungus, or open wounds. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific infection control and pathogen reduction or elimination embodiments disclosed herein, but also to include the scope of the following claims and commensurate with these or similar types of accessories, devices or attachments or embodiments that can be conceived using this method of ambulatory, near field safe antimicrobial wavelength or combination wavelengths to prevent and treat various conditions.