WO2022023783A1

WO2022023783A1 - Wearable sterilizing device

Info

Publication number: WO2022023783A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/000584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio GALOSI
Original assignee: Tarmesh Lda
Current assignee: Tarmesh Lda
Priority date: 2020-07-28
Filing date: 2020-07-28
Publication date: 2022-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-28

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sterilizing device (D) comprising a case (C) and wearing means (B), coupled to said case (C), to allow a user to wear the device (D), futher comprising an ultraviolet light emitting source (4), housed in said case (C) and operable to emit an ultraviolet radiation with an emission wavelength to kill germs, such as viruses or bacteria, on the skin of the user wearing the sterilizing device (D) by the wearing means (B).

Description

Wearable sterilizing device.

The present invention relates to a wearable sterilizing device.

Field of the invention

More specifically, the invention relates to a sterilizing device capable of killing infectious agent or germs on the skin of the human or animal body.

In the following the description will be addressed to a bracelet as wearable device, provided with the sterilizing system, capable to kill germs, such as viruses or bacteria. However, it is clear that the same description should not be considered limited to this specific use.

Background

As is well known, many ultraviolet light emitting devices to sterilize various microorganisms in air, in liquids, or lying on the surface of the objects are known and still available in the market.

In recent years, there have been proposed technologies for including light emitting diodes, such as LEDs, emitting UV light in the UV band, installed in sterilizers. For example, air cleaner using UV LEDs having a sterilization function are known, or UV sterilization washing machine, to which a LED unit is installed.

Typical UV sterilizers are embedded into specific electronic appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, humidifiers, vacuum cleaners, and the like.

Therefore, the UV sterilization may only be possible for the specific electronic and/or household appliances that include the UV sterilizers, and cannot be used for other electronic appliances.

One of the drawbacks of the known UV sterilizer devices is that they can be installed only in electronic devices having cumbersome sizes.

Scope of the invention

In light of the above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wearable sterilizing device having a small size, such that it can be weared by a person.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in particular a wearable sterilizing device capable of emitting UV light in order to kill infectious agent or germs.

Object of the invention

It is therefore specific object of the present invention a sterilizing device comprising a case and wearing means, coupled to said case, to allow a user to wear the device, wherein said device comprises an ultraviolet light emitting source, housed in said case and operable to emit an ultraviolet radiation with an emission wavelength to kill germs, such as viruses or bacteria, on the skin of the user wearing the sterilizing device by the wearing means.

Always according to the present invention, said sterilizing device may comprise a control logic unit, installed within said case and connected to said ultraviolet light emitting source, wherein said control logic unit is configured to set the emission wavelength of said ultraviolet light emitting source. Again according to the present invention, the emission wavelength may be comprised between 200 nm and 450 nm, preferably 222 nm.

Advantageously according to the present invention, said wearing means may comprise a band, so that the sterilizing device can be weared on the wrist of the user.

Furhter according to the present invention, said sterilizing device may comprise a power source, configured to supply a forward current up to 150 mA and a radiant power of 15 mW at 100 mA.

Again according to the present invention, said sterilizing device may comprise a plurality of sensors.

Always according to the present invention, said plurality of sensors may comprise an optical sensor, capable of generating a signal, corresponding to the users's heart rate - HR, and an accelerometer, configured to generate a signal, to determine the distance the user traveled while wearing said device.

Advantageously according to the present invention, said sterilizing device may be capable of sanitizing Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostrium difficile, the species of molds and yeasts are Candida albicans, Penichillium expansum, Aspergillus niger, the species of viruses are MS2 and Feline Calicivirus.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of the sterilizer wearable device, according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates the exploded view of Fig. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective lateral view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates the rear view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic view of the block diagram of the electronic components of the sterilizer wearable device, according to the invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates a scheme of an electronic circuit comprised in the device of Fig.l; and

Fig. 7 illustrates a further scheme of an electronic circuit comprised in the device of Fig.l.

Detailed description

In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers.

Referring to Figs from 1 to 5, a wearable sterilizing device is illustrated, which is indicated as a whole with the reference D.

The device D is accurate, comfortable to wear by a user for extended time periods, it allows to introduce data by the user, and to receive output data, mainly concerning the real-time health information of the user, depending on the operating mode, it is capable of emitting highly concentraded non visible ultraviolet light, to sterilize the user's skin within a range of 1- 2 meters. Said device D comprises a case C, in particular a waterproof ceramic case, a quartz window 5, and wearing means, such as a band B, preferably secured with VELCRO^® hook and loop material, in order to wear the device D on a user's wrist or arm for an extended time periods.

The device D is configured to connect with external terminals or devices, such as a computer, a server, a cloud based server or a smartphones, through a communication protocol. The communication protocol that the devices D uses can be Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Infrared or ultrasound.

Said device D is also equipped with a USB port U for connecting it to a computer, tablet, video monitor or mobile communication devices, such as smartphones and the like, and also for charging the batteries.

In particular, referring to figure 5, the device D comprises a power source 1, a plurality of sensors 2, a logic control unit or processor 3, an ultraviolet light emitting source 4, and a display unit 5.

Said power source 1 supplies a forward current up to 150 mA and a radiant power of 15 mW at 100 mA.

Said plurality of sensors 2 comprises an optical sensor 21, capable of generating a signal, corresponding to the users's heart rate - HR, during possible athletic activities, such as running or swimming or the like, in order to provide the user sufficient information about his own health. Said optical sensor 21 is preferably a LED.

Said plurality of sensors 2 further comprise an accelerometer 22, preferably a 3-axis acceletometer, configured to generate a signal, to determine the distance the user traveled while wearing the device D.

Said plurality of sensors 2 can further comprise other sensors capable to perfom other activities.

Said logic control unit or processor 3 is configured to receive the signals sent by said plurality of sensors 2 and to perform predefined functions, such as processing the signal received from said plurality of sensors 2, to generate the plurality of vital signals information for the user, which are displayed on said display unit 5.

Furthermore, the logic control unit 3 controls the emission of the ultraviolet light emitting source 4.

Said ultraviolet light emitting source can be a diode or UV-LED 4. The UV-LED 4 is installed on, or integrated in a chip, arranged within the case of the device D.

The ultraviolet light emitting source 4 is set to emit a wavelength from 200 nm to 450 nm. In particular, the UV wavelength set at 222 nm ensures a biocompatibility with the user body, and in general with the human and animal safe.

Said UV-LED 4 is powered by said power source 1 with a low-voltage direct-current power supply.

A UV radiation radiation with a wavelength of 222 nm is emitted by the UV-LED 4, so that it can kill the infectious agent. More specifically, the ultraviolet light polar is approximately spherical, with a radius ranging from 1 meter to 2 meter, so as to include the whole body of the user, when the bracelet on which the device D is weared by the user. The species of bacteria that can be sanitized by the UV-LED 4 are, in particular and among others, Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostrium difficile, the species of molds and yeasts are Candida albicans, Penichillium expansum, Aspergillus niger, the species of viruses are MS2 and Feline Calicivirus.

Said display unit 5 is configured to display the real-time values or data to the user. Said display unit 5 is preferably a liquid crystal display - LCD.

Said device D also comprises a member to control the input and output information displayed in said display unit 5, such as a button.

With reference to figures 6 and 7, two integrated electronic circuits embedded in said device D are shown which are capable to emit blu and red light, from a regulated voltage.

In particular, the circuit shown in figure 6 is capable to monitor the system-supply voltages for undervoltage and overvoltage faults, to low-dropout, micropower voltage references, in order to fix and to adjust the output voltage values, to amplificate the voltage values and to emit the blue or red light.

The ciruit shown in figure 7 is an alternative scheme of the circuit of figure 6.

Advantages

The sterilizer wearable device D, according to the present invention, allows to kill infectious agent or germs placed on the skin of the human body, in a range of 1-2 meters.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide the user sufficient information about his own health, while wearing the device D.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims

CLAIMS Wearable sterilizing device.

1. Sterilizing device (D) comprising a case (C) and wearing means (B), coupled to said case (C), to allow a user to wear the device (D), characterized in that it comprises an ultraviolet light emitting source (4), housed in said case (C) and operable to emit an ultraviolet radiation with an emission wavelength to kill germs, such as viruses or bacteria, on the skin of the user wearing the sterilizing device (D) by the wearing means (B).

2. Sterilizing device (D) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a control logic unit (3), installed within said case (C) and connected to said ultraviolet light emitting source (4), wherein said control logic unit (3) is configured to set the emission wavelength of said ultraviolet light emitting source (4).

3. Sterilizing device (D) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emission wavelength is comprised between 200 nm and 450 nm, preferably 222 nm.

4. Sterilizing device (D) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wearing means (B) comprises a band, so that the sterilizing device (D) can be weared on the wrist of the user.

5. Sterilizing device (D) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a power source (1), configured to supply a forward current up to 150 mA and a radiant power of 15 mW at 100 mA.

6. Sterilizing device (D) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of sensors (2).

7. Sterilizing device (D) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said plurality of sensors (2) comprises an optical sensor (21), capable of generating a signal, corresponding to the users's heart rate - HR, and an accelerometer (22), configured to generate a signal, to determine the distance the user traveled while wearing said device (D).

8. Sterilizing device (D) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is capable of sanitizing Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostrium difficile, the species of molds and yeasts are Candida albicans, Penichillium expansum, Aspergillus niger, the species of viruses are MS2 and Feline Calicivirus.