Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting a region through a bandage

US6730113B2 · kind B2 · utility

108Cited by
54References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 2002
Grant dateMay 4, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2005/0661
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting a region through a bandage. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method, comprising acts of determining the transmissivity of at least a portion of a bandage to ultraviolet light, and selecting an intensity of ultraviolet light to be applied through at least a portion of the bandage. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of sterilizing or disinfecting a region underneath a bandage on a patient. A further embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting a region of tissue of a patient. The apparatus comprises an ultraviolet light-emitting lamp and a bandage adapted to transmit at least some of the ultraviolet light emitted by the lamp. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a bandage, comprising an ultraviolet light-transmissive film, and a color-changing material coupled to the film to indicate an exposure of the film to ultraviolet light.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.