Self Sanitizing Bandage with Built-In Ultraviolet LED

Abstract

A bandage with a built in ultraviolet LED that sanitizes the bandage. In the preferred embodiment the LED and battery combination will have a designed lifetime based on the designated shelf life of the bandage. In the preferred embodiment the bandage would be disposed of after use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Self Sanitizing Bandage with Built-In Ultraviolet LED is intended to be a mass consumer product. The engineering of the bandage combines the fields of science of photobiology and optoelectronics with electrical circuit design.

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is known to be an effective method of killing a broad range of microbes. Wavelengths at or near 2537 Angstroms are uniquely destructive to microbes due to the fact that it corresponds to the structural resonance of DNA for microorganisms. In this bandage the source of the UVGI is an ultraviolet LED.

UVGI inactivates pathogens according to the standard decay equation S=EXP(−klt) where S represents the fraction of the original pathogen population that survives exposure time t, and l represents the UVGI intensity. The rate constant k has been determined experimentally for a number of bacteria, viruses and spores, at different power levels.

In the case of the bandage the time t and the desired S would be determined by the efficacy requirement for marketing the product.

The optical radiation emitted by the LED is strongly correlated to the electrical current. And the electrical current correlates to the lifetime of the battery which powers it according to the equation

life(hours)=(ampere−hour rating)/(amperes drawn).

Design criteria for the circuit involve determination of current requirements to reach desired UVGI intensity that meet efficacy requirements. Commercial availability and cost of the battery and LED are also considerations in the final selection of the components.

Continuous advancement in LED and battery technology are working to increase the efficacy and decrease the cost of this product ensuring its commercial viability.

REFERENCES

• 1. Penn State Department of Architectural Engineering (2006). “Ultraviolet Irradiation”. Web.
• 2. Labsphere.com (2006). “The Radiometry of Light Emitting Diodes”. Web.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows front view of bandage

FIG. 2 shows side cutout view of bandage

FIG. 3 shows back view of bandage

FIG. 4 shows the electrical schematic

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 10 Ultraviolet LED
• 11 Battery

Claims

1. A bandage with one or more built-in ultraviolet LED's and a DC power source.

2. The bandage in claim 1 is an adhesive bandage.

3. The DC power source in claim 1 is permanently embedded in the bandage.

4. The DC power source in claim 1 is a replaceable battery.

5. The DC power source in claim 1 is a solar cell.

6. The LED or LED's in claim 1 stay on continuously.

7. The LED or LED's in claim 1 are controlled by a timer.

8. The LED or LED's in claim 1 are pulsed.

9. The light emitted by the LED or LED's in claim 1 propagate onto the wound directly.

10. The light emitted by the LED or LED's in claim 1 propagate onto the wound through a gauze.

11. The light emitted by the LED or LED's in claim 1 propagate onto the wound through a filter.

12. The light emitted by the LED or LED's in claim 1 propagate onto the wound through a translucent pane.

13. The light emitted by the LED or LED's in claim 1 is propagated through a mirror or plurality of mirrors.

14. The light emitted by the LED or LED's in claim 1 is not propagated onto the wound.

15. The LED and DC power source circuit in claim 1 utilizes a separate resistor component.

16. The LED and DC power source circuit in claim 1 does not utilize a separate resistor component.

17. The bandage in claim 1 is disposable.

18. The bandage in claim 1 is recyclable.