Apparatus and Method for Uv Sterilization

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This invention provides an apparatus and method for ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, specifically designed for internal (intra-corporal) and external (on skin or wounds) use in humans and animals. The system utilizes specialized UV LEDs that emit UVC radiation at wavelengths below 235 nm, filtered to minimize tissue penetration and damage. The key innovation is targeted UV irradiation to decolonize multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria like MRSA and MRSE, while protecting healthy tissue by controlling the wavelength, intensity, and directionality of the UV light. The apparatus includes features like optical elements (lenses, lightpipes, fibers) and optional medical pads incorporating LED arrays for flexible and safe application.

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• Pre-surgical or surgical sterilization of skin and wounds to reduce infection risk, especially from MDR organisms like MRSA and MRSE.
• Decolonization of MDR bacteria in body cavities that are otherwise inaccessible to antiseptics, such as nasal passages, sinuses, throat, bladder, uterus, or intestine.
• Sterilization of chronic wounds where standard antiseptic treatments are ineffective or not tolerated.
• Intra-operative sterilization to reduce the chance of post-surgical infections (surgical site infections) during or between procedures.
• Veterinary applications for similar purposes on animal patients.
• Sterilization in difficult-to-access areas using minimally invasive optical fibers or lightpipes.

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• Targets harmful bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, that are often difficult to eliminate with conventional antiseptics or antibiotics.
• Minimizes risk to healthy tissues due to use of short UVC wavelengths (<235 nm) that are strongly absorbed in outer skin layers, reducing DNA damage and side effects.
• Enables sterilization of both external surfaces and internal cavities or wounds, including areas not easily reached by chemical disinfectants.
• Reduces dependence on antibiotics and chemical antiseptics, helping to address antimicrobial resistance issues.
• Flexible and adaptable design allows for different application geometries—patches for external use, lightpipes/fibers for internal use.
• Potential for rapid, localized disinfection in clinical settings, reducing infection rates and improving patient safety.
• Low thermal output compared to traditional UV lamps, minimizing discomfort and thermal injury to patients.
• Allows real-time monitoring of UV dose, improving treatment safety and efficacy.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for UV sterilization, more particularly for intra-corporeal in vivo UV sterilization on the human and animal body in the event of colonization with multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). An apparatus (100) according to the invention for UV sterilization comprises a light-emitting diode chip, LED chip (12), designed to emit radiation in the UVC spectral range, wherein the LED chip (12) together with its packaging (16) forms a light-emitting diode, LED (10); a spectral filter element (14), set up to restrict the radiation emitted by the LED chip (12) substantially to wavelengths below 235 nm; and an optical element (18) for the targeted emission of the radiation emitted by the LED (10). A method according to the invention for UV sterilization comprises the irradiation of a surface (O) to be decolonized, using an apparatus (100) according to the invention.