Method of sterilizing a tattooing solution through irradiation

Abstract

A method of sterilizing a tattooing solution through irradiation. Specifically, a tattooing solution such as an india ink solution is supplied and irradiated to facilitate sterilization. The radiation is, for example, gamma radiation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of sterilizing a tattooing solution comprising the steps of: 
 supplying an india ink tattooing solution; and    exposing the solution to radiation at a dosage and for a duration that sterilizes the tattooing solution.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the radiation is gamma radiation.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the supplying step further comprises the steps of: 
 supplying a tattooing material;  
 mixing the tattooing material with a second material to form a solution;  
 sonicating the solution; and  
 filtering the solution.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the radiation is gamma radiation.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the gamma radiation exposure is 20-40 kGy.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the duration of exposure is anywhere from 225 to 500 minutes.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the filtering step uses a 20 micron filter.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein sonicating step includes covering the mixture with a paraffin film.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the radiation is an electron beam.  
     
     
         10 . A method of sterilizing an india ink solution comprising the steps of: 
 supplying india ink;    mixing the india ink with a saline solution to form a diluted ink mixture;    covering the ink mixture with a paraffin film and sonicating the mixture;    filtering the mixture;    packaging the mixture into vials; and    exposing the vials containing the mixture to gamma radiation.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the mixing step forms a mixture using between 1:10 to 1:100 ratio of india ink to saline.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the mixing step forms a mixture using a 1:50 ratio of india ink to saline.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the filtering step uses a 20 micron filter.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the gamma radiation exposing step further comprises: 
 exposing the mixture to a radiation level of 20-40 kGy.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said exposure occurs for anywhere from 225 to 500 minutes.  
     
     
         16 . A sterile ink tattooing solution comprising: 
 an india ink and water solution, filtered and exposed to radiation at a dosage and duration that sterilizes the solution.    
     
     
         17 . A sterile ink tattooing solution comprising: 
 india ink tattooing solution exposed to radiation at a dosage and for a duration that sterilizes the tattooing solution.    
     
     
         18 . The tattooing solution of  claim 17 , wherein the tattooing solution is exposed to gamma radiation.  
     
     
         19 . The tattooing solution of  claim 18 , wherein the gamma radiation exposure is 20-40 kGy.  
     
     
         20 . The tattooing solution of  claim 18 , wherein the duration of exposure is anywhere from 225 to 500 minutes.  
     
     
         21 . The tattooing solution of  claim 17 , wherein the tattooing solution is exposed to an electron beam.  
     
     
         22 . The tattooing solution of  claim 17 , wherein tattooing solution comprises a ratio of about 1:10 to about 1:100 of india ink to saline.