Decontamination of body surfaces and articles with harmless radiation and related methods

Abstract

A system and method that include using biophotonic and/or phononic systems for deactivating viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that may be present on people, their clothing, or other surfaces. Biophotonic refers to the use of photons in specific wavelengths of the FAR Ultraviolet C radiation and/or FAR Infrared C radiation to affect the interior structure and chemistry of bacteria and viruses to degrade them and render them harmless. The infrared radiation may also provide a phononic effect that degrades the physical conditions of the cell or virus sufficiently to disrupt the cellular machinery, deactivating the virus. Furthermore, a higher temperature Inside the UVIR system makes negligible the rate of propagation of the Virus. The system of the present invention is operable to use electromagnetic radiation to disinfect the exterior surfaces of living mammal animals without harming the animal's tissue, but still effective to degrade microbe and sanitize the exterior surfaces.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A germicidal irradiation system comprising a decontamination space wherein:
 a. at least one UV radiation emitter in a first predetermined position operable to emit radiation in a predetermined range of UV wavelengths that does not penetrate beyond the stratum corneum of human skin; and   b. at least one IR radiation emitter in a second predetermined position operable to emit IR radiation in a predetermined range of IR wavelengths, wherein exposure of human or animal tissue to said UV radiation and said IR radiation for a pre-determined period is operable to deactivate or kill pathogens without harming said human or animal tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined range of UV wavelengths is from about 170 nm to about 230 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined range of IR wavelengths is from about 3 μm to about 1 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said decontamination space is an enclosed space, such as a room or tunnel, operable to safely accommodate a human subject. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said decontamination space further comprises a controller in communication with an automated guidance system that includes at least one cueing mechanism utilized to guide said human subject through said decontamination space. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said controller is operable to perform a safety analysis based on electronic data provided by said automated guidance system, wherein said controller further comprises a safety breach protocol triggered when safety analysis detects a malfunction of said at least one UV radiation emitter, said at least one IR radiation emitter, said at least one image device, or at least one automatic door. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said decontamination space further comprises a series of irradiation stations each encompassing a plurality of UV radiation emitters arranged in a first pattern that irradiates all surface areas of said subject when present in said irradiation station. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of said series of irradiation stations encompasses a plurality of IR radiation emitters arranged in a second pattern that irradiates all surface areas of said subject when present in said irradiation station. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first predetermined range from said at least one predetermined range comprises wavelengths between 210 nm to 230 nm. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined range from said at least one predetermined range comprises wavelengths at 222 nm. 
     
     
         15 . A germicidal irradiation system comprising a series of irradiation station comprising:
 a plurality of electromagnetic radiation emitters arranged in predetermined locations to optimally irradiate at least one subject in a first predetermined range of UV wavelengths and a second predetermined range of IR wavelengths, wherein   exposure to said first predetermined range and said second predetermined range deactivates or kills pathogens without harming human or animal tissue.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said first predetermined range comprises wavelengths between 170 nm to 230 nm. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said second predetermined range comprises wavelengths within 3 μm to 1 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The system of claim  16 , further comprising a series of irradiation stations and at least one controller with an automated guidance system in communication with cueing mechanisms utilized to guide one or more said subjects through said series of irradiation stations. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for utilizing electromagnetic radiation to deactivate or kill pathogens on the surface of a subject without harming human or animal tissue, comprising exposing said human or animal tissue to a first range of electromagnetic radiation emitter in the UV spectrum, and a second range of electromagnetic radiation in the IR spectrum. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first range of electromagnetic radiation comprises wavelengths from 170 nm and 230 nm. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said second range of electromagnetic radiation comprises wavelengths from 3 μm to 1 mm. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said subject is guided through a plurality of irradiation stations in a series and a controller is used to control each irradiation station from said series of irradiation stations and electromagnetic radiation emitters therein. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said controller is operable of detecting an incoming said subject and provide automated guidance to said subject via cueing mechanisms. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said series of irradiation stations is operable to irradiate all surfaces of a human positioned in said at least one of said series of irradiation stations. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said series of irradiation station is operable to irradiate all surfaces of a human positioned in said at least one of said series of irradiation stations.