US 11,938,235 B2
Self-sanitizing structure for automatically neutralizing infectious agents on the structure's commonly touched surfaces
Wei Wu, Hockessin, DE (US); Gregory Scott Blackman, Media, PA (US); Barry D. Olson, Buffalo, NY (US); Timothy S. Wyant, Cheektowaga, NY (US); Fazel Zare Bidoky, Philadelphia, PA (US); and Michael R. Moseley, New Castle, DE (US)
Assigned to DuPont Electronics, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by DuPont Electronics, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/009,938.
Prior Publication US 2022/0062459 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. A61L 2/08 (2006.01); A61L 2/26 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 2/084 (2013.01) [A61L 2/26 (2013.01); A61L 2202/11 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A self-sanitizing structure comprising:
a body region having a contact surface that can be contacted by a person during an intended use of the self-sanitizing structure; and
an energy source configured to:
generate electromagnetic radiation; and
direct the electromagnetic radiation through the body region to the contact surface;
wherein the body region comprises a host composite material;
wherein scattering elements are formed in the host composite material;
wherein the body region is configured to scatter the electromagnetic radiation and pass the scattered electromagnetic radiation through the body region to the contact surface in a manner that maintains the scattered electromagnetic radiation that reaches the contact surface as sanitizing electromagnetic radiation; and
wherein the sanitizing electromagnetic radiation is electromagnetic radiation that is at or above a minimum irradiance level that neutralizes infectious agents.