Antimicrobial housing for digital detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10405818-B2
Application number	US-201715492036-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2017
Priority date	Apr 21, 2016
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A digital radiography detector has a two dimensional array of photosensors, with control electronics electrically connected to the photosensors. A substantially rigid housing encloses the photosensors and the control electronics. A surface of the housing includes antimicrobial material to inhibit growth of pathogens.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radiography apparatus comprising:
electronic circuits; and
a substantially rigid housing enclosing the electronic circuits,
wherein the housing comprises antimicrobial material to inhibit growth of pathogens on a surface of the housing, and

wherein the antimicrobial material comprises an antimicrobial property that is activated by exposure to light.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a digital radiography detector having a two dimensional array of photo sensors,
wherein the electronic circuits comprise control electronics electrically connected to the photosensors, and
wherein the housing comprises a substantially rigid housing enclosing the photosensors and the control electronics.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the surface of the housing is an exterior surface of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, organosilanes, a resin, fluorocarbons, Gallium, Titanium Dioxide, and a superhydrophobic material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a coating.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a material having a micro pattern formed therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light comprises light having an ultraviolet wavelength.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises photocatalyst nanoparticles.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material is plasma vapor deposited.

10. A method of fabricating a digital radiography detector, the method comprising:
providing a core assembly having a scintillator and a two dimensional array of photosensors;
providing control electronics electrically connected to the photosensors;
forming a substantially rigid housing configured to enclose the core assembly and the control electronics; and
imparting an antimicrobial property onto the housing, including

implanting an antimicrobial material into the housing.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising patterning an antimicrobial texture on the antimicrobial layer.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising applying an antimicrobial material on the antimicrobial texture.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coating the housing with an antimicrobial material.

14. A mobile digital radiography system comprising:
a portable digital radiography detector comprising:
a two dimensional array of photosensors;
control electronics electrically connected to the photosensors; and
a substantially rigid housing enclosing the photosensors and the control electronics, a surface of the housing comprising a light-activated antimicrobial material to inhibit growth of pathogens; and

a mobile cart comprising:
an x-ray source; and
a light chamber sized to hold the digital radiography detector, the light chamber having a light source energizable to direct light onto the housing surface to enhance antimicrobial effectiveness of the light-activated antimicrobial material.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet light source.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the light source comprises an array of light emitting diodes.

Assignees

• Carestream Health Inc

Inventors

• Langley Robert J
• Maclaughlin Scott T

Classifications

• A61B6/4283

  characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette · CPC title

• A61B6/4423 Primary

  related to hygiene or sterilisation · CPC title

• A61B6/4405

  the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley · CPC title

• A61L2/088

  using photocatalysts or photosensitisers · CPC title