Patent ID: 9615884
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61L

Claim:
1. An apparatus for creating an electromagnetic radiation barrier for a sterile site, whereby infectious agents are inhibited from entering the sterile site, the apparatus comprising: a housing defining an unobstructed passage configured to receive an object, the passage having a proximal inlet and a distal outlet; at least one emitter of electromagnetic radiation coupled to the housing, the at least one emitter being positioned to direct electromagnetic radiation into the passage defined by the housing and being configured to create an electromagnetic radiation barrier extending across the passage; the electromagnetic radiation barrier having a proximal extent, a distal extent, and a depth defined by the distance between the proximal extent and the distal extent, whereby an outer perimeter of the object does not intersect the electromagnetic radiation barrier when the entire object is proximal to the proximal inlet of the passage or distal to the distal outlet of the passage and intersects the electromagnetic radiation barrier when the object passes through the proximal inlet to the distal outlet; the electromagnetic radiation barrier creating a substantially void free intersection of electromagnetic radiation with the object perimeter corresponding to the depth of the electromagnetic radiation barrier as the object passes between the proximal inlet and distal outlet of the passage; wherein the at least one emitter is configured to generate a coherent barrier of electromagnetic radiation.