Patent ID: 6461568
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
A portable sterilizer for sterilizing an object comprising:a housing having walls defining a chamber within the housing for receiving a portion of the object; an ultraviolet light source disposed within the housing so that ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source may enter the chamber; a battery receiver configured to receive at least one battery; control electronics connected between the battery chamber and the ultraviolet light source that is configured to deliver at least one energy pulse to the ultraviolet light source so that the ultraviolet light source produces a flash of ultraviolet light; wherein the housing and at least a portion of the object form a seal to substantially contain the ultraviolet light; and a lockout device that disables operation of the light source unless the portion of the object has been placed within the chamber and the seal is substantially complete.