Patent Publication Number: US-11020506-B2

Title: Decontamination apparatus and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This disclosure relates generally to a system, apparatus, and method for decontaminating a plurality of surfaces, and optionally gathering information on ultraviolet energy at a variety of physical locations in a given environment and providing that information to a collection point for graphic display, analysis, and recording. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     High touch environmental surfaces in healthcare facilities are recognized as significant sources of pathogens. To avoid exposing patients in such environments to infectious organisms, medical personnel working therein are required to take precautionary measures to disinfect high touch surfaces. One such measure is to expose entire rooms, in which the high touch surfaces reside, to disinfection technologies that employ high doses of ultraviolet light in the C spectrum, UVC. These high doses may be from continuous or pulsed sources, but one challenge with these technologies is to ensure that substantially all surfaces are suitably exposed to the UVC to achieve the desired level of pathogen reduction. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for exposing surfaces in a room to a sufficient level of UVC light to achieve a predetermined level of pathogen reduction on the surfaces. Such a system and method can optionally utilize a plurality of relatively low-power UVC light sources that are automatically repositioned to expose to UVC light various surfaces that are originally shielded from the UVC light while the decontamination apparatus is positioned at a starting location within the room. 
     The method and apparatus can optionally utilize sensors that, in real time, detect and provide meaningful data on the intensity experienced at given points and to record these data for purposes of qualifying and improving the efficacy of disinfection efforts. Such a method and apparatus can capture a plurality of data points of UVC intensity, optionally simultaneously and/or concurrently, present the data in real time, record the data for future analysis, and improve the accuracy and quality of delivered disinfection technology for use in medical applications. 
     According to one aspect, the subject application involves a decontamination apparatus that includes a motorized base with a transport system that is operable to move the decontamination apparatus. A plurality of UVC bulbs that each emit UVC light are supported by the base. A controller stores a learned route to be traveled by the decontamination apparatus from a starting point to a destination during a decontamination process and controls operation of the transport system to move the decontamination apparatus along the learned route. 
     According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of capturing UVC data points for use in a medical application. The method includes detecting UVC levels at various locations with at least one sensor sensitive to UVC, each sensor having a communication capability to provide UVC intensity information to a central device. 
     According to another aspect, each UVC sensor is designed such that it may be battery powered. 
     According to another aspect, each UVC sensor is designed such that it may be temporarily affixed to a location where intensity measurement is desirable. 
     According to another aspect, each UVC sensor is designed such that it may be permanently affixed to a location that allows it to be powered from a wall outlet. 
     According to another aspect, each UVC sensor is designed such that it may only detect a specific band of energy. 
     According to another aspect, the subject application involves sensors that have a wide angle of sensitivity (e.g., at least X°) to input such that materially significant impinging UVC is measured even off the direct axis. 
     According to another aspect, the central data collection point is designed such that it is able to monitor multiple sensor input simultaneously. 
     According to another aspect, the central data collection point is designed such that it can collect data form the sensors through wireless communication. 
     According to another aspect, the central data collection point is designed such that it can report the collected data in various units of measure. 
     According to another aspect, the central data collection point is designed such that it can report data collected in real time. 
     According to another aspect, the central data collection point is designed such that it can be customized to include data uniquely identified to a specific sensor, room number, operator, etc. 
     According to another aspect, the subject application involves a method of capturing these UVC data points when used in a manufacturing application. The method includes multiple sensors sensitive to UVC with each sensor having a communication capability to provide UVC intensity information to a central device. 
     According to another aspect, the subject application involves a decontamination apparatus that includes a motorized base comprising a transport system that is operable to move the decontamination apparatus over a floor. A plurality of UVC bulbs, each configured to emit UVC light, are supported at an elevation vertically above the motorized base. A sensor detects a marking on the floor defining a desired route to be traveled by the motorized base during a decontamination process, and a controller controls operation of the transport system to move the motorized base supporting the plurality of UVC bulbs over the floor along the desired route defined by the marking. 
     The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a UVC sensor; 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of the sensor operation; 
         FIG. 3  shows a graphic representation of the central collection point display and representative data fields; 
         FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram graphically illustrating the connectivity and action between the sensors and the central collection point; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an autonomously-movable decontamination apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  shows a partially-cutaway view of a motorized base of the decontamination apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of a decontamination apparatus comprising a plurality of independently-adjustable UVC bulbs supported by a motorized base; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of one set of UVC bulbs shown in 
         FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a flow diagram schematically illustrating a method of performing a decontamination process; 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an autonomously-movable decontamination apparatus including a forward-mounted spool; 
         FIG. 11  shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a line sensor arranged to extend transversely across a cord on a floor; 
         FIG. 12  shows an alternate embodiment of a spool for collecting a cord; 
         FIG. 13  shows an embodiment of a housing enclosing a spool that collects a cord in a decontaminated state from an underlying floor; and 
         FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an autonomously-movable decontamination apparatus including a rearward-mounted spool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form. 
     It is also to be noted that the phrase “at least one of”, if used herein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example, the phrase “at least one of a first widget and a second widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, or the first widget and the second widget. Likewise, “at least one of a first widget, a second widget and a third widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, the third widget, the first widget and the second widget, the first widget and the third widget, the second widget and the third widget, or the first widget and the second widget and the third widget. 
     In order to disinfect surfaces in healthcare facilities (e.g., beds in patient rooms, tray tables, seats, etc.), high doses of UVC are provided from a source during an irradiation process. Currently, irradiation protocols must be tested to ensure that each part of the area is sufficiently disinfected. However, various layouts of rooms and shapes of furniture can make it difficult to expose each surface to be decontaminated to an adequate level of UVC to achieve the desired level of pathogen reduction. This often requires manually positioning a centrally-located, high-power UVC source at a desired location in the room, activating the UVC source to perform irradiation at one location, once irradiation is complete and the source deactivated, manually moving the source, and once again activating the source to irradiate again. This process is often repeated multiple times to ensure sufficient exposure of all surfaces to the UVC light, but is labor intensive and time consuming, rendering such protocols impractical. Thus, the present disclosure is directed to a system, apparatus, and method for sequentially exposing various different surfaces to UVC light, and optionally gathering information on ultraviolet energy at a variety of physical locations in a given environment and providing that information to a collection point for graphic display, analysis, and recording. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure pertains to UVC sensors that can optionally be positioned at various locations in a room with surfaces to be decontaminated to sense the level of exposure to UVC light. One example of a UVC sensor  1  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The UVC sensor  1  includes an optical sensor  2  that senses UVC light  3  and transmits a signal indicative of the intensity, power output, or other property of UVC light indicative of the sterilization effectiveness of that UVC light to which the sensor  2  is exposed. The optical sensor  2  can be positioned at any suitable location where it is expected to be exposed to the UVC light transmitted by a UVC source, or where it is necessary to determine the exposure of UVC light. In some embodiments, the UVC sensor can be sensitive to only a specific, narrow band of UVC frequencies. Furthermore, it is desirable that the UVC sensor is capable of sensing UVC light at large incidence angles such that the sensor does not need to be directly in line of site of the UVC source. 
     In some embodiments, hook and loop straps  3 , a magnetic mount  4 , the like, or some combination thereof may be provided in order to mount the UVC sensors  1  in a variety of locations and to a variety of objects. In various embodiments, the UVC sensors  1  may be temporarily mounted to test the efficacy of an irradiation protocol for a room layout. However, in other embodiments, it may be desirable to permanently mount the UVC sensors  1 . Depending on whether a UVC sensor is temporarily or permanently mounted, it may be desirable to have a removable, rechargeable, or wired power source such as a lithium ion battery. Further in this vein,  FIG. 1  indicates an on/off power switch and power LED indicator such that the UVC sensors can be turned on only during an irradiation process. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of the UVC sensor  1  operation. 
     According to the flow chart, a signal from the optical sensor  2  is passed to an opamp multiplier  5 . Next, the signal is converted to a digital signal by an analog to digital converter  6 , before the signal is multiplexed and transmitted by a transmitter  7 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 4 , multiple UVC sensors  1 A,  1 B,  1 C may work together to generate and report data related to UVC irradiation. In some embodiments, each UVC sensor  1 A,  1 B,  1 C may transmit, via a wireless communication channel  9  (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, etc.) data directly to a tablet  8  or similar personal computing device, which can generate a graphical representation of the collected data for convenient viewing by a clinician. However, in other embodiments, the UVC sensors may transmit data to a central collection point. In such an embodiment, the sensors may only transmit data to the central collection point in an industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. In this way, transmissions from the UVC sensors can be on the order of megahertz, thereby saving power consumption at the UVC sensor. In contrast, WiFi and Bluetooth technologies, which are often most compatible with personal computing devices, transmit in gigahertz bandwidths requiring additional power. The central collection point may then collect all of the data from the UVC sensors and forward it to a tablet or other computing device using WiFi or nearfield Bluetooth technologies. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of how the UVC sensor data may be displayed on a tablet or similar device. In this example, one section of the screen illustrates a bar graph  31  for illustrating the intensity of light measured at each UVC sensor. Each bar  34  on the bar graph  31  can represent a UVC sensor. The bars may change color (e.g., green to yellow to red) indicating whether the detected UVC is at an adequate level. In some embodiments, the bars  34  are customizable. For example, a first bar may represent a UVC sensor placed on a bed requiring one level of UVC irradiation. Another bar may represent a sensor placed on a wall across the room requiring a second level of UVC irradiation. Accordingly, the color coding of each bar may be specific to the required customized irradiation levels required. A table section  35  may indicate a current irradiation level for each sensor and/or an irradiation intensity accumulation over time (i.e., shown in Joules or Watts). Also shown is a pie chart section  35  for showing similar data. Of course, the above represents but a few examples of what data may be illustrated and how that data be illustrated, but does not represent a limiting embodiment. Other data collected by the UVC sensor may be displayed in various formats as known to those skilled in the art. The application for displaying the UVC sensor data may also comprise a settings screen (accessible by button  32 , but not otherwise shown). As discussed above, in many embodiments the application on the computing device interfaces with the UVC sensors and/or the central collection point using WiFi or Bluetooth technologies, but any communication technology is envisioned within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The embodiments described above utilize an array of sensors to detect the extent to which different regions of a room are exposed to UVC light emitted by a stationary decontamination apparatus. In addition to displaying data, it is also envisioned that the UVC sensors could be used to automatically control a motorized decontamination apparatus that travels to a plurality of different locations throughout the room. That is, for example, if one UVC sensor detects a less than adequate level of UVC to achieve a predetermined level of pathogen reduction specified by the user, it could transmit a singal that directs the decontamination apparatus to autonomously move in such a way that the location of the reporting UVC sensor receives additional irradiation. For example, the decontamination apparatus can travel along a straight-line path towards the requesting UVC sensor or along a programmed path as described herein to approach the requesting sensor. Other embodiments are also envisioned that use the UVC sensors as a safety mechanism during periods of irradiation. That is, for example, if a UVC sensor detects UVC at a time when no irradiation is supposed to be underway, it may be used to alert all individuals in the area of the potentially-hazardous condition. 
     According to alternate embodiments, the decontamination apparatus  10  can be mobile, autonomously transported to a plurality of different locations along a programmed route within a room by a motorized base  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , without feedback or other information from the UVC sensors influencing movement of the decontamination apparatus  10 . Transporting the decontamination apparatus  10  as described herein allows for the decontamination apparatus  10  to expose surfaces (e.g., chair  15  in  FIG. 5 ) to UVC light while the decontamination apparatus  10  is at one location, and such surfaces are shielded from the UVC light emitted by the decontamination apparatus  10  by a shroud  17  ( FIG. 8 ) provided adjacent to the UVC lights  14  at a first location (e.g., where the decontamination apparatus  10  is initially activated). For such embodiments, the velocity at which the decontamination apparatus  10  moves can be set slow enough to ensure all surfaces desired to be irradiated and rendered pathogen reduced along the way receive a dose of UVC light suitable to achieve at least a predetermined level of pathogen reduction. In this manner, the UVC light can be focused on the surfaces of interest, delivering an intense dose to achieve the desired level of pathogen reduction without necessarily requiring high-power UVC lights that broadcast UVC light indiscriminately within the room. Transporting the decontamination apparatus  10  to a plurality of different locations throughout the room allows for the UVC-emitting bulbs  14  to be positioned within close proximity (e.g., within five (5) feet, or optionally within four (4) feet, or optionally within three (3) feet, or optionally within two (2) feet, or optionally within one (1) foot) to the surfaces being decontaminated. Thus, a plurality of UVC-emitting bulbs  14  that are relatively low power (e.g., unable to achieve a desired level of pathogen reduction such as a 1 log 10  reduction on the surfaces in under ten (10) minutes when separated from the surfaces by at least three (3) feet), can be included as part of the decontamination apparatus  10  instead of a central, high-power UVC bulb that broadcasts UVC light from a single location within the room to achieve pathogen reduction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the decontamination apparatus  10  is not stationary, but mobile. The decontamination apparatus  10  includes at least one, and optionally a plurality of vertically-oriented and/or adjustable UVC-emitting bulbs  14  extending upwardly from the base  12 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the UVC bulbs  14  are supported, individually or in groups of two or more, adjacent to a distal end of a plurality of adjustable arms  19 . Each arm  19  includes a hinge  21  or other adjustable joint that allows the respective arm  19  to be articulated, adjustable in length or a combination thereof that allows the position and/or orientation of the UVC bulbs  14  to be adjusted. Each arm  19  can also optionally be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the segment extending vertically upward from the base  12 , in directions indicated generally by arrow  25 . 
     An electric cord  16  is configured to be plugged at one end into a conventional AC mains wall outlet supplied with electric energy from a public utility, for example, and is operatively connected to conduct electric energy from the outlet to a controller  18  (schematically shown in  FIG. 6 ) disposed within the base  12 . A plurality of wheels  20  are coupled to the underside of the base  12 , allowing the base  12 , and accordingly the Decontamination apparatus  10 , to be rolled along the surface of a floor. At least one, and optionally a plurality of the wheels  20  can optionally be pivotally coupled to the underside of the base  12  to allow the decontamination apparatus  10  to be rolled around corners and otherwise change directions of travel. At least one, and optionally a plurality of the wheels  20  can optionally be arranged in a fixed orientation relative to the base  12 , and be drive by a motor  22  as described below. At least one, and optionally a plurality of the other wheels  20  can be pivotally coupled to the base  12 . For such embodiments, one, but less then all of the motor-driven wheels can be operated at a speed different than at least one other motor-driven wheel, causing the pivotal wheel(s)  20  to turn, allowing the base  12  to turn and move in a variable direction. According to yet other embodiments, the wheels  20  can optionally be replaced by any suitable transportation devices such as one or a plurality of motor-driven tracks that include a belt that travels over a plurality of wheels, allowing the base  12  to be skid steered, for example. However, for the sake of brevity and clarity, the embodiments utilizing wheels  20  to transport the base  12  will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the decontamination apparatus  10  includes a plurality of (three) independently-positionable sources including one or a plurality of UVC bulbs  14  that each direct UVC light toward the surface(s) to be rendered pathogen reduced. The UVC bulbs  14  are said to be independently positionable in that the position of each can be adjusted and maintained relative to the other UVC bulb(s)  14 . Such a decontamination apparatus  10  can also optionally include an occupant sensor that determines whether the room  1  is occupied or not, and a controller  116  that interferes with emission of the UVC light if the room  1  is, or becomes occupied based on a signal from the occupant sensing system. 
     From the viewpoint illustrated in  FIG. 8  looking up into a pair of parallel bulbs  14  in the direction indicated by arrow  102  in  FIG. 7 , the bulb(s)  14  are coupled to a reflective shield  118  provided to an inward-facing surface of the shroud  17  that focuses the UVC light toward the surface(s)  15  being decontaminated. The bulb  14  and/or reflective shield  118  can be pivotally coupled to a distal end of an articulated arm  122  or other suitable support that allows the bulbs  14  and/or shield  118 , to be pivoted about a rotational axis in the directions indicated by arrow  121  and otherwise positioned in a suitable position relative to the surface to achieve the desired level of decontamination within a predetermined period of time (e.g., less than ten (10) minutes, less than eight (8) minutes, less than six (6) minutes, less than 4 (4) minutes, less than three (3) minutes, etc.), once activated. The parallel bulbs  14  provided with a common shield  118  are independently positionable relative to the bulb(s)  14  supported by the other arm(s)  122 . An example of such repositionable bulbs is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,095,633 to Dayton, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     According to the embodiment in  FIG. 7 , each arm  122  can include a portion including an adjustable length extending generally away from a base portion  125 , which can be facilitated by an external member  124  that telescopically receives an internal member  126 , or other suitable length adjustment mechanism (e.g, sliding track, etc. . . . ). A locking member  127  such as a spring-biased pin urged toward a locking position, detent, etc. . . . can be provided to one or both of the external and internal members  124 ,  126  to maintain a desired length of the arm  122 , once manually established. A hinge  128  or other connector suitable to allow angular adjustment of the arm  122  relative to the base  125  can be disposed between the base  125  and the arm  122 . A bendable joint  130  can also optionally be provided anywhere along the length of the arm  122 , such as adjacent to the distal end of the arm  122  where the bulb(s)  14  is/are supported. The joint  130  can be formed from a plastically-deformable flexible material that can be manually bent to position the bulb(s)  14 , yet be sufficiently rigid to maintain the position of the housing relative to the arm  122  once the bending force has been removed. Further, a hinge  132  can also optionally be positioned along the arm  122  before and/or after the joint  130  to allow further adjustment of the position of the bulb(s)  14  to achieve the desired coverage of the surface to be decontaminated with UVC light. As with any of the hinges described herein, the hinge(s)  132  can be selectively lockable, meaning a locking member such as a set screw, for example, can be loosened to allow the structures coupled to opposite sides of the hinge(s)  132  to be pivotally adjusted relative to each other. Once the desired adjustment has been completed, the set screw or other locking member can be tightened to interfere with further pivotal adjustment of the structures relative to each other. 
     The base  125  supports the arms  122  at a desired elevation above the floor of the room, and can optionally be mounted on an adjustable platform  137  that rotates about a vertical axis in directions generally indicated by arrow  129  in  FIG. 5 . The base  125  supports a controller  116  that can be manipulated by a user to control operation of the decontamination apparatus  10  (e.g., independently control operation of each bulb  14  to emit UVC light, optionally to cause one bulb  14  to remain energized longer than another one of the bulbs  14 ), and optionally houses an on-board power supply such as a rechargeable battery bank or circuitry for utilizing electricity from an AC mains source such as a wall outlet supplied by an electric utility that can be used to energize the bulbs  14  and power the controller  116 . A power cord  16  can be plugged into an AC mains electric outlet supplied by an electric power utility to obtain the electric energy needed to power the decontamination apparatus  10 . 
     Regardless of the embodiment of the decontamination apparatus  10 , at least one, and optionally each of the plurality of wheels  20  can be driven by an electric motor  22  to allow the decontamination apparatus  10  to travel autonomously, without the direct assistance of a human user while the decontamination apparatus  10  is underway. In other words, the decontamination apparatus  10  can navigate along a path in a plurality of different directions, between a plurality of waypoints, in a room being decontaminated to render that room pathogen reduced without being physically contacted by a human user to steer the decontamination apparatus  10  during the decontamination process, and optionally without receiving remote control signals being manually input in real-time by a human operator. 
     To be rendered “pathogen reduced”, at least a portion, optionally less than all, of a biologically-active present on the exposed surface of objects exposed to the UVC light emitted by the UVC bulb(s)  14  is deactivated. For instance, rendering objects in a room pathogen reduced does not necessarily require those objects to be made 100% sterile, free of any and all biologically-active organisms that can viably infect a human being. Instead, being rendered pathogen reduced requires a lower level of biologically-active contagions viable to cause an infection to remain on the surface of the objects after performance of the decontamination process herein than existed on those surfaces prior to performance of the decontamination process. Also, deactivation of the biologically-active contagions can include killing live contagions, or at least neutralizing their ability (e.g., rendering them no longer viable) to reproduce to an extent that results in an infection in a human exposed to the deactivated contagions. 
     According to other embodiments, decontaminated surfaces can be required to possess a lower level of viable or otherwise biologically-active contagions than a threshold quantity permitted under U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements on objects dedicated for use in a sterile field such as in an operating room during a surgical procedure. According to other embodiments, the decontamination process can be required to kill or otherwise deactivate at least 99% of all living or otherwise biologically-active contagions present on the exposed surfaces immediately prior to performance of the decontamination process to render those surfaces pathogen reduced. 
     According to yet other embodiments, achieving pathogen reduction amounting to a high-level disinfection of the surfaces in the room utilizing the decontamination apparatus  10  can involve deactivation of a suitable portion of the biologically-active contagions to achieve at least a 1 log 10  reduction of viable contagions on the object that remain infectious (i.e., no more than 1/10th of the biologically-active contagions originally present remain active or infectious at a time when the decontamination process is completed). According to yet other embodiments, achieving high-level disinfection of the surfaces utilizing the decontamination apparatus  10  can involve deactivation of a suitable portion of the biologically-active contagions to achieve at least a 3 log 10  reduction (i.e., 1/1,000th) of viable contagions originally present on the surfaces exposed to UVC light. According to yet other embodiments, achieving high-level disinfection of such surfaces can involve deactivation of a suitable portion of the biologically-active contagions to achieve at least a 5 log 10  reduction (i.e., 1/100,000th) of viable contagions thereon. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , an independently-controllable electric motor  22  is provided to each of the wheels  20 , however alternate embodiments can include a plurality of wheels  20  driven by a common electric motor  22  through the use of a drivetrain (not shown). Yet other embodiments can include a steering mechanism (not shown) for controlling a direction in which the decontamination apparatus  10  travels, that allows fewer than all of the wheels  20  to be driven by a motor. But for purposes of this disclosure, each of the wheels  20  is driven such that the direction in which the decontamination apparatus  10  travels can be controlled by selectively controlling operation of each of the motors  22  individually, at different speeds. Thus, when a first motor  22  is operated to drive its respective wheel at one speed, and a second motor  22  on an opposite side of the base  12  drives its respective wheel at a faster speed, then the decontamination apparatus  10  is caused to turn toward the slower-driven wheel  20 . 
     A schematic representation of the controller  18  is shown in  FIG. 6 . For the illustrated embodiment, the controller  18  includes a UVC control component  24  that selectively controls the delivery of electric energy supplied via the power cord  16  to the UVC-emitting bulb(s)  14 . The UVC control component  24  can include a timer that, upon expiration of a predetermined period of time, which can optionally be manually specified by a user, causes deactivation of the UVC-emitting bulb(s)  14 . 
     According to alternate embodiments, one or more of the UVC sensors described above can optionally communicate, in real-time with an optional communication component  26  provided to the controller  18  to limit the duration of a decontamination process during which the UVC-emitting bulb(s)  14  is/are activated. For example, a plurality of the UVC sensors can be arranged in a room that is to be decontaminated utilizing the decontamination apparatus  10 . The decontamination apparatus  10  can be placed in the same room and activated in a mode that maintains operation of the UVC bulb(s)  14  until all of the UVC sensors therein have been exposed to a threshold minimum level of UVC light emitted by the Decontamination apparatus  10 . Each UVC sensor measures the extent of UVC exposure and, in response to sensing exposure to the minimum level of UVC light, transmits a wireless signal to be received by the communication component  26 . Once all of the UVC sensors have transmitted such a signal indicating adequate exposure to UVC light for the decontamination process and the signals are received by the communication component  26 , the communication component  26  transmits a signal to the UVC control component  24  which, in turn, deactivates the UVC bulb(s)  14 . 
     Alternate embodiments of the communication component  26  can optionally receive signals that are used to control relocation of the decontamination apparatus  10  using the wheels  20 , as described below. For instance, the UVC sensors described above as being distributed throughout a room can optionally emit signals indicative of the level of UVC light to which those UVC sensors have been exposed. Such signals can be received by the communication component  26  and utilized by the communication component  26  to determine whether there are UVC sensors within the room that have not been exposed to a sufficient level of UVC light to achieve the desired level of decontamination within regions adjacent to the UVC sensors. Based, at least in part on such a determination, the decontamination apparatus  10  can remain within close proximity to the insufficiently-exposed UVC sensors until those sensors have been exposed to a suitable level of UVC light to achieve the desired level of decontamination before proceeding to a subsequent location. 
     According to alternate embodiments, the controller  18  can also include a drive control component  28  that controls operation of the electric motor(s)  22  driving the wheels  20  based on a plurality of waypoints stored by a computer-readable memory forming a portion of a memory component  30 . Each waypoint establishes a location within a room or other environment where the decontamination apparatus  10  is to arrive autonomously as part of its journey during a decontamination process. The waypoints can optionally be saved by the memory component to reflect a generic pattern common to a plurality of patient rooms within a hospital, guest rooms in a hotel, or other commonly-configured locations. Thus, the decontamination apparatus  10  can be placed at a starting point common to each such room, and optionally labeled in each such room, and activated in a decontamination mode that calls for the decontamination apparatus  10  to travel to each waypoint autonomously to complete the decontamination process. Once the decontamination process is complete in one such commonly-configured room, the decontamination apparatus  10  can be manually transported to the next commonly-configured room, placed at the starting point and reactivated in that mode to also decontaminate that room. This process can be repeated for each such commonly-configured room to be decontaminated. The memory component  30  can optionally store different waypoints for different room configurations, allowing an operator to press a button specific to a given room to cause the decontamination apparatus  10  to autonomously navigate the waypoints specific to the button that was pressed. 
     According to other embodiments, the decontamination apparatus  10  can be placed in a “learn” mode to allow an operator to manually enter the desired waypoints for a specific room into the memory component  30 . In use, as illustrated by the flow diagram of  FIG. 9 , the operator of the present embodiment can manually transport (e.g., push or otherwise directly control) the decontamination apparatus  10  to the starting point of a route to be navigated by the decontamination apparatus  10  to complete a decontamination process at step S 200 . Once at the starting point, the operator can cause the decontamination apparatus  10  to enter the learn mode at step S 210  via an appropriate user interface, and then manually move the Decontamination apparatus  10 , at step S 220 , along the route to be autonomously traveled by the decontamination apparatus  10  with the UVC-emitting bulb(s)  14  energized after the operator has left the room. The drive control  28  can include one or more sensors that can be used to sense signals indicative of a heading (e.g., angular pivoting of the wheels  20  to determine a direction relative to the starting point) and the distance traveled (e.g., a timer that determines the duration for which the motor  22  would be operational to travel between waypoints) until the final location is reached, as manually indicated by the operator. This navigation information can be recorded by the controller  18  at step S 230 . 
     Upon reaching the final location to which the decontamination apparatus  10  will travel as part of the decontamination process, the operator can identify this location by terminating the learn mode via an appropriate user interface at step S 240 . To conduct the decontamination process, the operator can manually return the decontamination apparatus  10  to the starting point at step S 250 , optionally arrange one or a plurality of UVC sensors throughout the room at desired locations to ensure a thorough decontamination, and initiate the decontamination process at step S 260  by selecting the learned navigation mode via an appropriate user interface. Following the expiration of a predetermined period of time sufficient to allow the operator to exit the room and close the door, the UVC control component  24  activates the UVC-emitting bulb(s)  14  at step S 270 . Once the desired level of decontamination has been achieved on the surfaces within the room exposed to the UVC light emitted by the UVC bulb(s)  14  with the decontamination apparatus  10  in the starting point, the drive control component  28  controls operation of the motor(s)  22  to move the decontamination apparatus  10  along the route learned in the learn mode at step S 280 . Again, movement of the decontamination apparatus  10  can optionally be influenced by, or independent from feedback from one or more of the UVC sensors in the room and received by the communication component  26 , by a timer (e.g., after remaining at the starting point for a predetermined period of time, move onward), and/or any other factor indicative of a level of decontamination of surfaces near the starting point. The decontamination apparatus  10  can utilize GPS navigational triangulation, a timer and directional sensor to activate the motor(s)  22  for known lengths of time in certain directions, and any other control factors during autonomous transportation of the decontamination apparatus  10  along the learned (or preprogrammed) route. The rate at which the decontamination apparatus  10  travels can be sufficient to achieve the desired level of decontamination as the decontamination apparatus  10  moves, and/or the decontamination apparatus  10  can stop at one, a plurality or all of the waypoints learned in the learn mode to achieve the desired level of decontamination of the exposed surfaces. Upon reaching the final destination for that learned route, the UVC bulbs are de-energized to complete the decontamination process. 
     Instead of returning the decontamination apparatus  10  to the start point where the learn mode was initiated at step S 210  to prepare the decontamination apparatus  10  to proceed along the learned route, the decontamination apparatus  10  can optionally remain at the final location where the learn mode was concluded at step S 240 . According to the present embodiment, the learned navigation mode can be activated while the decontamination apparatus  10  is at this location (i.e., without returning the decontamination apparatus  10  to where the learn mode was initiated), and the decontamination apparatus  10  will travel along the learned route in reverse. In other words, the decontamination apparatus  10  will begin operating in the learned navigation mode at step S 260 , the UVC bulbs will be energized at step S 270 , but the decontamination apparatus  10  travels backwards along the learned route from the final location where the learn mode was concluded at step S 240  toward the starting point where the learn mode was initiated at step S 210 . Thus, the need to manually return the decontamination apparatus  10  to the original starting point of the route can be avoided. 
     According to alternate embodiments, hospital rooms, hotel rooms, etc., can optionally be provided with one or more markings on the floor (e.g., a stripe of reflective material, dots of paint, etc. . . . ) that can be sensed by a sensor provided to the underside of the base  12 . The sensor can be operationally connected to communicate directional signals to the drive control component  28  to cause selective operation of the motor(s)  22  as appropriate to cause the decontamination apparatus  10  to follow the path defined by the markings on the floor. According to such embodiments, the markings can eliminate the need to pre-program waypoints into the memory component  30 , instead allowing the decontamination apparatus  10  to simply follow the markings along a desired path. 
     Yet another embodiment of the decontamination apparatus  10  is shown in  FIG. 10 . According to the present embodiment, the base  12  also includes a line sensor  141  that can sense colors, and transmit signals distinguishing between different colors that are sensed. The line sensor  141  can optionally be supported by a pivotal arm  144  to support the line sensor  141  a sufficient distance in front of the base  12  to allow the base  12  to follow the cord  16 , and optionally be pivoted about a pivot point  146  to an upright orientation relative to the base  12  when not in use. The electric cord  16  can include a flexible sheath that allows a portion of the cord  16  to be moved without disturbing another section of the cord  16  within at least two (2 ft.) feet of the portion that is moved. A spool  142  is operable to wind the cord  16  at approximately the same rate as the base  12  travels along a route following the cord  16 . Depending on factors such as the material used to form the sheathing of the cord  16 , the wire gauge of the electrical conductor within the cord  16 , and other such factors, the cord  16  can be plastically deformed to include a “kink,” “crimp” or other deformation of the cord&#39;s original linear shape. For embodiments where the base  12  is traveling along a route defined by the layout of the cord  16 , such deformations can cause the base  12  to travel in undesired directions reflecting the deformed shape of the cord  16 . In an effort to avoid, or at least mitigate formation of such deformations of the cord  16  to an extent that causes the base  12  to deviate laterally by more than at least two inches, or at least four inches, or at least six inches, or at least 8 inches, etc., from a desired straight line route defined by the cord  16 , the externally-exposed material enclosing the electrical conductor(s) can optionally be made of vinyl with suitable flexibility to be wound by a spool having a diameter of less than six (6 in.) inches without plastically deforming at room temperature. According to alternate embodiments, the vinyl sheath of the cord  16  can be suitably flexibility to be wound by a spool having a diameter of less than five (5 in.) inches, or less than five (4 in.) inches without plastically deforming at room temperature to an extent that prevents the cord  16  from being deployed to define a substantially straight portion of a route along which the base  12  is to travel while following the cord  16 . Although the spool  142  is shown in  FIG. 10  as being arranged at the front of the motorized base  12  (i.e., forward of the motorized base  12  traveling along the cord  16 ), an alternate embodiment of the spool&#39;s location is shown in  FIG. 14 . According to that embodiment, the spool  142  is arranged at the rear of the motorized base  12  (i.e., behind the motorized base  12  traveling along the cord  16 ) to collect segments of the cord  16  after the motorized base  12  has traveled over those segments. It is believed that mounting the spool  142  at the rear of the motorized base  12  will cause less movement of the segment of the cord  16  arranged on the floor near the line sensor  141  as the spool  142  collects the cord  16 . 
     The cord  16  can also optionally include an electrical conductor of suitable gauge to supply the electric current required to energize the UVC bulbs  14  and the motors and/or controllers to transport the base  12  along the cord  16 , yet not be of such a low gauge (i.e., large diameter) that interferes with arrangement of the cord  16  on the floor  145  ( FIG. 5 ). For example, the cord  16  can include a stranded set of wires or other suitable electrically-conductive material as low as 14 gauge, or as low as 16 gauge, or as low as 18 gauge, etc., without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     According to alternate embodiments, the spool  142  about which the cord  16  is to be wound when collected can optionally have a suitably large diameter to avoid forming kinks or other plastic deformation of the cord  16  as a result of prolonged storage at room temperature. Such a spool  142  can be used with or without the flexible cord that resists plastic deformation described above, and can be configured to collect and store cords  16  having lengths of at least twenty five (25 ft.) feet, and optionally at least thirty five (55 ft.) feet, at least fifty (50 ft.) feet, or optionally up to one hundred (100 ft.) feet. For example, the spool  142  about which the cord  16  is to be wound can optionally have a round cross-sectional shape, and be at least one (1 ft.) foot in diameter, or at least six (6 in.) inches in diameter, or at least three (3 in.) inches in diameter. According to alternate embodiments, the spool  142  can include a plurality of round hubs  147  ( FIG. 12 ) about which a belt  149  can extend to form a generally-oval shaped spool  142  about which the cord  16  is to be wound. Any desired configuration of the spool  142  that avoids plastic deformation of the cord  16  when deployed as described below to define the route can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The winding rate of the spool  142  can be variable based on the speed of the motor-driven wheel(s)  20 , as determined based on a signal from the drive control  28  shown in  FIG. 7 , based on a sensed rate of travel based on a signal from the line sensor  141 , based on a calculated rate at which the base  12  is traveling from GPS signals, or based on any other sensed or calculated value indicative of the rate at which the base  12  is moving along the cord  16 . The rate at which the base  12  is turning or changing direction as determined based on the sensed layout of the cord  16  can also be factored into the rate at which the spool  142  is rotated to pick up the cord  16 . For example, the base  12  can be configured to travel at a rate along the cord  16  that ensures exposure of the surfaces being exposed to, and decontaminated by the UVC light emitted by the UVC bulbs  14  receives a suitably dose of UVC light to achieve the desired level of pathogen reduction. Specific examples of the rates the base  12  can travel along the cord  16  include rates that ensure the specific surfaces being decontaminated are exposed to a suitable intensity of UVC light for at least thirty (30 sec.) seconds, or at least sixty (60 sec) seconds, or at least ninety (90 sec.) seconds, etc. to achieve the desired level of pathogen reduction. 
     Regardless of the dimensions of the spool  142  and configuration of the cord  16 , the spool  142  can optionally include a housing  157  that substantially encloses at least one, and optionally a plurality of UVC bulbs  159 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , which emit(s) UVC light to decontaminate the cord  16  as it is being collected from the underlying floor  145  by the spool  142  as the base  12  travels along the length of the cord  16 . For the illustrated embodiment, the housing  157  defines an interior space  158  in which the spool  142  is pivotally mounted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (indicated generally by arrow  165 ) in the perspective of  FIG. 13  to collect the cord  16 , and in a clockwise direction in the perspective of  FIG. 13  to allow the cord  16  to be deployed from the spool  142 . The housing defines an aperture  167  through which the cord  16  enters the housing  157 , and a vestibule chamber  169  in which the one or more UVC bulbs  159  are disposed. According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the UVC bulbs  159  are arranged in the vestibule chamber  169  such that a portion of the housing  157  separates the UVC bulbs  159  from the underlying floor  145  to protect the UVC bulbs  159  against being impacted from below the base  12 . However, alternate embodiments can optionally include UVC bulbs  159  that are arranged at an elevation vertically beneath the interior space  158  to emit UVC light that impinges on the cord  16  as it is lifted from the floor  145  and wrapped around the spool  142 . These UVC bulbs  159  can be exposed to the floor  145  (e.g., unprotected by a portion of the housing  157  or other shield), or optionally shielded from below by a UVC transparent material that allows the UVC light from the UVC bulbs  159  to impinge on the floor  145  as the base  12  travels along the route defined by the cord  16  or along the route as learned or otherwise established elsewhere herein during a decontamination process. According to such alternate embodiments, the UVC light emitted by the UVC bulbs  159  can also optionally achieve the desired level of pathogen reduction on the floor  145  as the base  12  travels. However, for embodiments where the base  12  follows the route defined by the cord  16 , the UVC light emitted by the UVC bulbs  159  achieve the desired level of pathogen reduction on the exposed surfaces of portions of the cord  16  as those portions travel between the floor  145  and the interior space  158 . In other words, the portion of the cord  16  that has been elevated off the floor  145  but has not yet entered the interior space  158  will be rendered pathogen reduced as a result of being exposed to the UVC light from the UVC bulbs  159 . 
     UVC light can negatively affect the integrity of the exposed surfaces of the cord  16  that are continuously exposed to UVC light for prolonged periods of time. To protect against such prolonged exposure of the cord  16  to UVC light, the housing  157  can also include a light shield  161  that is substantially opaque to UVC light. The light shield  161  interferes with the transmission of the UVC light from the UVC bulbs  159  into the interior space  158 , where the cord  16  is stored on the spool  142 , yet allows the cord  16  to enter the interior space  158  while being collected. Illustrative embodiments of the light shield  161  include opposing bristles that extend a sufficient distance from opposing surfaces to overlap each other within the aperture through which the cord  16  enters the interior space  158 . The cord  16  can temporarily deform such bristles to enter the interior space  158 , yet the bristles conform sufficiently to block a majority (e.g., at least 50%, or at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90%, etc.) of the UVC light from the UVC bulbs  159  from entering the interior space  158 . Alternate embodiments of the light shield  161  can include a flexible and/or deformable membrane defining an aperture with dimensions that tightly conform to the external shape of the cord  16  that extends across the aperture through which the cord  16  enters the interior space  158 . However, any structure suitable to allow the cord  16  to enter the interior space  158  while interfering with the entrance of UVC light from the UVC bulbs  159  into the interior space  158  can be utilized. 
     The externally-visible color of the cord  16  can be any desired color that does not match the color of the underlying floor  145  ( FIG. 5 ) on which the cord  16  is to rest to define the route along which the base  12  is to travel as described herein. In use, the cord  16  is removed from the spool  142  and plugged into the AC mains wall outlet in the room to be disinfected. The portion of the cord  16  between the base  12  and the wall outlet can be arranged on the floor  145  to define the route along which the base  12  is to navigate. Any excess length of cord  16  removed from the spool  142  can be retracted by the spool  142 , or accumulated near the wall outlet to mark the end of the route. A marker  156  of a color, configuration or other property that can be sensed by the line sensor  141  can optionally be deployed over a portion of the cord  16  arranged on the floor  145  to identify the end of the route. 
     The external color of the cord  16  can be a bright yellow, orange, or other suitable color that contrasts well with flooring commonly found in healthcare facilities or other environments where the decontamination apparatus  10  is to be used. As shown in  FIG. 11 , which is a sectional view of the line sensor  141  taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 , the line sensor  141  can include a plurality of photo-eyes  151  oriented with a downward sensory direction, illustrated by broken lines  155 . The photo-eyes  151  can sense a color of the underlying floor  145  on which the cord  16  is deployed, and transmit a signal indicative of the sensed color to the drive control component  28 . The color of the floor can be sensed continuously, occasionally, or periodically, and the drive control component  28  can optionally determine an average color of the floor  145 . As the base  12  moves forward over the cord  16  deployed on the floor  145 , the signals received by the drive control component  28  averages the color of the floor  145  based on a plurality of values sensed by the photo-eyes  151 . Since the color of the cord  16  contrasts with the color of the floor  145 , an individual sensed color value based on the signal transmitted by one or more of the photo-eyes  151  indicates that the base  12  has begun to drift or otherwise deviate from the route defined by the cord  16  on the floor  145 . The drive control component  28  can also determine which of the photo-eyes  151  transmitted such a signal and adjust the operation of one or more drive motors  22  to correct the direction in which the base  12  is traveling such that the color sensed by each of the photo-eyes  151  is indicative of the floor  145 . Upon reaching the excess cord  16  near the wall outlet and/or the marker  156  as detected by the photo-eye(s)  151 , the drive control component  28  terminates operation of the drive motor(s)  22  and the UVC controller  24  terminates operation of the UVC bulbs  14 , thereby concluding the decontamination process along the route marked by the cord  16 . 
     Although the line sensor  141  is described in detail herein as including photo-eyes  151  to detect and follow the cord  16 , the present disclosure is not so limited. According to other embodiments, the line sensor  141  can include probes that extend downwardly, generally toward the floor  145  and are sensitive to contacts with the cord  16 , for example. For such embodiments, the probes can include at least left and right probes, arranged at opposite lateral sides of the line sensor  141 , and the cord  16  deployed on the floor. When the right probe contacts the cord  16 , the base  12  can control the direction of the base to travel in a direction that separates the right probe from the cord  16 , keeping the cord  16  disposed between the left and right probes. The left probe can operate similarly, but cause the base  12  to travel in the opposite direction to keep the cord  16  between the left and right probes. 
     Other embodiments of the line sensor  141  can include left and right ultrasonic sensors in place of, or in combination with the photo-eyes  151 . Like the probe embodiment, each ultrasonic sensor can sense the proximity of the cord  16  relative to the respective ultrasonic sensor, and the base  12  can change directions in response to the cord  16  becoming too close to one of the ultrasonic sensors, and thereby too far from the other ultrasonic sensor. Accordingly, the base  12  can be driven to keep the cord  16  in a middle region between such sensors. 
     Another embodiment of the line sensor  141  can include one, a plurality, or an array of current sensors that senses an electric current being conducted through the electrical conductor(s) of the cord  16  to power the base  12  and/or UVC bulbs  14 ,  159 . Based on the magnitude of the current sensed by each one of the current sensors, and the position of the respective sensors that sensed the current magnitude along a width of the line sensor  141 , the position of a central region of the line sensor  141  relative to the longitudinal axis of the cord  16  can be determined, and a correction of the drive direction of the base  12  made to cause the base  12  to follow the cord  16 . 
     According to yet other embodiments, instead of or in combination with the photo-eyes  151 , the line sensor  141  can include a temperature sensor or a plurality of temperature sensors along a width of the line sensor  141  arranged substantially perpendicular across the longitudinal axis of the cord  16 . The temperature sensor(s) can be sensitive enough to detect a thermal response of the cord  16  to conducting electricity during operation of the decontamination apparatus  10  as part of a decontamination process. Such a line sensor  141  can be configured to, along with the base  12 , follow a thermal signature of the cord  16  conducting electricity relative to a thermal signature of the underlying floor  145 . Although the specific structure and/or sensor for sensing the route defined by the cord  16  on the floor is described herein in detail as a photo-eye  151  for the sake of brevity and clearly describing the invention, it is to be understood that any suitable sensor and/or structure can be used in place of, or in addition to the photo-eyes  151  to cause the base  12  to follow the cord  16 . 
     For any of the embodiments above where the decontamination apparatus  10  is mobile, the base  12  or other portion of the decontamination apparatus  10  (e.g., any portion of the arms  19 , shroud  17 , bulbs  14 , etc.) can optionally be equipped with a proximity sensor that utilizes ultrasonic waves, optical sensors, etc. . . . to detect when any portion of the decontamination apparatus  10  approaches a foreign object (e.g., furniture in the room, medical equipment on the floor, etc. . . . ) and is about to make physical contact with that foreign object. The proximity sensor can be operatively connected to transmit a signal to the drive control component  28  which, in turn, can deactivate the motor(s)  22  and stop the decontamination apparatus  10  before the decontamination apparatus  10  actually makes contact with the foreign object. Impending contact with a foreign object can also optionally be grounds to deactivate the UVC-emitting bulb(s)  14 , thereby prematurely terminating the decontamination process. Under such circumstances, the operator can optionally be informed of premature termination of the decontamination process by a visible and/or audible indicator provided to the Decontamination apparatus  10 , via a remote control outside of the room being decontaminated in response to receiving a signal transmitted by the communication component  26 , simply by the position of the decontamination apparatus  10  at the unexpected location where decontamination was prematurely terminated instead of at the known end of the route, or via any other indicator. 
     Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.