Method and apparatus for disinfecting and/or self-sterilizing a stethoscope using plasma energy

Abstract

A method and apparatus for disinfecting and/or self-sterilizing at least a portion of the surface of a stethoscope is provided. Methods and devices are provided by which a device or apparatus can generate a sterilizing plasma such that a stethoscope, or portion of a stethoscope, can be placed within or near the device or apparatus so that the plasma disinfects and/or sterilizes and/or decontaminates at least a portion of the stethoscope. A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a self-disinfecting and/or self-sterilizing and/or self-decontaminating stethoscope and stethoscope disinfecting and/or sterilization apparatus for disinfecting and/or sterilizing, respectively, all or at least a portion of a stethoscope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an enclosure;   an object;   one or more first electrodes;   one or more second electrodes; and   a voltage supply,   wherein when at least a portion of the object is positioned within the enclosure and the enclosure is closed, such that the at least a portion of the object is exposed to an internal environment within the enclosure and the internal environment is separate from an external environment in which the enclosure is positioned, and the voltage supply supplies a voltage across at least one of the one or more first electrodes and at least one of the one or more second electrodes such that a plasma is generated and at least a portion of the object is disinfected, decontaminated, and/or sterilized.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the object is disinfected. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least a portion of the object is not sterilized. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes are proximate the at least a portion of the surface of the object.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes are proximate an internal surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the plasma disinfects, decontaminates, and/or sterilizes the at least a portion of the surface of the object. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the plasma disinfects, decontaminates, and/or sterilizes the at least a portion of the surface of the object. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein ozone created by the plasma disinfects, decontaminates, or sterilizes the at least a portion of the surface of the object. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein ozone created by the plasma disinfects, decontaminates, or sterilizes the at least a portion of the surface of the object. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the surface of the object exposed to the internal environment is disinfected, decontaminated, or sterilized. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is a stethoscope. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the object is a stethoscope. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the plasma disinfects the at least a portion of the surface. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein ozone created by the plasma disinfects the at least a portion of the surface. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least a portion of the surface of the object comprises an exterior surface of a diaphragm of the stethoscope. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an area of the at least a portion of the surface of the object in cm 3  to a volume of the internal environment in cm 3  is at least 1. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein when the object is positioned within the enclosure ozone created by the plasma is prevented from leaking from the internal environment to the external environment. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein when the object is positioned within the enclosure ozone created by the plasma is prevented from leaking from the internal environment to the external environment. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a filter subsystem, wherein the filter subsystem filters ozone from the internal environment after the plasma creates the ozone and before the enclosure is opened.   
     
     
         20 . A method for sterilizing at least a portion of an object, comprising:
 providing a system, wherein the system comprises:
 an enclosure; 
 one or more first electrodes; 
 one or more second electrodes; and 
 a voltage supply; 
   positioning the enclosure in an external environment;   positioning at least a portion of an object within the enclosure and closing the enclosure, such that the at least a portion of the object is exposed to an internal environment within the enclosure and the internal environment is separate from the external environment in which the enclosure is positioned; and   applying a voltage across at least one of the one or more first electrodes and at least one of the one or more second electrodes via the voltage supply, such that a plasma is generated, the at least a portion of the object is disinfected, decontaminated, or sterilized.