METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INACTIVATING VIRUS

Abstract

A method and a device that enable inactivation of a virus even if the nature and the like of the virus is unknown. The method for inactivating a virus involves preparing a laser that emits laser light having a specific wavelength, and irradiating a virus with the laser light to inactivate the virus.

Claims

1. A method for viral inactivation, characterized by preparing a laser that emits a laser beam having a specific wavelength and irradiating viruses with the laser beam to inactivate the viruses.

2. The method for viral inactivation according to claim 1, wherein the specific wavelength includes a wavelength in the ultraviolet region.

3. The method for viral inactivation according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam is emitted in an atmosphere with a humidity of 80% or more and with a temperature of 20° C. or more.

4. The method for viral inactivation according to claim 1, wherein the viruses are novel coronaviruses (COVID-19).

5. A device for viral inactivation, including the laser used in the method for viral inactivation described in any one of the first through the fourth aspects, and adapted to switch at least one of an output power, a wavelength, and an irradiation time according to the nature of novel coronaviruses (COVID-19).

6. The device for viral inactivation according to claim 5, including the laser which comprises an emitting part body that emits the laser beam, means for varying the output power of the laser beam, means for varying the wavelength of the laser beam, means for varying the irradiation time of the laser beam, a waveguide that guides the laser beam from the emitting part body, and an emitting end for irradiating an object with the laser beam from the waveguide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0018] FIG. 1 shows an example of a laser used in a viral inactivation method according to the present invention.

MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a laser used in a viral inactivation method according to the present invention.

Example 1

[0020] The illustrated laser comprises a laser body (emitting part body) 10 that emits a laser beam, an emitting part 12 that irradiates an object with the laser beam emitted from the laser body 10, and a waveguide 14 that leads the laser beam from the laser body 10 to the emitting part 12, and a waveguide 14 that guides the laser beam from the laser body 10 to the emitting part 12. Furthermore, on the front side of the laser body 10, there are a power control unit 16 that can vary the output power of the laser beam, a wavelength control unit 18 that can vary the wavelength of the laser beam, and a time control unit 20 that controls the irradiation time. The power control unit 16, the wavelength control unit 18, and the time control unit 20 may be adjusted manually or remotely using a remote controller.

[0021] In the laser body 10, laser elements, such as semiconductor lasers, YAG lasers, a drive circuit, a power supply circuit, and other components are integrated.

[0022] The power control unit 16 can adjust the output power of the laser beam within a range of power that does not affect the object itself, e.g., within a range of 1 mW or less. Desirably, the wavelength control unit 18 is able to control the wavelength variably within a range of wavelengths shorter than 375 nm. However, the wavelength control unit 18 may variably control the wavelength from the wavelengths in the ultraviolet region to the wavelengths in the visible light or the infrared region. Furthermore, the time control unit 20 is a timer that sets the irradiation time of the laser beam.

[0023] When the laser beam irradiates a living object, such as a human body, the emitting end 12 may have a shape that can be inserted into the living body. For example, the emitting end 12 may have a structure having a rod-like shape that can be inserted into a throat or bronchus. When an inactivation test is performed outside the living body, viruses as the object contained in a container such as a petri dish may be irradiated with the laser beam. By the test, it is possible to optimize the wavelength, the output power, and the irradiation time according to the viruses as the object.

[0024] When actually using the viral inactivation method of the present invention, the object containing the viruses is placed in an atmosphere with a temperature of 20° C. or higher, preferably 35° C. or higher, and a humidity of 50% or more, preferably 80% or more.

[0025] In this state, the emitting part 12 is directed toward the object, and the laser beam is emitted. In this case, a laser beam having a specific wavelength selected according to the nature of the viruses to be irradiated is emitted from the laser body 10 through the waveguide 14.

[0026] When the nature of the viruses is unknown, the output power, the wavelength, and the irradiation time of the laser beam are varied according to the viruses by trial and error to determine the optimum conditions. The optimum conditions can be determined by varying at least one of the output power, the wavelength, and the irradiation time according to the nature of the viruses, so that the conditions necessary for inactivation of the viruses are derived.

[0027] If the nature of the viruses is already known, the laser beam with the output power and the wavelength selected for the viruses is emitted to the object for a predetermined time. This optimizes the output power, the wavelength, and the irradiation time of the laser beam required to inactivate the viruses.

[0028] Once the optimum conditions, such as the output power, the wavelength, and the irradiation time are found out, according to the present invention, activated viruses can be inactivated or neutralized by irradiating the object with the laser beam under the optimum conditions.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0029] This invention is very economically advantageous because unknown viruses can be neutralized or inactivated by physically irradiating the viruses without relying on vaccines, medicines, or other means. This invention is also significant in view of using the laser against the viruses.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0030] 10 Laser body [0031] 12 Emitting part [0032] 14 Waveguide [0033] 16 Power control unit [0034] 18 Wavelength control unit [0035] 20 Timer (time control unit)