Systems, methods, and devices for ozone sanitization of continuous positive airway pressure devices

• US 10,434,205 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2019
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SoClean, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SoClean, Inc.
• Inventors: Leyva, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Spamer, Donald R
• Application Number:
  US16/270,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20190167828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0216 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/27 preventing use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/10 Equipment for cleaning

Abstract

Technologies for sanitizing a medical instrument with ozone are described. In particular, systems, methods, and devices for sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device are disclosed. The systems and device include an ozone compartment, an ozone operating system and one or more ozone distribution lines that distribute ozone to a continuous positive airway pressure device. The device may further include a heater adapter unit to connect heating systems in CPAP devices while distributing ozone to sanitize the CPAP device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an ozone device comprising an ozone operating system and an ozone distribution line;

a connector unit configured to fluidly couple the ozone device to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, the connector unit comprising;

a first end comprising a first opening configured to couple to a reservoir of said CPAP device;

a second end comprising a second opening configured to couple to a hose of said CPAP device;

a first passageway extending between the first opening and the second opening, the first passageway defined at least in part by a wall of said connector unit, wherein said wall extends between the first end and the second end; and

a port comprising a third opening that is configured to couple to the ozone distribution line and a second passageway, wherein the second passageway extends through the wall and is at least partially disposed within the first passageway.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first end of the connector unit is coupled to the reservoir via the first opening;

the second end of the connector unit is coupled to the hose via the second opening;

the second passageway is fluidly coupled to the ozone distribution line via the third opening; and

in operation, ozone gas generated by said ozone device flows from said ozone operating system, through said ozone distribution line, into said second passageway via said third opening, and into said reservoir.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second passageway bends within the first passageway.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first opening is oriented transverse to the second opening.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the third opening is positioned substantially opposite the first opening.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the third opening is oriented transverse to one or both the first opening and the second opening.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the first passageway and the second passageway are in fluid communication with the reservoir.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a mask connected to a distal end of the hose of said CPAP device.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a gas-tight mask compartment configured to contain said mask.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said mask compartment further comprises an exhaust port.

12. The connector unit of claim 10, wherein the second passageway bends within the first passageway.

13. The connector unit of claim 10, wherein:

the first opening is oriented transverse to the second opening.

14. The connector unit of claim 13, wherein:

the third opening is positioned substantially opposite the first opening.

15. The connector unit of claim 10, wherein the third opening is oriented transverse to one or both the first opening and the second opening.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wall is oriented transverse to the first opening and the second opening.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein in operation:

ozone gas flows in a first direction into said reservoir from said second passageway; and

ozone gas flows in a second direction from said reservoir into said first passageway, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second passageway extends in a direction that is transverse to at least a portion of the first passageway.

11. A connector unit, comprising:

a first end comprising a first opening configured to couple to a reservoir of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device;

a second end comprising a second opening configured to couple to a hose of said CPAP device;

a first passageway extending between the first opening and the second opening, the first passageway defined at least in part by a wall of said connector unit, wherein said wall extends between the first end and the second end; and

a port comprising a third opening configured to couple to a source of ozone gas and a second passageway, wherein the second passageway extends through the wall and is at least partially disposed within the first passageway.

17. The connector unit of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the wall is oriented transverse to the first opening and the second opening.

20. The connector unit of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the second passageway extends in a direction that is transverse to at least a portion of the first passageway.

21. A system comprising:

an ozone device comprising an ozone operating system and an ozone distribution line;

a connector unit configured to fluidly couple the ozone device to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, the connector unit comprising;

a first end configured to couple to a reservoir of said CPAP device, the first end comprising a first opening;

a second end configured to couple to a hose of said CPAP device, the second end comprising a second opening;

a first passageway extending between the first end and the second end of the connector unit, the first passageway defined at least in part by a wall of said connector unit; and

a second passageway;

wherein;

the second passageway;

extends through the wall of said connector unit;

is disposed at least partially within the first passageway;

comprises a port configured to fluidly couple to the ozone distribution line;

the first opening is oriented transverse to the second opening.

22. A connector unit, comprising:

a first end configured to couple to a reservoir of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, the first end comprising a first opening;

a second end configured to couple to a hose of said CPAP device, the second end comprising a second opening;

a first passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the first passageway defined at least in part by a wall of said connector unit; and

a second passageway, wherein;

the second passageway;

extends through the wall of said connector unit;

is at least partially disposed within the first passageway;

comprises a port that is configured to couple to a source of ozone gas; and

the first opening is oriented transverse to the second opening.