Devices, Systems and Methods for Ozone Sanitization of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Devices

• US 20180161466A1
• Filed: 01/26/2018
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SoClean, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SoClean, Inc.
• Inventors: Schmidt, Michael U., Leyva, Timothy, Surowaniec, Mariusz
• Granted Patent: US 11,135,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0094 Gaseous substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• 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 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/10 Equipment for cleaning

Abstract

The present invention is generally related to an apparatus and method for sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, in particular the invention relates to a system, method and device that attach to a CPAP device and sanitizes all of the parts of the CPAP device, including the inner areas of the hose, reservoir and face mask most prone for bacteria buildup. The device has an ozone operating system and one or more ozone distribution lines that distributes ozone to a CPAP device and a non-permeable bag for sanitizing a CPAP mask.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A system for sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure device, comprising:

an ozone operating system configured to produce ozone gas, and to fluidly couple to a first end of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) hose; and

a bag for receiving ozone gas;

wherein;

said bag comprises a sealing mechanism and an open end that is movable between an unsealed configuration and a sealed configuration;

in said unsealed configuration, the open end of said bag is configured to permit insertion of a second end of the CPAP hose into the bag; and

in said sealed configuration, the sealing mechanism is configured to form a seal around the CPAP hose such that in operation, ozone gas produced by the ozone operating system travels through the CPAP hose and into said bag.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the bag is impermeable to ozone gas, and the sealing mechanism is configured to form a seal that prevents leakage of ozone gas from said bag when said open end is in said sealed configuration.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising said CPAP hose.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

said second end of said CPAP hose is configured to couple to a CPAP mask; and

in said unsealed configuration, the open end of said bag is configured to permit insertion of said second end of the CPAP hose into said bag when said second end is coupled to said CPAP mask.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said sealing mechanism comprises at least one biasing member to bias at least a portion of the open end of said bag against said CPAP hose.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a filter cartridge coupled to or disposed in said bag.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said bag comprises an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer between the inner and outer layers.

18. A method for sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, comprising:

fluidly coupling a first end of a CPAP hose to an ozone operating system;

inserting a second end of the CPAP hose through an open end of a bag when said open end is in an unsealed configuration, such that the second end of the CPAP hose is disposed within the bag;

transitioning the open end of said bag from said unsealed configuration to a sealed configuration, so as to form a seal around said CPAP hose; and

generating ozone with said ozone operating system, such that said ozone flows through said CPAP hose and into said bag.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling said second end of said CPAP hose to a CPAP mask prior to inserting the second end of said CPAP mask through said open end of said bag.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said bag is impermeable to ozone gas and comprises a sealing mechanism that is configured to transition said open end between said unsealed configuration and said sealed configuration; and

said sealing mechanism is configured such that when said open end is in said sealed configuration, said seal prevents leakage of ozone gas from said bag.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said sealing mechanism comprises at least one biasing member, and transitioning the open end of said bag from said unsealed configuration to said sealed configuration comprises biasing at least a portion of the open end of said bag against said CPAP hose.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said ozone operating system comprises a timer, and the method further comprises initiating production of ozone gas with said ozone operating system based at least in part on said timer.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said bag comprises an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer between the inner and outer layer.

24. A system for sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure device, comprising:

an ozone operating system configured to produce ozone gas, and to fluidly couple to a hose; and

a bag for receiving ozone gas;

wherein;

said bag comprises an end that is movable between an open and a closed configuration;

in said open configuration the open end of said bag is configured to permit insertion of a second end of the hose into the bag;

in said closed configuration, at least one edge of the open end of said bag closes around said hose such that it is disposed closer to said hose, relative to a position of said at least one edge relative to said hose in said open configuration; and

in operation, ozone gas produced by the ozone operating system travels through the hose and into said bag.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said bag is impermeable to ozone gas, and the system further comprises a biasing mechanism configured to urge the at least one edge of the open end against the hose when said open end is in the closed configuration.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising said hose.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said hose is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) hose.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein:

the second end of said CPAP hose is configured to couple to a CPAP mask; and

in said open configuration, the open end of said bag is configured to permit insertion of said second end of the CPAP hose into said bag when said second end is coupled to said CPAP mask.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising a filter cartridge coupled to or disposed in said bag.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein said bag comprises an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer between the inner and outer layers.