Medical equipment drying device

• US 7,762,006 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siestamed Technologies
• Original Assignee: Siestamed Technologies
• Inventors: Kasso, David
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/818,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 34/90, 342/01, 342/02, 342/18, 128/26, 128/28, 600/2, 600/3
• US Class Current: 34/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/003 Supply-air or gas filters
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/001 Handling, e.g. loading or unloading arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/063 Movable containers or receptacles, e.g. carts, trolleys, pallet-boxes for use in freeze-drying apparatus F26B5/06; in general B62D
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/16 mainly closed, e.g. drum
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable

Abstract

A device and corresponding methods for drying medical equipment involving a dryer for drying the medical equipment; and a supply orb having a body and a cavity within the body for holding, ventilating, and storing the medical equipment, the at least one supply orb being mechanically coupled to the dryer for operation and being mechanically decoupled from the dryer during non-operation. The supply orb having a ventilation feature and a configuration conducive to creating a combined irrotational and rotational gas flow therein.

Claims

1. A device for drying medical equipment, comprising:

a dryer for drying the medical equipment;

at least one supply orb having a body and a cavity within the body for holding, ventilating, and storing the medical equipment, the at least one supply orb being mechanically coupled to the dryer for operation and being mechanically decoupled from the dryer during non-operation; and

a removable filter being mechanically coupled to the dryer for filtering bacteria from incoming air,

wherein the dryer comprises;

a base; and

a drying mechanism disposed in the base, the drying mechanism comprising a motor, a heater, and a blower,

wherein the medical equipment comprises CPAP presoaked, cleansed, and rinsed CPAP equipment,

wherein the CPAP equipment comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a mask, headgear, tubing, and a CPAP accessory,

wherein the at least one supply orb comprises at least one polymeric material selected from a group consisting essentially of a plastic and a composite,

wherein the at least one supply orb comprises a volume selected from a group consisting essentially of a small volume for in-home use and a large volume for institutional use,

wherein the at least one supply orb comprises;

an inlet air hole disposed on its lower surface, through which heated filtered air flow passes; and

a lid, having an outer portion and an inner portion, for accessing the cavity, the lid comprising a ventilation feature, the ventilation feature including a plurality of ventilation holes disposed through the outer portion, a plurality of ventilation slots disposed through the inner portion, and a knob, being disposed through the outer portion and being mechanically coupled to the inner portion, for adjusting the ventilation by rotating the inner portion in relation to the outer portion,

wherein the supply orb further comprises;

a hinge for mechanically coupling the lid to the body; and

a locking feature for locking the lid onto the body, the locking feature comprising a sliding tab and a locking guide for providing an interference-fit to the sliding tab,

wherein the dryer comprises;

a motor for driving the air through the orb; and

a power source, wherein the power source comprises at least one source selected from a group consisting essentially of power supplied via a wall outlet through a power supply cord and any portable power supply,

wherein the portable power supply comprises at least one source selected from a group consisting essentially of at least one battery and at least one rechargeable battery,

wherein the removable filter filters the air,

wherein the filtered air is heated by the dryer, and

wherein the heated filtered air is continuously blown on the medical equipment disposed in the at least one supply orb and through the ventilation feature for a short duration of time, the short duration of time being controllable by an adjustable timer,

wherein the supply orb comprises a connector ring for facilitating manually pushing the at least one supply orb onto the dryer by the user,

wherein the at least one supply orb comprises a plurality of supply orbs being stackable for facilitating storage in an institutional setting, and

wherein a lower surface of each supply orb comprises a configuration, which complements that of the lid for facilitating stacking.

2. A device for drying medical equipment, comprising:

a dryer for drying the medical equipment;

at least one supply orb having a body and a cavity within the body, the at least one supply orb being detachably coupled to the dryer; and

a removable filter being mechanically coupled to the dryer, wherein the dryer comprises;

a base; and

a drying mechanism disposed in the base, the drying mechanism comprising a motor, a heater, and a blower, wherein the medical equipment comprises CPAP presoaked, cleansed, and rinsed CPAP equipment, wherein the CPAP equipment comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a mask, headgear, tubing, and a CPAP accessory, wherein the at least one supply orb comprises at least one polymeric material selected from a group consisting essentially of a plastic and a composite, wherein the at least one supply orb comprises a volume selected from a group consisting essentially of a small volume for in-home use and a large volume for institutional use,

wherein the at least one supply orb comprises;

an inlet air hole disposed on its lower surface, through which filtered air flow passes; and

a lid, having an outer portion and an inner portion, for accessing the cavity, the lid comprising a ventilation feature, the ventilation feature including a plurality of ventilation holes disposed through the outer portion, a plurality of ventilation slots disposed through the inner portion, and a knob, being disposed through the outer portion and being mechanically coupled to the inner portion, for adjusting the ventilation by rotating the inner portion in relation to the outer portion,

wherein the supply orb further comprises;

a hinge for mechanically coupling the lid to the body; and

a locking feature for locking the lid onto the body, the locking feature comprising a sliding tab and a locking guide for providing an interference-fit to the sliding tab, wherein the dryer further comprises a power source, wherein the power source comprises at least one source selected from a group consisting essentially of power supplied via a wall outlet through a power supply cord and a portable power supply,

wherein the removable filter filters the air,

wherein the filtered air is heated by the dryer, and

wherein the heated filtered air is continuously blown on the medical equipment disposed in the at least one supply orb and through the ventilation feature for a short duration of time, the short duration of time being controllable by an adjustable timer,

wherein the supply orb comprises a connector ring for facilitating manually pushing the at least one supply orb onto the dryer,

wherein the at least one supply orb comprises a plurality of supply orbs being stackable for facilitating storage, and

wherein a lower surface of each supply orb comprises a configuration, which complements that of the lid for facilitating stacking.

3. A device for drying medical equipment, comprising:

a dryer for drying the medical equipment;

at least one supply orb having a body and a cavity within the body, the at least one supply orb being detachably coupled to the dryer; and

a removable filter being mechanically coupled to the dryer, wherein the dryer comprises;

a base; and

a drying mechanism disposed in the base, the drying mechanism comprising a motor, a heater, and a blower, wherein the medical equipment comprises CPAP presoaked, cleansed, and rinsed CPAP equipment, wherein the at least one supply orb comprises at least one polymeric material selected from a group consisting essentially of a plastic and a composite, wherein the at least one supply orb comprises a volume selected from a group consisting essentially of a small volume for in-home use and a large volume for institutional use,

wherein the at least one supply orb comprises;

an inlet air hole disposed on its lower surface, through which filtered air flow passes; and

a lid, having an outer portion and an inner portion, for accessing the cavity, the lid comprising a ventilation feature, the ventilation feature including a plurality of ventilation holes disposed through the outer portion, a plurality of ventilation slots disposed through the inner portion, and a knob, being disposed through the outer portion and being mechanically coupled to the inner portion, for adjusting the ventilation by rotating the inner portion in relation to the outer portion,

wherein the supply orb further comprises;

a hinge for mechanically coupling the lid to the body; and

a locking feature for locking the lid onto the body, the locking feature comprising a sliding tab and a locking guide for providing an interference-fit to the sliding tab, wherein the dryer further comprises a power source, wherein the power source comprises at least one source selected from a group consisting essentially of power supplied via a wall outlet through a power supply cord and a portable power supply,

wherein the removable filter filters the air,

wherein the filtered air is heated by the dryer, and

wherein the heated filtered air is blown on the medical equipment disposed in the at least one supply orb and through the ventilation feature for a short duration of time, the short duration of time being controllable by an adjustable timer,

wherein the supply orb comprises a connector ring for facilitating manually pushing the at least one supply orb onto the dryer,

wherein a lower surface of each supply orb comprises a configuration, which complements that of the lid for facilitating stacking with additional supply orbs.