Method for treating rinse water in decontamination devices

• US 8,025,807 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Fix, Kathleen A., Centanni, Michael A., Jethrow, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam
• Assistant Examiner(s): STELLING, LUCAS A
• Application Number:
  US12/015,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 210/746, 210/748, 210/750, 210/760, 210/764, 210/766, 210/180, 210/181, 210/192, 210/205, 210/209, 210/218, 210/219, 210/220, 210/739, 210/46, 210/765, 422/28, 422/29, 422/30, 422/31, 42218607-1862, 261/DIG.42, 261 19- 74, 261119- 1, 261/121.1
• US Class Current: 210/750
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/02 by heating methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/42 Ozonizers

Abstract

A processor for decontaminating devices is comprised of a chamber for holding devices and a circulation system to circulate a microbial decontamination fluid through the chamber. A water filtration system filters water used in the processor. The water filtration system has a water line connectable to a source of pressurized water. A water decontamination system fluidly communicates with the source of water and the processor. The water decontamination system has a water circulation path and a tank located within the water circulation path. Means are provided to circulate water along the water circulation path through the tank. A gas circulation path fluidly communicates with the tank. Conveying means is provided to convey gas along the gas circulation path through the tank. An ozone producing device is located along the gas circulation path to introduce ozone into gas flowing along the gas circulation path and through the tank.

Claims

1. A method for decontaminated devices in a processor, said processor including a chamber for holding devices to be decontaminated, a circulation system for circulating a liquid sterilant or microbial decontamination fluid through said chamber, said chamber forming a part of said circulation system, a water filtration system for filtering water used in said processor, said water filtration system having a water line connectable to a source of pressurized water and a water decontamination system fluidly communicating with said source of water and said processor, said method comprising the steps of:

a) circulating a carrier gas along a first closed loop gas circulation path wherein said carrier gas is introduced into a predetermined volume of water, said first closed loop gas circulation path including a primary conduit and a first bypass conduit that bypasses an ozone destruction device;

b) introducing ozone into said carrier gas as said carrier gas flows along said first closed loop gas circulation path such that said ozone is introduced and dissolved into said predetermined volume of water;

c) collecting an conveying any ozone that does not dissolve in said water along said first closed loop gas circulation path to reintroduce said ozone back into said water;

d) establishing a concentration of ozone in said predetermined volume of water between about 0.1 mg/L to about 2 mg/L;

e) mixing said water and said ozone to achieve a uniform concentration of ozone in said water;

f) circulating said predetermined volume of water along a closed loop water circulation path;

g) heating said predetermined volume of water to at least about 40°

C.;

h) mechanically agitating said predetermined volume of water;

i) circulating said carrier gas along a second closed loop gas circulation path wherein said second closed loop gas circulation path includes said primary conduit, said ozone destruction device, and a second bypass conduit that bypasses an ozone producing device and wherein said ozone separated from said water is conveyed by said carrier gas along said second closed loop gas circulation path;

j) destroying said ozone conveyed by said carrier gas with said ozone destruction device along said second closed loop gas circulation path, said ozone destruction device being downstream from said predetermined volume of water;

k) continuing steps f), g), h), i), and j) until the concentration of said ozone in said predetermined volume of water is below about 0.03 mg/L and until said ozone in said carrier gas is destroyed; and

l) conveying said water to said chamber following a decontamination cycle to rinse said devices disposed in said chamber.

2. A method for decontaminating devices as defined in claim 1, wherein said step a) of introducing includes bubbling said gas containing said ozone into said predetermined volume of water.

3. A method for decontaminating devices as defined in claim 1, wherein said water in said step a) is between about 20°

C. and about 40°

C.

4. A method for decontaminating devices as defined in claim 1, wherein said step j) includes a catalytic ozone destruction device located in said second closed loop, gas circulation path.

5. A method for decontaminating devices as defined in claim 1, wherein said step g) of heating includes a heating element located along said closed loop water circulation path.

6. A method for decontaminating devices as defined in claim 1, wherein said step h) of mechanically agitating includes mixing said water in a tank located in said closed loop water circulation path.

7. A method of reducing viral levels in water used in a processor for decontaminating device, said method comprising the steps of:

a) circulating a carrier gas along a first closed loop gas circulation path wherein said carrier gas is introduced into a predetermined volume of water, said first closed loop gas circulation path includes a primary conduit and a first bypass conduit that bypasses an ozone destruction device;

b) introducing ozone into said carrier gas as said carrier gas flows along said first closed loop gas circulation path such that said ozone is introduced and dissolved into said predetermined volume of water;

c) collecting and conveying any ozone that does not dissolve in said water along said first closed loop gas circulation path to reintroduce said ozone back into said water;

d) establishing a concentration of ozone in said predetermined volume of water between about 0.1 mg/L to about 2 mg/L;

e) mixing said water and said ozone to achieve a uniform concentration of ozone in said water;

f) circulating said predetermined volume of water along a closed loop water circulation path;

g) heating said predetermined volume of water to at least about 40°

C.;

h) mechanically agitating said predetermined volume of water;

i) circulating said carrier gas along a second closed loop gas circulation path wherein said second closed loop gas circulation path includes said primary conduit, said ozone destruction device, and a second bypass conduit that bypasses an ozone producing device and wherein said ozone separated from said water is conveyed by said carrier gas along said second closed loop gas circulation path;

j) destroying said ozone conveyed by said carrier gas with said ozone destruction device along said second closed loop gas circulation path, said ozone destruction device being downstream from said predetermined volume of water; and

k) continuing steps f), g), i), and j) until the concentration of said ozone in said water is below about 0.03 mg/L and until said ozone in said carrier gas is destroyed.

8. A method of reducing virus levels in water as defined in claim 7, wherein said step a) of introducing includes bubbling said gas containing said ozone into said predetermined volume of water.

9. A method of reducing virus levels in water as defined in claim 7, wherein said water in said step a) is between about 20°

C. and about 40°

C.

10. A method of reducing virus levels in water as defined in claim 7, wherein said step j) includes a catalytic ozone destruction device located in said second closed loop gas circulation path.

11. A method of reducing viral levels in water as defined in claim 7, wherein said step g) of heating includes a heating element located along said closed loop water circulation path.

12. A method of reducing viral levels in water as defined in claim 7, wherein said step h) of mechanically agitating includes mixing said water in a tank located in said closed loop water circulation path.