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

• US 9,616,147 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SoClean, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SoClean, Inc.
• Inventors: Leyva, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Sean E
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPAMER, DONALD R
• Application Number:
  US15/142,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20160243268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 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

The present invention is generally related to a device and method for sanitizing a medical instrument with ozone, in particular the invention relates to a system, method and a device for sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. The device has 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 in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of sanitizing an inner cavity of a medical instrument comprising the steps of:

connecting a connector unit at a first end to a proximal end of a passageway with a gas environment in the medical instrument and at a second end to an enclosed space, wherein the connector unit includes an outer wall between the first end and the second end;

connecting an ozone gas distribution line to the connector unit such that the distribution line traverses the outer wall and a free end of the distribution line is in fluid communication with the inner cavity of the medical instrument;

producing ozone gas in the ozone operating system;

providing the ozone gas to the ozone gas distribution line;

releasing the ozone gas into the inner cavity of the medical instrument; and

migrating ozone gas through the inner cavity of the medical instrument.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of removing the ozone gas from the medical instrument through an exhaust port.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a closed-loop ozone process.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of sensing ozone gas in the medical instrument.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a user interface for displaying ozone process information to a user.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a timer for regulating release of ozone into the medical instrument.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of delaying start of the medical instrument until all ozone has cleared from the medical instrument.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of heating a medical instrument hose with a heating element, wherein a heating element adapter unit connects said heating element to a medical instrument.

9. A method of providing an ozone process for sanitizing an inner cavity of a medical instrument comprising:

connecting an ozone operating system with an ozone generator at a proximal end of the medical instrument using a distribution line and a connector unit, wherein the distribution line traverses an outer wall of the connector unit such that a free end of the distribution line is in fluid communication with the inner cavity of the medical instrument;

releasing ozone gas from the free end of the distribution line into the inner cavity of the medical instrument;

migrating ozone gas through the inner cavity of the medical instrument;

providing an exhaust port removably attached to the distal end of the medical instrument; and

exhausting ozone gas from the inner cavity of the medical instrument through the exhaust port.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the step of sensing ozone gas in the medical instrument.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the step of providing a user interface displaying ozone process information.

12. A method of sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure device comprising the steps of:

connecting a connector unit to the continuous positive airway pressure device, wherein an ozone distribution line traverses an outer wall of the connector unit with a free end in fluid communication with an inner compartment of the continuous positive airway pressure device;

producing ozone in an ozone device with an ozone operating system;

transferring ozone through the ozone distribution line;

releasing ozone gas into the continuous positive airway pressure device; and

migrating ozone gas through the continuous positive airway pressure device.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 further including the step of removing the ozone gas from the continuous positive airway pressure device through an exhaust port.

14. The method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising the step of sensing ozone gas in the continuous positive airway pressure device.

15. The method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising the step of providing a user interface for displaying ozone sanitization process information.

16. The method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising the step of providing a timer for regulating release of ozone into the continuous positive airway pressure device.

17. A method of sanitizing a continuous positive airway pressure device comprising the steps of:

connecting a connector unit between a hose and a water reservoir of the continuous positive airway pressure device, wherein an ozone distribution line traverses an outer wall of the connector unit with a free end in fluid communication with the water reservoir of the continuous positive airway pressure device;

producing ozone in an ozone device with an ozone operating system;

transferring ozone through the ozone distribution line;

releasing ozone into the water reservoir of a continuous positive airway pressure device;

migrating free ozone from the water reservoir to the hose;

migrating the free ozone from the hose into a face mask in a face mask compartment; and

removing the ozone from the continuous positive airway pressure device through an exhaust port.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising the step of adding a timer to control release of the ozone.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising the step of delaying start of the continuous positive airway pressure device until all ozone has cleared from the continuous positive airway pressure device.

20. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising the step of heating the continuous positive airway pressure hose with a heating element, wherein a heating element adapter unit connects the heating element to the continuous positive airway pressure device.