Definitions

• This invention relates to systems for sanitizing and distributing water for use in dental and other medical procedures.
• this invention relates to a water sanitizing system and a distribution system for supplying sanitized water to existing delivery systems and devices for use during dental procedures.
• the municipal water supply may contain contaminating bacteria and other micro-organisms which can serve as a source of infection.
• a sanitized water supply for irrigation of target areas, such as surgical wounds and for cooling of high speed dental instruments is important.
• a sterile water supply can become contaminated with bacteria and other micro-organisms.
• this water may still become contaminated as a result of contamination of the water supply tubing.
• contamination may be introduced into the water supply from an air supply used to pressurize bottled water, where micro-organisms in the air supply are exposed to the water in the distributing apparatus.
• contamination through backwash from a patient's mouth can occur when the water supply is shut off while instruments are positioned in a patient's mouth, so that a small amount of fluid is hydraulically drawn into the water distribution system. This can quickly lead to contamination of the entire water distribution system, increasing the likelihood of infection and the spread of infection from one patient to other patients.
• bacteria can accumulate over time within the distribution system to form a bacterial film on the inner surface of water supply lines used to distribute and dispense water in dental procedures and for cooling dental instruments. From time to time pieces of this bacterial film can break free and enter the water supply lines. These pieces of bacterial film can greatly increase the chances of infection where, for example, open wounds are being irrigated by the water supply.
• bactericidal agents are restricted to those which are not toxic to humans, and many of these can be unpleasant in terms of taste or effect in a patient's mouth. Filtration treatments usually require that a filter be changed at regular intervals as filtered microorganisms accumulate and render the filter less effective, or eventually provide a separate source of contamination.
• the present invention provides a batch sanitizing system which produces a convenient supply of sanitized water in batches, dispensing a sanitized batch of water while a subsequent batch of water is being sanitized.
• Some dental delivery systems provide a source of disinfectant to sanitize the delivery system.
• the disinfectant source is connected to the oral cavity water delivery system at a single point from a toggle-operated selector valve, which enables the entire delivery system to be supplied with all water or all disinfectant on a mutually exclusive basis.
• the present invention provides a dental dispensing apparatus capable of supplying disinfectant to certain dental delivery systems and devices while providing a supply of sanitized water to other certain dental delivery systems and devices.
• the present invention thus provides a water sanitizing system, comprising a water inlet for connection to a water supply, a sanitizing region in fluid communication with the water inlet, for sanitizing water from the water supply to produce a batch of sanitized water, a reservoir for storing the batch of sanitized water, in fluid communication with the sanitizing region and having a water outlet, an upper limit level sensor and a lower limit level sensor, and a valve disposed between the sanitizing tank and the reservoir to permit a flow of water from the sanitizing region to the reservoir when the lower limit level sensor detects that a water level in the reservoir has reached a selected lower limit.
• the invention further provides a method of dispensing sanitized water, comprising the steps of sanitizing a batch of water in a sanitizing region; detecting a water level in a reservoir in fluid communication with the sanitizing region; draining the batch of sanitized water from the sanitizing region to the reservoir responsive to the water level in the reservoir reaching a selected lower limit; and dispensing the sanitized water from the reservoir.
• Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a sanitizing tank of a water sanitizing system according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the reservoir component of the sanitizing system of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a dental delivery system according to the present invention;
• Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits of the sanitizing system of Figure 4.
• FIGS 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the device and system of the invention.
• Tap water from a municipal water supply is supplied to the water sanitizing system 10 through inlet 12 in fluid communication with a sanitizing region by free discharge, to provide separation from the municipal supply system.
• control of flow of the tap water into the sanitizing region is controlled by float operated valve 16.
• the sanitizing region comprises a sanitizing tank
• FIG. 14 illustrated in Figure 1, comprising a conventional reverse-osmosis water purifying system.
• the tap water that is supplied to the sanitizing tank 14 is filtered through a semi-permeable membrane 15. Water is allowed to pass through the membrane 15 but the membrane 15 is impermeable to contaminants such as particulates, bacteria and pyrogens contained in tap water which are concentrated at the membrane 15. This material can later be removed or flushed from the system 10.
• the sanitizing tank 14 is in fluid communication through drain valve 22 with a reservoir 20 in which the sanitized water is stored for use in dental or other medical procedures.
• an overflow outlets 24 are provided to divert outflow from the sanitizing tank 14 through valves 25 into drain 26, which allows the sanitizing tank 14 to be drained for cleaning.
• the reservoir 20 is provided with upper and lower limit level sensors comprising high level sensor 28 and low level sensor 30 which respectively detect high and low water level limits for the sanitized water within the reservoir 20.
• the level sensors 28, 30 are in electrical communication with valve 22, preferably a solenoid valve, which controls the flow of sterilized water from the sanitizing tank 14 to the reservoir 20.
• the reservoir 20 is also preferably provided with a removable airtight lid 29 to facilitate thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the reservoir 20, and a drain 21 which allows the reservoir 20 to be emptied through valve 23 into drain 21 for cleaning.
• Sanitized water is preferably dispensed from the reservoir 20, for example into a dental dispensing apparatus such as that shown in Figure 3, under pressure from a pressurized air source in communication with the reservoir 20 through inlet 34.
• the pressurized air source may be the same air source used to distribute and dispense air in the dental office, or a separate air source may be provided.
• the solenoid valve 36 is a three-way solenoid valve with an air relief port, which allows for air to be released from the reservoir 20 as it fills with sanitized water from the sanitizing tank 14.
• conventional control circuitry (not shown) closes the air valve 36 to relieve any residual pressure in the reservoir 20 through the air relief port of the valve 36 before the valve 22 is opened, to prevent backflow from the reservoir 20 to the sanitizing tank 14.
• the control circuitry closes solenoid valve 22 to shut off the supply from sanitizing tank 14 and opens the solenoid valve 36 to introduce pressurized air to the reservoir 20 for further dispensing.
• the batch of water stored between the upper and lower level limits of the reservoir 20 may be approximately one gallon, which is suitable for most dental procedures.
• the capacity of the sanitizing tank 14 and/or the reservoir 20 can be adapted accordingly.
• the sanitization process according to the invention operates as a batch procedure, wherein a predetermined volume of water is being sanitized in the sanitizing tank 14 while a previously sanitized batch of water is available for dispensing from the reservoir 20 in the manner indicated above.
• FIG. 3 An embodiment of a dental dispensing apparatus 2 utilizing an air/water distribution system commonly found in dental chairs is shown in Figure 3 by way of example.
• the sanitizing system of the invention is capable of more general application and is not limited to use with any particular dispensing apparatus or distribution system.
• the dispensing apparatus of the invention is not limited to use with the batch sanitizing system of the invention, although it may be advantageously so employed.
• the dispensing apparatus 2 is capable of interfacing with existing air and water regulating and control devices in a dental office, providing decontamination and flushing facilities and selecting particular devices, such as high-speed drills, to be supplied with either water or disinfectant while maintaining "water only" supplies to other instruments such as syringes.
• the provision of sanitized water or disinfectant in the dispensing system of the invention is on a non-exclusive basis.
• Sanitized water is fed to the water distributing or dispensing apparatus 2 shown in Figure 3 on demand through reservoir outlet 38, controlled by solenoid valve 42.
• Sanitized water from the batch sanitizing system shown in Figures 1 and 2 is supplied to an existing utility module 41 at inlet port 47 in the dental dispensing apparatus 2 through main shut-off valve 42.
• Sanitized air from an external compressed air system (not shown) is provided through main shut-off valve 43 of the dispensing apparatus 2.
• the air travels through suitable tubing to the inlet port of the point of a conventional point-of-use use air filter 45 (typically integrated into the dental chair) where the air is filtered.
• Filtered air egresses from the outlet port of the filter 45 and flows to the inlet port 60 of the air manifold 46.
• the filtered air is supplied to inlet port 44 of the utility module 41 through outlet port 61 of the manifold 46 to provide the necessary pressure to supply the air delivery requirements of the dental dispensing apparatus 2.
• Air is supplied directly from the compressor to the reservoir 20 through inlet 34.
• the pressurized sanitized water is supplied through outlet port 48 of utility module 41 which is in fluid communication with one of the inlet ports of selector valve 49.
• the outlet port of valve 49 is connected to inlet port 72 of water manifold 50.
• Outlet port 73 of the water manifold 50 is in turn in fluid communication with oral cavity water inlet port 52 of control block 53.
• outlet port 75 of water manifold 50 is in fluid communication with syringe block 8.
• Existing tubing for supplying air from the utility module 41 to the various dental devices such as drills 4 and syringes 6 remains unchanged, allowing the distribution system 2 of the invention to be readily incorporated into existing dental office equipment.
• the disinfectant bottle assembly 62 is supplied with air from outlet port 67 of air manifold 46 via an air-pressure regulator 63 and shut-off valve 64.
• air pressure is applied to the bottle assembly 62, the disinfectant solution is driven up a dip-tube to one inlet port of selector valve 65; the outlet port of valve 65 is connected to inlet port 80 of disinfectant manifold 66.
• Water and disinfectant supplies to additional devices such as a cavitron device may be provided from ports 76 and 86 of the manifolds, respectively, if required.
• outlet port 70 of water manifold 50 is connected to the second inlet port of selector valve 65, and outlet port 83 of disinfectant manifold 66 is connected to the second inlet port of selector valve 49.
• Outlet port 73 of water manifold 50 is connected to one inlet port of selector valve 54.
• Inlet port 52 of control block 53 is connected to the outlet port of selector valve 54.
• Outlet port 84 of disinfectant manifold 66 is connected to the other inlet port of selector valve 54.
• Water outlet port 55 of control block 53 is connected to one inlet port of selector valve 56.
• Outlet port 74 of water manifold 50 is connected to the other inlet port of selector valve 56.
• the outlet port of selector valve 56 is connected to a syringe 6.
• valve 49 When main water valve 42 is open, sanitized water is supplied from the reservoir 20 to utility module 41 at inlet port 47 and regulated sanitized water for use in, for example, the oral cavity, exits at port 48 and flows to selector valve 49.
• valve 49 When valve 49 is in the "WATER SUPPLY" position A, the water manifold 50 is charged with water which can then be delivered to various devices.
• valve 49 when valve 49 is in the "WATER SUPPLY" position A and valve 54 is in the "WATER SUPPLY” position C, the high speed drill 4 receives water through the master block 51 ; similarly, when valve 56 is in the "WATER SUPPLY" position E, syringe 6 receives water through port 55 of the control block 53.
• Assistant's syringe block 8 has an uninterrupted water supply directly from port 75 of manifold 50.
• main shut-off valve 42 closes the air valve 36 to relieve any residual pressure in the reservoir 20 through the air relief port of the valve 36, and opens valve 22 to drain another batch of sanitized water into the reservoir 20.
• the solenoid valve 22 is closed to interrupt communication between the reservoir 20 and the sanitizing tank 14, the main shutoff valve 42 is opened to restore the supply of sanitized water to the dispensing apparatus 2, and the solenoid valve 36 is opened to reintroduce pressurized air to the reservoir 20.
• Air is supplied to disinfectant bottle assembly 62 through pressure regulator 63.
• valve 65 When valve 65 is in the "DISINFECTANT" position G, the disinfectant manifold 66 is charged to deliver the disinfectant solution as required.
• disinfectant is supplied to the high speed drill 4 through master block 51. In this manner, the high speed drill 4 can be flushed with the disinfectant solution while at the same time, syringe 6 can be supplied with water from port 74 of water manifold 50 when valve 56 is in the "WATER SUPPLY" position F.
• selector valve 49 is set to the "DISINFECT FLUSH" position B. This shuts off the water supply from the utility module 41.
• Valve 65 is set to the "DISINFECTANT” position G. Disinfectant solution in manifold 66 charges water manifold 50 through valve 49. This expels disinfectant fluid through all tubing and devices connected to the water manifold 50.
• valve 54 is set to the "WATER SUPPLY” position C and valve 56 is set to the "BLOCK SUPPLY" position E. Syringe block 8 is also flushed with disinfectant during this procedure.
• Valve 56 is toggled to the "DIRECT SUPPLY" position F to expel water from the tubing connected from port 74 in the water manifold 50.
• valve 65 is set to the "WATER SUPPLY” position H and valve 49 to the "WATER SUPPLY” position A.
• Valve 54 is set to the "WATER SUPPLY” position C.
• Valve 56 is set to the "BLOCK SUPPLY” position E.
• Toggling valve 56 to the "DIRECT SUPPLY” position F purges the disinfectant from port 74 and the tubing to valve 56.
• Toggling valve 54 to the "DISINFECTANT" position D purges the disinfectant from the disinfectant manifold 66 and the tubing that connects outlet port 84 to valve 54.
• the sanitizing tank 114 comprises a pasteurizing system comprising a conventional heating element 116, which heats the water to a predetermined temperature, preferably at least 82 degrees C (180 degrees F) as measured by a temperature sensor 117, in order to sterilize the water.
• the sanitizing tank 114 is hermetically sealed, and a check valve 118 is preferably provided upstream of the sanitizing tank 114 to prevent backflow into the municipal water supply.
• the sanitizing tank 114 preferably has a removable lid (not shown) which can be removed to permit thorough disinfecting and cleaning.
• the heating coil 116 is preferably activated a preset time, for example 30 minutes, after the sterilizing tank 114 is filled.
• the temperature sensor 117 detects the temperature of the water within the sterilizing tank 114 and communicates a signal to close switch TSl and activate the heating coil
• switch TSl is opened and the sterilized water is permitted to cool for use.
• switch TS2 closes to open solenoid valve 132 and, so long as high level sensor 128 is not indicating that the reservoir 120 is filled to the upper limit, allow the sterilized water to drain from the sterilizing tank 114 into the reservoir 120.
• solenoid valve 140 When the lower limit of the water level in the reservoir 120 is detected by the lower limit sensor 130, solenoid valve 140 is closed to shut off the water supply to the dispensing apparatus (not shown). If the temperature sensor 117 indicates that sterilized water in the sterilizing tank 114 has cooled to the preset use temperature, solenoid valve 132 is opened to allow the sterilized water to drain from the sterilizing tank 114 into the reservoir 120. When the high level sensor 128 is activated, the valve 132 closes and flow from the sterilizing tank 114 to the reservoir 120 is cut off. Thus, the batch of water in the reservoir 120 is always sterile and at the desired use temperature. It is preferred that sanitizing tank 114 is sized to sanitize or pasteurize only one batch of water per day. The system should be drained and cleaned at the end of each day.
• water sanitizing system of the invention is advantageously utilized in conjunction with the water dispensing system 2 of the invention or another water distributing or dispensing apparatus for dental procedures, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the utilization of this system is not limited to dental applications.
• the invention may also be utilized in industrial, research and medical facilities where clean water is required in large quantities. Based on the design of this sanitizing system, capacities for widely varying amounts of required water may be readily accommodated.

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• Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=56289896

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (1)

• 1999
  • 1999-03-19 EP EP99908713A patent/EP1135337A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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