GB2097677A - Decontamination apparatus - Google Patents
Decontamination apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2097677A GB2097677A GB8113771A GB8113771A GB2097677A GB 2097677 A GB2097677 A GB 2097677A GB 8113771 A GB8113771 A GB 8113771A GB 8113771 A GB8113771 A GB 8113771A GB 2097677 A GB2097677 A GB 2097677A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- decontamination
- articles
- chamber
- fluid
- decontamination apparatus
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
- A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
- A61L2/18—Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
Abstract
A decontamination apparatus comprises a decontamination chamber (11) for holding and treating articles to be decontaminated, and having a lid (17) arranged to provide access to the chamber for installing articles to be decontaminated and fro removal therefrom, an ancillary chamber (12) contains decontamination fluid supply and control means for the decontamination chamber, the decontamination chamber comprising at least two regions so as to provide one relatively deep region (20) wherein elongate articles such as elongate flexible breathing tubes can be suspended, and a second relatively shallow region (21) wherein smaller articles such as breathing masks can be held or suspended, at least a lower portion of the deep region (20) is defined by a trough (16) into which decontaminating fluid can drain from the decontamination chamber, the decontamination chamber further includes support devices (32, 40, 42, 43) for holding articles to be decontaminated, spray devices (35, 36) arranged in both decontamination regions for spraying decontamination fluid into or over articles arranged in the decontamination chamber, and distributing means comprising a network of pipes and manifolds (25 to 31) for transferring decontamination fluid from the trough to the spray devices. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Decontamination apparatus
The present invention provides a decontamination apparatus suitable for treating and decontaminating hospital equipment such as rubber or plastics breathing tubes, bags and fittings. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular application.
In the past, considerable difficulty has been achieved in properly sterilising rubber or plastics items such as flexible breathing tubes. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means for decontaminating equipment such as this in a compact and efficient manner.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a decontamination apparatus comprising a decontamination chamber for holding and treating articles to be decontaminated, a lid arranged to provide access to said chamber for installing articles to be decontaminated and for removal therefrom, an ancillary chamber containing decontamination fluid supply and control means for said decontamination chamber, said decontamination chambercompris- ing at least two regions so as to provide one relatively deep region wherein elongate articles such as elongate flexible breathing tubes can be suspended, and a second relatively shallow region wherein smaller articles such as breathing masks can be held or suspended, at least a lower portion of said deep region being defined by a trough into which decontaminating fluid can drain from said decontamination chamber, said decontamination chamber further including support devices for holding articles to be decontaminated, spray devices arranged in both decontamination regions for spraying decontamination fluid into or over articles arranged in the decontamination chamber, and distributing means comprising a network of pipes and manifolds for transferring decontamination fluid from said trough to said spray devices.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure lisa sectional side elevation of a decontamination apparatus according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the washing chamber of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part of the spraying apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a partly sectioned view showing a breathing tube in position within the apparatus.
Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of
Figure 1 showing a pair of hose clamps for smaller breathing tubes.
Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a breathing bag in position on the apparatus.
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken generally on line 7-7 of Figure 1 showing a pair of masks positioned on rails supported within the washing chamber between upper and lower jets.
Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 but showing an alternative form of hose clamp for smaller breathing tubes.
Figure 9 is a view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of tray positioned within the decontamination chamber.
Referring to the drawings, the decontamination apparatus comprises a vertically upstanding cabinet 10 divided into a decontamination chamber 11 and an ancillary chamber 12 by a stepped wall 13, having a horizontal upper shelf portion 14, a vertical centre step 15 and a floor 16. The decontamination chamber 11 is accessible by a hinged lid 17 which is rotatable about an axis 18 as shown to permit easy access to the chamber.
It can be seen that the arrangement provides a decontamination chamber having two identifiable regions - a relatively deep rear section 20 extending from the underside of the hinged lid 17 to the floor 16 and a relatively shallow forward section 21 extending above the upper shelf portion 14. The rear section 20 contains a heater element 22 located beneath a pair of removable gauze baskets 23.
The object of the dual nature of the decontamination chamber is to provide for treatment of long hoses or other elongate articles in the rear section simultaneously with the treatment of smaller articles in the remainder of the chamber. To this end, the apparatus is provided with a network of fluid supply pipes extending from a pump 24 located in the lower part of the ancillary chamber 12 so as to draw fluid from the decontamination chamber during operation of the apparatus.
The fluid supply network extends from the pump 24 through a vertical supply pipe 25 to a spigot 26 and two horizontal manifolds 27 and 28. A removable spraying assembly 29 engages with the spigot 26 as shown so that water can flow from the pipe 25 to an intermediate manifold 31 which supports a plurality of vertical spraying pipes 32. The pipes 32 are adapted to receive breathing bags 33 as best shown in Figure 6 and are provided with a plurality of spray holes 34 for directing fluid into the interior of the bags. The entire assembly 29 can be removed from chamber 11 for loading and unloading, as well as to provide access to the removable baskets 23.
The manifold 27 communicates with two downwardly directed nozzles 35 while the spigot 26 feeds at least one upwardly directed nozzle 36 as best shown in Figures 2,3 and 7. These nozzles direct decontamination fluid in a spray pattern over articles positioned in the upper part of the decontamination chamber.
The upper manifold 28 is provided with a plurality of downwardmly directed nozzles 38 for supplying decontamination fluid into the interior of elongate breathing tubes 39 vertically presented to the nozzles 38 and supported by a slotted rack 40 and hinged gate 40A. As best shown in Figure 4, each nozzle 38 includes an adjustable jet rod 49 for regulating the spray within the tubes. In operation, the lowermost ends of the tubes 39 are contained by the baskets 23 and extend into the fluid 41 at the bottom of the chamber 11.
The decontamination chamber is also provided with racks such as 42,43 and 60 to support articles such as masks 44 within the upper portion of the chamber as best shown in Figure 7.
Smaller breathing tubes 45 are accommodated by the intermediate manifold 30. The manifold 30 supports a plurality of horizontally extending nozzles 46 over which the upper end of the tubes 45 can be secured by spring loaded retention clips 47. Figures 8 and 9 show an alternative arrangement where retention hooks 47 are employed, supported by brackets 48.
With various articles to be decontaminated located within the decontamination chamber and the lid closed, the decontamination cycle, once initiated, is controlled by conventional means. The apparatus admits water at 600C to the level shown for a preliminary wash cycle. The preliminary wash continues for a predetermined time during which a suitable amount of detergent or other sterilising medium is added automatically to the water. At the completion of the preliminary washing cycle, the system replaces the used fluid with fresh water at 60 C and heats itto a higher temperature of, say, 75"C and then performs a rinsing or sanitizing cycle of predetermined length.
At the completion of the sanitizing cycle, the water is removed and a fan drying cycle commences using filtered air supplied to the lower part of the decontamination chamber 11 by one or more fans 50 each
provided with an outlet duct 51 containing a heating
element 52 and a one way flap valve 53 for
preventing water entering the fan during the decontamination process. The air is filtered by removable filter elements 54. The operation of the apparatus is
such that it is automatically deactivated if the lid is
opened at any time during the cycle.
Although the invention has been described with
reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art, that it may be embodied in
many other forms.
Claims (15)
1. Adecontamination apparatus comprising a
decontamination chamber for holding and treating
articles to be decontaminated, a lid arranged to
provide access to said chamber for installing articles
to be decontaminated and for removal therefrom, an
ancillary chamber containing decontamination fluid
supply and control means for said detcontamination
chamber, said decontamination chamber compris
ing at least two regions so as to provide one
relatively deep region wherein elongate articles such
as elongate flexible breathing tubes can be sus
pended, and a second relatively shallow region
wherein smaller articles such as breathing masks
can be held or suspended, at least a lower portion of
said deep region being defined by a trough into
which decontaminating fluid can drain from said
decontamination chamber, said decontamination
chamber further including support devices for hold
ing articles to be decontaminated, spray devices
arranged in both decontamination regions for
spraying decontamination fluid into or over articles
arranged in the decontamination chamber, and
distributing means comprising a network of pipes
and manifolds for transferring decontimation fluid from said trough to said spray devices.
2. A decontamination apparatus as defined in
Claim 1 in which at least one removable fluid permeable basket is located in said trough, the decontaminating fluid draining therethrough.
3. A decontamination apparatus as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the distributing means for the elongate articles includes a manifold located in the upper portion of said deep region of the decontamination chamber, said manifold being provided with said spray devices.
4. A decontamination apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the elongate articles comprise elongate breathing tubes, the spray devices being defined by a plurality of nozzles downwardly directed for supplying decontamination fluid into the interior of said elongate breathing tubes.
5. A decontamination apparatus as defined in claim 4wherein each nozzle includes an adjustalejet rod for regulating the spray within the tubes.
6. A decontamination apparatus as defined in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the support devices for elongate articles include a slotted rack and hinged gate from which the elongate articles can be suspended, the slotted rack and hinged gate being located below the spray devices.
7. A decontamination apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spray devices and distributing means provided in the shallow region of the decontamination chamber are defined by a removable spraying assembly.
8. A decontamination apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said spraying assembly releasably engages a spigot extending outwardly from a vertically extending supply pipe.
9. - A decontamination apparatus as defined in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said assembly includes a manifold supporting a plurality of vertically disposed spraying pipes adapted for receiving articles such as breathing bags thereon, each pipe being provided with a plurality of spray holes for directing fluid into an article received thereon.
10. A decontamination apparatus as defined in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said removable spraying assembly includes a second manifold provided with a plurality of horizontally extending
nozzles over which the upper ends of tubular articles
can be secured.
11. A decontamination apparatus as defined in
claim 10, wherein the means for securing the upper
ends of tubular articles comprise spring loaded
retention clips.
12. A decontamination apparatus as defined in
claim 10, wherein the means for securing the upper
ends of tubular articles comprise retention hooks
and brackets, the upper ends of the tubular articles
being held therebetween.
13. A decontamination apparatus as defined in
any one of the preceding claims wherein said
ancillary chamber contains heater means for sup
plying drying air to said decontamination chamber.
14. A decontamination apparatus as defined in
any one of the preceding claims wherein said trough
contains a heating element for heating decontamination fluid therein.
15. A decontamination apparatus su bstan- tialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8113771A GB2097677B (en) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-05-06 | Decontamination apparatus |
SG30387A SG30387G (en) | 1981-05-06 | 1987-03-27 | Decotamination apparatus |
HK60987A HK60987A (en) | 1981-05-06 | 1987-08-13 | Decontamination apparatus |
MY8700875A MY8700875A (en) | 1981-05-06 | 1987-12-30 | Decontamination apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8113771A GB2097677B (en) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-05-06 | Decontamination apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2097677A true GB2097677A (en) | 1982-11-10 |
GB2097677B GB2097677B (en) | 1985-01-16 |
Family
ID=10521591
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB8113771A Expired GB2097677B (en) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-05-06 | Decontamination apparatus |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2097677B (en) |
HK (1) | HK60987A (en) |
MY (1) | MY8700875A (en) |
SG (1) | SG30387G (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2325164A (en) * | 1997-05-16 | 1998-11-18 | Simon Julian Shaw | Disinfecting sports equipment or breathing apparatus |
-
1981
- 1981-05-06 GB GB8113771A patent/GB2097677B/en not_active Expired
-
1987
- 1987-03-27 SG SG30387A patent/SG30387G/en unknown
- 1987-08-13 HK HK60987A patent/HK60987A/en unknown
- 1987-12-30 MY MY8700875A patent/MY8700875A/en unknown
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2325164A (en) * | 1997-05-16 | 1998-11-18 | Simon Julian Shaw | Disinfecting sports equipment or breathing apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
MY8700875A (en) | 1987-12-31 |
SG30387G (en) | 1987-07-17 |
GB2097677B (en) | 1985-01-16 |
HK60987A (en) | 1987-08-21 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732 | Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977) | ||
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19960506 |