GB2398500A

GB2398500A - Autoclave

Info

Publication number: GB2398500A
Application number: GB0304163A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Brian Clayton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-24
Filing date: 2003-02-24
Publication date: 2004-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-24
Also published as: GB0304163D0; GB2398500B

Abstract

A cleaning or sterilising device 1 comprising a pressure chamber 2 in which one or more apertures 3, 4, 5 are provided in one wall 6. A manifold 7 carry components 8 which access the apertures is releasably attached to the outside of the wall 6. The manifold may have fluid passages 27, 28, and the manifold may carry fluid inlet and outlet valves 21, 22 to control the flow of fluid through the apertures, and a motor 23 provided with pumping means to pump fluid into the chamber. The manifold may also carry temperature and pressure sensor access passages. The manifold is attached to the chamber wall opposite the door and is adapted to stiffen the chamber wall it is attached to. The manifold may be releasably attached to the chamber door assembly. The device may have fluid dispensing means that move around the items to be sterilized or cleaned.

Description

Autoclave construction This invention relates to the construction of an

autoclave which is particularly, but not exclusively, for use with a device for cleaning and sterilising dental equipment as described in the applicant's co-pending patent application.

Autoclaves are used for the sterilization of dental instruments and other medical devices by exposure to steam at elevated temperature and pressure. Some autoclaves also have features that enable a cleaning process to take place within a pressure chamber, in particular the device for cleaning and sterilising dental equipment as described in the applicant's co-pending patent application. Other known types of medical instrument cleaning apparatus also make use of sealed chambers.

Such autoclaves and cleaning apparatus are usually monitored by various sensors passing through the chamber wall and commonly have several pipe connections to the chamber, which in turn are connected to pumps and/or solenoid valves. Further, in the device as disclosed in the applicants copending patent application, a motor pinion passes through the chamber wall which rotates a rotor.

Some improved autoclaves avoid the need for pipe connections and use solenoids attached directly to the chamber neck ring. However, a problem with this approach is that the resulting neck ring has a complex construction and is permanently attached to the chamber.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above described problems by providing a novel approach.

Therefore, according to the present invention a cleaning and/or sterilizing device comprising a pressure chamber in which one or more apertures are provided in one wall, is characterized in that a manifold is releasably attached to the outside of said wall and is adapted to carry one or more components adapted to access said apertures.

The device is preferably an autoclave which can be adapted to clean and sterilize dental equipment.

Preferably the manifold can be a structural member of the device, and may be adapted to stiffen the chamber wall to which is it attached. In one construction the manifold can be attached to the chamber wall opposite to the chamber door, and may be provided with attachment means which can attach to tie bars which extend from the chamber door around the outside of the chamber. With this arrangement the forces imposed on the door under pressure act to force the manifold against the chamber wall.

In a preferred construction a number of apertures may be provided in the chamber wall, which may include fluid inlets and outlets, mechanical pinion apertures, and/or temperature and pressure sensor apertures.

The manifold can carry valves adapted to control fluids passing into or out of the inlet and outlet valves, a motor provided with a pinion adapted to pass through the pinion aperture, and/or temperature and pressure sensor control devices.

The manifold may be provided with seals adapted to create fluid tight connections to the chamber apertures.

In one embodiment the manifold may also comprise enclosure means adapted to re-circulate fluids within the pressure system. This can incorporate a fluid cavity provided in the manifold, and pumping means adapted to draw fluid into the cavity and pump it back into the chamber via a spray assembly.

Further, the chamber may be cylindrical in shape.

ln a preferred embodiment the device is characterised in that the pressure chamber is provided with internal fluid dispensing means adapted to move around the items to be cleaned and/or sterilized, as disclosed in the applicant's co-pending patent application.

The invention can be performed in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional top view of a device according to the present invention.

In Figure 1 a cleaning and sterilizing device 1 comprising a pressure chamber 2 in which apertures 3, 4, 5 are provided in one wall 6, is characterized in that a manifold 7 is releasably attached to the outside of wall 6, and is adapted to carry components 8, which are adapted to access apertures 3, 4, 5.

The manifold 7 and the chamber 2 are held together by tie bars 9 which are hinged to door supports 10, 11 at their outer end, and which pass through apertures 12 and 13 provided in flange 14 and the manifold 7 at their inner end.

Nuts 14 and 15 hold the bars 9 in place in the apertures 12 and 13 and the manifold 7. Seal 16 is provided between the chamber 2 and the manifold 7.

The device 1 further comprises a quick opening door 17 which rotates about hinge pin 18 and which is retained in the closed position by catch 19 which rotates about hinge pin 20. The hinge pin 18 is mounted on door support 10, and catch 19 is mounted on door support 11.

The manifold 7 carries fluid inlet solenoid valve 21, and fluid outlet solenoid valve 22, and may also carry motor 23 (which is shown expanded away from manifold 7 for clarity). Valve 21 is provided with fluid supply passage 24, and fluid admission passage 25, which leads to cavity 26. Cavity 26 is disposed adjacent fluid inlet aperture 3. Valve 22 is provided with waste fluid passage 27, and fluid outlet passage 28. Waste fluid passage 27 leads away from cavity 29.

Cavity 29 is disposed adjacent fluid outlet aperture 4, and fluid injection aperture 5, provided in the wall 6. Impeller 30 is provided in cavity 29, which is driven by shaft 31, which passes through shaft aperture 32 provided in the manifold 7.

Spray assembly 33 is provided inside the chamber 2, and is fed with fluid from cavity 29.

The device 1 is provided with a controlling means (not shown) of a known type of construction, which is adapted to control the various components, and to perform automatic cleaning and sterilizing cycles.

In use dental instruments to be sterilised (not shown) are placed in basket 34, which is supported inside the chamber 2. Valve 21 opens and cleaning fluid is admitted to the chamber 2 via passage 25, cavity 26 and aperture 3. When sufficient cleaning fluids are present in the chamber 2, the motor 23 is operated and the impeller 30 draws the fluid through aperture 4, into cavity 29, and pumps it to the spray assembly 33, where it is used to clean the items in the chamber 2. The fluid is recirculated for the duration of a pre-determined wash cycle.

The above described cleaning process can follow any type of cleaning cycle, and in particular the conventional process used in medical washerdisinfectors, which is well known and will not be further described here.

Once the wash cycle is complete valve 22 is opened and the waste fluid is drained from the chamber via passages 27 and 28.

-A

The cleaning process is followed by a sterilization process, in which steam is administered via valve 21, and the chamber temperature and other parameters are controlled in any of the conventional ways, for example by a chamber heater, which are known and will not be further described here.

The pressure inside the chamber 2 acts against the door 17, which is held in place by pin 18 and catch 19, which are in turn carried by door supports 10 and 11, and tie bars 9. As a result the manifold 7 is forced against the wall 6, which maintains the structure of the device 1.

As is clear from Figure 1, to dismantle the device 1, it is only necessary to remove nuts 15, and remove the manifold from the tie bars 9. If this is done, the door 17 and its associated parts can also be removed from the chamber 2.

In an alternative embodiment, (not shown) the manifold is provided with further apparatus adapted to access the chamber, for example pressure and/or heat sensors. This apparatus is provided with a suitable aperture in the wall 6, through which it can access the chamber.

In further alternative embodiments (not shown) the device is characterized in that the pressure chamber is provided with internal fluid dispensing means adapted to move around the items to be cleaned and/or sterilized. These embodiments can by any of the type as disclosed in the applicants co-pending patent application.

Thus, a washing and/or sterilizing device is provided which can be readily constructed from simple parts, which can be readily dismantled for service and/or cleaning, and which uses a novel construction to maintain its structural integrity during high pressure sterilization.

Claims

Claims 1. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device comprising a pressure

chamber in which one or more apertures are provided in one wall, is characterized in that a manifold is releasably attached to the outside of said wall and is adapted to carry one or more components adapted to access said apertures.
2. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the manifold is a structural member of the device, and is adapted to stiffen the chamber wall to which is it attached in use.
3. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 2 in which the manifold is attached to the chamber wall opposite to a chamber door assembly comprising a door, a hinge and door closure means.
4. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 3 in which the width of the chamber is less than the manifold and the door assembly, and the manifold is releasably attached to the door assembly via two or more bars which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal side of the chamber.
5. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 4 in which the chamber is further provided with a flange at its rear, such that the rear of the chamber is substantially the same dimensions as the front of the manifold, and in which the flange is provided with apertures through which the bars can pass, thereby to attach the door assembly, bars and manifold to the chamber.
6. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 5 in which the bars are releasably attached to the door assembly by means of screw threaded sockets, and in which the bars are releasably attached to the manifold by means of an aperture through which the bars pass, and nuts provided on the bars which can be disposed against the front of the flange, and the rear of the manifold.
7. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, in which the device is adapted to clean and sterilise items with which it is used.
8. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which said apertures include fluid passages.
9. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 8 in which said apertures include temperature and pressure sensors access passages.
10. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 8 or 9 in which said apertures include a pinion aperture, through which the pinion of a motor can pass.
11. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the manifold is adapted to carry the components required to access the chamber.
12. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 11 in which the manifold is adapted to carry fluid valves adapted to control the flow of fluid through the fluid passages.
13. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 12 in which the manifold is adapted to carry a motor provided with pumping means adapted to pump fluid into the chamber.
14. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in Claim 13 in which the manifold is provided with fluid re-circulating means comprising a cavity adapted to access a fluid exit aperture provided in the wall, and a fluid injection aperture provided in the wall, and in which the pumping means is adapted to draw fluid through the fluid exit aperture, and pump it through the fluid injection aperture.
15. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the manifold is adapted to carry temperature and/or pressure sensors adapted to access the chamber via the temperature and pressure sensor access passages.
16. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the manifold is provided with seals adapted to create fluid tight connections to the chamber apertures.
17. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the chamber is cylindrical in shape.
18. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the device is adapted to clean and/or sterilize medical and/or dental equipment.
19. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which an automatic controlling means is provided, which is adapted to control cleaning and/or sterilizing operation cycles.
20. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the device is characterized in that the pressure chamber is provided with internal fluid dispensing means adapted to move around the items to be cleaned and/or sterilized.
21. A cleaning and/or sterilizing device substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawing.