GB2487977A

GB2487977A - Dry saline microclimate therapy systems

Info

Publication number: GB2487977A
Application number: GB1102496.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Denes Gal
Original assignee: Allergy & Asthma Ltd
Current assignee: Allergy & Asthma Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-13
Filing date: 2011-02-13
Publication date: 2012-08-15
Also published as: GB201102496D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a system which can be used for providing and monitoring negative ionized dry saline microclimate based therapy for clients with respiratory and/or skin problems. The system can be used on a number of clients at the same time. The system consists of a Main Unit (1), an Air exchange system with fans and filters (4,9,13), lights and a sensor unit (15) which continuously measures the salt concentration, particle size, humidity and temperature. The system is also capable to monitor the RPM of the fans, the salt level in the tank and if the main unit's door is opened the high speed mill motor will be stopped for safety reasons. Control system software may log activity and can be upgraded using a media card. Through a media box the system can play relaxation music and display therapy related information in the therapy room.

Description

System for generating and maintaining a negative ionized dry sa'ine microclimate in a dedicated therapy room for groups

Description:

Background: This invention relates to a system which can be used for providing and monitoring negative ionized dry saline microclimate based therapy for clients with respiratory and/or skin problems.

Negative ionized dry saline microclimate is beneficial for respiratory and skin problems since it breaks up the mucus, reduces the inflammation, have an antibacterial effect and the negative ions can set back the pH value of the skin and cells of the body.

To provide this therapy to a number of people at the same time raise a few problem: -To provide and maintain a stable concentration is crucial. Too high concentration can be very dangerous for people with severe medical conditions as it can cause intensive coughing and asthma attack.

-The size of the particles is also important as only particles smaller than 2 micron can penetrate to the deepest part of the lungs, to the alveoli.

-The distribution of the microclimate is also a problem as if it is blown into a 30 sqm room at one end of the room the concentration will be much higher close to the incoming ducting than at anywhere else in the room. If salty aerosol would be simply blown continuously into the room the concentration would continuously increase during the session.

-If the therapy is provided for a group the condition of all clients have to be encountered.

There are specific conditions where a limit has to be applied on the concentration and there are less sensitive conditions where the recommended concentration is more like a guideline.

-Temperature and humidity has to be in a specific range in the therapy room otherwise the therapy won't be efficient and no healing effect will be delivered.

-Due to the high number of people treated with severe conditions the risk that they catch infection from other people can be high. They are much more sensitive for infections than an average person.

-As the device operates with salt all components are exposed the salt and corrosion.

-The software of these devices can be upgraded only physically at the location where they are running or with replacing the main control panel which can be expensive due to the high distances where these devices are going to operate -The clients don't have information about the therapy and actual microclimate they breath in during the session -There is no information available in the system for servicing; at a malfunction the lack of information makes it hard to replicate the problem and to understand why did it happen -If any tampering happens by the user which causing failures in the device it is hard to prove from warranty point of view -If the device is sold with monthly instalment construction it is a long legal process to push the client to make payments

Statement of invention

To overcome the above challenges we have invented a system which has: -A touch screen based user interface where the user can select the medical condition of each client (e.g. acute asthma, chronic copd, sinusitis) -A software which calculates the appropriate concentration and particle size for each specific session's clients -The main unit generates and blows into the therapy room negative ionized salt particles -A sensor unit located in the therapy room continuously measures the size of the particles and the concentration; the main unit will continuously adjust the salt volume and particle size accordingly -If Salt runs out from the feeder, or any fan would break down the operator is informed immediately with audio/visual signs at the medical device and also on the remote control if connected -Temperature and humidity is also monitored, if it leaves the recommended range the operator is informed with audio/visual signs on the main unit and also on the remote control -A booster fan is located in the outgoing air ducting (controlled by the main device) which exhaust air from the therapy room (providing a balanced distribution) during the therapy, can be used to eliminate overpressure and also to reduce concentration if it is too high -After each therapy session the used air is exchanged using high capacity fans, filters, motorized dampers with fresh filtered oxygen rich clean air to keep the therapy room fresh and to exhaust any bacteria or infection of the previous group -To be able to cope with highly corrosive salt all materials are made of stainless steel and all materials are removable and cleanable to make sure that no salt can sit on them. The location of the joint in the feeder has to be not at the edges to avoid salt to stick on them -Using a memory card based bootloader module we can update the software on the device remotely with sending the new flash and eeprom content in an email to the client, who copies it to a memory card and insert it to the system -The system logs the number of hours it was running since the last maintenance and the parameters of the last 5 sessions. If any malfunction occurs this information for the servicing and to be able to prove user errors can be crucial. This data can be acquired remotely using the memory card writer module as well -The system can inform the client if servicing is due based on the number of session and signals of internal / external modules -Using the media box module the system can display information about the microclimate, remaining time, medical conditions on a normal television located in the therapy room -If a device is sold in monthly instalment construction the system will ask for a code every month. This code will be provided by us only if the payment is made for that month. If no code is entered the device will stop working -If any tempering happens and the cover is removed from the electrical parts the system will immediately stop the operation until a security code is entered by the manufacturer. Such an event is causing the void of warranty -3 -

Detailed description

We have to differentiate between two sessions, Therapy and Ventilation sessions: 1. The therapy session takes for 60 minutes by default (can be changed in the menu). During the therapy session the main unit blows salty air into the therapy room (recommended size is 50-100m3). During the therapy session a booster fan also in operation to make sure that the air distribution is balanced in the room. Clients sit in the therapy room in chairs or loungers (Figure 6-2).

2. When the therapy session ends the main unit activates the air exchange system and the Ventilation' session starts. It takes for 15 minutes (it can be also adjusted). During this time the used air in the room is replaced with fresh oxygen rich filtered air for wellness and hygienic reasons. It can be started manually as well if necessary.

The system consists of the following parts (Figure 6): 1. Main unit (Figure 6-1) -located in a technical room next to the therapy room, further

detailed available at the Main Unit description

2. 2 loops of lights (session, post session): The Main Unit controls the lights. The lights in the session' loop are dimmable. It is switched on when the main unit is switched on. The purpose is to provide semi darkness in the room. The post session' loop is switched on when the therapy session' ends to show clients that the session is over.

3. Incoming air (Figure 6-13) ducting: The incoming air ducting supplies air to the technical room (Figure6-9) continuously to supply air to the main unit and also supply air to the air exchange ducting (Figure 6-9) to the therapy room. The purpose of this is to replace the used air after each session with fresh filtered oxygen rich air.

a. Filter (Figure6-12): Active carbon and hepa filters are placed on the incoming air ducting to make sure that only filtered clean air can get into the room after the therapy b. Motorized damper (Figure 6-11): This is closed during the therapy session to make sure that no salty air is coming back from the therapy room to the reception or technical room. It only opens when the high capacity ventilators are on on c. High capacity air exchange fan (Figure6-10): This fan is responsible for replacing the used (50-100 m3) air in 15 minutes along with the other fan on the outgoing side -4 - 4. Outgoing air ducting (Figure6-4): a. Filter (Figure6-5): The purpose of this filter is to provide protection to the fans filtering out salt from the air which is leaving the room.

b. Low capacity booster fan (Figure6-6): This operates during the therapy session. The main unit controls based on the signals of the sensor unit. It is responsible for the balanced distribution of the aerosol in the room. It is also responsible to make sure there is no air overpressure in the room and it can be also used for reducing the concentration if necessary. The main unit monitors if the RPM is incorrect to inform the operator about any booster fan failure through the LCD display.

c. high capacity air exchange fan (Figure 6-7): This fan is responsible for replacing the used 100 m3 air in 15 minutes along with the other fan on the incoming side 5. Sensor unit (Figure 6-15 and Figure 5): The sensor unit is located in the therapy room and it is connected to the main unit.

a. Humidity sensor: The LCD display will show the humidity in the therapy room. If the humidity is out of the 40-70% range the therapy won't be efficient, a reduced healing effect will be delivered only. In this case the main unit will inform the operator that the humidifier or dehumidifier has to be switched on.

b. Thermometer: The LCD display will show the temperature in the therapy room. If the temperature is out of the 20-25% range the therapy won't be efficient, a reduced healing effect will be delivered only. In this case the main unit will inform the operator that the heating or air conditioning has to be switched on.

c. Laser sensors: Laser sensor is hanged in the therapy room from the ceiling. Laser beam is sent out at the left side of the sensor unit (Figures-i). On the other end (Figures-2) laser detectors are located. They measure the strength of the incoming laser beam, the frequency and length of the disruption and the direction and strength of the diverted laser beams At every start the main unit runs a calibration to have values for the clean air with 0 mg/m3 concentration.

6. Media box (Figure6-i4): A media box as an option can be connected to the main unit. It shows on a regular TV located in the therapy room the remaining time, concentration, selected conditions, humidity, temperature and the medical conditions to the patients. -5 -

7. Remote control: The remote control is located at the reception optionally if the reception is far from the technical room. It can be added if the operator would not hear the beeping of the device if salt would run out or a malfunction would happen. It includes another touch screen LCD with the same information on it as on the LCD in the Main Unit. The purpose of this is to give the opportunity to the operator to start therapy sessions remotely and also to have feedback if there is a problem with the feeder, fan, humidity, etc. 8. Speakers (Figure 6-16): Speakers can be connected to the Main Unit which can have a built in mp3 player and an amplifier. It provides relaxation music during the therapy to the clients.

The volume is controlled through the touch screen digitally (analogue pot-meters would fail soon due to the highly corrosive environment).

Main unit The main unit consists of the following parts: 1. Feeder (Figure 2-1): The feeder is located on the top part of the unit. Salt is added through an opening on the top of the housing (Figure 1 1). The speed of the feeder is controlled by the software using an electro motor (Figure3-1) and an auger. A sensor is also located in the feeder to check the salt level (Feeder3-3). If the salt level is low the operator is informed via beeping and a message is shown on the LCD screen.

The joints are not at the edges (Figure 4-3) of the funnel part but at the middle of sides (Figure 4-1) where the surface is flat. Pharmaceutical salt does not have any anti-caking agent in it therefore it cakes fast and If the joints would be at the edges of the funnel the salt would stick on to it and would not be fed down through the bottom opening (Figure 4-2).

The feeder can be easily cleaned. The left end just have to be lifted from its socket (Figure 3- 2), with this the auger can be easily removed and the salt can be cleaned out with a brush.

The electro motor and the cabling will stay at the original place.

2. Mill (Figure 2 3): Salt falls down from the feeder into the mill through a pipe. The mill uses razors to grind the salt into tiny particles. The speed of the mill is controlled by the software.

With increasing the speed of the mill motor smaller particle size can be achieved. When the razor hits the salt particle it also gets a negative ionized charge. Negative ionized charging lasts for 1-2 minutes only. Therefore the mill motor runs continuously during the session to supply negative ionized charged particles.

For safety reason if the door on the left hand side of the main unit is open the mill motor will be switched off. The system will inform the user with beeping that the mill motor is stopped and for further operation the door has to be closed.

3. Fan (Figure2 -2): Grinded salt particles are blown into the therapy room by the fan. With increasing the speed of the fan can increase the concentration but too high fan speed can result in larger particle size as well since the air current can suck out the larger particles from the mill area before it would be grinded properly. This is monitored and controlled by the software. The fan's ducting can be cleaned through a small door -access opening on the ducting's side.

4. Main control panel and LCD touch screen (Figure 2-4 and Figure 7): The Main Control panel is located behind the LCD touch screen and it controls all internal and external components.

In Manual Mode the speed of each component can be adjusted manually.In Automatic Mode' the medical condition of each participating patient is selected on the LCD. Based on the signal of the sensor unit a microprocessor calculates every second the ideal speed of feeder motor, the speed of the mill motor, speed of the internal fan and also the speed of the booster fan to reach and keep the ideal concentration and particle size.

The control panel also has an internal MP3 player and an amplifier connected to play relaxation music to the clients if external speakers are connected.

Real Time Clock: The panel has a real time clock module built on. Using that it stores the number of hours it provided salt therapy and logs the settings and signals of all internal I external modules were used during the last 5 sessions. These details can be used for service purposes. The system can inform the operator that servicing is due after a preset number of hours run. The other benefit of the real time clock module is that the system can be sold on monthly instalments payments. The device can ask for a code every month. If the client does not meet payment deadlines we don't provide the code therefore they can't continue to use the device until payment is done.

5. Transformer (Figure2-5): To provide low voltage electricity for the control panels, fans, motors, etc. I can be used on 220V or on 11OV as well.

6. Communication panel (Figure2-6): The communication panel has the connectors of the booster fan, sensor unit, media box, remote control and also a card reader. The system is capable of upgrading the flash and eeprom on itself from a memory card. It is a very user friendly solution since we don't have to travel to the client for a software upgrade, it can be sent via email.

7. High voltage and fuse connector panel (Figure2-7 and Figure 1-2):The system has a main switch( Figure 1-3) on this, an incoming 220V/11OV mains connection and the connection of external lights and high speed fans. Each connector and the main panel have a separate fuse. This way a broken light won't stop the therapy session itself.

All materials have to be galvanized and anti corrosion to be able to cope with the highly corrosive effect of the salt. -7 -

Claims

Claims: 1. A system for providing negative ionized dry saline aerosol therapy for groups in the same therapy room in the same time where all participating client's medical condition is encountered.
2. The system according to Claim 1 has a touch screen based main control panel where the user can select the medical condition of each client and the software calculates the appropriate concentration and particle size.
3. The system according to Claim 1 has a sensor unit located in the therapy room which continuously measures the size of the particles and the concentration using a laser beam.
4. The salt feeder in the system in Claim 1 has a light sender and a receiver at the bottom of the tank to measure the level of salt in the feeder to be able to inform the operator with beeping if salt is just about running out.
5. The sensor unit according to Claim 3 has a humidity sensor built in, if it leaves the recommended range the operator is informed with audio/visual signs.
6. A system according to Claim 1 also include an air exchange system which replaces the used air after each therapy session with fresh, filtered new air using filters and fans to make sure client's won't catch the infection and bacteria of the previous groups' clients.
7. A booster fan is located in the outgoing ducting of the air exchange system in Claim 6 which is controlled by the control unit According to Claim 2) which exhausts air from the therapy room to provide a balanced distribution of salt particles, helps to maintain the concentration and air pressure during the therapy.
8. The joints in the salt feeder according to Claim 5 are located at the middle of the side panels and not at the edges to avoid salt to stick in the tank.
9. A media box is connected to control panel according to Claim 2 which build normal TV signals to be able to show therapy information about the remaining time and microclimate on a normal TV in the therapy room for clients.
10. Control panel's memory (according to Claim 2)can be upgraded via a memory card which is using a bootlodaer logic to upgrade the eeprom and flash content of the control panel.
11. Control panel according to Claim 2 has a Real Time Clock module on that.
12. Control panel according to Claim 2 logs information about the number of therapies provided since the last session, stores the parameters of the last 5 sessions and also the signals of each component with a time stamp on them.
13. Service information according to Claim 12 can be exported and remotely analysed using the Memory Card reader/writer according to Claim 10.
14. Systems according to Claim 1 can be sold with monthly instalment structure, in this case the system will ask for a code every month to be able to operate further which is provided by the manufacturer if the payment is cleared.
15. Control panel according to Claim 2 will stop the operation immediately if it detects tampering (any cover is removed) until a security code is entered provided by manufacturer.