JP2011019825A - Ozone sterilization management device and ozone sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ozone sterilization management device capable of enhancing sterilization processing capacity by efficiently operating an ozone sterilizer, and to provide the ozone sterilizer. <P>SOLUTION: The ozone sterilization management device 3 includes a start detecting means 20 detecting the start of sterilization processing; a storage means 19 storing information on sterilization processing; an ozone concentration acquiring means 20 acquiring ozone concentration from an ozone concentration meter 15; and an arithmetic means 20 carrying out arithmetic processing of information in the storage means and the ozone concentration. The storage means stores a determination CT value for determining the termination of sterilization processing, and a sampling interval time and a measured CT value for repeatedly acquiring the ozone concentration. The arithmetic means resets the measured CT value when the start detecting means detects the start of sterilization processing, adds the product of the ozone concentration and the actual interval time acquired every sampling, to the measured CT value, and compares the obtained measured CT value with the determination CT value, and outputs information of the termination of sterilization processing when the measured CT value is the determination CT value or higher. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing sterilization using ozone.

In the near future, a bird flu pandemic is anticipated, and apart from this, there are now concerns about a pandemic pandemic pandemic pandemic.
When these flus are epidemic, in order to prevent secondary infection in emergency transport, treatment, etc. of infected people, inside of ambulance cars, protective clothing worn by emergency personnel, lab coats worn by transported doctors, etc. It is required to efficiently and reliably sterilize a therapeutic instrument that can be used repeatedly.
Conventionally, chlorine is widely known as a chemical used for sterilization. However, chlorine is highly toxic and requires careful control of the filled containers and careful attention to leakage. In addition, chlorine remains for a long time even after sterilization and maintains its toxicity. In particular, when chlorine is used in a gas phase, there is a problem that a detoxification process is required when releasing residual chlorine after use in the sterilization process, and the sterilization facility is increased in size.

  Therefore, a technique using ozone that is easily decomposed and does not require a detoxification treatment for sterilization treatment in a gas phase has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2006-511137 A JP-A-8-150194

The sterilization drying and deodorizing apparatus proposed in Patent Document 1 contains clothes, medical equipment, etc. in a heat insulating locker, passes air through an ozone lamp provided inside, generates ozone, and circulates this to sterilize. Process.
The garment sterilization storage device proposed in Patent Document 2 stores garments and the like in a locker-type storage space, and performs an sterilization process by operating an ozone generator and a sterilization lamp provided therein.
The sterilization apparatus proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 achieves miniaturization by using ozone. However, the sterilization drying and deodorizing apparatus proposed in Patent Document 1 determines the end of the sterilization process by time management using a timer. Patent Document 2 does not describe a method for determining the end of sterilization. Conventionally, in the sterilization process, the process time is set based on the experience of the accumulation of sterilization processes, or the process time is set to be sufficient for safety. Therefore, when a large amount of sterilized objects are generated, for example, when influenza is prevalent, it has been difficult to efficiently sterilize them.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ozone sterilization management apparatus that can efficiently operate an ozone sterilization apparatus and increase the sterilization processing capacity, and an ozone sterilization apparatus using the same. And

  An ozone sterilization management device according to the present invention is an ozone sterilization management device used for sterilization treatment with ozone, a start detection means for detecting the start of the sterilization treatment, and a storage means for storing information relating to the sterilization treatment. , An ozone concentration acquisition means for acquiring an ozone concentration from an ozone concentration meter, and a calculation means for calculating the information stored in the storage means and the ozone concentration, wherein the storage means terminates the sterilization process. The determination CT value for determining the sampling time, the sampling interval time for the ozone concentration acquisition means to repeatedly acquire the ozone concentration, and the measured CT value are stored, and the calculation means, the start detection means starts the sterilization process When the detected CT value is detected, the ozone concentration acquisition means takes a reset each time the sampling interval time elapses. The product of the ozone concentration to be performed and the sampling interval time or the actual interval time is added to the measured CT value and compared with the determined CT value, and the sterilization is performed when the measured CT value becomes equal to or greater than the determined CT value. It is configured to terminate the process or output termination information.

Preferably, an input unit is provided that can change the determination CT value stored in the storage unit for each sterilization process.
Moreover, it is preferable that display means for displaying the measured CT value is provided.
The ozone sterilization apparatus according to the present invention includes an ozone generation means, an ozone concentration meter, and the ozone sterilization management apparatus.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ozone sterilization management apparatus which can operate | move an ozone sterilization apparatus efficiently and can improve a sterilization processing capability, and an ozone sterilization apparatus using the same can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an ozone sterilization apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the operation unit. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the sterilization process. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of CT value management in the sterilization process.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the ozone sterilization apparatus 1, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of the operation unit 17.
In FIG. 1, an ozone sterilization apparatus 1 includes a sterilization processing apparatus 2, a control apparatus 3, and an input / output device 4 that operates during sterilization processing.
The sterilization apparatus 2 includes a processing chamber 11, an ozone generator 12, a bypass 13, a circulation fan 14, an ozone concentration meter 15, and the like.
The processing chamber 11 is a closed space having a predetermined area. The treatment room 11 stores clothes, instruments, etc. that need to be sterilized before reuse or disposal, such as protective clothing worn by ambulance crews or lab coats of employees working at designated medical institutions designated for specific infectious diseases. . The interior of the processing chamber 11 is decorated in accordance with the object to be sterilized, such as a hanger hanger and a shelf for placing instruments. The processing chamber 11 is provided with openings 21a and 21b for circulation at the lower part and the upper part, respectively.

  As for the ozone generator 12, an ozone lamp and a forced fan are accommodated in the case. The ozone generator 12 is a device that changes oxygen (a part) into ozone by a forced fan taking in outside air and passing it through an ozone lamp, and releases it to the outside. As the ozone lamp, a UV lamp that emits ultraviolet rays is used. The air released from the ozone generator 12 contains several ppm to several tens of ppm of ozone (up to several hundred ppm depending on conditions). The concentration of ozone generated by the ozone generator 12 is affected by the time (residence time) in which air stays around the ozone lamp and is irradiated with ultraviolet rays (residence time), temperature, humidity, and the like. The ozone generator 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper opening 21 b in the processing chamber 11.

The bypass 13 is an external circulation channel that is installed outside the processing chamber 11 and is formed by connecting the upper and lower openings 21a and 21b. The bypass 13 is a pipe that extracts the lower air in the processing chamber 11 and returns it to the upper portion in the processing chamber 11.
On the discharge side of the circulation fan 14, an exhaust passage having an exhaust automatic valve 22 a is provided. In the vicinity of the upper opening 21b, an air supply passage provided with an automatic valve 22b for supplying air is provided.
The circulation fan 14 is a blower having a propeller, and is provided in the vicinity of the lower opening 21a. The circulation fan 14 is for discharging the air in the processing chamber 11 to the bypass 13.

The ozone concentration meter 15 detects the ozone concentration in the gas phase (air) and can output the ozone concentration as a current value.
The control device 3 includes an operation unit 17, a display unit 18, a storage unit 19, and a calculation unit 20. The control device 3 is incorporated in the control panel.
The control device 3 is an ozone sterilization management device in the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the operation unit 17 is operated when setting conditions for sterilization processing by the ozone sterilization apparatus 1, and the display unit 18 displays the progress status and the like during sterilization processing. Provided on the front of the control panel.

The operation unit 17 includes a CT value setting unit 25, a CT reset button 26 and a sterilization start button 27.
The CT value setting unit 25 includes a set CT value display unit 33 that displays a numerical value of up to four digits, and four setting buttons 34a, 34b, 34c, which change the numerical value of each digit displayed on the set CT value display unit 33. 34d. In the setting buttons 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d, those for changing the numerical value of each digit are arranged immediately below the display of each digit in the set CT value display unit 33, respectively. Each time the setting buttons 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d are pressed, the numerical value of the corresponding digit of the set CT value display unit 33 is increased by one. Repeats the number. The CT value setting unit 25 sets an integrated CT value that is a sterilization end condition.

The numerical value displayed on the set CT value display unit 33 is stored in the storage unit 19 via the calculation unit 20. The calculation unit 20 rewrites the corresponding data in the storage unit 19 every time the numerical value of the set CT value display unit 33 is changed.
When the CT reset button 26 is pressed, all numerical values displayed on the set CT value display unit 33 at the time of setting are set to zero. This is to avoid setting mistakes in the integrated CT value. As will be described later, the CT reset button 26 is also used during an emergency stop of the sterilization process.
The sterilization start button 27 is operated to start the sterilization process.

The setting buttons 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, the CT reset button 26, and the sterilization start button 27 are each covered with a cover with a magnetic sheet for preventing erroneous operation, and these operations are performed by removing the corresponding cover. Done.
The display unit 18 includes an ozone concentration display unit 28, an elapsed time display unit 29, a CT value display unit 30, an operation pilot lamp 31 and an end pilot lamp 32.
The ozone concentration display unit 28 displays the ozone concentration detected by the ozone concentration meter 15.
The elapsed time display unit 29 displays the time that has elapsed since the sterilization start button 27 was pressed.

The CT value display unit 30 displays the accumulated CT value in the sterilization process.
The operation pilot lamp 31 lights up or blinks when the sterilization process is performed.
The end pilot lamp 32 lights or blinks when the sterilization process is completed, that is, when the cumulative CT value in the sterilization process becomes equal to or greater than the numerical value displayed on the set CT value display unit 33. The operation pilot lamp 31 and the end pilot lamp 32 can be designed to notify normality or abnormality of the operation of the ozone sterilization apparatus 1 by distinguishing between lighting and blinking.

The storage unit 19 includes a semiconductor RAM and a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk.
The arithmetic unit 20 is configured by a CPU that performs arithmetic processing.
The input / output device 4 has an A / D conversion function for digitally converting the current value output from the ozone concentration meter 15. Further, the input / output device 4 is provided with a digital relay for starting or stopping the ozone generator 12 and the circulation fan 14 separately according to an instruction from the control device 3 and for opening and closing the two automatic valves 22a and 22b. Prepare. The input / output device 4 is incorporated in the control panel together with the control device 3, and is connected to the control device 3 by a data bus.

Next, the sterilization process by the ozone sterilizer 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of sterilization processing, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of CT value management in sterilization processing.
Before starting the sterilization process, objects to be sterilized, that is, items worn by persons such as protective clothing and lab coats, instruments used for treatment, and the like are accommodated in the processing chamber 11. Further, a set CT value, which is a condition for ending sterilization with ozone, is input to the control device 3 by operating the setting buttons 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d. The set CT value is the product of the ozone concentration (ppm) in the processing chamber 11 and the sterilization time (minutes), and is generally regarded as a standard for the sterilization action by ozone. In the ozone sterilization apparatus 1, the set CT value is compared with the product of the actually measured ozone concentration and the elapsed time in the sterilization process, and is used to determine the end of the sterilization process. The set CT value is determined according to the degree of ozone resistance of bacteria or the like to be sterilized.

The sterilization process is started when the sterilization start button 27 of the operation unit 17 is pressed.
Referring to FIG. 3, when detecting that sterilization start button 27 has been pressed, calculation unit 20 confirms that automatic valves 22a and 22b for exhaust and air supply are closed. The calculation unit 20 functions as a start detection unit. Confirmation that the automatic valves 22a and 22b are closed is performed based on the presence or absence of the output of limit switches attached to the respective automatic valves 22a and 22b. If any of the automatic valves is different from the initial set state, the control device 3 changes the corresponding automatic valve to the initial set state (S1).

When it is confirmed that the automatic valves 22a and 22b are set (closed), the circulation fan 14 is activated (S1), and the air in the processing chamber 11 is supplied to the lower opening 21a, the bypass 13 and the upper part. It is circulated through the opening 21b. In addition, the operation pilot lamp 31 starts to light.
At the same time, the control device 3 starts the ozone generator 12 and samples the ozone concentration output from the ozone concentration meter 15 via the input / output device 4 (S1).
Thereafter, the control device 3 integrates the CT values from the sampled ozone concentration, and determines whether or not the integrated CT value has reached the set CT value (S2).

Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the integration of CT values performed by the control device 3 will be described.
The calculation unit 20 activates the ozone generator 12 and simultaneously resets the sterilization management timer value (Mt), which is an internal timer (Mt = 0). In addition, the calculation unit 20 resets the CT value (Sct) for sterilization processing, in which the storage area is allocated to the storage unit 19, (Sct = 0) (S11).
Subsequently, the calculation unit 20 resets the sampling timer value Ts for managing the sampling interval of the ozone concentration Co (Ts = 0) (S12).

Thereafter, every time when the time Te (minute) set in advance as the sampling interval elapses (Ts ≧ Te), the calculation unit 20 samples the ozone concentration, and the actual sampling interval Ts (minute) and the sampled ozone concentration. The product of Co (ppm) is added to the CT value Sct for sterilization management (S13, S14). At this time, the calculation unit 20 functions as an ozone concentration acquisition unit. The sampling interval Te is set to 0.5 to 5 seconds. The sampling interval Te may be less than or greater than this.
As a value to be added to the CT value Sct for sterilization management, the product of the time Te (minute) set as the sampling interval and the sampled ozone concentration Co (ppm) may be used. This is because in consideration of the processing speed of the calculation unit 20 (CPU), the difference from the case of integration using the actual sampling interval Ts (minutes) is small enough to be ignored.

Every time the product of the sampling interval Ts and the sampled ozone concentration Co is added to the CT value Sct for sterilization treatment management, the arithmetic unit 20 updates the CT value Sct for sterilization treatment management and the set CT value Ect. Are compared (S15). As a result of this comparison, when the CT value Sct for sterilization treatment management is equal to or less than the set CT value Ect (NO in S15), the sampling timer value Ts is reset (S12), and ozone concentration sampling is repeated (S13, S14). ).
As a result of the comparison, when the CT value Sct for sterilization management is equal to or greater than the set CT value Ect (YES in S15), the calculation unit 20 stops the ozone generator 12, and the ozone concentration after the activation of the ozone generator 12 A report is created from the time-dependent change data and stored in the storage unit 19 (S16).

The set CT value Ect functions as a determination CT value for determining whether or not the CT value Sct for sterilization processing management is a value that can end the sterilization processing. In addition, the CT value Sct for sterilization treatment management can be referred to as an actually measured CT value actually measured in the sterilization treatment.
Note that the calculation unit 20 also sets the set CT value Ect (= 0) and the CT value for sterilization processing management when the CT reset button 26 is pressed during the sterilization processing and the set CT value Ect becomes zero. Compared with Sct, the ozone generator 12 is stopped. The CT reset button 26 serves as an emergency stop button in the ozone sterilization process.

Returning to FIG. 3, the control device 3 determines that the integrated CT value (referred to as “CT value Sct for sterilization treatment management”) has reached the set CT value (referred to as “set CT value Ect”). The ozone generator 12 is stopped as described above (S3). At the same time, the automatic valves 22a and 22b for supply and exhaust are opened, and the air in the processing chamber 11 containing ozone is replaced with outside air (S3). At the same time as the ozone generator 12 stops, the operation pilot lamp 31 is changed from continuous lighting to blinking.
Even when the air in the processing chamber 11 is replaced with outside air, the control device 3 continues to sample the ozone concentration, and has the ozone concentration dropped to a level that does not harm the human body (for example, 0.02 ppm or less)? Whether or not is monitored (S4). When the ozone concentration is below the level that does not cause harm to the human body, the control device 3 stops the circulation fan 14 (S5), and ends the sterilization process by the ozone sterilization device 1.

When the sterilization process ends, the control device 3 turns off the operation pilot lamp 31 and turns on the end pilot lamp to notify the operator of the end of the sterilization process. It is also possible to notify the end of the sterilization process with a buzzer.
In a conventional ozone sterilization apparatus, the sterilization treatment with ozone is managed by the representative ozone concentration (in many cases, the ozone concentration estimated from the performance of the ozone generator) and the elapsed time by the timer. In that case, the ozone generator 12 changes the ozone generation efficiency depending on the temperature and humidity of the air, and the ozone concentration in the processing chamber 11 is a value estimated from its internal volume and the ozone generation capability of the ozone generator 12. A difference occurs between Conventionally, in order to avoid incomplete sterilization due to the difference between the actual ozone concentration and the estimated ozone concentration, the sterilization time has been extended until the CT value becomes larger than the estimated CT value. .

  On the other hand, after the ozone generator 12 is operated, the ozone sterilizer 1 measures the ozone concentration every minute time (sampling interval Ts), and calculates the product of the ozone concentration and the minute time as the actual CT. Manage as a value. Further, the ozone sterilizer 1 appropriately evaluates the CT value of the ozone concentration increasing process that contributes sufficiently to the sterilization action from the time immediately after the operation of the ozone generator 12 to the steady operation (substantially constant ozone concentration). Therefore, the ozone sterilization apparatus 1 unnecessarily extends the sterilization processing time as compared with the conventional ozone sterilization apparatus that manages the CT value only with the elapsed time by the timer from the time when the ozone concentration becomes a steady state. Thus, reliable sterilization can be performed in a shorter time.

  In the ozone sterilization apparatus 1, the ozone generator 12 is disposed at a position where the externally circulated air flows into the processing chamber 11, and the ozone concentration meter 15 immediately before the air in the processing chamber 11 flows out for external circulation. Has been placed. The ozone generator 12 arranged in this manner supplies ozone to the air having the lowest ozone concentration, and the ozone concentration meter 15 is an average ozone concentration in the processing chamber 11 (an average considering ozone decomposition). A concentration slightly lower than the typical ozone concentration). Therefore, the ozone sterilization apparatus 1 can ensure the sterilization process safely, that is, not excessively and have a sufficient sterilization process time.

In addition to the sterilization processing chamber 11 shown in FIG. 1, the control device 3 can be combined with, for example, a rescue room of an ambulance, a hospital treatment room, or the like. When the control device 3 is combined with a rescue room of an emergency car, a hospital treatment room, etc., an ozone concentration meter and a fan for stirring the air inside the rescue room are arranged. The first aid room and the like are sealed so that internal germs do not leak outside. In the sterilization process, the ozone concentration meter and the electric fan are switched on and off according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 managed by the control device 3.
In the sterilization process using a rescue room or the like, when the integrated CT value is equal to or higher than the set CT value, the ozone concentration meter and the fan are stopped, and the operation pilot lamp 31 is changed from continuous lighting to blinking, the sealed state is released, Replaces air containing ozone inside with outside air.

In the above-described embodiment, the positions of the ozone generator 12 and the ozone concentration meter 15 in the processing chamber 11 can be changed as appropriate depending on the shape and internal structure of the processing chamber 11. It is also possible to choose not to perform external circulation in the sterilization process.
The sterilizing action of ozone functions not only in the gas phase described above but also in the liquid phase, that is, an aqueous solution of ozone. And the sterilization effect of ozone is determined by its concentration and action time even in an aqueous solution. The control device 3 described above can be used in the same manner for the sterilization treatment of ozone in the liquid phase.

  In addition, each structure of the ozone sterilization apparatus 1 and the ozone sterilization apparatus 1 or the entire structure, shape, dimensions, number, material, and the like can be appropriately changed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

  The present invention can be used for an apparatus for performing sterilization using ozone.

1 Ozone sterilizer 3 Ozone sterilization management device (control device)
12 Ozone generating means (ozone generator)
15 Ozone concentration meter 19 Storage means (storage unit)
20 Start detection means (calculation unit)
20 Ozone concentration acquisition means (calculation unit)
20 Calculation means (calculation unit)
25 Input means (CT setting part)
30 Display means (CT value display part)
Co ozone concentration Ect judgment CT value (set CT value)
Sct Measured CT value (CT value for sterilization treatment management)
Te sampling interval time (sampling interval)
Ts Actual interval time (sampling timer value)

Claims (4)

An ozone sterilization management device used for sterilization with ozone,
Start detection means for detecting the start of the sterilization process;
Storage means for storing information relating to the sterilization treatment;
Ozone concentration acquisition means for acquiring ozone concentration from an ozone concentration meter;
Calculation means for calculating the information stored in the storage means and the ozone concentration,
The storage means
A determination CT value for determining the end of the sterilization process, a sampling interval time for the ozone concentration acquisition means to repeatedly acquire the ozone concentration, and an actually measured CT value are stored,
The computing means is
When the start detection unit detects the start of the sterilization process, the measured CT value is reset, and then the ozone concentration acquired by the ozone concentration acquisition unit and the sampling interval time each time the sampling interval time or more elapses. The product of the actual interval time is added to the measured CT value and compared with the determined CT value,
The ozone sterilization management device is configured to end the sterilization process or output information about the end when the measured CT value becomes equal to or greater than the determination CT value. The ozone sterilization management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit capable of changing the determination CT value stored in the storage unit for each sterilization process. The ozone sterilization management device according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the measured CT value. Ozone generation means;
An ozone concentration meter,
An ozone sterilization apparatus comprising: the ozone sterilization management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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