JP3811111B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for sterilizing infectious wastes such as syringes, infusion devices, and blood transfusion devices used in hospitals into general wastes or industrial wastes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, sterilization methods are roughly classified into heat sterilization and cold sterilization. Among these, the heat sterilization includes a low temperature heating method in which treatment is performed at 100 ° C. or less and a high temperature heating method in which treatment is performed at 100 ° C. or more. Further, the high temperature heating method includes a wet type using water vapor and a dry type using heated air, ultraviolet rays, high frequency, or the like. On the other hand, there is a method using chemicals, radiation, ultraviolet rays, ultra-high pressure, or the like for cold sterilization.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, they are mainly used for sterilization of foods, and there are no practical examples of sterilization apparatuses that can suitably treat infectious wastes such as syringes used in hospitals. For this reason, such infectious waste is collected by a specific supplier and used for incineration, etc., but the cost is high, and many are made of plastic, so simple incineration generates dioxins. There's a problem.
[0004]
For this reason, illegal dumping of infectious wastes into forests and the like by people who are hesitant to dispose of them is a frequent social problem.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a sterilization apparatus suitable for use in the treatment of infectious waste such as a syringe used in a hospital.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a sterilization apparatus comprising an airtight furnace body and an intake source for sucking out air in the furnace body, the furnace body containing infectious waste. An inner kiln for storing the bucket and an outer kiln containing the inner kiln, the inner kiln comprising heating means for heat sterilizing infectious waste in the bucket; A suction port leading to an intake source is formed, and a sub-conduit for guiding the air in the inner kiln into the main pipe connected to the suction port is penetrated through the partition wall of the inner kiln. And
[0007]
In addition, a sterilization apparatus in which a furnace body having airtightness and an intake source are connected via a pipe line, the furnace body including an inner kiln for storing a bucket containing infectious waste, and the inner kiln A heating means for sterilizing infectious waste in the bucket is provided in the inner kiln, and the pipe line is connected to the main kiln connected to the outer kiln and the inner kiln. A sub-conduit passed through, the sub-conduit forming a heated portion along the heating means, one end facing one end of the main pipe connected to the outer kiln, and the main pipe is led to an intake source A filter device for filtering air is interposed.
[0008]
In particular, the filter device is formed by sequentially connecting a plurality of sealed containers with pipe lines, and each of the sealed containers is divided into two upper and lower regions by a filter element having air permeability, and the pipe lines are connected to each other from the outside. It has an introduction pipe that passes through the lower area of the closed container and an exhaust pipe that passes from the outside to the upper area of each closed container, and air sent from the introduction pipe is sent to the lower area of each closed container An air diffuser for diffusing is provided, and at least one sealed container stores a solution for immersing the air diffuser in a lower region thereof.
[0009]
In addition, a float is attached to the filter element of the sealed container in which the solution is stored, and a granular body that stirs the solution is movably contained in the lower region of the container, and the solution is anhydrous alcohol, Alternatively, it is characterized by comprising an anti-infective drug solution containing a disinfectant such as alcohol.
[0010]
Note that sterilization is distinguished from sterilization that kills most harmful microorganisms in a narrow sense and completely kills microorganisms, but sterilization in this application also refers to sterilization in a broad sense.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, application examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows an outline of a sterilizer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a furnace body having airtightness, and this furnace body 1 includes an inner kiln 2 and an outer kiln 3 incorporating the inner kiln. The inner kiln 2 and the outer kiln 3 are made of stainless steel. Among these, the inner kiln 2 stores a bucket-like bucket 4 containing infectious waste, and an infectious waste in the bucket 4 below. An electric heater 5 (1 Kw / 100 V in the present example) is provided as a heating means for sterilizing and heating. The electric heater 5 is automatically controlled in heat generation by a detection signal of a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the inner kiln 2 and can maintain the inner kiln 2 at a set temperature.
[0012]
On the other hand, the outer wall of the outer kiln 3 is formed with a jacket-type cooling chamber 6 formed by wrapping an air blow duct made of aluminum or the like, and outside air is sent into the inside thereof from a cooling fan 7. Instead of this type of air cooling, a water cooling system that supplies water or other liquid refrigerant into the cooling chamber 6 may be used.
[0013]
8 is an intake source (vacuum pump in this example) for sucking out air in the furnace body (including infectious waste gas and bacteria), 9 is a pipe line connecting the furnace body and the intake source, This pipe line 9 includes a main pipe 10 having one end connected to the bottom of the outer kiln and a sub-conduit 11 passed through the inner kiln. The main pipe 10 filters air (intake air) toward the intake source 8. In addition to the filter device 12, a known air filter 13, a check valve 14, a pressure gauge 15, and a control valve 16 are interposed, and the inside of the section flows through the main pipe 10 upstream from the filter device 12. An air cooling fan 17 is installed as means for precooling the air. A concave suction port 18 for connecting one end of the main pipe 10 is formed at the bottom of the outer kiln 3, and the sub-conduit 11 is introduced into the suction port 18 so that one end thereof faces one end of the main pipe 10. When the intake source 8 is operated, intake is simultaneously performed from the outer kiln 3 and the inner kiln 2 through the main pipe 10 and the sub-conduit 11.
[0014]
Here, the pneumatic equipment including the furnace body 1, the filter device 12, and the intake source 8 as described above is a cart 19 with a caster (in this example, a height of 900 mm and a width of 500 mm). In this case, the mobile sterilization apparatus is integrally incorporated in a depth of 500 mm, but this may be a stationary type. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 19A denotes an operation panel for setting the temperature of the furnace body 1 and operating the intake source 8.
[0015]
Next, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the furnace body, and FIG. 4 shows an XX cross section in FIG. As is apparent from these drawings, the inner kiln 2 includes an inner kiln body 2A provided with an electric heater 5 and an upper lid 2B that closes the upper end opening. Among these, on the both sides of the upper part of the inner kiln main body 2A, a horizontal shaft 20 for suspending the bucket 4 is laid in parallel, and a handle 21 is attached to the upper surface of the upper lid 2B. On the other hand, the outer kiln 3 includes an outer kiln body 3A in which the inner kiln 2 is built, and a sealing lid 3B that closes the upper end opening. Among these, four support legs 22 that support the inner kiln 2 are attached to the bottom surface of the outer kiln main body 3A, and a sealing material 23 that is in close contact with the opening edge of the outer kiln main body 3A is provided below the sealing lid 3B.
[0016]
As is clear from FIG. 4, one end of the sub-conduit 11 is raised above the inside of the inner kiln 2 as an air inlet 11A, and the lower side thereof is a portion to be heated 11B below the electric heater 5 as the electric heater. It is bent in a loop shape along. In particular, the lower end continuous to the heated portion 11B passes through the partition wall from the bottom of the inner kiln 2 and faces one end of the main pipe 10. Therefore, when the air in the outer kiln 3 is sucked out through the main pipe 10, the air in the inner kiln 2 is also merged while being guided into the main pipe 10 through the sub-conduit 11. Thus, since air is simultaneously sucked from the inner kiln 2 and the outer kiln 3 without causing a pressure difference, air in the inner kiln 2 contaminated with infectious waste leaks into the outer kiln 3. In addition, it is possible to prevent the outer kiln 3 from being contaminated by bacteria, and thus spreading of the bacteria into the atmosphere. In addition, it is preferable to separate the sub-conduit 11 from the main pipe 10 because the inner kiln 2 can be taken out from the outer kiln 3 and easily cleaned as necessary. However, the sub-conduit 11 is not separated from the main pipe 10, One end of the main pipe 10 may be branched into two branches, one of which is connected to the outer kiln 3 and the other is penetrated into the inner kiln 2 as a sub-conduit 11.
[0017]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a bucket. Here, the bucket 4 is made of stainless steel having high heat conductivity and heat resistance, and its volume is set to about 10 liters (300 mm × 230 mm × 150 mm) in this example, and a plastic syringe is placed inside as an infectious waste. And a drip device (about 1000 in a 1 cc syringe) can be accommodated. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of left and right handles 24 are swingably attached to the upper part of the bucket 4, and hooks 25 are formed on both sides of the upper part by bending the opening edge outward and downward. The bucket 4 as described above is stored in the inner kiln 2 by scratching the hook 25 to the horizontal shaft 20 as shown in FIG. 4, and at this time, the bottom surface of the bucket 4 is close to or in contact with the electric heater 5. It is supposed to be. Therefore, the infectious waste housed in the bucket 4 is heat sterilized by the electric heater 5 and is eventually melted under vacuum. In addition, the molten gas and a part of the bacteria remaining without being killed are sent to the filter device 12 through the main pipe 10 from the sub-conduit 11 through the intake air flow, and harmful chemical components and Bacteria are collected and removed, and only purified air is released from the intake source 8 into the atmosphere.
[0018]
FIG. 6 shows such a filter device. As shown in FIG. 6, the filter device 12 is configured by sequentially connecting four sealed containers 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> D through pipe lines (main pipe 10) in this example. The pipe main pipe 10 includes an introduction pipe 10A and an exhaust pipe 10B made of metal pipes that pass through the sealed containers 12A to 12D, and the exhaust pipe 10B and the introduction pipe 10A of the adjacent sealed containers are flexible. They are connected to each other by a pipe joint 10C made of a tube. On the other hand, the airtight containers 12A to 12D are divided into two upper and lower regions S1 and S2 by a filter element 26 (filter cloth) having air permeability made of carbon fiber or the like. Here, the introduction pipe 10A passes through the upper region S1 and the filter element 26 from the outside of the sealed containers 12A to 12D to the lower region S2, and the exhaust pipe 10B is passed through the upper region S1 from the outside. In addition, an air diffuser 27 for diffusing air sent from the furnace body 1 through the introduction pipe 10A is provided in the lower region S2 of each of the sealed containers 12A to 12D. This air diffuser 27 is made by rounding a stainless fiberized product like a metal scrubber into a spherical shape, and functions to diffuse the air ejected from the introduction pipe 10A into the lower region S2. Materials or minerals may be used.
[0019]
Further, in this example, the most downstream sealed container 12D is a gas-liquid separator in which only the air diffuser 27 is housed in the lower region S2, and the upstream sealed containers 12A to 12C have air in their lower regions S2. A solution L for aeration soaking the diffuser 27 is stored. In particular, an anti-infective drug solution (50% ethanol) obtained by diluting alcohol with water as a disinfectant is stored in the most upstream sealed container 12A as the dissolution liquid L, and anhydrous alcohol (95 to 95-) is stored in the downstream sealed container 12B. 100% ethanol) is stored, and pure water is stored in the sealed container 12C downstream thereof. Further, in the lower regions S2 of the sealed containers 12A to 12C, granular bodies 28 for stirring the dissolved liquid L are accommodated freely, and a float 29 is provided in the filter element 26 located on the dissolved liquid L. It is attached. The granular body 28 is a sphere having a porosity of about 20% and a diameter of 2 to 5 mm made of foamed resin, foamed glass, porous mineral, or the like. This is a mixture of air dissolved in the solution L by stirring the solution L. In addition to facilitating dissolution, it acts to collect bacteria and chemical components contained in the air by physical adsorption. The float 29 is formed by attaching a silicon tube having a diameter of 6 mm to the periphery of the back surface of the filter element 26, which expands when the inside of the sealed containers 12A to 12C is set to a negative pressure, so that the filter element 26 is placed on the liquid surface. Work to support.
[0020]
Here, the effect | action of this application sterilization apparatus comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. First, the bucket 4 is taken out from the inner kiln 2 when used, and infectious wastes such as used syringes to be treated are collected. And the bucket 4 which accommodated the infectious waste is stored in the inner kiln 2, and the upper lid 2B and the sealing lid 3B of the outer kiln are closed. And Thus, the inner kiln in 2 by energizing the electric heater 5 T1 as shown in FIG. 7 (120 ° C.; between 0 to 300 ° C. variable) or in heated, which for a predetermined time (t1 = 0 to 15 minutes) so that most of the bacteria that infest the infectious waste can be killed.
[0021]
Thereafter, the intake source 8 (vacuum pump) is activated while raising the temperature in the inner kiln 2 to T2 (245 ° C .; variable between 0 to 300 ° C.). As a result, the air in the outer kiln 3 is sucked out through the main pipe 10 of the pipe line, and at the same time, the air in the inner kiln 2 is sucked out through the main pipe 10 from the sub-conduit 11 and a small amount of remaining bacteria. While most of them are also killed by the heat when passing through the heated part 11B, the plastic infectious waste contained in the bucket 4 melts under vacuum without causing any thermochemical reaction. .
[0022]
Then, the air sucked out from the furnace body 1 is sent to the filter device 12 through the pipe line 9 (main pipe 10), sequentially passes through the sealed containers 12A to 12D, and is filtered. Released into. In particular, the air sent to the filter device 12 first flows into the sealed container 12A from the introduction tube 10A, becomes fine bubbles from the air diffuser 27, and is released into the solution L. By this aeration, the solution L The dissolution of air into it takes place. At this time, the intake air 8 is sucked through the exhaust pipe 11B, and the upper region S1 of the sealed container 12A has a negative pressure. Therefore, a cavity is generated in the solution L, and the granular material 28 floats, and the solution An ethanol vaporized film is formed on the surface. In particular, the cavity becomes conical due to the pressure difference between the upper region S1 and the lower region S2, and breaks at the interface of the floating granular material 28. At this time, a local high pressure is generated and the granular material 28 sinks. By repeating this, the spheroid 28 is vigorously stirred in the solution L, and the infectious waste molten gas contained in the air fed from the introduction tube 10A dissolves well in the solution L, and bacteria. Is completely sterilized by the disinfection action of alcohol.
[0023]
Thereafter, the air in the airtight container 12A is similarly filtered in the downstream airtight container 12B and then sent into the airtight container 12C further downstream. Here, mainly the volatilized alcohol is dissolved in pure water to Processing to prevent external leakage is performed. Further, in the most downstream sealed container 12D, a humidity adjustment process is performed in which the moisture is removed and the humidity of the air is adjusted so that air containing excessive moisture does not flow out.
[0024]
Thus, odorless and harmless purified air that does not contain infectious waste gas or bacteria is released into the atmosphere, and if the electric heater 5 is turned off after a certain time t2 (15 to 30 minutes), the bucket From 4 inside, the detoxified plastic solid reduced to about 1/10 is taken out.
[0025]
Although the present invention has been described above, the sterilizing apparatus is not limited to the above-described configuration, and for example, an ejector other than a vacuum pump can be used as an intake source.
[0026]
Further, the filter device is not limited to be configured communicates four sealed container may be any of at least two sealed containers. In addition, there may be only one sealed container for storing the solution. Further, as a disinfectant for forming the solution, alcohol such as ethanol or isopropanol, or formalin, benzalkonium chloride, phenol, cresol, iodine tincture, oxidol, Sodium hypochlorite or the like may be used.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, there is provided a highly airtight furnace body having a double structure of an inner kiln in which a bucket is accommodated and an outer kiln incorporating the inner kiln, and the inner kiln. Is equipped with a heating means to heat and sterilize infectious waste contained in the bucket, so that the syringes used in the hospital by the heating are immediately free of general waste or industrial waste that is free from contamination by bacteria. Since the infectious waste made of plastic can be melted and drastically reduced in volume, and the air in the inner and outer kilns is sucked out simultaneously by the intake source, Air in the inner kiln does not leak into the outer kiln and contaminates the inside.
[0028]
In addition, a filter device is formed by sequentially connecting a plurality of sealed containers with pipe lines, and the inside of each sealed container is divided into an upper region and a lower region by a filter element, and air fed into the lower region through the introduction pipe Since the diffusing air diffuser is provided, the diffused air can be uniformly passed through the entire surface of the filter element, and bacteria and other suspended substances contained in the air can be efficiently adsorbed and collected. Since the solution for immersing the air diffuser is stored in the two sealed containers, the diffused air can be dissolved to keep the contaminants in the solution.
[0029]
Moreover, since the granular material which stirs the dissolution liquid is accommodated, the dissolution of the diffusion air can be further promoted, and the dissolution liquid is made of an anti-infective drug solution containing anhydrous alcohol or a disinfectant such as alcohol. The bacteria can be completely killed without discharging them to the outside.
[0030]
In particular, since the sterilization apparatus uses a heat sterilization furnace body and a cold sterilization filter device as described above, it has a high sterilization effect and is effective in use in hospitals to prevent nosocomial infections. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a preferred example of a sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the appearance of the apparatus. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a furnace body. -X sectional view [Fig. 5] Side view showing a bucket [Fig. 6] Schematic showing a filter device [Fig. 7] Graph showing a process pattern by the sterilizer [Explanation of symbols]
1 Furnace
2 Inner kiln
3 Outer kiln
4 buckets
5 Electric heater (heating means)
8 Intake source
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Pipe line 10 Main pipe 10A Introductory pipe 10B Exhaust pipe 11 Subconduit 11A Intake port 11B Heated part 12 Filter apparatus 12A-12D Sealed container 18 Suction port 26 Filter element 27 Air diffuser 28 Granule 29 Float

Claims (5)

  A sterilizer comprising an airtight furnace body and an air intake source for sucking out air in the furnace body, the furnace body containing an inner kiln for storing buckets containing infectious waste, The inner kiln has an outer kiln, and the inner kiln includes heating means for heat sterilizing infectious waste in the bucket, and the outer kiln is formed with a suction port leading to an intake source In addition, a sub-conduit for guiding the air in the inner kiln into the main pipe connected to the suction port is penetrated through the partition wall of the inner kiln.   A sterilization apparatus in which a furnace body having airtightness and an intake source are connected via a pipe line, and the furnace body includes an inner kiln for storing a bucket containing infectious waste, and the inner kiln is built therein. The inner kiln is provided with heating means for heat sterilizing infectious waste in the bucket, and the pipe is passed through the main kiln connected to the outer kiln and the inner kiln. A sub-conduit, and the sub-conduit forms a heated portion along the heating means, with one end facing one end of the main pipe connected to the outer kiln, and the main pipe carries air guided to an intake source A sterilizing apparatus comprising a filter device for filtering.   The filter device is formed by sequentially connecting a plurality of sealed containers with pipe lines, and each of the sealed containers is divided into two upper and lower regions by a filter element having air permeability. And an exhaust pipe that passes from the outside to the upper region of each sealed container, and diffuses air fed from the introduction tube to the lower region of each sealed container 3. The sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein an air diffuser is provided and at least one sealed container stores a solution for immersing the air diffuser in a lower region thereof. The sterilizer according to claim 3, wherein a float is attached to a filter element of a sealed container in which the dissolved solution is stored, and a granular body for stirring the dissolved solution is movably accommodated in a lower region of the sealed container. The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the solution is an anhydrous alcohol or an anti-infective drug solution containing a disinfectant such as alcohol.

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