JPH0621541Y2 - Simple liquid purification device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a device that can easily obtain a sterile liquid in the fields of medical care, biochemistry, bacteriology, etc., and particularly, to supply a cleaning solution or a preservative solution for contact lenses, and an enzyme cleaning agent. The present invention relates to a simple liquid purification device that can be advantageously used for supplying dissolved water and storing them.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, liquids for medical treatment and hygiene,
For example, a contact lens cleaning solution or a preservative solution is enclosed in a predetermined container in the form of a solution and provided to the user, or the user purchases purified water and dissolves the drug in the form of granules or tablets. In many cases, it is used by preparing a desired solution. And like that
In general, a sealed liquid containing a specified liquid.
Internal space and purified liquid that allows such fluid to flow out
It is possible to squeeze with an outlet, and it is released from squeezing.
A container made of an elastic material that can return to its shape is used.
Liquid contained in a container by repeatedly pinching the container
The required amount by alternating the outflow of air and the inflow of outside air into the container
You're getting liquid.

However, the liquid is sealed in such a container.
In the former case of being put in and provided, there is no problem when opening and using a new container, but since such a container contains a large amount of liquid,
It may be used for a long period of time under an opened condition, so that the liquid retained in such an opened container has an inherent problem that it is easily contaminated by bacteria entering through the opening of the container. There is. Also, if the user
In the latter case where the liquid is appropriately adjusted , the purified water is not sterile, and therefore there is a problem that bacteria may grow during storage of the liquid and become dangerous. Further, instead of such purified water, tap water at hand may be used as it is for cleaning. In this case, in addition to the above-mentioned problem of bacterial contamination, contamination of contact lenses by colloids or fine particles of iron, manganese, etc. The occurrence of scratches also poses a problem.

Therefore, JP-A-59-150514 discloses a method for obtaining a liquid for cleaning contact lenses.
As a device, attached to the opening of the container
Handheld Liquid Filtration and Distributor to Filter Incoming Air
However, in such a device, a flat membrane-like hydrophilic filter is used.
Separate the outside airflow inlet from the liquid outlet where the excess medium is placed.
Independently formed, flat membrane-like hydrophobic filtration medium is placed there
Complicated structure and difficult to manufacture
At the same time, it has the problem of being large and inconvenient to handle.
I was there. Boil out and place a hydrophobic filtration medium on the liquid outlet.
Then, at the time of liquid outflow, the liquid outflow passage is made through the hydrophilic filtration medium.
The liquid spilled over also adheres to the outer surface of the hydrophobic filtration media.
The liquid will be deposited even if the pressure in the container is reduced.
Because it cannot easily pass through hydrophobic filtration media,
The inflow of outside air through the excess medium is stopped.
Even if the clamping pressure is released, the container will not return to its original shape.
Because it is.

In addition, in such a hand-held liquid filtration and distribution device,
In hydrophilic and hydrophobic filtration media
Hydrophilic and hydrophobic in order to ensure the filtration area advantageously
The hollow fiber is used as the filtration medium for the
While facing the surface inside the container, it is also conceivable to face the inner surface to the space communicating with the liquid outlet, but in that case as well, if the inside of the hydrophobic hollow fiber is filled with liquid, the inside of the container Even if the pressure is reduced, outside air will not flow through the hydrophobic hollow fiber. Therefore, an outside air inlet is formed separately from the liquid outlet, and the hydrophobic filtration medium is placed there. It was necessary to complicate and upsize the structure.

[0006]

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is based on repeated pinching.
The flow of liquid and the inflow of outside air are alternately performed, and the required amount of
In a container designed to obtain liquid,
There is no need to form a separate air inflow passage,
Liquid outflow and ambient air inflow can occur, and the outflow liquid and flow can
Both incoming and external air can be beneficially sterilized by filtration media
Provide a simple liquid purification device that has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture
That is the problem to be solved.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a sealed internal space for accommodating a predetermined liquid, and a purified liquid outlet through which the liquid flows out.
A container made of an elastic material that can be squeezed and can return to its original shape when the squeezing is released, and the bacteria contained in the container are removed.
And a porous hollow fiber bundle capable to, the porous hollow yarn bundle, in part of hollow fibers or all of one of its constituent
A hollow fiber that share a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety,
Surface in a space inside surface of the hollow fibers communicating with the cleaning liquid outlet
The negative pressure in the container caused by the restoration of the original shape of the container
The liquid remaining in the hollow fiber is removed by backflow into the container.
The simple liquid purifying device thus constructed is the gist of the invention.

[0008]

Specific Structure / Examples In order to further clarify the structure of the present invention, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a pot-shaped container main body, and an opening 12 of a predetermined size is provided on the upper portion thereof, and a predetermined aqueous liquid 14 is provided through the opening 12.
Are accommodated in the container body 10. The container body 10 is composed of an elastic member that can be pinched by fingers or the like and that can be easily restored to its original shape when released from such pinching. Generally, a suitable resin material such as polypropylene is used. It is formed by using various elastic polymer materials such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, and polyvinyl chloride. The shape of the container body 10 can be arbitrarily determined according to the use, but generally, a pot-shaped or bottle-shaped structure having a bottomed cylindrical shape is used.

A cap 18, which is a resin molded product, is attached to the cylindrical mounting portion 16 forming the upper opening 12 of the container body 10 in a structure such as screwing, fitting, etc. 12 are closed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the cap 18 is
It has a tapered cylindrical liquid outflow portion 20 projecting outward in the center thereof, and at the tip of this liquid outflow portion 20,
An outlet 22 of a predetermined size, preferably having an inner diameter of 3 mm or less, is provided, while the presence of a ring-shaped liquid leakage prevention piece 24 integrally formed inside the cap 18 prevents the cap 18 from leaking. Mounting part 1 of container body 10
The mounting portion 16 can be held in a liquid-tight manner when it is attached to the unit 6.

A hollow fiber module 26 is attached to the inside of the cap 18 in a state where the hollow fiber module 26 is fitted to the inner peripheral portion of the liquid leakage prevention piece 24, and is formed integrally with the cap 18. . In this hollow fiber module 26, a large number of hollow fibers 28 are bundled in a loop shape (U shape), and ends thereof are bonded and fixed with an appropriate adhesive such as polyurethane resin to form a hollow fiber holding portion 30. In this holding portion 30, the liquid leakage prevention piece 24 of the cap 18 is fitted and fixedly or detachably attached. As shown in FIG. 3, both ends of each hollow fiber 28 are covered by the cap 18
The hollow fiber opening 34 is opened to the internal liquid passage 32, and the holding portion 30 ensures liquid tightness between the hollow fiber opening 34 of each hollow fiber and the liquid leakage prevention piece 24. And it is designed to be kept airtight.

By the way, a large number of porous hollow fibers 28 constituting the hollow fiber module 26 are respectively shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
It is composed of a hollow fiber in which and coexist. And
In the hydrophilic portion 38, the hollow fiber 28 has a pore size that allows the aqueous liquid 14 contained in the container body 10 to pass through but does not allow bacteria to pass through. In other words, bacteria can be removed. It must have a membrane pore size and a small filtration resistance. The membrane pore size that can be removed by this bacterium is preferably such that Pseudomonas deminator ATCC 19146 can be blocked, and it is usually suitable that it can block standard particles of 0.2 to 0.3 μm.

Further, since bacteria in the air exist in a state of being bound to fine particles, they are larger than bacteria existing in an aqueous liquid, and usually have a diameter of at least about 0.45 μm, which means that they are porous. If the hydrophobic portion 36 of the hollow fiber 28 also has pores having the above-described pore diameter,
Even in the hydrophobic portion 36 of the hollow fiber, it is possible to favorably prevent the invasion of bacteria from the outside into the container.

As a method for producing the porous hollow fiber 28 in which the hydrophobic portion 36 and the hydrophilic portion 38 coexist, a known method can be appropriately adopted,
In the present invention, the following method is preferably adopted.

That is, a method of partially hydrophilizing a hydrophobic porous hollow fiber obtained from a hydrophobic polymer such as polyolefin, polyester and polytetrafluoroethylene, and a specific example thereof is as follows. It is carried out by using an apparatus as shown in FIG. 8. A sparingly water-soluble surfactant 50 such as propylene glycol monostearate is melted by heating, and the melt 50 is rolled by a roller 52. When it is attached to a polyolefin porous hollow fiber as a hydrophobic hollow fiber via
2 is provided with a notch portion 54 to make the contact of the hollow fiber 56 with the roller 52 non-uniform and to allow the surfactant to adhere non-uniformly, so that the desired hydrophobic portion 36 and hydrophilic portion 38 are separated. The coexisting porous hollow fiber 28 is obtained.

In order to obtain the above-mentioned polyolefin porous hollow fiber, a known method can be appropriately adopted. Particularly, in the case where the hollow porous fiber is made porous by a stretching method, it has a slit shape. Since it has pores and can block bacteria and has high water permeability, it is preferably used in the present invention.

However, contrary to the above, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a hydrophilic porous hollow fiber formed of polyvinyl alcohol, polysulfone, cellulose acetate, polyamide or the like with a non-uniform hydrophobizing treatment. It is also possible to obtain a porous hollow fiber 28 in which a hydrophobic portion 36 and a hydrophilic portion 38 that coexist are provided, and further, in such a coexisting type hollow fiber 28, the hydrophobic hollow fiber 28 as shown in FIG. It is not necessary that the portions 36 and the hydrophilic portions 38 be formed so as to be alternately located in the yarn length direction, and such a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion coexist in one hollow fiber 28. It goes without saying that various types of coexistence forms can be taken as long as the hydrophobic portion 36 and the hydrophilic portion 38 are provided so as to be juxtaposed in the yarn length direction, as long as they are provided.

The size of the hollow fiber 28 is not particularly limited, but is usually 50 to 50 mm in inner diameter.
It is selected within the range of 2000 μm and the film thickness of 10 to 200 μm.

On the other hand, it is not necessary for all of the hollow fibers 28 constituting the hollow fiber module 26 to be the hollow fibers in which the hydrophobic portion 36 and the hydrophilic portion 38 coexist as described above, but a part thereof is The coexistence type hollow fiber 28 may be used. However, when a part of the hollow fiber module 26 is composed of such a coexisting hollow fiber 28, it is desirable that all the other hollow fibers are composed of hydrophilic hollow fibers. In the hollow fiber made bare, and the entire surface thereof is made hydrophobic, if the inside of the hollow fiber is filled with an aqueous liquid, the aqueous liquid in the hollow fiber is This is because the hollow fiber cannot easily pass through the wall portion, which may make it difficult for the hydrophobic hollow fiber to flow in air from the outside.

Further, the hollow fiber module 26 is
The hollow fibers 28 are bundled in a loop shape, and both ends are hollow fiber openings 3
4 has a structure in which it is opened in the liquid passage 32, but instead of this, one end of the hollow fiber is sealed and the other end is adhered with an adhesive to form a holding portion. It is also possible to have an open structure. In addition, in the mounting structure of the hollow fiber module 26 to the cap 18,
In addition to the fitting structure as in the above example, a screwing structure or the like may be adopted, and there is no problem even if bonding is performed using an adhesive.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, if a cover or skirt 40 having a hole is provided to surround the hollow fiber module 26, the hollow fiber when the cap 18 is attached to or detached from the container body 10 is removed. The damage of 28 can be prevented, which is an advantageous means in the present invention. The predetermined aqueous liquid 14 in the container body 10 is brought into contact with the hollow fibers 28 through the holes 42 of the cover or skirt 40.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in addition to the opening 12 to which the cap 18 is attached, a chemical solution inlet 44 is provided as a supply port for the aqueous liquid 14, and the chemical solution inlet 44 is an inlet cap. It is also possible to have a structure in which it can be sealed at 46. In such a simple liquid purification device, the cap 18 can be integrally molded with the container body 10, and its manufacture can be facilitated. Since it is not necessary to remove the hollow fiber modules 26 one by one when supplying the solution into the container, the durability of such a device can be improved.

By the way, in the case of the container provided with the hollow fiber module 26 as described above, the container body 1 is tilted or tumbled.
When the body part of 0 is pinched with fingers or the like, the predetermined aqueous liquid 14 contained in the container body 10 is of the coexisting type that forms the hollow fiber module 26 due to the increase in pressure in the container body 10. The hydrophilic portion 38 (and the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber) of the hollow fiber 28 is allowed to pass through the hole in the hollow fiber wall, and the liquid passage 3 from the hollow fiber opening 34 at the end thereof.
2 and then flow out (discharge) from the outlet 22 of the cap 18 to the outside. Then, at that time, since the bacteria in the aqueous liquid 14 can be removed through the membrane hole of the hydrophilic wall portion of the hollow fiber 28, by any chance, the bacteria are present in the aqueous liquid 14 in the container body 10. Even so, the aqueous liquid that is effectively separated and discharged from the outlet 22 of the cap 18 is free of bacteria and therefore can be supplied as a clean liquid.

Further, when the aqueous liquid 14 in the container body 10 is discharged from the outflow port 22 of the cap 18 and the clamping action on the body of the container body 10 is released, the container body 10 is released.
Although the inside of the container is decompressed due to the restoring action to the original shape and the container (main body 10) is in a deformed state, such deformation constitutes the hollow fiber module 26 through the outlet 22 and the liquid passage 32. The air guided through the holes of the hollow fiber wall of the hydrophobic portion 36 of the coexistent hollow fiber 28 is caused to flow into the container body 10, whereby the inside of the container is returned to atmospheric pressure, and the container (body 10) is opened. The original form can be restored. At that time, if the membrane pores of the hydrophobic wall of the hollow fiber 28 are capable of removing bacteria in the air, the air supplied into the container body 10 contains bacteria. Instead, it can be supplied as clean air.

As described above, after the pressure is applied to the container body 10, air is introduced to restore the container body 10 to its original shape, so that a clean liquid can be easily and easily supplied. is there. Stick out, container body 1
It takes a lot of labor to press the container body 10 with fingers or the like so as to let the liquid flow out of the container in order to supply the purified liquid further in a state where 0 is deformed. Because it is not the target.

The simple liquid purification apparatus according to the present invention is
It is also possible to form the structure as shown in FIG.

That is, in such a simple liquid purifying apparatus, the elongated liquid outflow portion 20 is penetrated through the cap 18.
A conducting pipe 48, in which the liquid conducting portion 47 and the liquid conducting portion 47 are integrated, is airtightly attached, and the hollow fiber module 26 is provided so as to partition the internal passage located at the mounting portion of the cap 18 thereof. The liquid guide part 47 side is communicated with the liquid passage 32 on the liquid outflow part 22 side of 48 via the hollow fiber module 26, while the lower end part of the liquid guide part 47 is of the container body 10. An opening is made in a predetermined aqueous liquid 14 near the inner bottom surface.

When using the simple liquid purifying apparatus having such a structure, it is not necessary to incline or invert the container body 10, and the body portion of the container body 10 is left as it is with fingers or the like. If the pressure is applied, the predetermined aqueous liquid 14 contained in the container body 10 is made to rise in the conducting pipe 48 due to the increase in the pressure in the container body 10, and passes through the hollow fiber module 26 to the outlet 22.
It will be released more, and the usability thereof can be further improved.

Although the configuration of the present invention has been variously described based on the several embodiments according to the present invention, the present invention is limited only to such exemplary embodiments and further detailed explanations accordingly. Should not be construed as limited to
Unless departing from the spirit of the present invention, the present invention is
It goes without saying that various changes, modifications and improvements can be added.

For example, in order to prevent the outflow port 22 portion of the cap 18 from being contaminated by bacteria or the like, it is possible to enhance the effect of the present invention by providing a cover cap that covers at least the outflow port 22 portion of the cap 18. Effective above.

Further, the cap 1 of the hollow fiber module 26
8 Even in the mounting structure to the inner side, in addition to the structure in which the liquid leak prevention piece 24 is used to fit the inside as in the above example, an appropriate hollow fiber module holding member may be separately provided inside the cap 18. It is also possible to fix the hollow fiber module 28 directly to the inner surface of the cap 18.

Above, several embodiments according to the present invention have been shown.
However, in the simple liquid purification device having such a structure,
Does not require expensive or complex equipment
Completely eliminates bacterial contamination hazards with its low cost, low cost and simple structure
Can get a solved liquid, especially contact lenses
By using it as a container for cleaning or preserving liquid,
Without adding expensive equipment, it has become a problem from the past.
It is possible to completely solve the obstacle of bacterial contamination that was
Of.

Further , in such a simple liquid purification device
Allows the aqueous liquid 14 in the container body 10 to pass through.
The hydrophilic portion 38 of the hollow fiber 28 has a pore size that enables disinfection.
Therefore, it can be easily removed by just pressing lightly with your fingers.
A germ-free sterile liquid can be obtained.

Further, in such a simple liquid purification device
Is the hydrophobic part 3 of the hollow fiber 28 through which air can pass.
If 6 is configured to have a sterilizable pore size,
Good prevention of contamination of the liquid 14 in the container body 10 by bacteria
It can be stopped and the liquid 14 can be stored for a long period of time.
There is also the advantage of becoming.

Further , in such a simple liquid purification device
Is a hollow fiber module provided integrally with the cap 18.
Part or all of the hollow fiber 28 that constitutes the
A hollow fiber in which the aqueous portion 38 and the hydrophobic portion 36 coexist
The liquid 14 inside the hollow fiber 28.
Even when the liquid is filled, the liquid 14 easily escapes from the inside of the hollow fiber 28 in the hydrophilic portion 38 by pressurization or depressurization, and air can flow in and out of the hydrophobic portion 36. Therefore, after a desired amount of the liquid 14 is caused to flow out to the outside by applying a pinching pressure to the container body 10, outside air flows in through the hydrophobic portion 36, so that the container body 10 is easily restored to its original shape. It can be restored and can be used continuously.

Furthermore, in such a simple liquid purifying device,
Their function as filtration media for liquids and air
From using the hollow fiber 28 that integrally has
Large filtration area can be easily obtained compared to flat membrane filtration media.
And there is no need to provide a separate air inlet.
Therefore, a member equipped with such a filtration medium is significantly
Force to press the container body 10
For liquids that do not require relatively large force
14, which is capable of performing filtration, that is, purification, and
Restoration of the main body 10 can be quickly performed.

Furthermore, in such a simple liquid purification device
The hollow fiber module 26, the liquid out of the cap 18
Installed inside the container body 10 so that it communicates with the mouth 20
It is possible to install a housing for filtration outside the container.
Very compact simple liquid purification device that does not need to be installed
There is also an advantage that it can be placed.

Further , in such a simple liquid purification device
The hollow fiber module 26 is formed by bundling the hollow fibers 28.
It can be manufactured by adhering the ends with an adhesive.
In addition, the hollow fiber 28 not only serves as a liquid passage but also as an empty space.
Since it also functions as an air passage, it takes
The hollow fiber module 26 has a very simple structure and
It is possible to easily and economically manufacture the purifying device.
Wear.

Furthermore, in such a simple liquid purifying device,
The hollow fiber module 26 inside the cap 18.
It can be attached directly or indirectly,
In such a case, the hollow fiber module
Since the tool 26 can be easily removed,
If there is no aqueous liquid in the container body 10 of, there is an advantage can be easily mounted to the opening of another container body 10 filled with a predetermined water liquid.

While the various configurations of the present invention have been described based on some embodiments according to the present invention, the present invention is limited to such exemplary embodiments and further detailed explanations accordingly. Should not be construed as limited to
Unless departing from the spirit of the present invention, the present invention is
It goes without saying that various changes, modifications and improvements can be added.

For example, in order to prevent the outflow port 22 portion of the cap 18 from being contaminated by bacteria or the like, providing a cover cap that covers at least the outflow port 22 portion of the cap 18 enhances the effect of the present invention. Effective above.

Further, the cap 1 of the hollow fiber module 26
8 Even in the mounting structure to the inner side, in addition to the structure in which the liquid leak prevention piece 24 is used to fit the inside as in the above example, an appropriate hollow fiber module holding member may be separately provided inside the cap 18. It is also possible to fix the hollow fiber module 28 directly to the inner surface of the cap 18.

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention
In a simple liquid purification device with a structure that complies with
The hollow fiber with hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts coexisting inside
Another application, liquid spillage by repeated pinching
Alternately inflowing outside air to obtain the required amount of liquid
By using it as a filtration medium in
When the original shape is restored by removing the clamping pressure on the main body,
Of liquid flowing out into the water
Then, it remains in the hollow fiber and adheres to the surface of the hydrophobic part.
Liquid is removed and external air is allowed to flow in through the hydrophobic part.
It was possible to make them.

And, therefore, by repeatedly pressing.
Flow out of the liquid and inflow of outside air alternately to generate the required amount of liquid.
Liquid outflow and outside air in a container designed to gain body
On a single flow path
The hydrophilic part for filtering outflow liquid and the hydrophobic part for filtering inflowing outside air
A single bundle of porous hollow fibers with a flexible part
It has become possible to achieve compactness and structure.
A simple liquid purification device that is simple and has excellent operability can be realized.
It was decided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a simple liquid purification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the simple liquid purification device shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view showing a hollow fiber used in the examples shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing another example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a structural explanatory view of an apparatus suitably used in manufacturing the hollow fiber used in this example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Container body 12 Opening part 14 Aqueous liquid 16 Mounting part 18 Cap 20 Liquid outflow part 22 Outflow port 24 Liquid leakage prevention piece 26 Hollow fiber module 28 Hollow fiber 30 Holding part 32 Liquid passage 34 Hollow fiber opening 36 Hydrophobic part 38 Hydrophilic Sex part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inoue Tsusei Inoue 4-chome, Sunadabashi, Higashi-ku, Aichi Prefecture 1-60 Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. No. Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-59-150514 (JP, A) Real-open Sho-58-40202 (JP, U) Actual-open Sho-60-49986 (JP, U) Actual-open Sho-60-49904 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A pinchable device having a sealed internal space for accommodating a predetermined liquid and a purified liquid outlet through which the liquid flows out, and can be restored to its original shape when released from the pinching pressure. It has a container made of an elastic material and a porous hollow fiber bundle capable of removing bacteria stored in the container, and the porous hollow fiber bundle has a part or all of the hollow fibers constituting it.
A hollow fiber that share a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part in one, is a surface in a space inside surface of the hollow fiber is the purification liquid outlet communicating with the container in a negative pressure due to the original return of the container
The liquid remaining in the hollow fiber is removed by backflow into the container by
A simple liquid purification device characterized in that