KR101020518B1 - Sterilizing and drying apparatus of medical device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sterilization and drying of medical instruments, wherein the handpiece is fixed in a chamber configured to attach and detach dental medical instruments such as a handpiece, and the hollow formed in the exterior of the handpiece as well as the interior thereof. Low temperature plasma (Plasma) and ozone gas, and hot air is supplied to the tube to perform sterilization and drying of the corresponding handpiece.

In particular, it performs sterilization and drying process of the handpiece by low temperature plasma and ozone gas and hot air, and prevents deformation of the handpiece in advance and sterilization and drying of the handpiece at once. By doing so, the time required for disinfection and sterilization of dental medical instruments such as handpieces can be significantly shortened.

Therefore, the rapid and effective dental treatment is possible, as well as environmentally sterilizable, there is an effect to improve the product life and competitiveness for medical instruments such as expensive handpieces.

Low temperature plasma, ozone, handpiece, sterilization, drying, hot air

Description

Sterilizing and drying apparatus of medical device

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sterilization and drying of medical instruments, and more particularly, using a low temperature plasma and ozone gas, and hot air, to sterilize a hollow tube formed inside as well as the exterior of a dental medical apparatus such as a handpiece. And by drying, it is possible to effectively disinfect and sterilize and at the same time prevent deformation of dental medical instruments such as handpieces.

In general, a variety of dental medical instruments are used in dentistry to treat abnormal teeth. In particular, dental handpieces used during surgery and treatment are exposed to bacteria and microorganisms, and therefore, between patients or between medical personnel and medical staff. Cross-infection problems are frequent.

Therefore, in order to prevent infection by bacteria and microorganisms as described above, the importance of disinfection and sterilization for dental medical devices is emerging.

Disinfection and sterilization methods currently used include methods by means of devices and medicines. Dental medical instruments, for example, handpiece sterilizers are autoclave and dry heat sterilizers. ), An EO sterilizer, an ultrasonic sterilizer, and the like, and methods such as povidone, gluconate chlorohexidine, glutaraldehyde, and the like are used.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned handpiece is used by attaching and detaching a variety of dental tools for treating the patient's teeth, such handpiece to the hollow to the inside to supply the washing water sprayed to the treatment site when treating the patient's teeth The tube is formed.

However, the hollow tube formed in the handpiece as described above is not only straight, but also composed of various shapes such as bent at a certain angle, and because its inner diameter is very small, the above-mentioned high temperature and high pressure handpiece sterilization apparatus When used, there is a problem that the deformation of the product, such as a handpiece, resulting in a shortened product life of the handpiece.

Due to the above problems, despite the need to use a sterilized handpiece for each patient, the product life of the expensive handpiece can be significantly reduced, most dentists are reluctant to sterilize by high temperature, high pressure There is a situation.

In case of sterilization and sterilization using chemicals, the degree of deformation of the product may be reduced compared to the high temperature and high pressure handpiece sterilizer, but many processes such as chemical sterilization, sterilization, and drying are required. In addition, since the time required for disinfection and sterilization work is long and requires a lot of manual work, a separate equipment such as a dryer and a sterilizer required for a separate process is required, and the burden of the overall equipment cost and maintenance cost becomes very large.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention, by using a low temperature plasma and ozone gas, and hot air, sterilizing and drying the hollow tube formed inside as well as the outside of the dental medical equipment such as handpiece, effective disinfection And it is possible to provide a sterilization and drying apparatus for medical instruments that can be sterilized and at the same time prevent deformation of the handpiece in advance.

In particular, sterilization and drying of medical instruments such as handpieces are performed at a time, so that the time required for sterilization and drying of dental medical instruments such as handpieces is significantly reduced. The purpose is to provide a device.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the chamber comprising at least one connection portion formed to be detachable handpiece; A dust moisture filter for separating and removing dust and water in the gas discharged from the chamber; An ozone decomposer for decomposing ozone contained in the air passing through the dust moisture filter; A vacuum pump that sucks and discharges air introduced through the ozone decomposer; Sterile gas generating means for generating a low temperature plasma and ozone gas; Hot wind generating means for generating a hot air wind; And it characterized in that it comprises a supply pipe for supplying the low temperature plasma and ozone gas generated by the sterilization gas generating means, and the hot air wind generated by the hot wind generating means to the chamber and the connecting portion.

In addition, the non-return valve is provided at the output end of the hot air generating means according to the present invention.

In addition, the sterilization gas generating means according to the invention is characterized in that the oxygen generator is further connected.

In addition, the chamber according to the present invention is characterized in that the temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity inside the chamber, the first ozone sensor for detecting the concentration of ozone is further installed.

In addition, a first flow path is formed inside the handpiece according to the present invention, a second flow path corresponding to the first flow path is formed in the connection portion, and a third flow path corresponding to the second flow path is formed in the chamber. And the supply pipe is installed such that a fourth flow path formed inside the supply pipe is connected to the third flow path.

By means of the above solution, the present invention is fixed in the chamber (Chamber) configured to attach and detach the dental medical instruments, such as the handpiece to fix the handpiece of one of the dental medical instruments, as well as the outside of the handpiece By supplying low-temperature plasma and ozone gas to the hollow tube formed therein to perform sterilization and drying process of the corresponding handpiece, while performing an effective sterilization and drying process, the handpiece, etc. It is possible to prevent deformation of the dental medical device.

In particular, by performing the sterilization and drying process of the handpiece at a time, it is possible to significantly reduce the time required for disinfection and sterilization of the handpiece.

Therefore, the rapid and effective dental treatment is possible, as well as environmentally friendly sterilization, there is an effect to improve the product life and competitiveness for dental medical instruments such as expensive handpieces.

Examples of sterilization and drying apparatus for medical instruments according to the present invention can be applied in various ways, in the following description of the most preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, the mechanical configuration and coupling relationship of each configuration is Various modifications are possible depending on the requirements of those skilled in the art and the configuration of dental medical instruments such as handpieces.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of a sterilization and drying apparatus for medical instruments according to the present invention, including a chamber 100, sterile gas generating means 210, hot air generating means 220, supply pipe 300 It is composed.

At least one connection part 110 is formed at one side of the chamber 100 so that the handpiece 400 is detachable, and the other side of the chamber 100 detects whether the door is opened or closed. ) Is configured. Here, it can be configured to inform the user whether or not the door of the door installed in the chamber 100, the notification method of the door opening and closing may use a speaker or a display.

In addition, the chamber 100 detects the temperature and humidity inside the chamber 100 when drying and reflects the drying in the drying operation, and a first ozone sensor for detecting ozone present in the chamber 100. 140 is further installed.

The sterilization gas generating unit 210 includes a low temperature plasma generating unit 211 for generating a low temperature plasma and an ozone generating unit 212 for generating ozone, and sterilizing gas (low temperature plasma gas and ozone gas during sterilization operation). ) Is generated and supplied to the chamber 100 through the supply pipe 300.

The hot wind generating means 220 is to generate a high-temperature air wind, to generate hot air during the drying operation to enter the chamber 100 through the supply pipe 300.

Here, the detailed configuration of the low temperature plasma generating unit 211, the ozone generating unit 212 and the hot air generating means 220 is naturally applicable to the needs of those skilled in the art.

In addition, by providing a separate control means (not shown), it is possible to control the operation of the low temperature plasma generating unit 211, the ozone generating unit 212 and the hot air generating means 220, the low temperature by the control means Naturally, operations of the plasma generator 211, the ozone generator 212, and the hot air generator 220 may vary depending on the sterilization and drying method of the handpiece 400.

In particular, the connection relationship between the sterilization gas generating unit 210 and the hot air generating unit 220 including the low temperature plasma generating unit 211 and the ozone generating unit 212 is configured to have a serial connection relationship as shown in FIG. It can be, but can be changed in parallel connection relationship.

At this time, the supply pipe 300 may further comprise a separate flow path control valve (not shown) to connect the flow path with at least one of the sterilization gas generating means 210 and the hot air generating means 220.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the handpiece 400 is provided with a first flow path 401 used for dental treatment, and is provided at a low temperature supplied through the fourth flow path 301 of the supply pipe 300. Plasma, ozone gas and hot air are not only directly supplied into the chamber 100 but also are supplied to the first flow path 401.

In other words, a second flow path 111 is formed in the connection part 110 to be connected to the first flow path 401 formed in the handpiece 400 and is connected to the second flow path 111 of the connection part 110. The third flow path 101 is formed in the chamber 100 so that the third flow path formed in the chamber 100 and the fourth flow path 301 formed in the supply pipe 300 are connected to each other.

Therefore, low-temperature plasma, ozone gas, and hot air flowing through the fourth flow path 301 of the supply pipe 300 may pass through the third flow path 101 of the chamber 100 and the second flow path 111 of the connection part 110. It is supplied to the first flow path 401 of the handpiece 400 through.

By the low-temperature plasma, ozone gas and hot air supplied as described above, the first flow path 401 inside the handpiece 400 can be easily sterilized or dried.

In addition, a dust moisture filter 260 for separating and removing dust or moisture in the gas discharged from the chamber 100 is connected to the outside of the chamber 100, and the dust moisture at the output terminal of the dust moisture filter 260. An ozone decomposer 270 that decomposes ozone contained in the air passing through the filter 260 is connected, and the output terminal of the ozone decomposer 270 sucks air introduced through the ozone decomposer 270 to forcibly discharge it. The vacuum pump 290 is connected, the output end of the vacuum pump 290 is connected to the sterile gas generating means 210 for generating and outputting low-temperature plasma and ozone gas, the output end of the sterile gas generating means 210 Hot air generating means 220 is connected, the output end of the hot air generating means 220 is configured such that the supply pipe 300 is connected through a non-return valve 230.

Here, the dust moisture filter 260 is further configured with a storage tank 280 for storing the separated water, the sterile gas generating means 210 is further connected to the oxygen generator 250, from the oxygen generator 250 By the generated oxygen supply it is possible to generate a high concentration of low-temperature plasma and ozone gas.

In addition, the sterilization gas generating means 210 is further configured to allow the second ozone sensor 240 to detect the concentration of the ozone generated.

The overall operation of the sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical instrument of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

First, when the user opens the door installed in the chamber 100 of the sterilization and drying apparatus, and the handpiece 400 for sterilization and drying fixedly connected to the handpiece connecting portion 110, and then closes the door, the control means Perform sterilization or drying operations.

First, in the case of sterilization operation, the control means drives the sterilization gas generating means 210, oxygen generator 250, vacuum pump 290 and ozone decomposer 270.

Therefore, the low temperature plasma generating unit 211 and the ozone generating unit 212 of the sterilization gas generating unit 210 are driven to generate low temperature plasma and ozone gas, and at this time, the generated low temperature by the operation of the vacuum pump 270. Plasma and ozone gas, that is, sterile gas is introduced into the chamber 100 through the supply pipe 300 via the hot air generating means 220 (not driven at this time), the non-return valve 230.

The sterile gas introduced into the chamber 100, that is, through the connection unit 110, is sterilized and sterilized by the handpiece 400, and the gas is again discharged to the dust moisture filter 260 outside the chamber 100, and ozone. The ozone contained in the air is decomposed while passing through the decomposer 270.

The gas is sterilized by the handpiece 400 while being supplied and circulated again through the vacuum pump 290 to the sterile gas generating means 210.

When the operation is completed, the control means stops the driving of the sterilization gas generating means 210, the oxygen generator 250 and the vacuum pump 290, and the inside of the chamber 100 through the first ozone sensor 140. Detect ozone

If ozone is not detected inside the chamber 100 through the first ozone sensor 140, the operation of the ozone decomposer 270 is stopped and the sterilization operation is terminated.

On the other hand, in the drying operation, the control means drives only the hot air generating means 220 and the vacuum pump 290.

Therefore, the hot air generated from the hot wind generating means 220 is introduced into the chamber 100 through the supply pipe 300 through the backflow prevention valve 230.

The hot air introduced through the connection part 110 in the chamber 100 heat-drys the handpiece 400, and the hot air is again a dust moisture filter 260 and an ozone decomposer 270 outside the chamber 100. After passing through), the handpiece 400 is dried at a high temperature while being circulated again through the vacuum pump 290.

When the operation is finished, the control means stops the driving of the hot air generating means 220 and the vacuum pump 290, and ends the drying operation.

According to the present invention, the sterilization operation and the drying operation may be performed independently, it may be made to automatically dry operation after the sterilization operation according to the required options.

As a result, according to the present invention, not only the sterilization and drying of the first flow path 401 formed inside the handpiece 400 is very easy, but also the sterilization and drying process can be performed at once, and thus the handpiece 400 It is possible to facilitate the maintenance of dental medical instruments such as.

It is obvious that the configuration and operation of the sterilization and drying apparatus for medical instruments according to the present invention described above are not limited to one configuration and operation described above.

For example, the sterilization and drying process may be controlled to select at least one according to the needs of those skilled in the art, and it is natural that information about the progress of each process and the operation of each component may be spoken and visually informed. Do.

In other words, by additionally configuring the sound output means (speakers, etc.) and the display means (monitors, touch pads, etc.) in the sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical apparatus of the present invention described above, it is easy to check and control the status of each configuration. Of course it can.

In addition, the sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical device of the present invention can be configured by modularizing in various forms to be detachable to the dental medical device.

In the above, the Example of the sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical apparatus by this invention was described. Such a technical configuration of the present invention will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments are to be understood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and the meanings of the claims and All changes or modifications derived from the scope and equivalent concepts thereof should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of the sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection between the connection portion and the handpiece shown in FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: chamber 110: connection portion

120: door sensor 210: sterile gas generating means

211: low temperature plasma generating unit 212: ozone generating unit

220: hot air generating means 300: supply pipe

400: Handpiece

Claims (5)

A chamber comprising at least one connection portion formed such that the handpiece is detachable; A dust moisture filter for separating and removing dust and water in the gas discharged from the chamber; An ozone decomposer for decomposing ozone contained in the air passing through the dust moisture filter; A vacuum pump that sucks and discharges air introduced through the ozone decomposer; Sterile gas generating means for generating a low temperature plasma and ozone gas; Hot wind generating means for generating a hot air wind; And Sterilization and drying of the medical device, characterized in that it comprises a supply pipe for supplying the low temperature plasma and ozone gas generated in the sterilization gas generating means and the hot air wind generated in the hot wind generating means to the chamber and the connection portion. Device. The method of claim 1, Sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical instrument, characterized in that the check valve is interposed at the output end of the hot air generating means. The method of claim 1, Sterilization and drying device for medical instruments, characterized in that the sterilization gas generating means is further connected to an oxygen generator. The method of claim 1, The temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity inside the chamber, and the first ozone sensor for detecting the concentration of ozone inside the chamber sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical device, characterized in that further installed. The method of claim 1, A first flow path is formed inside the handpiece, a second flow path corresponding to the first flow path is formed in the connection portion, a third flow path corresponding to the second flow path is formed in the chamber, and the supply pipe is , Sterilization and drying apparatus of the medical device, characterized in that the fourth flow path formed inside the supply pipe is installed to be connected to the third flow path.

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