KR101675059B1 - apparatus for supplying fixed amount of sterilant of sterilant device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sterilant constant supply device for a sterilizing apparatus, capable of more accurately controlling the supply amount of the sterilant supplied to a sterilizing chamber, and relates to a constant supply device in which a sterilant in the sterilant case storing the sterilant therein is vaporized through a vaporizer and then is supplied to the sterilizing chamber through a main valve. The sterilant constant supply device comprises: a supply valve, which is opened to transfer a sterilant in the sterilant case (T) into a syringe decompressed by the gin-up of the sterilizing chamber, thereby allowing a chemical to be supplied into the syringe through an exit of the syringe; a syringe for storing the sterilant, which has been transferred from the sterilant case through the opening of the supply valve; a water level sensor installed at one side of the syringe to sense the water level of the sterilant stored inside the syringe, thereby setting the amount of the sterilant supplied to the sterilizing chamber; and a discharge valve, which is opened if the amount of the sterilant flowing into the syringe is sensed to be a predetermined amount by the water level sensor, and is opened or closed to allow the sterilant to be transferred to the decompressed sterilizing chamber through the exit of the syringe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing a sterilant,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a sterilizing agent quantity supply device for a sterilizing device, and more particularly, to a sterilizing device quantity supply device for a sterilizing device capable of more accurately controlling the supply amount of sterilizing agent supplied to a sterilizing chamber of a medical low temperature plasma sterilizer .

Food, medical supplies, and the like are susceptible to bacteria, requiring sterilization or sterilization. Common methods of sterilization (hereinafter referred to as "sterilization") include chemical methods and physical methods.

The chemical sterilization method is a method of sterilizing by interfering with the metabolism of microorganisms by using a gas such as ethylene oxide having high permeability even at a low temperature. The physical method is to add moist heat of high temperature and high pressure steam to the sterilized object, In the process of condensation, microbial proteins are rapidly heated to generate heat and then sterilized by thermal coagulation.

On the other hand, various types of disposable medical devices or reusable medical devices used in medical institutions such as hospitals must be completely sterilized before their use, and sterilized state shall.

Therefore, various methods for sterilizing medical devices and foods have been developed. As a sterilization method, a conventional method using high temperature and high pressure, a method using ethylene oxide gas, and a method using hydrogen peroxide plasma are widely used.

Among the technologies related to various sterilization methods, there are various technologies related to sterilization using plasma, which have recently been widely used, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3.

Patent Document 1 includes a chamber into which medical equipment and equipment to be sterilized are charged, a door provided in the front, a display unit / key operating unit formed on the front surface of the main body, and a small printer unit. A sterilizing apparatus for medical equipment and medical equipment, comprising: an ozone sensor for detecting the concentration of ozone present in the chamber; a vacuum pressure sensor for detecting a pressure inside the chamber; a plurality of compound filters; Pressure steam, a steam generating and recovering device for recovering the high-pressure steam for sterilization using high-pressure steam,

Patent Document 2 discloses a sterilizing chamber in which water or a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide is sprayed as fine particles and a sterilizing gas having a strong oxidizing power such as ozone and OH radicals is generated as a hydrogen peroxide molecule is plasmaized through a plasma generating portion formed in the sterilizing chamber A medical instrument such as a handpiece, an endoscope, a catheter, or the like, which sterilizes the surface of the medical instrument placed in the sterilization chamber and attaches to a connection portion formed on one side of the sterilization chamber, So that the inner tube of the medical instrument can be sterilized by injecting the sterilization gas into the tube in the medical instrument.

Patent Document 3 discloses a chamber in which a door is formed at one side to store sterilized material in a chamber, sterilizing action is performed by reacting sterilizing agent ions and plasma electrons activated within a space of a certain pressure, A vaporizer in which a sterilizing agent is caused to collide with a high-temperature heater in a space inside a plasma generating unit that generates plasma in the chamber and vaporizes the sterilizing gas; A solenoid 2 for evacuating the air of the vaporizer to the outside to evacuate; A capsule injector for supplying a sterilizing agent to the inside of the vaporizer; A solenoid 1 for injecting the sterilant supplied from the capsule injector into the vaporizer; A temperature controller for controlling the temperature inside the vaporizer; An injector for injecting a vaporized sterilizing agent into the chamber inside the vaporizer; And a central processing unit for controlling the vacuum state of the vaporizer by controlling the solenoid 2, controlling the injector to control the spray amount of the sterilizing agent, and controlling the temperature controller to control the temperature inside the vaporizer.

Such a conventional low-temperature sterilization apparatus is provided with a fixed amount feeding device for injecting a sterilizing agent.

Patent Document 4 discloses a sterilizing container having a container for storing a sterilizing agent and an automatic sealing valve installed at an outlet of the container so that the outlet is kept in a hermetically closed state and the outlet is opened by pressing; A mounting portion for mounting the sterilizing agent container to be connected to the automatic closing valve and opening the automatic closing valve by pressing to open the outlet; A flow control unit installed in a sterilizing agent supply line for providing a path for supplying a sterilizing agent discharged from the outlet to the sterilizing chamber, the flow adjusting unit adjusting the flow rate of the sterilizing agent; An on-off valve installed on the sterilizing agent supply line for opening and closing the supply of the sterilizing agent; A metering cylinder for supplying a sterilant through a sterilizing agent supply line in a predetermined amount through a quantitative confirmation sensor for measuring a flow rate of the sterilant passing through the flow rate control unit; And a vaporizer for vaporizing the sterilizing agent which has passed through the metering cylinder and supplying the sterilizing agent to the sterilizing chamber. The sterilizing agent container has a valve interference preventing groove formed on one side of the container so that the automatic sealing valve is located inside, The overpressure prevention unit is provided in the container, and the overpressure prevention unit is provided on the opposite side of the outlet side and the inside of the valve interference preventing groove, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional quantitative feeder includes a sterilizing tank T, a syringe 100 for measuring the sterilizing agent of the sterilized syringe, and a sterilizer A suction pump 200, a sensor S disposed on one side of the syringe for measuring the amount of the sterilant introduced into the syringe, and a supply pump 300 for feeding the sterilant filled in the syringe to the sterilization chamber.

As shown in the drawing, the sterilizing agent supply device for sterilizing sterilization apparatus according to the prior art injects the sterilizing agent into the inlet of the syringe using a suction pump, and supplies the amount of sterilizing agent supplied to the inside of the syringe to one side of the syringe When the detected amount is detected by a sensor S installed, the supply pump 300 is driven to supply sterilant in the syringe to the sterilization chamber.

However, this conventional dosing device has a problem that an error occurs in detecting the sterilizing agent flowing into the syringe 100.

That is, the amount of the sterilant sensed by the sensor sensed by the sensor (S) installed in the middle of the syringe is detected by sensing the amount of the sterilant supplied from the open end side of the syringe, It is recognized that the amount of the sterilant is filled even though the desired amount of the sterilant is not filled in the syringe. In this state, the supply pump is operated to supply the sterilant to the sterilization chamber, There is a problem that the sterilization action is not sufficiently caused by the supply of the agent.

1. Korean Patent No. 10-1073160 2. Korean Patent No. 10-1250748 3. Korean Patent No. 10-1254190 4. Korean Patent No. 10-1112506

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizing agent quantity supply apparatus for a sterilizing apparatus which can more accurately control the supply amount of the sterilizing agent supplied to the sterilizing chamber.

More specifically, the present invention allows sterilizing agent to be injected into a syringe to measure the amount of the sterilizing agent to be filled in the syringe, thereby enabling the sensor to accurately detect the amount of the sterilizing agent, And a sterilizing agent quantity supplying device for sterilizing the sterilizing agent supply device which can prevent the risk of the sterilizing agent gas remaining in the syringe

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In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sterilizing agent dosing device for sterilizing sterilizing agent, comprising a sterilizing agent sterilizing agent storing sterilizing agent, vaporizing the sterilizing agent through a vaporizer, and supplying the sterilizing agent to the sterilizing chamber through a main valve, A supply valve which is opened to transfer the sterilizing agent of the sterilization cylinder to the interior of the syringe which is depressurized by the advance of the syringe, and supplies the medicine to the inside of the syringe through the outlet of the syringe; A sterilizer for storing the sterilizing agent transferred from the sterilizing cylinder by opening the supply valve; A water level sensor installed at one side of the syringe for detecting the level of the sterilizing agent stored in the syringe and setting the amount of the sterilizing agent supplied to the sterilizing chamber; And a discharge valve that is opened when the amount of the sterilant introduced into the syringe is detected by the level sensor and is opened and closed so as to be transferred to the sterilization chamber where the sterilant is decompressed through the outlet of the syringe.

The sterilizing agent supply line may include a venting means for discharging the sterilizing gas remaining on the sterilizing agent supply line including the syringe, and the venting means may be an on-off valve.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supplying a sterilizing agent, the sterilizing chamber being brought into a vacuum state, the main valve and the discharge valve being opened to move the air in the syringe to the sterilizing chamber, ; Closing the discharge valve and opening the supply valve so that the sterilization agent of the sterilization cylinder flows into the interior of the depressurized syringe; A sterilizing quantity sensing step of sensing the level of the sterilizing agent introduced into the syringe by the water level sensor and judging whether the introduced sterilizer has flowed into the syringe by a predetermined amount; A sterilant vaporizer infusing step of closing the supply valve when the sterilant is introduced into the syringe in a predetermined amount and opening the discharge valve so that the sterilizer of the syringe is moved to the vaporizer which is relatively lower in pressure than the syringe; When the sterilant introduced into the vaporizer is vaporized, the main valve is opened to allow the vaporized sterilant to flow into the vacuum sterilization chamber.

As described above, the sterilizing agent dosing device for sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention is installed in the middle of the syringe by gradually filling the sterilizer filled in the syringe from the lower end of the syringe by flowing backward through the outlet of the syringe, The sensor accurately detects the amount of the sterilant introduced into the syringe and prevents the malfunction of the sterilant chamber, thereby supplying the sterilant chamber with an accurate amount of sterilant.

In addition, the venting means is provided at one side of the upper portion of the syringe to discharge the gas generated from the sterilizing agent remaining in the syringe, thereby preventing explosion of the syringe or the sterilizing agent supply device and supplying a sterilizing agent of good quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a sterilizing apparatus provided with a sterilizing amount dispenser according to the present invention
2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of supplying a sterilizing agent to a sterilizing chamber using a sterilizing amount dispensing device according to the present invention
3 is a front view of an example of a conventional sterilized amount dispensing apparatus

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention can ensure that the amount of sterilizing agent supplied to the sterilization chamber is constantly supplied and that the amount of the sterilizing agent in the sensor sensing the amount of sterilizing agent can be prevented from being misread.

The sterilizing agent dispensing device for sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the sterilizing agent of the sterilizing agent cylinder T storing the sterilizing agent is vaporized through the vaporizer 60 and then supplied to the sterilizing chamber C through the main valve 70 A supply valve (10) for supplying a sterilization agent of the sterilization cylinder (T) to the interior of the syringe through the outlet of the syringe, ); A syringe (20) storing the sterilant transferred from the sterilization cylinder by opening the supply valve; A level sensor 30 installed at one side of the syringe to detect the level of the sterilizing agent stored in the syringe and to set the amount of the sterilizing agent supplied to the sterilizing chamber; And a discharge valve (40) opened when the amount of the sterilant introduced into the syringe is detected as a predetermined amount by the level sensor and opened and closed so as to be sent to the sterilization chamber in which the sterilant is decompressed through the outlet of the syringe.

The sterilizing agent dispensing device for sterilizing device according to the present invention comprises the same device or means as the conventional dispensing device. However, the sterilizing device dispenses the sterilizing agent into the syringe 20, which is a problem in the related art By misrecognizing the sterilizing agent, it is possible to prevent the amount of the sterilizing agent from becoming inaccurate.

The sterilant dosing device for the sterilization apparatus of the present invention is an outlet of the syringe, both the inlet and the outlet into which the sterilant injector 20 is injected.

That is, by injecting the sterilizing agent into the syringe through the outlet of the syringe 20 and detecting the level of the sterilizing agent filled in the syringe by the level sensor 30, the amount of sterilant injected into the sphygmomanometer is detected The present invention solves the problem of erroneously detecting the amount of the sterilizing agent stored in the syringe, which may be caused by sensing the sterilizing agent injected when the sterilizing agent is injected into the inlet of the conventional syringe.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sterilizing agent dosing device for sterilizing apparatus of the present invention includes valves 10, 40 for interrupting the flow of the sterilizing agent that is dragged and sent to the vacuum sterilization chamber.

One of the two valves 10 and 40 is a supply valve 10 for interrupting the flow of the sterilizing agent supplied to the syringe 20 because the sterilization chamber C is vacuumed, The sterilization agent T of the relatively high pressure sterilization cylinder T moves to the inside of the syringe due to the lowering of the pressure inside the syringe due to the vacuum state of the supply line.

The sterilizing agent flows into the interior of the syringe through the outlet of the syringe 20 and gradually fills the syringe from the bottom of the syringe. The level of the sterilizing agent filled in the syringe is detected by the level sensor 30 and sterilized It is confirmed whether the amount of the agent is a fixed amount.

The level of the sterilant detected by the level sensor 30 is transmitted to a controller (not shown) to control the operation of the supply valve 10 and the discharge valve 40.

That is, when the supply of the sterilizing agent is started, the supply valve 10 is opened, and at the same time, the level sensor 30 senses the level of the sterilizing agent flowing into the interior of the syringe.

At this time, the discharge valve 40 is in the closed state.

When the amount of the sterilant filled in the syringe in the level sensor 30 is detected as a predetermined amount as described above, the controller closes the supply valve 10 and opens the discharge valve 40 to fill the syringe 20 The sterilizing agent is forcibly transferred to the sterilizing chamber (C) side.

The sterilizing agent moves to the syringe 20 as described above, and the means for causing the sterilizing agent of the syringe to move to the sterilizing chamber side is the vacuum pressure of the sterilizing chamber (C).

That is, after the pressure inside the syringe 20 is first lowered, the supply valve 10 must be opened to move the sterilizing agent T's sterilizing agent into the decompressed syringe.

When the injection of the sterilizing agent is started, the sterilization chamber C is first evacuated, and then the main valve 70 and the discharge valve 40 are opened so that the vacuum pressure of the sterilization chamber is transmitted to the syringe So that the inside of the syringe 20 is also in a vacuum state.

When the discharge valve 40 is closed after the inside of the syringe 20 is evacuated, the inside of the syringe is in a vacuum state. When the supply valve 10 is opened in this state, the vacuum pressure inside the syringe becomes sterilized T) to enter the sterilizer through the outlet of the syringe along the sterilant supply line of relatively high pressure.

As described above, these valves 10v and 40v are alternately opened.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the sterilizing agent T of the sterilizing cylinder T moves to the syringe 20 side, the discharge valve 40 is locked, and when the sterilizing agent of the syringe moves to the sterilizing chamber side, the supply valve 10 is locked.

The quantity supply device according to the present invention configured as described above is a means for supplying sterilizing agent and includes a vaporizer 60 provided at a portion adjacent to the sterilizing chamber to vaporize the supplied sterilizing agent and supply it to the inside of the sterilizing chamber, Such vaporized sterilant remains on the supply line, as well as the supply line can be damaged, and the pressure of the vaporized sterilant can pressurize the supply line, causing the supply line to burst.

Accordingly, the sterilizing agent supply line including the syringe is further provided with venting means 50 for discharging sterilizing gas remaining on the upper side of the syringe.

The venting means 50 may be configured as a valve to allow the vaporization sterilant packed in the supply line to be discharged by opening the valve, but in order to be able to discharge the vaporized sterilant in the supply line more effectively And a decompression pump to decompress the supply line to suck up the vaporization sterilant in the supply line.

Hereinafter, a method of supplying the sterilizing agent to the extra-bacteria chamber using the sterilizing agent quantity supply device for sterilization apparatus constructed as above will be described.

First, the air inside the sterilization chamber is forcibly discharged so that the inside of the sterilization chamber is evacuated.

When the main valve (70) and the discharge valve (40) are opened in the vacuum state of the sterilization chamber, the air in the supply line and the syringe (20) moves to the sterilization chamber and the inside of the syringe is pressed.

After the inside of the syringe is evacuated and the discharge valve is closed and the supply valve 10 is opened, the sterilization agent T is introduced into the decompressed syringe.

The sterilization apparatus detects the level of the sterilant introduced into the syringe by the level sensor and judges whether the sterilant has flowed into the syringe by a predetermined amount. When the sterilant is supplied to the syringe in a fixed amount, the supply valve is closed, Causing the sterilizing agent to move to the vaporizer side which is relatively lower in pressure than the syringe.

The sterilizing agent transferred to the vaporizer is vaporized by the vaporizer, and when the sterilizing agent is fully vaporized, the main valve is opened to allow the vaporized sterilizing agent to flow into the vacuum sterilization chamber.

When the vaporized sterilant of the vaporizer is introduced into the sterilization chamber by opening the main valve, the discharge valve is preferably closed.

10: Supply valve
20: Syringe
30: Level sensor
40: discharge valve
50: Venting means
60: vaporizer
70: Main valve
T: Sterile suture
C: Sterilization chamber

Claims (4)

A fixed amount supply means for supplying a sterilizing agent of a sterilized prescription tank (T) stored with a sterilizing agent to the sterilization chamber (C) through a main valve (70) after vaporizing the sterilant through a vaporizer (60)
The sterilizing agent is supplied to the inside of the syringe by the opening of the sterilizing cylinder T and the sterilizing agent flows back into the syringe through the outlet of the syringe decompressed by the vacuum of the sterilizing chamber, A supply valve (10) for supplying the medicine into the syringe through the outlet of the syringe so that the sensor installed in the middle of the syringe can accurately detect the amount of the sterilant introduced into the syringe;
A syringe (20) storing the sterilant transferred from the sterilization cylinder by opening the supply valve;
A level sensor 30 installed at one side of the syringe to detect the level of the sterilizing agent stored in the syringe and to set the amount of the sterilizing agent supplied to the sterilizing chamber;
A discharge valve (40) opened when the amount of the sterilant introduced into the syringe is detected as a predetermined amount by the level sensor, and is opened and closed so as to be sent to the sterilization chamber in which the sterilant is depressurized through the outlet of the syringe; And
And a venting means (50) comprising an opening / closing valve for discharging sterilizing gas remaining on a sterilizing agent supply line including a syringe to the upper end of the syringe. delete delete A method for supplying a sterilizing agent using the sterilizing agent quantity supplying device for a sterilizing device according to claim 1,
A syringe decompression step of opening the main valve 70 and the discharge valve 40 so that the air inside the syringe 20 moves to the sterilization chamber to decompress the inside of the syringe after the sterilization chamber is evacuated;
The discharge valve is closed and the supply valve 10 is opened so that the sterilizing agent of the sterilization cylinder T is introduced into the decompressed syringe through the outlet of the syringe decompressed by the vacuum of the sterilization chamber, A sterilizing syringe which allows the sterilant to be supplied from the sensor installed in the middle of the syringe to the inside of the syringe through the outlet of the syringe so as to accurately detect the amount of the sterilant introduced into the syringe, An inflow phase;
A sterilizing quantity sensing step of sensing the level of the sterilizing agent introduced into the syringe by the water level sensor and judging whether the introduced sterilizer has flowed into the syringe by a predetermined amount;
A sterilant vaporizer infusing step of closing the supply valve when the sterilant is introduced into the syringe in a predetermined amount and opening the discharge valve so that the sterilizer of the syringe is moved to the vaporizer which is relatively lower in pressure than the syringe;
Wherein the main valve is opened when the sterilant introduced into the vaporizer is vaporized to cause the vaporized sterilant to flow into the sterilization chamber of the sterilization apparatus.

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