KR20040090025A - Method for sterilising the water circuits of dental apparatus and apparatus implementing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Provided is a method for sterilizing/disinfecting a water circuit of dental apparatus to ensure the dental apparatus to be used safely and practically by efficiently sterilizing the dental apparatus, to improve the performance of the dental apparatus, and to reduce the time to take exchange of fluids. CONSTITUTION: The method for sterilizing/disinfecting a water circuit of a dental apparatus(1) including medical instruments, such as dental handpieces(2), and a water circuit for supplying fluid from a main supply(4) through corresponding circuit legs or branches(3a,3b,3c,3s), comprises the steps of introducing the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid in the water circuit for a predetermined length of time, draining the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid out of the water circuit through the circuit legs or branches, and injecting user liquid in the water circuit. Between the introducing step and drain step, the method further comprises the step of injecting fluid from a independent branch(5) to water circuit on defined parameters to completely drain remaining fluid out of the water circuit.

Description

Method for sterilizing the water circuits of dental apparatus and apparatus implementing the method

The present invention relates to a water supply circuit of dental equipment, i.e. a method of sterilizing a water circuit, and a dental device for carrying out the method.

In the manufacture of dental equipment, one of the basic, but not essential, components of the dental unit is its water supply circuit (water path) and air supply circuit (road). The supply circuit is responsible for supplying dental equipment and fluids for use by patients (water or physiological saline for tumblers and handpieces), or fluids for consumer units (spittoon rinsing water). And an air supply circuit is used for certain items of equipment (air spray handpiece, air cooling and air drive).

In general, as hygiene standards are raised and dental devices and equipment are manufactured in increasingly "fragile" conditions, with regard to the water supply circuit and the air supply circuit of the dental unit, they can ensure their efficient operation and durability. In addition, several design solutions have been devised to maintain the sterility of the catheter during treatment of the patient. The basic structure of these fluid circuits (ie, the water supply circuit and the air supply circuit) includes a first main line for supplying water from its main supply and a second main line for supplying air from an external supply (compressor). Each of the first main line and the second main line is provided with a plurality of branch pipes leading to the operation of the dental unit and the accessory equipment. In addition, different systems have also been designed based on different methods for the purpose of improving the function and disinfection of these fluid lines or parts thereof.

In particular, in this specification, the channel is intensively described, which is disinfected according to two different methods of continuous cycle and non-continuous cycle, both of which are suitable for the basic structure of the channel. There is a need for additional devices to be used.

In particular, solutions are addressed based on discontinuous disinfection / sterilization cycles. For this type of cycle, as disclosed in patent publications EP 111.249 and EP 317.521 (the latter being made by the applicant), the main water supply is shut off and a dedicated branch pipe equipped with an independent tank is provided. It is used to supply sterile liquid into a conduit that supplies water to the handpiece.

After the set time has elapsed, depending on the required disinfection / sterilization quality and the characteristics of the sterilizing liquid, the line is opened again and the sterilizing liquid is drained.

This drainage of the sterilizing liquid ejects the water (or user fluid) supplied by the main line (or dedicated line), and then the water or user fluid discharges the sterilizing liquid, rinses the water channel and then By opening a control valve on the handpiece to flow out of the drain.

Although the methods that have been used in dental units for a long time have proven to be quite efficient and practical, as part of a policy to continue to improve the hygienic treatment process of dental units, we have found that In order to enhance performance and consequently increase the stability of dental equipment, continuous research and development has been carried out with the aim of improving stability by adding innovative elements and features to the hygiene process.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dental device sterilization / disinfection method which is safe and practical and which increases the performance of the product used and at the same time reduces the time spent on fluid exchange.

1 is a diagram showing the channel of a dental unit for carrying out the method according to the invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

1: dental unit

2: handpiece

3: waterway

Branches 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s

4: main water supply

5: independent branch pipe

13: air supply circuit

The object of the present invention is to sterilize / disinfect the channel of the dental unit comprising a dental handpiece and a channel (water supply circuit) for supplying liquid from the main source through a corresponding leg or branch thereof. Is achieved by a method. The method comprises injecting a disinfection / sterilization liquid into the waterway for a predetermined time; Draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the channel through the channel leg or branch; And at least injecting user liquid into the waterway, wherein a parameter defined for releasing from the waterway all liquid remaining in the waterway between the disinfection / sterilization liquid injection and drainage step and the user liquid injection step. And injecting fluid from the independent branch of the channel for a predetermined time.

With reference to the above objects, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the following claims, the advantages of which will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a method according to the present invention is used to sterilize / disinfect the channel (water supply circuit) of a dental device.

In particular, the dental device may be adapted to medical devices and similar equipment such as dental handpieces 2 (e.g., micromotors 2a, turbines 2b, fluxes 2c and syringes 2s). Dental unit 1 of the type comprising at least as far as the invention relates, in addition to a channel 3 for supplying liquid which may come out of the main source 4, and a drain pipe 30 for the liquid. It is embodied as

The channel 3 is branched into a plurality of branch pipes 3s, 3a, 3b and 3c, each of which is connected to each handpiece 2 provided in the dental unit 1 and supplies a fluid source. in need.

Therefore, the dental unit 1,

Injecting disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 3 for a predetermined time;

Draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the channel 3 through the channel leg or branch pipes 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s; And

Can be used to carry out a method comprising the step of injecting a user liquid into the channel 3.

In addition to this basic step, the method is defined for releasing all liquids already present in the channel 3 from the channel 3 between the above-described injection and drainage of the disinfection / sterilization liquid and the injection of the user liquid. Injecting another fluid from the independent branch pipe 5 of the channel 3 for a predetermined time according to the parameter.

In particular, the injection step of this fluid is carried out at least once before the injection step of the disinfection / sterilization liquid such that all user liquid is discharged from the water channel 3.

Preferably, the injection step of this fluid is also carried out after the injection step of the disinfection / sterilization liquid such that all disinfection / sterilization liquid is discharged from the water channel 3.

Indeed, the complete sterilization / disinfection method according to the invention,

At least the end portions of the legs or branch pipes 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s of the channel are already provided on the dental unit, for example with an independent drain pipe 6b, by removing them in their respective resting positions. Placing in a liquid collecting vessel 6, such as a ball 6a therein;

Injecting fluid into the waterway 3 to completely expel user liquid from the waterway 3 and its branches 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s;

Injecting a disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 3 and its branches 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s for a predetermined time;

Draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the channel 3 through the channel legs or branch pipes 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s;

Injecting fluid again to completely disinfect the disinfection / sterilization liquid from the channel 3 and its branches 3a, 3b, 3c and 3s; And

Injecting user liquid into the channel 3 and its legs or branches 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of this kind of method, the shutoff means may be provided while the above steps are carried out to allow liquid and fluid to flow into the waterway 3 and remain in the waterway and drained. It is opening and closing properly.

Preferably, without limiting the scope of the invention, the dental unit 1 may be equipped with a microprocessor unit 7 for controlling the main and auxiliary functions of this dental unit. In this case, these fluid injection steps are controlled by a microprocessor unit 7 which can be programmed according to the above mentioned parameters, that is to say these channels 3 or their leg or branch pipes 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s) is intended to last for a minimum time sufficient to completely release the liquid (sterilization / sterilization liquid or user liquid) present therein.

For example, the fluid injected in the first fluid injection step may be pressurized air from an independent air supply circuit 8.

On the other hand, the user liquid may, as is well known, water from the main water source 4 or sterile liquid or physiological saline from an independent vessel 9 connected to the water channel 3.

The dental unit 1 performing the above-described method is provided on the dental unit 1, each having a first blocking means 10, for example made of a shutoff valve, for mounting the liquid supply. The aforementioned water supply circuit for supplying liquid to each handpiece 2, namely the main channel 3; A first independent circuit branch (11) for injecting disinfection / sterilization liquid from the vessel (20) into the water channel (3), if necessary; And an air supply circuit 13 (which is of a known type and only a part of which is shown in the accompanying drawings) used for the drive and other auxiliary functions of the accessory and the handpiece 2 provided in the dental unit 1.

As described above, the dental unit 1 is equipped with a microprocessor unit 7 for controlling its main and auxiliary functions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dental unit supplies gaseous fluid and is connected to the channel 3 upstream of the handpiece 2 so that any liquid present in the channel 3 can be removed from the channel 3 if necessary. An additional circuit branch 5 which can be discharged.

In particular, this additional circuit branch 5 is connected to the first independent circuit branch 11 so that fluid can be injected into all parts of the channel 3 to completely empty the channel 3.

This further feed branch, ie circuit branch 5, may be equipped with a second shut-off means 12, such as a valve, for example designed to allow gaseous fluid to flow into the channel 3 if necessary.

The gaseous fluid supplied by the additional circuit branch 5 may be connected to a self-propelled unit 8 (eg a compressor) that generates the gaseous fluid. Optionally, this further branch pipe 5 may be connected directly to the aforementioned air supply circuit 13 of the dental unit 1, so that an existing source of compressed air may be used.

The second blocking means 12 of the further branch pipe 5 is a manual control element mounted to the dental unit 1, such as a conventional button with or without a timing element 14t. 14) may be controlled. This manual control element is designed to start and stop the flow of gaseous fluid into the waterway 3 for the predetermined time required to empty the waterway 3 itself.

Alternatively, the second shut-off means 12 may be controlled as described above by the microprocessor unit 7, which has a specific time period, i.e., a channel, for injecting gaseous fluid in accordance with predetermined parameters. A minimum time sufficient to release all liquid from 3) may be programmed.

Another possible additional feature of the dental unit 1 is the sensor means 15 mounted in the channel 3, which is designed to detect the presence of liquid draining out of the channel 3. have.

These sensor means 15, represented as a series of blocks in the accompanying drawings, have a channel leg or branch pipe 3a, 3b, 3c connected to the downstream end of the channel 3, ie connected to the handpiece 2 of the dental unit 1. , 3s). These sensor means 15 may be connected directly to the microprocessor unit 7 so that the flow of the gaseous fluid can be stopped as soon as the channel is completely closed.

Thus, the method and dental unit as described above achieve the above object due to the simple and effective steps of quickly and easily emptying the channel using air. This step not only improves the effectiveness of the sterilization / disinfection cycle by preventing the disinfection / sterilization liquid from being diluted by other liquids already present in the channel, but also through simple dental unit structures and in direct interaction with the structure. Thereby accelerating the sterilization / disinfection cycle, since air can be injected into the channel by simply connecting the air supply circuit of the dental unit to the channel of the dental unit, ie the water supply circuit.

The present invention described above may be modified and modified without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all the detailed elements of the present invention may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

According to the present invention, by effectively sterilizing / disinfecting the dental device, the safe and practical use of the device is ensured, the performance of the product used can be increased, and the time for fluid exchange can be reduced.

Claims (18)

A medical device such as a dental handpiece 2 and a channel for supplying liquid from the main supply 4 through corresponding leg or branch pipes 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3s (water circuit) A method for sterilizing / sterilizing said channel of a dental device, such as a dental unit (1) comprising a) (3), Injecting a disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 3 for a predetermined time; Draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the waterway 3 through the waterway leg or branch pipe 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s; And At least injecting user liquid into the waterway 3, Between the disinfection / sterilization liquid injecting and draining step and the user liquid injecting step, in order to discharge all the liquid remaining in the channel 3 from the channel 3, according to the prescribed parameters, And 3) injecting fluid from the independent branching pipe (5) in 3). The method of claim 1 wherein the step of injecting fluid into the channel 3 is characterized in that it precedes the disinfecting / sterilizing liquid injection step such that all user liquid already inside the channel 3 is discharged from the channel 3. How to. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of injecting fluid into the waterway (3) is followed by the disinfection / sterilization liquid injection step so that all disinfection / sterilization liquid is discharged from the waterway (3). The liquid collection container (6) according to claim 1, wherein at least the end portions of the channel legs or branch tubes (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s) are removed from their respective resting positions prior to the disinfection / sterilization liquid injection step. Additional steps for deploying, Subsequent to removing this at least end portion, Injecting fluid into the canal (3) to completely discharge the user liquid from the canal (3) and its branch pipes (3a, 3b, 3c, and 3s); Injecting disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 3 and its branches 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3s for a predetermined time; Draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the channel 3 through the channel legs or branch pipes 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3s; Injecting fluid again to completely disinfect the disinfection / sterilization liquid from the channel 3 and its branches 3a, 3b, 3c and 3s; And Injecting user liquid into the channel (3) and its legs or branch tubes (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s). 2. The fluid injection step according to claim 1, wherein when the dental unit 1 has a microprocessor unit 7 for controlling the main and auxiliary functions of the unit, the fluid injection step can be programmed according to certain parameters. Controlled by the microprocessor unit 7, that is to say that it is intended to last for a minimum amount of time sufficient to release all remaining liquid from the channel 3 or its leg or branch pipes 3a, 3b, 3c, 3s. How to characterized. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid used is pressurized air from an independent circuit (8). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the user liquid is water from a main water source (4). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the user liquid is sterile liquid from an independent container (9) connected to the water channel (3). 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user liquid is physiological saline from an independent container (9) connected to a water channel (3). Each of the first blocking means 10 for interrupting the liquid supply is mounted, and at least one main item for supplying liquid to each handpiece 2 or an accessory item of the dental equipment provided in the dental unit 1. A dental unit comprising a canal (3), which supplies gaseous fluid and is connected to the canal (3) upstream of the handpiece (2) and, where necessary, all liquids present in the canal (3). Dental circuit, comprising an additional circuit branch (5) capable of releasing. 11. The channel 3 according to claim 10, wherein the channel 3 leads to at least one first independent circuit branch 11 for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid, if necessary, wherein the further circuit branch 5 is connected to the first independent section. Dental unit, characterized in that connected to the circuit branch (11). 11. Dental unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the additional feed branch (5) is equipped with second blocking means (12) designed to allow gaseous fluid to flow into the waterway (3), if necessary. 11. Dental unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the further branch pipe (5) for supplying the gaseous fluid is connected to a self propellered unit (8) for generating gaseous fluid. A further branch pipe (5) for supplying said gaseous fluid is connected to the air supply circuit (13) of the dental unit (1) according to claim 10, in case the dental unit has an air supply circuit (13). Dental unit characterized in that. 13. The second blocking means (12) according to claim 12, wherein the second blocking means (12) is controlled by a manual control element (14) mounted to the dental unit (1), which manual flow element flows into the water channel (3). Dental unit, characterized in that it is designed to start and stop. 13. The second blocking means (12) according to claim 12, wherein the second blocking means (12) is a function of a specific parameter when the dental unit (1) comprises a microprocessor unit (7) to control the main and auxiliary functions of the unit itself. Is controlled by a microprocessor unit 7 which can be programmed according to the time period for injecting the gaseous fluid, ie according to the minimum time sufficient to release all remaining liquid from the waterway 3. Dental unit. 11. Dental unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the channel (3) comprises sensor means (15) designed to detect the presence of liquid drained out of the channel. 18. The channel leg or branch pipe (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s) according to claim 17, wherein the sensor means (15) is connected to the downstream end of the channel (3), ie to the handpiece (2) of the dental unit (1). Dental unit, characterized in that mounted on the end.