KR20040090027A - A method for sterilising/disinfecting the water circuit of a dental unit and a dental unit implementing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical device, such as a dental handpiece 2, and a channel (water supply circuit) for supplying fluid from the main source 3 through corresponding leg or branch pipes 1a, 1b, 1c, 1s. Provided is a method for disinfecting / sterilizing the channel 1 of the dental unit 100, which comprises at least one (1). This dental unit disinfection / sterilization method comprises the steps of injecting a disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 1 for a predetermined time; And draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the waterway 1 through the waterway leg or branch pipe 1a, 1b, 1c, 1s. The step of injecting the sterilization / sterilization liquid involves heating the liquid to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature using suitable means 4.

Description

A method for sterilising / disinfecting the water circuit of a dental unit and a dental unit implementing the method}

The present invention relates to a water supply circuit of a dental unit, i.e. a method of disinfection / sterilization of a water circuit and a dental unit 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 used in dental units for a long time have proven to be quite efficient and practical, Applicants have conducted a thorough study in accordance with the policy of continuing to improve the hygiene process of dental units. It has been found that the sanitized treatment product (s) require a significant amount of time to take certain action.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disinfection / sterilization method and a dental unit for carrying out the method, which are practical and fast and at the same time provide excellent results in the hygienic treatment performance of the channel of the dental unit. To overcome.

1 is a diagram showing the channel of a dental unit performing a disinfection / sterilization method according to the invention.

2 is a schematic detail view of a dental unit performing a disinfection / sterilization method according to the invention with some other parts removed for a more detailed illustration of some parts.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

1: waterway

1a, 1b, 1c, 1s: branch pipe

2: handpiece

3: main supply

4: heating means

5: microprocessor unit

6: first independent branch

20 sensor means

100: dental unit

The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for disinfecting / sterilizing said channel of a dental unit comprising a medical instrument such as a dental handpiece and a channel (water supply circuit) for supplying fluid from the main source. The method comprises at least injecting a disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel for a predetermined time and draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the channel through the channel leg or branch, wherein the disinfection / sterilization liquid injection step is suitable. The use of means involves heating the disinfection / sterilization liquid to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature.

With reference to the above objects, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the following claims, which show the preferred embodiments of the present invention provided by way of example only, without limiting the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent from reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in particular with reference to FIG. 1, the method according to the invention is used to disinfect / sterilize the water supply circuit, ie, the channel 1, of the dental unit, which is designated 100 completely.

The dental unit 100 comprises at least a dental handpiece 2 (eg, a micromotor 2a, a turbine 2b, a flux 2c and a syringe 2s) as far as the invention is concerned. Medical devices such as the.

The dental unit 100 also includes a water channel 1 for supplying liquid which may come from the main source 3 or from other containers not shown, and a drain pipe 10 for the liquid.

The channel 1 is branched into a plurality of branch pipes 1s, 1a, 1b and 1c, which are connected to respective handpieces 2 provided in the dental unit 100, respectively, and supplying a fluid supply source. And a shutoff valve (V) is mounted.

Disinfection / sterilization method of the present invention, at least as far as the present invention is concerned,

Injecting disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 1 for a predetermined time; And

-Draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the channel 1 through the channel leg or branch pipes 1a, 1b, 1c, 1s.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of this kind of method, the shut-off valve (V) is carried out while the above-described steps are carried out in order to allow liquid to flow into the channel 1 and remain in the channel and drained. ) Is opening and closing properly.

In the method according to the invention, the disinfection / sterilization liquid injection step involves heating the liquid to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature using suitable means 4.

More specifically, the disinfection / sterilization liquid may be heated while this liquid is injected into the water channel 1. In other words, the liquid injection step and the heating step are performed simultaneously.

Optionally, the disinfection / sterilization liquid heating step may be performed immediately before the liquid injection step, immediately upstream of the channel 1 (as described in more detail below).

When the disinfecting / sterilizing liquid consists of a first component and a second component mixed therewith to form a third active compound, such heating also prevents the activity of the third active compound produced by the reaction between the two components. It serves to enhance.

For example, the disinfection / sterilization liquid heating step may raise the temperature of the liquid from 30 ° to 55 °, preferably from 35 ° to 45 °.

If the dental unit 100 comprises a microprocessor unit 5 (which is a widely known type and not shown in the accompanying drawings) that controls its primary and secondary functions, the heating step is carried out in the other stages of the disinfection / sterilization cycle. As with all steps, it is controlled by the microprocessor unit 5 acting on the heating means 4. This depends on the temperature at which the heating means 4 may vary depending on the type of liquid (depending on the type of liquid), the temperature reached by the liquid (detected during inflow), and the point at which liquid begins to flow into the channel 1 It can be switched to start and stop according to.

In order to further enhance and speed up the disinfection / sterilization cycle, a gaseous fluid injection step may be preceded to completely discharge all the liquid already present in the channel 1 prior to the disinfection / sterilization liquid injection step.

Preferably, without limiting the scope of the present invention, the step of injecting the heated disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 1 comprises two or more separate injecting a prescribed amount of liquid (to fill the channel 1). Sub-steps, and these sub-steps may alternate with the waiting step for the next prescribed amount of liquid injection. In addition, the liquid inflow during each substep may be at a different temperature than the relevant temperature of the substep before and after, in order to optimize the efficiency and speed of the disinfection / sterilization cycle. The efficiency and speed of this disinfection / sterilization cycle may also depend on the type of product used. In short, the aim is to control the variables affecting this disinfection / sterilization action in order to optimize the disinfection / sterilization action. Here, such variables include maintenance time, operating temperature and concentration of disinfecting / sterilizing product used.

The dental unit 100 carrying out the above-described method is adapted to supply one or more kinds of disinfection / sterilization liquids from the water supply circuit for supplying the liquid to each of the handpieces 2, that is, the channel 1 and the container 7. One or more first independent branch pipes 6 connected to the channel 1 for supplying into the channel 1.

The dental unit 100 comprises heating means 4 for disinfecting / sterilizing liquid heating, which heating means 4 are mounted on the dental unit 100.

In particular, the heating means 4 may be mounted between the container 7 and the first independent branch pipe 6 for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid.

To be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2, the heating means 4 may be arranged on a first independent branch pipe 6 for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid.

The provision of the microprocessor unit 5 described above on the dental unit 100 to control the main and auxiliary functions of the dental unit 100 itself means that disinfection / sterilization liquid flows into the water channel 1. If it starts, it means that the heating means can be controlled directly by the microprocessor unit 5 (shown as a block) which switches the heating means 4 to start and stop states.

Structurally, the heating means 4 may comprise one or more heating elements 4r wound around the first independent branch pipe 6 for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid. Optionally, the heating means 4 may comprise one or more heating elements 4r wound around the container 7 for supplying liquid to the dental unit 100.

The heating means 4 is also connected to the microprocessor unit 5 in order to allow the microprocessor unit 5 to control the heating means 4 in accordance with the temperature of the liquid. Sensor means 20 may be mounted which are used to detect.

The method as described above achieves the above object by simply improving the disinfection / sterilization cycle by adding a heating step. The heating step enables the disinfection / sterilization liquid to be activated more quickly by sanitizing the dental unit by raising the temperature of the disinfection / sterilization liquid, so that it only needs to be kept in the channel for a shorter time than in the prior art methods. .

Such a dental unit does not complicate its structure due to additional equipment, so the structure of a conventional dental unit remains practically unchanged.

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, the disinfection / sterilization liquid of the dental unit is activated faster to accelerate its sanitation performance, thereby making the disinfection / sterilization effect faster and more effective as a whole, and at the same time improving the sanitization performance of the channel. You can.

Claims (19)

A medical device such as a dental handpiece 2 and a channel (water circuit) for supplying fluid from the main source 3 through the corresponding leg or branch pipe 1a, 1b, 1c, 1s. A method for disinfecting / sterilizing the channel 1 of the dental unit 100 comprising at least (1), Injecting disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel 1 for a predetermined time; And At least draining the disinfection / sterilization liquid out of the waterway 1 through the waterway leg or branch pipe 1a, 1b, 1c, 1s, The step of injecting the disinfection / sterilization liquid comprises heating the liquid to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature using suitable means (4). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating step is carried out during the disinfection / sterilization liquid injection step, ie in the waterway (1). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the disinfection / sterilization liquid heating step is carried out immediately before the liquid injection step, ie upstream of the water channel (1). The method of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting / sterilizing liquid comprises a first component and a second component mixed therewith, wherein the disinfecting / sterilizing liquid heating step is performed after the first component and the second component are mixed. How to feature. The method of claim 1 wherein the disinfecting / sterilizing liquid heating step raises the temperature of the liquid from 30 ° to 55 °. The method of claim 1 wherein the disinfecting / sterilizing liquid heating step raises the temperature of the liquid from 35 ° to 45 °. 2. The dental unit (100) according to claim 1, wherein the dental unit (100) comprises a microprocessor unit (5) for controlling the main and auxiliary functions of the unit, wherein the heating step acts on the heating means (4). Controlled by the unit (5), characterized in that the heating means (4) are switched to the starting and stopping state depending on the time when liquid begins to flow into the waterway (1) and the temperature reached by the liquid. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of injecting the gaseous fluid to release all the user liquid already in the channel (1) prior to the step of injecting the disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel (1). . 9. The method of claim 8, wherein injecting the gaseous fluid comprises heating the gaseous fluid to a temperature equal to the temperature of the disinfection / sterilization liquid. The method of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting / sterilizing liquid injection step into the channel 1 comprises at least two substeps of injecting a prescribed amount of liquid for a defined time period, the substeps of which are then Alternate with an atmospheric step for liquid injection. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein each substep for disinfecting / sterilizing liquid injection into the waterway 1 comprises a heating step to maintain the liquid at the same temperature as in the previous or subsequent substeps. Way. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein each substep for disinfecting / sterilizing liquid injection into the waterway 1 comprises heating the liquid to a different temperature than in the previous or subsequent substeps. . One or more main waterways (water supply circuit) 1 for supplying liquid to each accessory or handpiece 2 of the provided dental equipment, and one or more kinds of disinfection / sterilization liquids from the vessel 7 A dental unit (100) comprising at least one first independent branch pipe (6) connected to a channel (1) for supply to (1), Dental unit characterized in that it is equipped with heating means (4) for disinfecting / sterilizing liquid heating. 14. Dental unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating means (4) is arranged between the container (7) and the first independent branch pipe (6) for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid. 14. Dental unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating means (4) are arranged on a first independent branch pipe (6) for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a microprocessor unit (5) to control the main and auxiliary functions of the dental unit (100), wherein the heating means (4) allows disinfection / sterilization liquid into the channel (1). Dental unit, characterized in that controlled by a microprocessor unit (5) that switches on and off the heating means (4) when it starts to flow. 14. Dental unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating means (4) comprises at least one heating element (4r) wound around the first independent branch pipe (6) for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid. . 14. The heating device (4) according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating means (4) comprises at least one heating element (4r) wound around a container (7) for supplying disinfection / sterilization liquid to the dental unit (100). Dental unit. 17. Dental unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the heating means (4) are equipped with sensor means (20) connected to the microprocessor unit (5) and used for detecting the temperature of the disinfection / sterilization liquid.