KR20220048572A - Oil-injected Handpiece Sterilization System Using Low Temperature Plasma Gas - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handpiece sterilization apparatus in which a plurality of handpieces can be inserted into and withdrawn from a closed chamber and the handpiece inserted into the chamber is sterilized at room temperature by using low-temperature plasma gas as well as to be selectively washed with water or oil, and thus deformation of the handpiece is prevented due to room temperature sterilization and a sterilization time is greatly reduced while perfect sterilization and cleaning are performed. According to the present invention, the handpiece sterilization apparatus comprises a cylindrical main body, a closed chamber, a cradle, and a mounting unit detachably formed in the cradle. A first nozzle and a second nozzle are formed on the lower surface of the chamber, an oil supply device supplying oil and an air supply device supplying air are connected to a first supply hole formed in a supply pipe of the mounting unit, a low-temperature plasma generator supplying low-temperature plasma gas, an air supply device supplying air, and a water supply device supplying water are connected to the first and second nozzles and the second supply hole of the supply pipe, and the chamber includes a vacuum pump discharging the air in the chamber to the outside to maintain the inside of the chamber in a vacuum state or circulate the air inside the chamber.

Description

Oil-injected Handpiece Sterilization System Using Low Temperature Plasma Gas

The present invention relates to an apparatus for disinfection and sterilization of dental handpieces, and more particularly, to enable easy input and withdrawal of a plurality of handpieces in a closed chamber, and to use low-temperature plasma gas for the handpieces put into the chamber. By allowing sterilization at room temperature as well as washing with water or oil to be selectively performed, handpiece disinfection that can prevent deformation of the handpiece due to room temperature disinfection and greatly shorten the sterilization time as well as complete sterilization and cleaning. It relates to a sterilization device.

In general, a variety of dental medical instruments are used in dentistry to treat abnormal teeth. In particular, dental handpieces used in surgery and treatment are exposed to bacteria and microorganisms, so between patients or between patients and medical staff in charge of treatment. Cross-infection problems between the livers occur frequently.

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

Currently used methods of disinfection and sterilization of dental handpieces include a method using a device and a method using a drug. There are a sterilizer, an ultrasonic sterilizer, and the like, and povidone, chlorhexidine gluconate, glutaraldehyde, and the like are used as methods by drugs.

On the other hand, the handpiece is used by attaching and detaching various tooth processing tools for treating the patient's teeth. The handpiece has a hollow tube inside to supply the washing water sprayed to the treatment area when treating the patient's teeth. is formed.

However, the hollow tube formed in the handpiece as described above is not only a straight type, but also various shapes such as a bent type bent at a certain angle, and since its inner diameter is very small, the above-mentioned high temperature and high pressure handpiece sterilization device is used. When used, there is a problem in that the product, such as a handpiece, is deformed, thereby shortening the product lifespan of the corresponding handpiece.

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

In the case of disinfection and sterilization using chemicals, the degree of deformation of the product may be reduced compared to a high-temperature and high-pressure handpiece sterilization device. Disinfection and sterilization work takes a long time and requires a lot of manual work, as well as individual equipment such as a dryer and sterilizer required for a separate process, so there is a problem in that the burden of overall equipment cost and maintenance cost becomes very large.

The present invention was invented in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily put in and take out a plurality of handpieces in a closed chamber, and to use low-temperature plasma gas for the handpieces put into the chamber. By using sterilization at room temperature, as well as washing with water or oil, it is possible to selectively perform handpiece sterilization, which prevents deformation of the handpiece due to room temperature disinfection at the same time as perfect sterilization and greatly reduces the sterilization time. To provide a sterilization device.

The present invention for achieving the above object includes a main body and a sealed chamber formed inside the main body, The chamber includes a holder that vertically moves up and down, and a mounting part that is detachably formed on the holder,

The mounting part is a place where the handpiece to be disinfected is inserted and fixed, and a circular seating part, a mounting groove formed on the outer circumferential surface of the seating part to be detached from the holder, and a depiece are inserted, protruding around the bottom surface of the seating part A plurality of discharge pipes for spraying the introduced predetermined medium, and a supply pipe formed long in the center of the rear surface of the seating part to introduce the medium and supply it to the discharge pipe,

Separate first supply holes and second supply holes are formed inside the supply pipe, and a discharge hole is formed in the discharge pipe, and the first supply hole and the second supply hole are connected to the discharge hole through an inner tube formed inside the seating part. In the handpiece sterilization device configured to be configured, the supply pipe of the mounting part is closely coupled to a passage through which a predetermined medium can be supplied from the outside while being in close contact with the bottom of the chamber, A first nozzle and a second nozzle are provided on the bottom of the chamber Further forming; Connecting an oil supply device for supplying oil and an air supply device for supplying air to the first supply hole formed in the supply pipe of the mounting unit;

a low-temperature plasma generator for supplying low-temperature plasma gas, an air supply device for supplying air, and a water supply device for supplying water are connected to the first and second nozzles and the second supply hole of the supply pipe;

It is characterized in that the chamber is further connected to a vacuum pump that exhausts the air in the chamber to the outside to maintain the inside of the chamber in a vacuum decompression state or circulates the air in the chamber.

In addition, in the low-temperature plasma generator according to the present invention, a hydrogen peroxide storage container for storing liquid hydrogen peroxide, and vaporizing liquid hydrogen peroxide provided from the hydrogen peroxide storage container to convert it into a gas to provide the low-temperature plasma generator characterized in that it is further configured do it with

In addition, between the vacuum pump and the chamber according to the present invention, there is a filter that removes moisture and foreign substances contained in the air inside the chamber flowing out through the vacuum pump, and ozone contained in the air discharged through the filter is decomposed to the outside. It is characterized in that the ozone decomposer that discharges to the furnace is further connected.

In addition, the vacuum pump according to the present invention is characterized in that an eighth valve is interposed in a connection pipe circulating to the chamber, and a ninth valve is interposed in the other air discharge pipe.

The chamber according to the present invention is characterized in that the temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the chamber, the pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the chamber, and the ozone sensor for detecting the ozone concentration in the chamber are installed.

In addition, it is characterized in that the heater is installed on the outer wall of the chamber according to the present invention.

In addition, a first valve for controlling oil supply is interposed at the front end of the oil supply device according to the present invention, and a second valve for controlling air supply is interposed at the front end of the air supply device.

In addition, a fourth valve for controlling the supply of low-temperature plasma gas is interposed in the front end of the low-temperature plasma generator according to the present invention, and a fifth valve controlling the air supply is interposed in the front end of the air supply device, and the water A sixth valve for controlling the water supply is interposed at the front end of the supply device.

In addition, the pipe connected to the second supply hole of the supply pipe according to the present invention is characterized in that a seventh valve for controlling the inflow of the medium is interposed.

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to easily put in and take out a plurality of handpieces in a closed chamber, and sterilize the handpieces put into the chamber at room temperature using low-temperature plasma gas, so that the conventional disinfection method using high temperature and high pressure It is possible to prevent the deformation of the handpiece caused by the

In addition, the present invention provides the advantage of being able to selectively perform water washing or oil washing in addition to the sterilization process using the low-temperature plasma gas at room temperature, thereby greatly shortening the sterilization time as well as complete sterilization and washing.

1 is an external view of a handpiece disinfection sterilization apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a view showing a state in which the mounting portion of Figure 1 is tensioned;
3 is a view showing a state in which the mounting part of FIG. 1 is separated into a cradle;
Figure 4 is a view showing the rear surface of the mounting portion of Figure 3;
5 is a circuit block diagram of the handpiece disinfection sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

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

1 is an external view of a handpiece disinfection and sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the mounting part of FIG. 1 is tensioned, FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the mounting part of FIG. 1 is separated into a cradle; FIG. 4 is a view showing a rear surface of the mounting part of FIG. 3 .

As shown, the present invention handpiece disinfection sterilization apparatus 100,

It includes a main body 101 and a sealed chamber 102 formed inside the main body 101 .

The chamber 102 further includes a holder 103 that vertically moves up and down, and a plurality of transfer rods 104 fixed to the holder 103 and moving up and down by the operation of an actuator not shown.

In addition, the mounting unit 110 is configured to be detachable from the holder 103 .

The mounting part 110 is a place where the handpiece to be disinfected (HP) is inserted and fixed. 112, a handle 113 formed on the upper surface of the seating portion 111, and a handpiece HP are inserted, protrudingly formed around the bottom surface of the seating portion 111, and introduced into the medium (low temperature) A plurality of discharge pipes 114 for spraying plasma gas, oil, water, air, etc.), and a supply pipe 115 formed long in the center of the rear surface of the seating part 111 to introduce the medium and supply it to the discharge pipe 114 . ) is included.

The handpiece sterilization apparatus 100 of the present invention configured as described above,

When the holder 103 is raised as shown in FIG. 2 through the manipulation unit 105, the mounting unit 110 fixed to the holder 103 is raised as well, and at this time, the mounting unit 110 is attached to the holder as shown in FIG. 103), and insert the handpiece (HP) to be sterilized into the discharge pipe 114 of the mounting unit 110 as shown in FIG. 4 .

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 , a plurality of separated supply holes, that is, a first supply hole 115a and a second supply hole 115b, are formed inside the supply pipe 115, and the discharge pipe 114 has a discharge hole ( 114a) is formed.

In addition, the first supply hole 115a and the second supply hole 115b are configured to be connected to the discharge hole 114a through an inner tube 114b (see FIG. 5 ) formed inside the seating part 111 .

Here, the first supply hole 115a and the second supply hole 115b formed in the supply pipe 115 may be designed to have various structures other than the shape shown in FIG. 4 .

After inserting the handpiece HP into the discharge pipe 114 in this way, the mounting groove 112 of the mounting part 110 is inserted into the holder 103 to be fixed.

And when the holder 103 is lowered through the manipulation unit 105 , the holder 103 and the mounting unit 110 are inserted into the chamber 102 and completely sealed as shown in FIG. 1 .

At this time, the supply pipe 15 of the mounting unit 110 is closely coupled to a passage through which a predetermined medium (low-temperature plasma, oil, water, air, etc.) can be supplied from the outside while in close contact with the inner bottom surface of the chamber 102 .

Thereafter, cleaning and sterilization operations are performed inside the chamber 102 .

5 is a circuit block diagram of the handpiece disinfection sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown, in the chamber 102 of the handpiece disinfection and sterilization apparatus 100, a temperature sensor 11 for detecting the temperature in the chamber, a pressure sensor 12 for detecting the pressure in the chamber, and ozone in the chamber An ozone sensor 13 for detecting the concentration is installed.

In addition, a heater 14 is installed on the outer wall of the chamber 102 so that the temperature inside the chamber 102 can be varied.

In addition, an oil supply device 210 for supplying oil and an air supply device 220 for supplying air are connected to the first supply hole 115a formed in the supply pipe 115 of the mounting unit 110, so that the oil The oil and air supplied and injected from the supply device 210 and the air supply device 220 are configured to flow into the first supply hole 115a of the supply pipe 115 . Here, a first valve 211 for controlling oil supply is interposed at the front end of the oil supply device 210, and a second valve for controlling the air supply at the front end of the air supply device 220 ( 221) is interposed.

In addition, a plurality of first and second nozzles 361 and 362 are further formed on the bottom surface of the chamber 102 , and the first and second nozzles 361 and 362 and a second supply of the supply pipe 115 are provided. A low-temperature plasma generator 330 for supplying low-temperature plasma gas, an air supply device 340 for supplying air, and a water supply device 350 for supplying water are connected to the ball 115b, and the low-temperature plasma generator ( The low-temperature plasma gas supplied from 330 and the air and water supplied from the air supply device 340 and the water supply device 350 are introduced into the second supply hole 115b of the supply pipe 115 .

Here, in the low-temperature plasma generator 330,

A hydrogen peroxide reservoir 310 for storing liquid hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and a vapor generator 320 that vaporizes liquid hydrogen peroxide provided from the hydrogen peroxide reservoir 310 and converts it into a gas is further formed, the low-temperature plasma generator 330 ) generates a low-temperature plasma gas and is mixed with the hydrogen peroxide gas provided from the steam generator 320 so that OH_ radicals and O radicals are rapidly separated and ionized, thereby greatly increasing the sterilization efficiency.

In addition, the hydrogen peroxide that is stored in the hydrogen peroxide storage tank 310 is in a liquid state, and is composed of 80 to 40 wt% of water and 20 to 60 wt% of hydrogen peroxide, and the hydrogen peroxide storage tank 310 has an agent for controlling discharge in the discharge pipe. A three-valve 311 is further formed.

The steam generator 320 is a device for converting hydrogen peroxide provided in liquid form into a gaseous state, and converts liquid hydrogen peroxide into gas through means such as heating a heater or generating ultrasonic vibrations.

Here, a fourth valve 331 for controlling the supply of low-temperature plasma gas is interposed at the front end of the low-temperature plasma generator 330, and a fifth valve 331 for controlling the air supply at the front end of the air supply device 340 ( 341) is interposed, and a sixth valve 351 for controlling water supply is interposed at the front end of the water supply device 350, and the pipe connected to the second supply hole 115b of the supply pipe 115 has A seventh valve 332 is interposed to control the supply of low-temperature plasma, air and water.

In addition, the chamber 102 is further connected to a vacuum pump 430 that exhausts the air in the chamber to the outside to maintain the inside of the chamber in a vacuum pressure-reduced state or circulate the air in the chamber.

In addition, between the vacuum pump 430 and the chamber 102, a filter 410 that removes moisture and foreign substances contained in the air inside the chamber flowing out through the vacuum pump 430, and the filter 410 through An ozone decomposer 420 that decomposes ozone contained in the discharged air and discharges it to the outside is further connected.

Here, in the vacuum pump 430, an eighth valve 431 is interposed in a connection pipe circulatingly connected to the chamber 102 on one side, and a ninth valve 432 is interposed in the other side of the air discharge pipe.

As a pretreatment process for disinfection, in order to maintain the inside of the chamber 102 in a vacuum decompression state, the ninth valve 432 is closed and the eighth valve 431 is opened, and then the vacuum pump 430 . drives the

Accordingly, as the air inside the chamber is exhausted to the outside through the vacuum pump 430 and the ninth valve 432 , the inside of the chamber 102 is in a vacuum decompression state.

Here, the reason for maintaining the inside of the chamber 102 in a vacuum decompression state is to lower the pressure in the chamber so that the plasma injected into the chamber is more activated, so that the disinfection efficiency is improved.

Also, during chamber disinfection, the ninth valve 432 is closed and the eighth valve 431 is opened to circulate the air inside the chamber.

The filter 410 is a device for removing moisture and foreign substances (remnants) contained in the air inside the chamber flowing out through the vacuum pump 430, and discharges moisture and foreign substances contained in the air, and only pure air It is discharged to the ozone decomposer (420).

The ozone decomposer 420 decomposes ozone contained in the air discharged through the filter 410 to prevent ozone harmful to the human body from being discharged to the outside.

According to the present invention configured as described above, oil, air, low-temperature plasma, water, etc. are selectively sprayed and supplied into the chamber 102 to wash, disinfect and sterilize the inside and outside of the handpiece HP. . The overall operation of the handpiece disinfection and sterilization apparatus of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail below.

First, the user manipulates the operation unit 105 of the handpiece disinfection and sterilization apparatus 100 to raise the holder 103 .

When the holder 103 rises to the top and stops, the mounting unit 110 fixed to the holder 103 is separated from the holder 103, and the hand to be disinfected and sterilized on the discharge pipe 114 of the mounting unit 110 Insert the piece (HP).

When the insertion of the handpiece (HP) into the discharge pipe 114 is completed, the mounting unit 110 is inserted into the holder 103 using the mounting groove 112 , and the holder 103 through the operation unit 105 . lowers the

When the cradle 103 is finished descending into the chamber 102 , the mounting part 110 is inserted into the chamber 102 and is completely sealed.

At this time, the supply pipe 115 of the mounting unit 110 is closely coupled to a passage through which a low-temperature plasma gas, oil, or water can be supplied from the outside while in close contact with the inner bottom surface of the chamber 102 .

When the installation of the handpiece for disinfection is completed in this way,

After opening the sixth valve 351 and the seventh valve 332 , the water supply device 350 is driven to spray and supply water. At this time, the water injected through the water supply device 350 is injected into the chamber through the first nozzle 361 and the second nozzle 362 through the sixth valve 351, and is inserted and mounted in the discharge pipe 114. The outside of the handpiece HP is cleaned, and at the same time, through the seventh valve 332, through the second supply hole 115b of the supply pipe 115, the hand through the inner pipe 114b and the discharge hole 114a. It is sprayed into the inner tube of the piece (HP) to clean the inside of the hand piece (HP).

When the water washing operation (set time) is completed, the operation of the water supply device 350 is stopped, and the sixth valve 351 is closed.

And for sterilization, the vacuum pump 430 is driven, the eighth valve 431 is closed and the ninth valve 432 is opened.

Therefore, by driving the vacuum pump 430, the air inside the chamber 102 is discharged to the outside through the filter 410 → ozone decomposer 420 → vacuum pump 430 → ninth valve 432, and the chamber (102) The inside is in a vacuum decompression state.

Thereafter, when the pressure in the chamber is detected as the set pressure through the pressure sensor 12 installed in the chamber 102, the operation of the vacuum pump 430 is stopped.

Then, the third valve 311 and the fourth valve 331 are opened, and the steam generator 320 and the low-temperature plasma generator 330 are driven.

Therefore, by the opening of the third valve 311, the hydrogen peroxide solution stored in the hydrogen peroxide storage tank 310 flows into the steam generator 320 and is vaporized by the steam generator 320 to convert the hydrogen peroxide gas into the low-temperature plasma generator 330. will be discharged

The low-temperature plasma generator 330 generates low-temperature plasma and discharges it to the chamber 102 side. At this time, the low-temperature plasma is separated into O radicals and OH-radicals by receiving the hydrogen peroxide gas and is rapidly ionized. process will be performed.

The low-temperature plasma gas discharged from the low-temperature plasma generator 330 is injected into the chamber through the first nozzle 361 and the second nozzle 362 through the fourth valve 331, and at the same time the seventh valve 332 is closed. Through the second supply hole (115b) of the supply pipe (115) through the inner tube (114b) and the discharge hole (114a) through the handpiece (HP) is injected into the inner tube.

Therefore, the low-temperature plasma gas introduced into the chamber disinfects and sterilizes the outside of the handpiece HP inserted and mounted in the discharge pipe 114 inside the chamber, as well as the inside of the handpiece.

When the disinfection operation is started, the ninth valve 432 is closed, the eighth valve 431 is opened and the vacuum pump 430 is driven to remove the air inside the chamber 102 by the vacuum pump 430 . ) to further improve the disinfection and sterilization effect.

When the set time for the disinfection operation elapses, the fourth valve 331 is closed, and the operation of the steam generator 320 and the low-temperature plasma generator 330 is stopped.

Then, the eighth valve 431 is closed and the ninth valve 432 is opened, and then the vacuum pump 430 and the ozone decomposer 420 are operated.

Therefore, the air inside the chamber 102 is discharged to the outside through the ninth valve 432 through the filter 410, the ozone decomposer 420 and the vacuum pump 430, and the ozone decomposer 420 is the filter ( Although ozone contained in the air discharged through 410) is decomposed and discharged to the outside, it is driven until ozone is not detected inside the chamber through the ozone sensor 13 inside the chamber 102.

When the operation of the steam generator 320 and the low-temperature plasma generator 330 is stopped due to the completion of the disinfection operation, the first valve 211 is opened and the oil supply device 210 is driven.

The oil supplied by the driving of the oil supply device 210 passes through the first supply hole 115a of the supply pipe 115 through the first valve 211, and then through the inner pipe 114b and the discharge hole 114a. It is sprayed into the inner tube of the piece (HP) to clean the inside of the hand piece (HP) with oil.

When the oil washing (set time elapses) is completed, the first valve 211 is closed, and the oil supply device 210 is stopped.

And after opening the second valve 221 , the fifth valve 341 , and the seventh valve 332 , the air supply device 220 and the air supply device 340 are driven.

Therefore, the air supplied from the air supply device 220 passes through the second valve 221 through the first supply hole 115a of the supply pipe 115, and through the inner pipe 114b and the discharge hole 114a, the handpiece. (HP) sprayed into the inner tube,

The air supplied from the air supply device 340 is injected into the chamber 102 through the first nozzle 361 and the second nozzle 362 through the fifth valve 341, and at the same time the seventh valve 332. Through the second supply hole 115b of the supply pipe 115 through the inner tube 114b and the discharge hole 114a through the inner tube of the handpiece (HP) is sprayed to the inside and outside of the handpiece (HP) quickly will be dried thoroughly.

When the drying time by air spraying has elapsed, the sterilization operation for the handpiece (HP) is terminated, and the handpiece sterilization apparatus 100 automatically or by the operation of the operation unit 105 to the holder ( 103) and the mounting unit 110 are separated from the chamber 102 and lifted so that the user can withdraw the handpiece HP inserted into the mounting unit 110 and sterilized.

100: handpiece sterilization device 101: body
102: chamber 103: cradle
104: transfer bar 105: control unit
110: mounting part 111: seating part
112: mounting groove 113: handle
114: discharge pipe 115: supply pipe
114a: discharge hole 114b: inner tube
115a: first supply hole 115b: second supply hole
210: oil supply device 220, 340: air supply device
310: hydrogen peroxide reservoir 320: steam generator
330: low-temperature plasma generator 410: filter
420: ozone decomposer 430: vacuum pump

Claims (1)

It includes a main body 101 and a sealed chamber 102 formed inside the main body 101, wherein the chamber 102 has a holder 103 that vertically moves up and down, and is detachable from the holder 103. The mounting part 110 formed so as to be configured,
The mounting part 110 is a place where the handpiece to be disinfected (HP) is inserted and fixed. 112 and a plurality of discharge pipes 114 into which the handpiece HP is inserted, protruding around the bottom surface of the seating part 111 and spraying the introduced predetermined medium, and the seating part 111 and a supply pipe 115 formed long in the center of the rear surface to introduce the medium and supply it to the discharge pipe 114,
Separated first supply holes 115a and second supply holes 115b are formed inside the supply pipe 115, and a discharge hole 114a is formed in the discharge pipe 114, and the first supply hole ( 115a) and the second supply hole 115b are configured to be connected to the discharge hole 114a through an inner tube 114b formed inside the seating part 111, and the supply pipe 115 of the mounting part 110 is connected to the chamber (102) In the handpiece sterilization apparatus configured to be tightly coupled with a passage through which a predetermined medium can be supplied from the outside while being in close contact with the inner bottom surface,
a first nozzle 361 and a second nozzle 362 are further formed on the bottom surface of the chamber 102;
an oil supply device 210 for supplying oil and an air supply device 220 for supplying air are connected to the first supply hole 115a formed in the supply pipe 115 of the mounting unit 110;
A low-temperature plasma generator 330 for supplying low-temperature plasma gas to the first and second nozzles 361 and 362 and the second supply hole 115b of the supply pipe 115, and an air supply device for supplying air (340) and a water supply device (350) for supplying water is connected;
Handpiece disinfection and sterilization apparatus, characterized in that the chamber 102 is further connected to a vacuum pump 430 for evacuating the air in the chamber to the outside to maintain the vacuum pressure-reduced state inside the chamber or to circulate the air in the chamber.

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