RU2071786C1 - Apparatus for sterilizing medical instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: apparatus comprises working chamber 1, ceramic heat insulation 2, infra-red radiation sources 3, ultraviolet radiation sources 4, bath 5, instruments to be sterilized 6, temperature sensor 7 with shield for protection against side radiation, amplifier 8, selector 9 for presetting operational mode of infrared radiation sources, switch 10, power supply source 11 for infra-red radiation sources, selector 12 for presetting operational mode of ultraviolet radiation sources, and power supply source 13 of ultraviolet radiation sources. EFFECT: shorter period of sterilization. 1 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to medicine and can be used to sterilize a medical instrument.

 A device for sterilization by ultraviolet rays (Japanese application N 61-21102, class A 61 L 2/10), containing a reservoir in which the sterilized tape passes through a solution that transmits ultraviolet rays. Sterilizers are installed on the tank, illuminating the tape with ultraviolet rays. When the tape passes through the solution, dirt is washed off and microbes adhering to the surface of the tape are simultaneously destroyed.

 The reasons that prevent the use of this device for sterilization of a medical instrument are the possibility of processing the material only in the form of a tape, the need for a liquid medium, as well as the need for a system for the recovery of contaminated liquid or its discharge, which leads to environmental pollution.

 There is also known a device for treating a liquid with ultraviolet and infrared radiation (as.with. 412880, class A 23 L 3/28), containing emitters installed in the housing and a series of transparent series-connected pipes made in the form of coils for the liquid being processed.

 The reason that prevents the use of this device for sterilization of a medical instrument is the ability to process only liquid, in addition, the sterilization efficiency is low due to absorption of radiation by the walls of the tubes.

 The closest in technical essence to the claimed object is a device for sterilization of a medical instrument (AS 1750691, class A 61 L 2/00, 1992), containing a working chamber, a power source, a switch, a mode dial, an amplifier, while the output of the operating mode setter is connected to the first input of the switch, and the input is connected to the amplifier output, the input of the latter is connected to the output of the pyrometric temperature sensor located in the working chamber, the emitter power source is connected to the second input of the switch, two switch outputs are connected to the emitters of the working chamber.

 The disadvantages of this device are the need for a water cooling system, the deterioration of the optical properties of quartz glass on the bottom of the bathtub for a sterilized instrument, during operation, there is a high probability of the presence of “shaded” places on the instrument, which leads to a decrease in efficiency and an increase in the duration of sterilization.

 These shortcomings can be eliminated due to exposure of the tool to ultraviolet radiation and the working chamber ionized by this radiation, manufacturing of a bath from a refractory metal mesh with a reflective coating and ceramic insulation of the working chamber.

 The objective of the invention is to reduce the duration and increase the efficiency of sterilization of a medical instrument due to the use of heating using infrared (IR) emitters simultaneously with the exposure of the instrument to UV radiation and the ionized medium of the working volume of the chamber.

 To achieve a technical result, a device containing a working chamber, a heater power supply, a heater switch, an IR emitter operating mode selector, an amplifier, a UV emitter power supply, a UV emitter operating mode selector, and an output of an IR emitter operating mode selector are connected to the first input switch, and the input is connected to the output of the amplifier, the input of the latter is connected to the output of the temperature sensor, a power source of infrared emitters is connected to the second input of the switch, and two outputs of the switch ator connected to the IR emitters working chamber, moreover, the power source of UV emitters connected to the input of the setpoint operating mode UV emitters, whose output is connected to the UV emitters working chamber. The working chamber contains two rows of infrared emitters located horizontally, on the sides of the chamber there are UV emitters with reflectors. Between the rows of IR emitters, opposite the UV emitters, there is a bath with a sterilized instrument made of a refractory metal mesh with a reflective coating, the temperature sensor is located in the working chamber, is thermally isolated from its wall and has a device to protect against side radiation, the working chamber has ceramic insulation.

 The presence of all blocks in the proposed device is due to the need to ensure exposure of the tool at a given temperature and duration of exposure to UV radiation.

 The need for a two-sided arrangement of emitters relative to the bathtub from a metal mesh is due to the fact that the tool should be irradiated from all sides.

 The need for the location of UV emitters with reflectors on the side of the IR emitters is due to the need to create powerful fluxes of UV radiation to irradiate the instrument and ionize the working volume of the camera, as well as protect UV emitters from heat fluxes.

 The need for a device to protect the temperature sensor from side radiation is due to the fact that the sensor should receive radiation only from the instrument.

 The need for ceramic thermal insulation of the working chamber and the manufacture of a bath of refractory metal with a reflective coating is caused by the need to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the chamber.

A comparison of the features of the claimed object with the signs of the prototype allows you to highlight the following new significant features:
a) the availability of new components: UV emitters with reflectors; UV emitter power supply; a setter for the operating mode of UV emitters; a device to protect the temperature sensor from side radiation;
b) the presence of a new form: the camera has thermal insulation; the bathtub is made of metal mesh;
c) the relative position of parts and assemblies: UV emitters with reflectors are located on the side of the working chamber;
d) the presence of connections between parts and assemblies: the power supply of the UV emitters is connected to the input of the master mode of operation of the UV emitters, the outputs of which are connected to the UV emitters of the working chamber;
d) the presence of a sign of material: the mesh of the bathtub is made of refractory material with a reflective coating; the device for protecting the temperature sensor from side radiation is made of heat-insulating ceramic placed in a protective metal screen with a reflective surface.

 Since the claimed solution has significant features in comparison with the prototype, it meets the criterion of "novelty."

 Since the noted significant distinguishing features were not found in the known technical solutions, the claimed technical solution meets the criterion of "significant differences".

 The positive effect is to reduce the sterilization time to a few seconds by heating the surface of the instrument to the required temperature while exposing the instrument to UV radiation and the ionized medium of the working volume of the chamber.

 The drawing shows a structural diagram of a device for sterilization of a medical instrument. The drawing shows: a working chamber 1 with ceramic thermal insulation 2. IR emitters 3, UV emitters 4, a bath 5, a sterilized instrument 6. temperature sensor with a device to protect against side radiation 7, an amplifier 8, an operating mode setting of IR emitters 9, the switch 10, the power source of the infrared emitters 11, the mode dial UV-emitters 12, the power source of the UV emitters 13.

 The device operates as follows.

 The pulse of the beginning of the irradiation comes from the master of the operating mode of the IR emitters 9 through a switch 10 that connects the IR emitters 3 to the power source of the IR emitters 11, the emitter heats the instrument 6. The temperature sensor 7 generates an analog signal proportional to the temperature of the instrument. The signal is amplified in amplifier 8, converted, and fed to the input of the master mode of operation of the infrared emitter, in which the current and preset values are compared. In accordance with the difference of these values, the operating mode regulator of the IR emitters generates a control signal, under the action of which the switch 10 changes the voltage supplied to the infrared emitters from the power source 11. At the same time, the operating mode adjuster of the UV emitters 12 connects the UV emitters 4 to the power source emitters 13 for a given time interval.

 Sterilization takes place by pulse heating the surface of a medical instrument to the required temperature and exposing the instrument to ultraviolet radiation and the ionized medium of the working chamber.

 A comparative analysis of the prototype shows that for it, the sterilization time is limited by the need to heat up the "shaded" areas of the instrument, while the proposed device allows pulsed heating of the surface of the instrument by simultaneous exposure to UV radiation and an ionized medium of the volume of the working chamber.

 In accordance with the above advantages, the use of the proposed device will significantly reduce the time of sterilization of a medical instrument.

 The device for sterilization of a medical instrument can be used in healthcare of quick surgery, field surgery, in the conditions of medical hospitals, as well as in all other areas where there is a need for operational sterilization of a working instrument.

Claims (1)

 A device for sterilizing a medical instrument, comprising a working chamber, a power source, a switch, an operating mode adjuster, a temperature sensor, an amplifier and an electric heater, characterized in that, in order to reduce instrument sterilization time, additional UV emitters with reflectors connected to the output of the setter of duration, the input of which is connected to the power source of the UV emitters, the bath for sterilizing the instrument is made of a mesh of refractory metal with a reflective coating m, and the walls of the working chamber are made of metal with ceramic insulation.