System for preventing and remediating biofilms in dental equipment
AssigneeLynntech, Inc.
InventorsAlan J. Cisar, Adrain Denvir, G. Duncan Hitchens, Thomas D. Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system having a fluid source and a pasteurizer coupled with a disinfectant unit in flow communication with the fluid source for use in disinfecting dental or other water lines. The combination of pasteurizer and disinfectant unit is adapted to receive water from the fluid source. A fluid delivery unit is provided in flow communication with the pasteurizer and disinfectant unit combination. The disinfectant unit has a means for supplying hydrogen and oxygen and a means for generating hydrogen peroxide in flow communication with the means for supplying hydrogen and oxygen.
Claims90
An apparatus for combating biofilms in a water line, comprising:
- a pasteurizer receiving the water line, the pasteurizer having a heater for heating the water flowing through the line;
- an electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator having a cathode in fluid communication with the water line downstream of the pasteurizer, wherein the cathode produces hydrogen peroxide;
- an electrolyzer having an anode in fluid communication with the water line and the cathode of the hydrogen peroxide generator;
- and
- a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the water line downstream of the hydrogen peroxide generator.
An apparatus for combating biofilms in a water line, comprising:
- a pasteurizer receiving the water line, the pasteurizer having a heater capable of heating the water flowing through the line to a temperature greater than 65° C.;
- an electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator having a cathode in fluid communication with the water line downstream of the pasteurizer, wherein the cathode produces hydrogen peroxide;
- a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the water line downstream of the hydrogen peroxide generator;
- an electrolyzer having an anode in fluid communication with the water line, wherein the electrolyzer consumes a portion of the water from the water line to produce oxygen gas at the anode and hydrogen gas at the cathode, and wherein the oxygen gas is in fluid communication with the cathode of the electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator and the hydrogen gas is in fluid communication with the anode of the electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator;
- and
- a filter immediately upstream of the fluid outlet.
A method for disinfecting water passing through a water delivery system, comprising:
- pasteurizing the water as it passes through the water delivery system;
- electrochemically consuming a portion of the water in an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas;
- electrochemically consuming at least a portion of the oxygen gas in an electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator to produce hydrogen peroxide;
- introducing the hydrogen peroxide into the water passing through the water delivery system;
- and
- allowing the water to flow through the water delivery system on demand.
A system for reducing water borne pathogens in a water pipeline, comprising:
- a regenerative pasteurizer disposed in the pipeline;
- wherein the pasteurizer has a water inlet and a water outlet;
- an electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator, wherein hydrogen peroxide produced by the generator is introduced into the water pipeline upstream of the water outlet;
- and
- an electrolyzer in fluid communication with the water pipeline downstream of the pasteurizer, wherein hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generated by the electrolyzer are communicated to the electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator for the production of hydrogen peroxide, and wherein the system eliminates the need to maintain and periodically add stored chemical reagents.
A system for the prevention and remediation of biofilms in a water line, comprising:
- a water pasteurizer comprising a heater and a heat exchanger disposed in the water line downstream of a water inlet;
- an electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator in fluid communication with the water line downstream of the pasteurizer;
- and
- a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the water line downstream of the hydrogen peroxide generator, wherein the system requires only electricity and the water flowing in the water line to operate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.