Technologies for sanitizing humidifiers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956309-B1
Application number	US-201715499070-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2017
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

Technologies (e.g., devices, systems and methods) for sanitizing reservoirs of humidifiers are described. In some embodiments, the technologies include a sanitization gas system and a connector unit. The connector unit is configured to install into a portion (e.g., wall, bottom, top, or lid) of a reservoir, such as a reservoir of a humidifier. The connector unit includes an inlet passageway for supplying sanitizing gas (e.g., ozone) into the reservoir, and an outlet passageway for removing sanitizing gas from the reservoir. In some embodiments at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway. The sanitization gas system may provide a sanitizing gas to the inlet passageway and receive the sanitizing gas from the outlet passageway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for sanitizing a humidifier with a water reservoir comprising:
a gas supply system configured to supply a sanitizing gas;
a connector unit comprising an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, the inlet passageway comprising a first proximal end and first distal end and the outlet passageway comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end; and
an exhaust system configured to remove the sanitizing gas;

wherein:
at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway;

the gas supply system is configured to fluidly couple to the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to fluidly couple to the outlet passageway;
the connector unit is configured to be installed into and span a portion of a reservoir such that the first and second proximal ends are located outside the reservoir and the first and second distal ends are located inside the reservoir when the connector unit is installed;
the second end is located proximal to the distal end; and
said gas supply system is configured to supply the sanitizing gas to an inside of the reservoir via the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to remove the sanitizing gas from the inside the reservoir via the outlet passageway.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first inlet connector coupled to the first proximal end;
a second inlet connector coupled to the first distal end;
a first supply line configured to fluidly couple the gas supply system to the inlet passageway via the first inlet connector; and
a second supply line configured to couple to the second inlet connector.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second supply line comprises a first end configured to couple to the second connector and a second distal end configured to be disposed beneath any liquid in the reservoir.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
an outlet connector configured to couple to the second proximal end; and
a return line configured to couple to the outlet connector so as to fluidly couple the exhaust system to the outlet passageway.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second inlet connector comprises said first distal end, and the second distal end is located proximal to the first distal end.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connector unit is a self-drilling connector unit.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the connector unit comprises a second connector portion comprising a first passageway and a fourth connector portion configured to be inserted into the first passageway;

said fourth connector portion comprises a first body and a flange, the first body comprising an outer surface; and
said inlet passageway is formed through the first body.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the second connector portion comprises a second body comprising a wall having an inward facing surface that defines at least a portion of the first passageway;
wherein when the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway, a gap is present between the outer surface of the first body and the inward facing surface of the wall of said second body; and
said gap defines at least a portion of said outlet passageway.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one standoff element extending from the outer surface of the first body, the at least one standoff element to maintain the gap between the outer surface of the first body and inward facing surface of the second body when the fourth connector portion is inserted in the first passageway.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion;
the second connector portion comprises an abutment surface at an edge of proximal portion of the wall of the second body; and
an engagement surface of the flange is configured to abut the abutment surface of the second connector portion when the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
said flange further comprises a plug; and
the connector unit further comprises at least one sealing element;

wherein:
when the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway:

the plug is disposed within a proximal end of the first passageway; and
the at least one sealing element is disposed between an inward facing surface of the proximal portion of the wall of the second body and at least a portion of said plug, so as to form a gas-tight seal between at least the plug and the second body.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first passageway comprises a proximal opening and a distal opening;
the second connector portion comprises self-drilling elements disposed about the distal opening; and
the self-drilling elements are configured to form a hole in a portion of the reservoir when the second connector portion is rotated.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the connector unit further comprises a first connector portion that is configured to couple to a portion of the reservoir;
the first connector portion comprises an opening; and

the second connector portion is configured to be inserted into the opening of the first connector portion.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the first connector portion comprises first guide elements within the opening;
the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion;
second guide elements are formed on an outside surface of the distal portion of the wall of the second body; and
the second guide elements and first guide elements are configured to draw the distal portion of wall of the second body into the opening of the first connector portion.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first guide elements are first threads; and
the second guide elements are second threads configured to threadably engage with the first threads to draw the second body into the opening of the first connector portion when the second connector portion is rotated about an axis that is parallel to and extends through the first passageway.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising at least one locking element configured to be disposed on the outside surface of the distal portion of the wall of the second body, wherein the at least one locking element is configured to lock the relative position of the first connector portion and the second connector portion.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second connector portion comprises a handle, and the at least one locking element is between the handle and the first connector portion.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein:
the at least one locking element comprises a first locking element and a second locking element;
the first locking element configured to be disposed distally from the first connector portion; and

the second locking element is configured to be disposed proximally from the first connector portion.

19. The system of claim 8 , wherein the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, and at least one proximal hole is present through the proximal portion, the at least one proximal hole forming at least a portion of the outlet passageway.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:
a third connector portion comprising a collar defining an opening, the collar comprising a proximal edge, at least one spacer element disposed within the opening, and at least one outlet opening;

wherein:
the c

Assignees

• Soclean Inc

Inventors

• Leyva Timothy

Classifications

• A61L2103/00

  Materials or objects being the target of disinfection or sterilisation · CPC title

• C02F2201/784

  Diffusers or nozzles for ozonation · CPC title

• C01B13/10

  Preparation of ozone · CPC title

• C02F2303/18

  Removal of treatment agents after treatment · CPC title

• C02F2201/782

  Ozone generators · CPC title