Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional Application No. 15/171,995, filed on June 2, 2016, and titled "Hand Held Flow-Through Steam System," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to sanitization or deactivation of medical, dental, pharmaceutical, veterinary or mortuary instruments and devices, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for deactivating items using steam that selectively heats the surface of the devices.

Background of the Invention

Medical, dental, pharmaceutical, veterinary or mortuary instruments and devices are routinely exposed to blood or other body fluids during medical procedures. Following such procedures, a thorough cleaning and anti-microbial deactivation of the instruments is required before subsequent use. After the device has been washed it is decontaminated, which typically comprises a brief contact with a decontaminating agent such as bleach or steam sufficient to kill the most dangerous pathogens such as hepatitis. Liquid microbial deactivation systems are now widely used to clean and deactivate instruments and devices that cannot withstand the high temperature of a steam deactivation system, such as endoscopes. Liquid microbial deactivation systems typically operate by exposing the medical devices and/or instruments to a liquid disinfectant or a deactivation composition, such as peracetic acid or some other strong oxidant. In such systems, the instruments or devices to be cleaned are typically placed within adeactivation chamber within the deactivation system, or in a container that is placed within the deactivation chamber. During a deactivation cycle, a liquid disinfectant is then circulated through the deactivation chamber. The instruments may then be safely handled for inspection and processed for sterilization. However, it would be faster and cheaper to use steam for decontamination and deactivation if the steam could be applied in a manner that would not damage the instruments. Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a hand held steamer which includes a housing having a first end and a second opposite end and an opening for injecting steam into an interior of the housing. A core having a first end and a second opposite end and a plurality of holes for receiving the steam into an interior of the core is positioned in the interior of the housing. Spacers center the core within the interior of the housing, thereby forming a chamber in the interior of the housing around an exterior of the core. A cap is at the first end of the housing and a cap is at the second opposite end of the housing. One of the spacers is reversibly attached to the cap at the first end of the housing and another of the spacers is reversibly attached to the cap at the second opposite end of the housing. The one of the spacers fits reversibly over the first end of the core and the another of the spacers fits reversibly over the second opposite end of the core. The one of the spacers is attached to the cap by means of threads and the another of the spacers is attached to the cap by means of a threaded locking member. The holes in the core may be oriented at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the core. The steamer may also be constructed in two segments wherein the two segments are joined by one or more connecting members so that the steamer can be opened and closed along its length.

An advantage of the steamer of the present invention is that it can deliver dry vapor steam continuously along the length of a device, such as a endoscope, and the steam temperature can be adjusted by adjusting the steam pressure.

Another advantage is that the steamer obviates the need for liquids to sanitize and decontaminate devices.

Another advantage is a steamer that sanitizes and decontaminates devices quicker and cheaper than existing devices and methods.

Another advantage is a steamer that has a middle area that acts as a baffle so that the steam sanitizes and decontaminates the surface of a device without damaging the rest of the device, as a result of uniform distribution of steam around the device.

Another advantage is a steamer that is easy to assemble and to disassemble for maintenance. Brief Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 shows an exploded side perspective view of the hand held flow-through steamer of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a side perspective view of partial assembly of the steamer with a core partially inserted within a housing and a cap positioned on a one end of the housing.

Fig. 3 shows a side perspective view of an assembled steamer.

Fig. 4 shows a side perspective view of the core with a spacer positioned on each end of the core.

Fig. 5 shows a side side perspective view of a cap positioned over a spacer on a second opposite end of the core.

Fig. 6 shows a side perspective view of a locking member which attaches the cap to the spacer at the second opposite end of the core.

Fig. 7 shows a front side perspective view of a cap for the first end of the housing.

Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled steamer.

Fig. 9a illustrates a user applying steam to a device with the steamer at one end of the device.

Fig. 9b illustrates a user applying steam to a device with the steamer at a middle portion of the device.

Fig. 9c illustrates a user applying steam to a device with the steamer at a second opposite end of the device.

Fig. 10 shows a side perspective exterior view of a hinged embodiment of the steamer in an open position.

Detailed Description

While the following description details the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying figures, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. Fig. 1 shows an exploded side perspective view of the hand held flow-through steamer 10 of the present invention. The steamer 10 has a hollow core 11 having a first end 12 and a second opposite end 13. Core 11 has a plurality of holes 14 except in a middle area 15 which can have no holes 14. A hollow spacer 16, having threads 17, fits reversibly over the first end 12 of core 11 and is reversibly attached to a cap 20 by means of threads 26 in cap 20 (see Fig. 7). A hollow spacer 18, having threaded portion 19, fits reversibly over the second opposite end 13 of core 11. A cap 21 fits over the spacer 18 and the threaded portion 19 extends through the cap 21. A hollow locking member 22 having threads 23 attaches to the threaded portion 19 and locks the spacer 18 to the cap 21. When the core 11 is inserted into a housing 24 the cap 20 fits over one end of the housing 24 and the cap 21 fits over an opposite end of the housing. The housing 24 has a hole 25 through which steam is introduced.

Fig. 2 shows a partial assembly of the steamer 10 with a core 11 partially inserted within the housing 24. The cap 20 is positioned on one end of the housing. Fig. 3 shows an assembled steamer 10 with the cap 20 positioned on one end of the housing 24 and cap 21 positioned on an opposite end of the housing 24. Spacer 16 is connected to cap 20 and locking member is connected to spacer 18. The caps 20 and 21 are reversibly attached to the housing 24 so that the steamer 10 can be disassembled for maintenance and cleaning.

Fig. 4 shows the core 11 with the spacer 16 positioned on the first end 12 and the spacerl8 positioned on the second opposite end 13. The core 11 is reversibly inserted into these spacers 16 and 18 when the steamer 10 is assembled. The spacers 16 and 18 create a space 30 between the exterior of the core 11 and the interior wall of the housing 24 (see Fig. 8). This space or chamber 30 allows steam entering opening 25 in housing 24 to spread all around the core 11 and to enter all the holes 14 of the core 11 to provide a uniform distribution of steam within the hollow interior 31 of the core 11 (see Fig. 8).

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of the 21 cap positioned over the spacer 18 at the end 13 of the core 11. The threaded portion 19 of the spacer 18 extends out of the cap 21 so that it can engage the threads 23 of locking member 22. Fig. 6 shows locking member 22 attached to the threaded portion 19, thereby locking the spacer 18 to the cap 21. Fig. 7 shows an enlarged view of the cap 20 for the end of the housing near the first end 12 of core 11. The internal threads 26 of the cap 20 engage the external threads 17 of spacer 16 to attach spacer 16 to cap 20.

Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled steamer 10. Core 11 is reversibly positioned within the interior 30 of the housing 24. First spacer 16 is screwed into cap 20 and cap 20 is reversibly positioned on the housing 24 at one end. Second spacer 18 is reversibly positioned within cap 21 and the threaded portion of second spacer 18 is screwed into the locking member 22. Cap 21 is reversibly positioned onto housing 24 at a second opposite end. End 12 of the core 11 is reversibly positioned within the spacer 16 which centers the core 11 in the interior of housing 24. End 13 of core 11 is reversibly positioned within the spacer 18 which also centers the core 11 in the interior of housing 24. Because the external diameter of the core 11 is smaller than the internal diameter of the housing 24, a chamber 30 is formed around the exterior of core 11. The holes 14 are shown angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the core 11. The angle of the holes 14 will direct the steam in the interior 31 of the core 11 in a desired direction.

In use, a source of steam is attached to the opening 25 in the housing 24. As steam enters housing 24 it enters the chamber 30 and contacts the middle area 15 of core 11, which is opposite opening 25. The middle area 15 can have no holes 14 which will cause the steam to spread around and along the core 11. The steam then enters the openings 14 and fills the hollow interior 31 of the core 11 uniformly. Any object within the hollow interior 31 would, thus, be exposed uniformly to the steam and would be sanitized and decontaminated.

Figs. 9a-9c illustrates a user applying steam to a device 40 with the steamer 10. The steamer 10 is attached to the handle 41 of a steam source (not shown). The hand 42 of the user is on the handle 41. The user can use his arm and hand 42 to move the steamer up and down the device 40 to expose the entire device 40 to steam. In Fig. 9a the steamer 10 has a device 40, such as an endoscope, inserted therein. The steamer 10 is positioned at the bottom of the device 40 by the user. In Fig. 9b the steamer 10 is positioned at a middle portion of the device 40. In Fig. 9c the steamer 10 is positioned at the upper end of the device 40. The user can move the steamer 10 back to the position shown in Fig. 9a. The user can move the steamer 10 up and down this way the length of the device 40 as many times as desired to obtain the degree of sanitization and decontamination as desired. A constant flow of steam can be applied the core 11 and can exit the steamer 10 at either end. The steam can be applied over a sufficient amount of time to sanitize and decontaminate the surface of the device without the rest of the device heating up to a point where the device would be damaged. This feature is particularly valuable when sanitizing and decontaminating medical instruments like endoscopes.

Fig. 10 shows a side perspective exterior view of a hinged embodiment 50 of the steamer 10 in an open position. The steamer 10 is divided into a first section 51 and a second section 52 along its length. The sections 51 and 52 are joined with one or more connecting members 53, preferably hinges. The sections 51 and 52 also have a locking mechanism 54. The hinged steamer 50 can be opened, positioned around a device, and then locked closed. The hinged steamer 50 can be removed from the device by unlocking the hinged steamer 50 and opening it. Any type of locking mechanism 54 can be used, preferably magnets.

Any kind of steam generating system can be used with the steamer 10. However, dry vapor steam is preferred wherein the steam is at a temperature of at least 240 0 ^F , preferably 275 0 ^F to 310 0 ^F . For example, Advanced Vapor Technologies, LLC of Everett, Washington provides a variety of commercial and residential dry vapor steam generating systems. Another source is AmeriVap Systems, Dawsonville, Georgia. Dry vapor steam is steam having a temperature ranging from 240 0 ^F to 310 0 ^F , a water moisture content of 4% to 6%, and pressure up to 140 PSI.

The foregoing description has been limited to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, with the attainment of some or all of its advantages and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the steamer can be made of any suitable material such as metal or plastic or a combination thereof. The middle area of the core can also have holes if desired. The holes can be in any desired shape and orientation. Other gases besides steam can be used. The steam can contain additional substances. The parts of the steamer can be attached permanently to each other so that the steamer cannot be disassembled.