Field

[0001] This application relates to an ozone liquid converter and particular though not solely to an ozone conversion unit accompanying parts for the dissolving of ozone into medical solutions, as well as an air-tight container for storing the solutions that have been dissolved with ozone.

Background

[0002] The main types of solvent used during injections (intravenous (IV) drips = including IV injections) include that of saline salt solutions and standard injection solutions. In cases where infections are concerned, antibiotics could be added to these solvents. However, it is difficult to ensure that the solvents remain completely free from contamination while antibiotics are being added. Incidents of blood poisoning have been reported due to contamination in the container. Due to the nature of antibiotics, there are possibilities for the survival of bacteria beyond the anti-bacterial spectrum, as well as the occurrence or promotion of resistant bacteria.

[0003] In addition, the disposal process in cases where antibiotics have been used is often a tedious one.

[0004] The ability of ozone as a powerful anti-bacterial agent has been well recognized. There are several institutions in Europe where ozone-treatment is being researched for the purposes of autogenous treatment, localized ozone injection and ozone rectal infusion etc. [0005] As such, one would require a container similar to the one shown in JP 2004- 223404, for the purpose of dissolving the ozone into the medical solution when using ozone as an antibiotic. In addition, the solution would have to be transferred to a separate container that has been sterilized. Ensuring that the process of transferring the solution remains free from contamination and that the concentration of ozone remains stable, is undoubtedly a difficult one.

Summary

[0006] As mentioned above, the art of ensuring the safe and effective usage of ozone is compromised by the difficulty in maintaining the element's desired density. This is a widely recognized problem and a solution to this has yet to be found. Ozone when added in stable densities to saline salt solutions, injection solvents and other medical solutions in surgical containers, is believed to be able to act as an effective antibacterial agent before, during and after surgery, for the purpose of injection and ozone therapy.

[0007] To address the above problem, in general terms the invention proposes that the transference of the liquefied ozone from a sterilized container into an airtight container occurs in one continuous motion. This may have the advantage of preventing the intrusion of bacterial from the external environment.

[0008] In addition, embodiments may aim to provide parts to ozone conversion apparatuses which would further simplify the usage and handling of the conversion apparatus. [0009] Embodiments may also provide the airtight container that would be used to hold the solution that has been added with ozone.

[0010] In a first specific expression of the invention there is provided an ozone conversion apparatus converting the solution housed in a sealed container into liquefied ozone, would do so with both ends of the sealed container and the conversion apparatus connected to each other, in an enclosed circular route. Through the route, the ozone gas would be deposited in the middle of the channel, where the downstream flow of ozone gas would be captured, resulting in the discharge of units of ozone gas. The gas would then integrate with the acquired ozone gases and flow out from the closed channels of the sealed container. Units of gases that could not be integrated would return to the airtight container and be converted into liquefied ozone once again.

[0011] The circulating pathway may lead to the airtight container through the use of a bridging needle. Using a septum as an airtight container, the septum will be punctured with the bridging needle to connect the airtight pathway to the airtight container. The capability of the container may remain in an airtight condition even when the bridging needle is removed.

[0012] Ozone gas may be discharged via the segregation of liquid and gas using the force of gravity. The tube-pump in the first embodiment will be inserted into the section that captures the upstream release of ozone gas while the tube-pump in the second embodiment will be inserted into the section that captures the downstream release. The uniqueness of the ozone liquefier apparatus lies in its capability to allow a controlled amount of pressure to be fed into the pump-tube in the second embodiment according to the level of liquid in the discharged gas section. [0013] While securing the position of the 2 bridging needles such that they are connected to each other continuously, either end of the main flow pathway may be attached independently.

[0014] The dimension of the protrusion of the end of the bridging needle that allows for the outflow of liquid may be shorter than the end that allows the return of the liquid.

[0015] The openings of the bridging needle that allows the outflow and return of liquid may be placed back-to-back of each other.

[0016] The ozone may be liquefied and integrated in an airtight container.

[0017] The airtight container may be used for that of medical purposes.

[0018] Based on the above methodology, embodiments may allow for the transference of the liquefied ozone from a sterilized container into an airtight container in one continuous motion, while preventing the intrusion of bacteria from the external environment.

[0019] In addition, embodiments may also simplify the usage and handling of the ozone conversion apparatus through the use of the bridging tools.

[0020] Embodiments may also allow for the airtight container to be used directly as a surgical tool as it stores the ozone-dissolved liquid.

[0021] Embodiments may allow for the effective use of ozone as an antibiotic in the field of medicine.

[0022] In a second specific expression of the invention there is provided an ozone liquid converter which converts a liquid held in a sealed vessel provided with a septum, into ozone liquid including: a liquid tight passage in which to both ends of a passage main body thereof, there are respectively connected insertion needles for liquid discharge and liquid return in an internally communicating state; an ozone gas entrapment part which is arranged part way along the liquid tight passage; and an ozone gas discharge part which is arranged part way along the liquid tight passage, and on a downstream side of the ozone gas entrapment part, and which discharges ozone gas which has not dissolved in the liquid, to the outside of the pathway; wherein said liquid tight passage and said sealed vessel are connected by puncturing said septum with said insertion needles, and there is formed a liquid circulation passage in which liquid flowed out from said sealed vessel passes through said liquid tight passage and returns to said sealed vessel, and ozone is dissolved, in said ozone gas entrapment part, in the liquid which has flowed out from said sealed vessel to said liquid tight passage, and converted to ozone liquid, and after discharging the ozone gas what has not been dissolved in said ozone gas discharge part, said ozone liquid is returned to inside said sealed vessel, to thereby convert the liquid contained in said sealed vessel into ozone liquid.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] One or more example embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the following figures, in which:

[0024] [Figure 1] Diagrammatic representation of the entire ozone conversion apparatus in the first embodiment;

[0025] [Figure 2] Perspective representation of the bridging tool for the ozone conversion apparatus in Figure 1 ; [0026] [Figure 3] Cross-sectional representation of the surgical bag attached to the ozone conversion apparatus in Figure 1 ;

[0027] [Figure 4] Vertical cross-section representation of the internalized connection between the bridging tool in Figure 2 and the surgical bag in Figure 3; and

[0028] [Figure 5] Diagrammatic representation of the entire ozone conversion apparatus in the second embodiment.

Detailed Description

[0029] The below explanations are for the diagrammatic representation of the entire ozone conversion apparatus in the first embodiment.

[0030] Figure 1 is a representation of the entire conversion apparatus while Item 1 points to the ozone liquefier apparatus.

[0031] The ozone liquefier apparatus (Item 1) was designed with the intention of locating it within a medical/surgical environment. The connecting surgical bag (Item 3) acts as the airtight container. The surgical bag contains saline salt solution (L) for IV treatment.

[0032] First, we begin with the configuration of the ozone liquefier apparatus (Item 1).

[0033] Item 5 indicates the enclosed liquid flow path, which is built upon the main channel (Item 7). The main channel 7 is built with a sterile flexible tube. The main channel 7 is connected to several tubes, whereby ozone-resistant material is used where necessary.

[0034] Item 9 indicates the tube-pump facilitates the compulsory circulation of liquid, and it is connected to the downstream flow path of the main channel 7. The saline salt solution (L) within the main channel 7 will flow in the direction correlated to the configurations of tube-pump 9.

[0035] Item 11 indicates the gas-liquid integration section, and is attached midway to main channel 7 to the downstream flow of tube-pump 9. The gas-liquid integrator 11 is connected to one end of the gas-provision line 13 (ejector), while the oxygen tank 15 is connected to the other end of the gas-provision line 13. The upstream path of the gas- provision line 13 which is connected to the pressure valve 17, pressure flow controller 19, pressure switch 21 , air supply valve 23 and the ozone production section 25, will supply gas to the ozone production section 25, when the air supply valve 23 opens to allow the pressure of the oxygen stored in the oxygen tank 15 to drop to trie level set by the pressure valve 17 which will then result in the pressure flow adjusting to the level set by the pressure flow controller 19.

[0036] The low pressure switch, indicated by pressure switch 21 , will signal an error message if the production of ozone becomes impossible, due either to the depletion of oxygen in the oxygen tank 15 or the pressure falling below the level set at pressure valve 17 thus causing the supply of oxygen to fail.

[0037] The number of electric units discharged will be prepared as the production of ozone in the ozone production section 25 is based on silent electric discharge.

[0038] The gas inflow section is structured upon the above mentioned parts and gas provision line 13.

[0039] Item 27 indicates the gas-liquid separator, which is attached to the downstream path of the gas-liquid integrator 11 midway of the main channel 7. An adequate opening to allow the escape of ozone gas within the upper chamber of the gas-liquid separating section is ensured for the effective use of gravity to enable the separation mechanism. The gas-liquid separator 27 is equipped with a liquid sensor 28 to monitor the level of liquid at all times.

Item 29 indicates the ozone exhaust treatment which enables the oxidization of ozone back to oxygen through the use of catalysts such as magnesium oxide and palladium oxide. A heater to enable the activation of the catalysts is attached. Ozone gas that could not be integrated will flow through the ozone exhaust pipes from the upper chambers of the gas-liquid separator 27 to the exhaust ozone treatment 29. There, the ozone will be broken down into oxygen which is harmless, and be released into the atmosphere.

[0040] Item 31 is the ozone density meter, and it calculates the concentration of ozone that has been dissolved through ultraviolet absorption. The ozone density meter 31 controls the ozone production section 25 through comparing the levels of density, by maintaining the desired amount of ozone being dissolved into the saline salt solution in the ozone production section 25.

Item 32 is the pinch valves which is being inserted between the ozone density meter 31 and gas-liquid integrator 11.

[0041] Back to the main channel 7, items 33 and 35 indicate the bridging needles which connect the two ends of the main channel 7.

According to Figure 2, bridging needles 33 and 35 have the same dimensions in width but not in length. The base end of bridging needle 33 is structured to fit the septum 51 attached to the opening that allows the inflow of the medical solution at the front end of the surgical bag 3, through the cutting edge 37. The cutting edge 37 is formed by cutting the end of bridging needle 33 diagonally, while the needle hole 39 is oval- shaped.

[0042] Item 41 indicates the fixed tabular circular needle, whose ends are inserted through the 2 openings of bridging needles 33 and 35. The 3 items are joint through means such as welding.

[0043] The length of the front end of bridging needle 33 protruding from the fixed section 41 till the cut end of the same needle (n1) would be shorter than that of the length of protrusion of bridging needle 35 till its cut end (n2).

[0044] The needle holes 39 of bridging needles 33 and 35 are placed back-to-back.

[0045] Bridging needle 33 facilitates the liquid flow from surgical bag 3 to main channel 7, while bridging needle 35 reverts the flow from main channel 7 to the surgical bag 3.

[0046] Bridging tool 43 is made of titanium for its heat-resistant property in view of the need for resistance to ozone and for the sterilization against bacterial contamination. The type of material for the bridging tool 43 need not be limited to titanium; other materials with similar properties such as stainless steel, PFA resin (Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)-Fluorocarbon Resin) may also be used.

[0047] According to Figure 1 , the ozone conversion unit 1 is separated from the main body and the oxygen tank 15. The main body is detachable from the desorptron section which allows for the latter to be sterilized separately. Also, tubes within the main channel 7 that are heavily used in terms of ozone gases passing through can be replaced easily.

[0048] This section explains the structure of the surgical bag 3 found in Figure 3. [0049] The surgical bag 3 is often used in storing medical solutions in the medical field. The soft body bag 45 and the tubular plug 47 at the lower end of the bag's main body 45 are joined together. The lower opening of the tubular port 49 of the tubular plug 47 is secured by septum 51.

[0050] As the plugging of bridging needles 33 and 35 cannot be adjusted, the septum 51 should be made of materials such as butyl rubber, isoprene rubber or heat-resistant elastomer. The septum 51 will close up when the bridging needles 33 and 35 are pulled out, thereby keeping the surgical bag 3 in airtight conditions at all times.

[0051] The septum 51 can be joined to an extension tube 53 as show in the figure.

[0052] This section explains on the connection of the enclosed liquid pathway of the bridging needles 33 and 35 in the ozone conversion unit 1 and the surgical bag 3.

[0053] The representation in Figure 4 is formed by inserting the septum 51 to the cut edge 37 of the bridging needles 33 and 35 of the bridging tool 43, and by connecting the fixed section 41 to the lower portion of the septum 51.

[0054] Based on this formation, the enclosed liquid pathway 5 would be connected internally to the surgical bag 3, thereby allowing the circulating pathway for the liquid. Within the surgical bag 3, the cut edge 37 of bridging needle 33 will be protruding from the septum 51 to locate just under the tubular port 49. The cut edge 37 of bridging needle 35 would however, extend nearer to the upper end of the tubular port 49.

Likewise, the needle holes 39 of bridging needles 33 and 35 should be placed back-to- back.

[0055] This section explains the conversion process of the saline salt solution (L) stored in the surgical bag 3 based on the operations of the ozone conversion unit 1. [0056] The natural force of gravity would cause the liquid to flow down from the surgical bag 3 to the gas-liquid separation section 27, at a rate that is controlled by the tube-pump 9 through an orifice.

[0057] Upon the activation of the ozone conversion unit 1 , the pinch valve 32 would open, allowing the saline salt solution (L) to flow through the enclosed liquid pathway 5 to the gas-liquid separator 27 until it reaches the level set through the liquid sensor 28. Upon reaching the desired level, the tube pump 9 will be activated thereby causing the circulation to begin. Based on the liquid level detected by the liquid sensor 28, the tube pump 9 would control the pressure feed to maintain the permissible level of activity in the gas-liquid separator 27. The tube pump 9 would stop upon the deactivation of the ozone conversion unit 1 , in conjunction with the closing of the pinch valve 32, which would also stop the flow of liquid from the surgical bag 3 to the gas-liquid separator 27.

[0058] The saline salt solution (L) in the surgical bag 3 would flow out through the enclosed liquid pathway 5 of the bridging needle 33, and be mixed with ozone gas that will be introduced at the gas-liquid integrator 11. The mixture will be converted to liquefied ozone (B), and the ozone gas that could not be integrated at the gas-liquid separator will be separated. Thereafter, the liquefied ozone (B) would return to the surgical bag 3 through bridging needle 35.

[0059] Due to the difference in the degree of protrusion between that of bridging needle 33 and 35 within the tubular port 49, the needle hole 39 of bridging needle 35 is placed higher for the expulsion of liquefied ozone (B) that has been dissolved with ozone. In addition, as the needle hole 39 of the two bridging needles are placed back-

Il to-back, the occurrence of short pass, i.e. the sucking in of expelled gases into bridging needle 33, would not happen.

[0060] The density of the liquefied ozone (B) would always be maintained due to the feedback mechanism from the ozone density meter 31 to the ozone production section 25. As such, the level of ozone density in the surgical bag would also be maintained accordingly. In addition, the extension tube 53 can generate power whilst the ozone conversion unit 1 is being operated.

[0061] The half-life period of the saline salt solution (L) is relatively short at about 20 minutes. Moreover, as the half-life period is greatly affected by the composition of sodium chloride, it is recommended to conjunctively use the liquefied ozone (B) to generate power.

[0062] Although the saline salt solution (L) in the surgical bag 3 is being converted to liquefied ozone (B), there will not be any changes to the shape of the surgical bag 3.

[0063] Thus, the medical professional may once again insert the septum 51 using an IV needle, and keep the tools for usage later again. This is a safe procedure as there will not be leakage of ozone particles.

[0064] If the half-life period is longer such as in the case of injection solutions, it is recommended to prepare multiple bags of ozone water to increase the efficiency of the treatment.

[0065] This section explains the second embodiment of the ozone conversion unit, based on the representation in Figure 5.

[0066] Figure 5 shows the representation of the entire conversion unit, while Item 61 indicates the ozone conversion unit as a whole. [0067] The structure of the ozone conversion unit 61 is identical to the one represented in the first embodiment. The following section would only explain parts where there are differences with those found in the first embodiment. All other parts not mention henceforth can be taken to be the same as what was found in the first embodiment.

[0068] Item 63 indicates the second embodiment of the tube-pump, where it connects with the upstream flow of the main channel 7 thereby replacing the pinch valve 32 in the first embodiment.

[0069] Upon the activation of the ozone conversion unit 61 , the tube pump 63 will be activated leading to the accumulation of the saline salt solution (L) through the enclosed liquid pathway 5 into the gas-liquid separator 27, until the desired level set by the liquid sensor 28. Once the desired level has been accumulated, the tube pump 9 will be activated causing the circulation to begin. Based on the feedback mechanism from the liquid sensor 28 to the tube pump 9, the feed pressure would always be maintained such that the activity of the gas-liquid separator 27 is within the desired boundaries.

[0070] Upon the deactivation of the ozone conversion unit 61 , the tube pump 63 would stop, and end the flow of liquid from the surgical bag 3 to the gas-liquid separator 27.

[0071] Notwithstanding the above explanations, the specific configurations are not limited to the embodiments of the invention and that any changes to the design or configuration further to the above would be included as part of the scope within the invention's patent.

[0072] For instance, the opening and closing mechanism of the airtight container is not limited to the use of the septum. Additionally, the scope also includes the various combinations of tools and methodologies in closing up the elastic opening of the tubular sections. Having said that, we recommend the use of the septum as the outer circumference of the bridging needles and the septum yields the best results in ensuring the lack of gaps in the connection of the airtight container, thereby minimizing the chances of bacterial contamination from the external environment.

[0073] For the effective operation of the ozone conversion unit 1 , the temperature of the operating environment should be 25 degree Celsius and below; using 500ml of injection solution contained in the surgical bag 3, ozone gas density = 150g/Nm ³ , ozone gas production = 1g/h. During the integration of the ozone, reached 4.02ppm 60 seconds after activation.

[0074] The half-life period of the ozone water retrieved from the surgical bag 3 was 300 minutes.

[0075] The half-life period of ozone water of similar density retrieved from non airtight containers used in typical ozone water production units was 30 minutes.

[0076] This invention would be especially useful in the medical field, for small quantities or sporadic production of liquefied ozone.

[0077] While example embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, many variations are possible within the scope of the invention as claimed as will be clear to a skilled reader.

Reference Numerals

I - ozone conversion unit (first embodiment) 3 - surgical bag

5 - enclosed liquid pathway

7 - main channel

9 - tube pump (first embodiment)

I 1 - gas-liquid integrator

13 - gas provision line

15 - medical oxygen tank

17 - pressure valve

19 - flow adjustor

21 - pressure switch

23 - air supply valve

25 - ozone gas production section

27 - gas-liquid separator

28 - liquid level sensor

29 - ozone exhaust section

31 - ozone density meter

32 - pinch valve

33, 35 - bridging needle

37 - cutting edge

39 - needle hole

41 - fixed section 43 - bridging tools

45 - main body of bag

47 - tubular plug

49 - tubular port

51 - septum

53 - extension tube

61 - ozone conversion unit (2 ^nd embodiment)

63 - tube-pump (2 ^nd embodiment)

(L) - saline salt solution

(B) - liquefied ozone