TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The invention relates to the field of disinfection of the surface of the skin of a part of a person's body, more particularly on the surface of the hand and/or the forearm. Specific sprays allow projection of fluids successively and controlledly on to the surface of the skin to be treated. This involves particularly, but not exclusively, protecting the environment of sensitive or "clean" areas such as clean rooms, laboratories and some rooms within research centres; it is also a matter of combating nosocomial diseases - or infections acquired while in hospital.

PRIOR ART

[0002] In the field of skin disinfection or hygiene, antiseptic agents such as mild soap, which is a detergent-based cleaning agent containing esterified fatty acids and sodium or potassium hydroxide, have long been known. This type of soap has a mainly mechanical action and possesses little or no bactericidal activity. Among the products used as part of hygiene of the skin, particularly of the hands, antiseptic products contain antiseptic agents capable of reducing cutaneous microbial flora once applied to the skin. The substances commonly used are: alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol. Alcohols have good activity against some bacteria, with a log reduction in bacteria of 3.5 following a 30- second application and of 4.5 following a one-minute application. In contrast, alcohols have a low level of activity against bacterial spores, oocysts and against some naked viruses. It is furthermore known that the activity of alcohol is reduced in case of major contamination of the hands with body fluids or other proteinic substances. The virucidal activity of hydroalcoholic solutions (HAS), particularly against enveloped viruses, is therefore known to be greater than that against naked viruses.

[0003] Antiseptic soaps, a mixture of soap and aseptic substance, are commonly used in an hospital environment, since they combine the action of the non- antiseptic soap with that of the antiseptic agent added to the latter. Their use is of course subject to closeness to a sink and prior use of water followed by rinsing of the surface of the skin.

[0004] In a hospital environment for example, various different alcohol-based disinfectants are used, such as hydroalcoholic solutions (HAS) and hydroalcoholic gels (HAG), the properties of which are well known. The table below provides a comparison between an HAS solution and other types of disinfectant products.

[0005] Hydroalcoholic solutions are commonly used as skin disinfectants: they act upon Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria in their vegetative form and do not have any effect on bacterial spores; they display weak activity against "naked" viruses, such as hepatitis A or enterovirus.

[0006] Furthermore, it is known that ozone is a molecule that consists of three negatively charged oxygen atoms; this molecule has a short lifespan; it can be produced naturally by some types of chemical reactions: ozone layer, storms; but ozone may also be produced artificially, by means of very high voltages. In all cases, the molecule of ozone (O3) is derived from decomposition of the oxygen molecule and is unstable. Ozone is thus considered a very powerful oxidant. Microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are capable of interacting with ozone owing to its oxidising power. Ozone is an inactivator of microorganisms, with by-products that furthermore display a recognised antimicrobial activity. Following oxidation of elements by ozone, only pure and stable dioxygen molecules are formed. Furthermore, ozone dissolved in water is harmless, in the sense that it cannot cause any harmful effects to health. It is moreover known that ozone enables effective and rapid inactivation while allowing an action against bacterial spores.

[0007] In a known fashion, HAS display given properties, whereas ozone displays others towards other organisms. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention aims to solve the drawbacks of the state of the art and particularly provide complete disinfection of the skin, i.e. by acting upon many bacteria, viruses and fungi, which is furthermore extremely effective and rapid.

[0009] The aim of the invention is a device for disinfecting the surface of the skin of a human limb, comprising means of withdrawing a first fluid from a first reservoir, means of withdrawing a second fluid from a second reservoir, means of conveying the first and second fluids to a spraying, misting or nebulization device, means of pressurising said first and said second fluids upstream from the spraying, misting or nebulizing device by a gas under pressure, such as air. [0010]According to a first aspect of the invention, the spraying, misting or nebulizing device is capable of spraying, misting or nebulizing the first fluid followed by the second fluid successively in time; said first fluid is ozonated water and said second fluid is an oxidizing solution or a hydroalcoholic (HAS) solution; the device furthermore comprises means of measurement and of control of the volume of fluid withdrawn from the first reservoir, means of measurement and of control of the volume of the fluid withdrawn from the second reservoir such that the device allows synergic spraying, misting or nebulizing of the first and second fluids, wherein the data concerning the measurements and controls are processed by at least one means of data acquisition and processing. [0011] Hence, the device according to the invention allows a synergy between the first and second fluids. A preferred application concerns disinfection of the hands of any persons and particularly of the medical and paramedical staff as well as the visitors of hospital or infected environments, or in protected environments. However, it can also be used by the general public. [0012] Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises means of displaying the data acquired and/or processed by the means of acquisition.

[0013] Furthermore, the interior spraying, misting or nebulizing space is delimited by a casing open on at least one of its faces. All that is needed here is to slip one hand or both hands inside the casing to set the characteristic spraying, misting or nebulizing in operation.

[0014] Preferably, said casing is formed of an antibacterial and/or fungicidal plastic material.

[0015] Furthermore, the device may comprise means of detecting movement of said limb in and/or near the interior space, of the touchless type, interacting with the spraying, misting or nebulizing device and the means of data acquisition and processing. Triggering of spraying, misting or nebulizing subsequent to movement detection is advantageously executed, thereby allowing appropriate and reactive disinfection. [0016] If it is wished to further secure functioning of the device, provision may additionally be made for means of fingerprint recognition interacting with the means of spraying, misting or nebulizing and/or the means of data processing. Provision may be made for any other personalised means of recognition without departing from the scope of the invention. [0017] Interestingly, said first and/or said second and/or third reservoir consists of a cartridge detachable in relation to the device. These elements are to be considered consumables that the user manages independently.

[0018] Furthermore, the device may comprise a warning component for the level of the different fluids respectively present in the different reservoirs, wherein said warning component is fixed to the device and interacts with at least one sensor fixed on the different reservoirs.

[0019] More specifically, the spraying, misting or nebulizing device comprises at least one nozzle uniformly spraying droplets with a conical volume included in the inner space, the vertex of which substantially corresponds to the head of the nozzle.

[0020] With regard to the spraying, misting or nebulizing duration, the means of data processing allow spraying, misting or nebulizing of a total duration less than a given threshold, on the order of 12 seconds. This duration is of course given by way of an illustration; it nevertheless represents a substantial improvement in relation to the prior art.

[0021]According to a first embodiment of the invention, the spraying, misting or nebulizing device opens and is capable of spraying, misting or nebulizing said fluids in an interior space of said casing that may contain a part of a limb, particularly at least one hand and/or a forearm, wherein the inner space is delimited by a casing open on one at least of its faces.

[0022] Furthermore, the device according to the invention may comprise a drawer capable of receiving the residues of the different fluids used. This aspect is interesting, since not all the droplets sprayed impact the surface of the skin; the droplets that do not impact the skin then mostly fall by gravity; it is useful and appropriate to recover them to the extent that they represent a considerable volume of fluid.

[0023] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the spraying, misting or nebulizing device forms part of a portable element additionally comprising the first and second reservoirs in which the second fluid is preferably chlorhexidine 2% solution.

[0024] According to another special feature of the invention, the casing is mobile in relation to a fixed baseplate of the device. [0025] According to another special feature of the invention, the device further comprises means of withdrawing a third fluid from a third reservoir, means of conveying the third fluid to the at least one spraying, misting or nebulizing device, means of pressurising said third fluid upstream from the spraying, misting or nebulizing device by a gas under pressure such as air, the spraying, misting or nebulizing device being capable of spraying said third fluid after said second fluid successively in time, said third fluid is an oxidizing solution or a hydroalcoholic solution (HAS) and wherein the device furthermore comprises means of measurement and of control of the volume of fluid withdrawn from the third reservoir, such that the device allows synergic spraying of the first, second and third fluids.

[0026] The invention furthermore concerns a method of disinfecting the skin of a human limb that particularly involves spraying, misting or nebulizing it successively with droplets of ozonated water followed by droplets of an oxidizing and/or hydroalcoholic solution (HAS) by means of a device as described and claimed here. An interesting synergy is noted here between this succession of spraying, misting or nebulizing operations, not only related to the choice of the sprayed fluids and their spraying order, thus particularly but not exclusively to their respective durations. [0027] The aim of the invention is furthermore use of a device in a protected environment virtually free of dusts and/or predetermined particles. So-called "clean" environments are concerned by the invention: clean rooms, laboratories and some rooms within research centres. Hospital environments are of course particularly concerned by the invention, to the extent that combating diffusion of all viruses and germs in these environments is involved. However, it can also be used by the general public.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be clear from reading the following description, made in reference to the appended figures, which show:

- in figure 1 , a perspective view of a disinfection device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- in figure 2, a diagram of the circuit of one of the fluids;

- in figure 3, a means of spraying used according to the invention; - in figure 4, a perspective view of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- in figure 5, a front view of a portable device forming part of the invention; and

- in figure 6, a perspective view of a device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0029] For greater clarity, identical or similar features are identified by identical reference signs in all the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0030] Figure 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the invention, as seen from the outside. More specifically, a casing 10 is visible, with a parallelepiped shape and opened on two of its faces. It is through one at least of these faces that the user can access the interior space 1 1 of the casing 10. At least one nozzle or spreading device 12 emerges in this interior space 1 1 , capable of spreading successively a first and a second fluid in the manner to be described below. The spreading device is a spraying, misting or nebulizing device 12. The casing 10 can be made of any material, but preferably of an antibacterial and/or fungicidal plastic material, particularly when the device is arranged in a hospital environment.

[0031]This external view of the disinfection device moreover allows visualisation of means of display 13 of the data acquired and/or processed by a means 14 of data acquisition and processing that is positioned for example above the casing 10. The means of data processing, such as a computer, can of course be positioned remotely and be connected by a wireless link to the casing 10 and/or to the means of display 13. The means of display may be an LCD-type colour screen, used to display: the movements to be performed by the user with a view to optimising disinfection; a disinfection time counter; the date and time of use; a warning of the filling level of the tank(s); a device control date; the number of spraying operations performed within a given time interval: day, week, or other period of time. [0032]A means of data memorisation such as a USB port can be mounted on the casing to record any type of data, either independently or redundantly with the main means of data processing 14.

[0033] A means of detecting the movement 17 of a person's limb is furthermore provided, in or close to the interior space 1 1 . Any means known per se can be selected for this purpose; this means interacts with operation and particularly triggering of at least one spraying, misting or nebulizing device 12. Naturally, software integrated in the means of data processing provides this functional coordination. The person skilled in the art chooses the operating parameters deemed necessary and suitable for the application.

[0034] Means of identification 15, such as means of digital or vocal or iris recognition, can be combined with and integrated in the device according to the invention. These means, associated with the means of data processing 14, not only allow recognition of an individual, but furthermore initiation of some controls or certain authorisations or accesses related to a person or a group of persons. One may conceive of slaving the operation of the nozzles 12 to the presence of persons "recognised" by the system, for example the nursing staff of a hospital or of a sector of a hospital. One may also consider counting the number of disinfection operations performed by an individual within a given period of time by the device according to the invention. Calculations, statistics can be performed in order to check standards and compliances concerning the application and/or the envisaged environment.

[0035] Warning means 16 as to the level of the storage reservoirs of the first and/or second fluid can furthermore be provided; these means such as LEDs or equivalent means interact with a transducer or measurement sensor 160 (visible in figure 2) and warn for example visually when the fluid level in at east one of the fluid reservoirs falls below a predetermined threshold. As will be understood in reading of that which follows, the fluids sprayed must be precisely measured in terms of quantity, particularly in order to optimise spraying, i.e. ultimately the quality of disinfection. [0036] Figure 2 is a diagram of one of the fluid circuits forming part of the device according to the invention. On the liquid side, the circuit comprises a first reservoir 1 containing the first fluid, in this case for example ozonated water. Another reservoir contains water which is transferred to a mixing valve for mixing with the ozonated water. An ozone detector is provided on the connecting duct between the ozonated water reservoir 1 and the mixing valve discharging towards a pump, the outlet of which is connected to a second mixing valve. The second mixing valve is arranged downstream from a Venturi-type injector. On the gas side, i.e. air side, the following components are located respectively in the direction of air circulation: an air filter at the entrance to the circuit, a pump, an ozonator and an expansion valve that also opens in the Venturi which mixes the air and water. The mixture is conveyed to the ozonated water reservoir 1 . The excess ozonated air in the reservoir 1 is released from the latter via a filter and an ozone destroyer before being released into the atmosphere. [0037] Figure 3 illustrates the incoming ozonated water and air under pressure in the nozzle or means of spraying 12. A nozzle 12 that creates a projection cone for the droplets that it dispenses is preferably selected; spraying or misting of the droplets is highly uniform and homogeneous to obtain very even distribution of the droplets on the skin; the person skilled in the art also chooses the angle of the spraying cone. This type of spraying nozzle is effective with a very low flow rate. The droplets may have a mean diameter of between approximately 10 μιτι and approximately 60 μιτι and the cone has a variable angle of between 45° and 180°. Although it is usually considered that the term "spraying" refers to projections of droplets of a mean size of more than 60μ, a spraying, misting or nebulizing device is referred to here in which the projected droplets preferably have a size less than 60 pm.

[0038] A second circuit, of the same type as that which has been described above is present and is devoted to the hydroalcoholic (HAS) solution as well as a possible third circuit can be envisaged for the oxidizing solution. The same nozzle or other nozzles can be provided to inject and spray the hydroalcoholic solution and /or oxidizing solution. [0039] The means of data processing 14 is functionally links with a means of control of these two or three spraying, misting or nebulizing operations.

[0040]A first spraying of ozonated water is performed, followed by a spraying, misting or nebulizing of HAS and or oxidizing solution, all within less than 12 seconds, preferably less than 6 seconds. The thus controlled misting (or spraying or nebulizing) makes it possible to obtain a minimum ozone concentration in the ozonated water projected on to the skin.

[0041] The ozonated water is stored in a first reservoir, whereas the HAS solution is contained in a second reservoir. The first and the second reservoirs may adopt the form of replaceable, detachable cartridges. A single cartridge is also conceivable, separated by a two-part sealed partition, each enclosing one of the first and the second fluids. Naturally, a control box for governing the different operating parameters of the invention may be provided.

[0042] In another embodiment of the invention, the disinfection device according to the invention comprises a third reservoir containing a third fluid containing antimicrobial agents. Associated with the third reservoir, the disinfection device according to the invention comprises a third circuit, of the same type as the one previously described. The same nozzle or two different nozzles can be provided to inject and spray the third fluid. In operation, the third fluid has to be sprayed before the second fluid consisting of HAS solution. The order between the first and third fluids can be chosen in different ways. In a further embodiment, the disinfection device comprises more than three reservoirs (and associated circuits).

[0043] The spraying of two or more solutions is done in order to obtain a synergic effect with the different solutions used. The solution(s) used initially, for example the first and/or the third ones, will aim to achieve an oxidizing/antioxidant action (or conversely) on the microorganisms to destroy (for example microorganisms present on the skin), and in a second time, the second solution (here the HAS solution) will aim to optimize this disinfection while allowing a residual effect of the overall operation of disinfection. [0044] The disinfection device according to the invention may be permanently installed or alternatively may be transportable. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment according to which a portable or transportable device 3 forms part of the disinfection device: more specifically, the portable device 3 is of dimensions and of a weight that allow it to be handled easily. The transportable or portable device 3 is preferably equipped with a plug 5 at the bottom allowing its connection to a base 4 supplying the electric energy necessary for its operation. The base 4 can also serve to supply the portable device 3 with one of said first and/or second fluid. In this case, one or several connections 6 are provided for this purpose. [0045] The portable device 3 may comprise, as can be seen more clearly in figure 5, a spraying, misting or nebulizing device 12 in addition to at least one first 1 and/or a second 2 reservoir(s) (or more) accommodated internally. The reservoirs may advantageously be detachable cartridges commonly known as "consumables". It is also considered providing the portable device 3 with a switch 7 for initiating spraying, the characteristics of which are furthermore defined in terms of type of product sprayed (ozonated water and HAS), spraying sequencing, volumes respectively sprayed and spraying durations. Mechanical or electronic means will be provided in order to observe the specific and precise characteristics of spraying. [0046] The presence of a portable device 3 does not in any way preclude that of a casing 10; the person skilled in the art will select the most suitable solution according to needs.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in figure 6, the casing 10 may be mobile in relation to a fixed baseplate 9 which is for example secured to a wall. The fixed baseplate 9 may adopt the overall shape of a bracket; other designs are possible without departing from the framework of the invention. The casing 10 can slide and be guided, under hand or motor control, in a groove 8 provided in the baseplate 9. The groove 8 may be oriented horizontally and/or vertically. The embodiment illustrated by figure 6 shows a groove 8 that is both horizontal and vertical. Hence, the casing 10 may be arranged at different altitudes (or heights) adapted in particular to the height of the individuals whose skin needs to be disinfected. [0048] A ball joint may furthermore enable positioning of the casing 10 according to different orientations. Once fixed at a given altitude, the casing can be oriented in the most suitable manner. The various fastening means, the ball joint and the other connections are of course not described in detail here, as they form part of normal and conventional design of a device, regardless of its nature. It is interesting here that the casing 10 can be oriented on request, i.e. according to need.

[0049] In an alternative embodiment, the disinfection device according to the invention comprises adaptable apparatus arranged so as to allow a wider spraying of the different solutions within a patient's room or an operating room. The spraying operations in this situation are the same as previously described. The adaptable apparatus (not shown in the drawings) is fixed to the upper part of the casing 10, for example. The adaptable apparatus comprises two or more separated pipes (as numerous as the number of reservoirs of the disinfection device according to the invention) for delivering the various solutions used. Each of the separated pipes comprises, at a free end, a spraying, misting or nebulizing device similar to the spraying, misting or nebulizing device 12 previously described. The separated pipes are made of a material that allows a wide configuration of the shape and orientation of the pipe by deformation. Thereby, a uniform disinfection of the whole place is obtained. In addition, the adaptable apparatus can be temporarily fixed on the wall and/or ceiling of the room to be disinfected.