DESC:TITLE OF THE INVENTION
“Purification Module for Medical Applications”
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a purification device for clinical surroundings, more particularly to a zero wastage water purification system for clinical applications that provide uncontaminated water to dental water lines at the point of use.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention, to provide a new and improved apparatus for purification of water for delivering water for any clinical applications, particularly for dental water lines free of any living microbes.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide apparatus for destroying any bio-films formed on the walls of the water lines used in clinical operations more particularly in dental lines.
It is an objective of the present invention, to provide a new and improved apparatus for purification of water that provides an improved membrane water purification system wherein waste or reject water is recovered for useful purposes.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide improved membrane water purification systems which are simpler and more cost effective in design than conventional systems wherein the reject water is stored and used for other suitable purposes such as flushing in clinical operations.
RELEVANT PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION
All medical applications require supply for sterilized water supply for operations including clinical, dental and cosmetic. Dental units in particular have a water supply that provides rinse water to the dynamic dental instruments including the high-speed hand piece, air/water syringe and ultrasonic sealer. This water supply is connected to a domestic water system or a storage tank such as bottled water which uses pre-sterilized water. Compressed air is supplied to the hand piece that rotates at high speed (about several thousand or several ten thousands revolutions per minute). The three-way syringe jets out the compressed air and the compressed water to clean a required portion of a human. This hand piece or three-way syringe is provided to a medical unit-chair on which a patient sits or lies. The dental unit-chair also has an oral washstand on which a patient can gargle with the water. This oral wash stand further has a flushing tap, that the medical practitioner uses to clean the sink after the patient has gargled to remove any stains from the sink. The water used for gargling and flushing usually is a source of tap water and is not sterilized.
Microbiological studies of this water supply revealed that the water is contaminated by water organisms and oral Flora.

These organisms have been found to be massive in number and some identified as pathogenic. Dental researches have stated that this contamination could cause infection in immuno-suppressed patients, and cross infection may occur between dental patients.
Clinical tests show that oral flora is aspirated from a patient’s oral cavity into the dental unit water lumens through these dental instruments. In-order to address the above issues, it is mandated by regulatory authorities that a means be incorporated in the dental unit to prevent water from being drawn back beyond the point of the dental instrument connection.
However, continuing research indicates that this has not significantly reduced contamination. Medical studies have determined that disease incubation periods vary for every individual and hence it is difficult to make accurate assessments as to the time and place of infection. Dental treatment is frequently subgingival and invasive of the mucosa therefore providing a direct access to the vascular system. It is therefore prudent to use microbiologically pure water for cooling and rinsing during dental treatment.
Also, once the water leaves plumbing lines and enters the long plastic tubing that feeds into dental high-speed hand pieces and other dental implements, such as air-water syringes and ultrasonic tooth scalers, the environment changes. Here, the low flow rate, frequent periods of stagnation and large relative surface area of the small bore plastic lines are ideal for microbial contamination. Water that stagnates in plastic water lines and/or tubing overnight and even during long periods during the day provides bacteria the opportunity to stick to the wall of the lines/tubing. Water, slowly running through the line, provides a constant flow of bacteria that can adhere to the microbes that are already clinging to the wall. Cooperating populations of several different species, which depend on each other for survival, continue to multiply and form a matrix that provides nutrients and mutual protection. This bacterial population is known as bio-film, a microbial mass that is bathed in liquids. Dental plaque is another example of bio-film. Bio-film can also be found in air conditioning units, artificial implants and many types of equipment, including dental anti-siphon and check valves.
The function of the anti-siphon and check valves is to prevent aspiration of patients’ fluids into the dental water lines. Unfortunately, these valves often fail to work properly because of bio-film and other factors. Microbes can get sucked back into the dental water and pathogens originating from patients’ mouths can enter the lines and adhere to existing bio-film and multiply within them.
Many patent applications in the prior art addresses this issue by supplying a water purification unit such as a Reverse osmosis unit for dental applications. The disadvantage of such units is that it does not prevent the contamination of the sterilized after at the point of use especially against the bio-films in the tube lines. Also, membrane systems tend to produce more reject water or “Concentrate Water” in the ration of 1:3, wherein for 3 times the water is rejected as reject water to the rain.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for methods and apparatuses that provides a water purification device that provides sterilized water at the point of use in medical applications. The apparatus should further be environment friendly by reducing the water flow to the reject valve and maximizing the effective purification of water for medical applications.
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a membrane water purification system, more particularly to a membrane purification system for medical applications. The said purification system destroys any bio-films formed on the walls of the water lines used in medical applications more particularly in dental lines. The purification system of the present invention is an environment friendly system, wherein the concentrate water rejected from the said system is not drained off. The purification system disclosed in the present invention, more particularly membrane purification system for dental applications comprises a raw water source, a purification module, a storage tank, a drain tank, an anti bio-film cartridge, a rinsing module and a dental hand piece. The water purification system of the present invention is to provide apparatus for destroying any microbes present in a dental water line or the water itself each time water flows through the line. The said purification system terminates the motility and viability of any microbes or pathogens aspirated from a patient and entering any water channels in the medical implements and the water lines extending from the medical implements such as the hand piece. The said device is eco-friendly and provides a zero wastage water purification system, wherein the concentrate water is specifically designed for use in the rinsing unit or similar purposes in medical applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a general block diagram of water purification system, as disclosed in the embodiments herein;
DETAILED SPECIFICATION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantages, details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The present invention relates to a membrane water purification system, more particularly to a membrane purification system for medical applications. The said purification system destroys any bio-films formed on the walls of the water lines used in medical applications more particularly in dental lines. The purification system of the present invention is an environment friendly system, wherein the concentrate water rejected from the said system is not drained off. The purification system disclosed in the present invention, more particularly membrane purification system for dental applications comprises a raw water source, a purification module, a storage tank, a drain tank, an anti bio-film cartridge, a rinsing module and a dental hand piece.
The raw water source of the purification system comprises a valve or pipe of connecting means, one end of which connects to the water source and the other end of the means connects to the purification module.

The said purification module of the present system comprises a sediment filter and/or a chemi-block media such as a carbon filter, a membrane purification unit and radiation chamber or the combinations thereof. The said sediment filter treats raw water by removing sediments, particulates or other such materials. The said carbon filter of the filtration unit comprises carbon, activated charcoal or the like to remove organic compounds and compounds such as those found in pesticides and dissolved gases such as chlorine. The carbon filter also removes undesirable taste prior to actual purification of the source water. The said membrane purification (RO) unit of the purification module comprises a RO membrane or the like having minute pores to strains salts and microorganisms. A pump means and a reject water valve is also provided in membrane purification filtration unit. The pump creates the required osmotic pressure to force water through the pores of the membrane. The reject water valve controls and allows the out flow of rejected water.

In addition to the membrane purification unit, the said purification module comprises other similar filtration of purification module that enhances the efficiency of the purification system. These include, membrane filters such Ultra filtration (UF) and/or nano filtration (NF) unit, chemical purification systems such as softeners, mechanical purification methods ozonization radiation chambers such ultraviolet radiation or combinations thereof.

The said purification module is connected to the storage tank from one end and the other end of the tank to an anti bio-film chamber at the other end. The storage tank stores the purified water and supplies to the point of use. Further, the rejected water which flows out via the reject valve is collected in the drain tank. The rinsing module of the said purification system further comprises a unit to gargle and a tap unit to cleanse the sink.

The purification module functions to purify water supplied to the medical unit which in this embodiment is the hand piece for dentist operations.

The anti bio-film chamber comprises of halogenated resin that neutralizes and kills disease causing bacteria, virus and protozoa by means of demand-release electrostatic attraction as water flows through the cartridge. The resin has a positive charge and the microorganisms are negatively charged whereby the microorganisms are attracted to the resin. When contact is made between the resin and the microorganism, an appropriate amount of halogen is released from the resin directly into the organism to neutralize the organism.
Disease causing microorganisms in water flowing through the element are neutralized with neutralizing agents released directly into the microorganisms when the microorganisms come into contact with the resin. Residual halogen is released as water passes through the resin and remains between the said cartridge, the tubes and the hand piece and the gargling unit at the point of use to maintain water purity for such medical applications. As the instrument is used aspirated oral flora are killed by the residual halogen in order to prevent bio-film formation. This maintains a microbiologically pure water condition reducing cross infection potential and preventing disease transmission by way of the dental unit water.
The purified water which is stored in the storage tank is now supplied to the hand piece medical unit. The purified water is additionally supplied to the gargling unit of the rinsing module as this ensures that purified water is used to wash the area after a medical procedure.

The reject water or the concentrate water after the purification of the source water by the purification module is stored in the drain tank. The drain water is connected to the tap unit of the rinsing module. The tap unit is used to clean or rinse the sink after use of procedures.

The drain tank can additionally be added with external disinfectants such as chemical disinfectants that are used in sterilization. The disinfectant added drain water will ensure that the sink is sterilized and is safe for use for subsequent procedures.

The other end of drain tank is connected to the outlet source via a connecting means such as a valve or the like. When the drain tank is completely filled, the water is drained out. This ensure that the drain unit functions independently of the purification system thus enabling the purification of the inlet water to be continuous and independent of the rejected water stored in the drain unit.

Additionally the said purification system include pressure means to pressurizes the water purifier under a given pressure used in the medical instrument on the dental unit-chair. A pump or the like is used as the pressure means.

The purifier of this invention may conveniently be constructed and arranged for mounting to a dental support post of the kind conventionally used in dentistry. Alternatively, the purifier may be mounted from a wall or a frame structure in the proximity of a dental delivery unit.

The water purification system of the present invention is to provide apparatus for destroying any microbes present in a dental water line or the water itself each time water flows through the line. The said purification system terminates the motility and viability of any microbes or pathogens aspirated from a patient and entering any water channels in the medical implements and the water lines extending from the medical implements such as the hand piece.

The said device is eco-friendly and provides a zero wastage water purification system, wherein the concentrate water is specifically designed for use in the rinsing unit or similar purposes in medical applications.

The purification system of the present invention, though specifically described for operation in dental applications, is used in other medical applications such as cosmetic, surgical operations or the like.
,CLAIMS:Claims
1. A zero wastage water purification system that prevents bio-film formation comprising a raw water source, a purification module, a storage tank, a drain tank, an anti bio-film cartridge, a rinsing module and a hand piece.
2. The zero wastage water purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anti bio-film cartridge comprises halogenated resin composition.
3. The zero wastage water purification system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the anti bio-film cartridge composition is selected such that the composition provides sustained prevention of bio-film formation.
4. The purification module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the purification method is selected from ultraviolet purification, Reverse Osmosis purification, Nanofiltration purification, Carbon block sediment filtration technologies and/or combinations thereof
5. The zero wastage water purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein purified water from the purification module is stored for further use
6. The zero wastage water purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reject water from the purification module is stored in the drain tank
7. The zero wastage water purification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reject water stored in the drain tank is provided for re-use in the rinsing module for cleaning the sink or the like.
8. An anti bio-film cartridge is a halogenated resin composition which prevents formation of bio-films in medical applications wherein water is stored after purification and allowed to pass via tubing to the point of use
9. A method of purification of water that prevent bio-film formation wherein,
i. water from the raw water source enters in to the purification module
ii. the purified water obtained in step (i) from the purification module is stored in the storage tank
iii. the stored water obtained in step (ii) is allowed to pass through the bio-film cartridge that neutralizes and kills residual microorganisms
iv. the treated water obtained in step (iii) is provided for use via the hand piece
10. A zero wastage water purification method that prevents bio-film formation wherein,
i. water from the raw water source enters the purification module to provide purified water (a) and reject water (b)
ii. the purified water (a) obtained in step (i) from the purification module is stored in the storage tank
iii. the reject water (b) obtained in step (i) from the purification module is stored in the drain tank
iv. the purified water stored in storage tank as in step (ii) is allowed to pass through the bio-film cartridge that neutralizes and kills residual microorganisms
v. the treated water obtained in step (iv) is provided for use via the hand piece
vi. the reject water (b) stored in drain tank as in step (iii) is provided for use via the rinsing unit.