WATER SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING STERILIZATION AND STERILE FLUIDS IN DENTAL EQUIPMENT

Description

The present invention concerns a water system for the supply of sterilization fluids and sterile fluids for use in dental equipment, such as dental units. Currently, the water system of the aforementioned dental units, i.e. the circuitry, includes a main branch for supplying fluids (for example, water from the mains) to the handpieces used by the doctor. Secondary branches for supplying fluids to a spittoon and a glass are connected to this branch, while further sub-branches have been added to be able to supply the main circuit and, possibly, also the secondary branches for disinfection or sterilization fluids of the circuit (starting from upstream of the same -261.C3250.12.iT.100 tng. Luccio Panzoni LUVB Albo ΡΓ0ίνΝ / 217ΒΜ so) and sterile fluids for use during the session by the doctor. Each of the sub-branches, usually at least two, for supplying disinfection or sterilization fluids and sterile fluid are equipped, upstream, with a connection that can be resolved with dedicated containers containing the fluids to be used. This allows for rapid interchangeability of the containers and therefore the use of fluids with different characteristics depending on the physician's needs. Each of these means of connection includes a sort of cap onto which the upper part of the fluid container is blocked (by screwing or snapping), a cap which is externally connected directly to the conduit defining the sub-branch. Each cap is equipped with a cannula which, once the container is applied, is placed inside the container itself to be able to collect the fluid present and introduce it into the sub-branch when required by the dental unit programming (disinfection or sterilization cycles) or by the operational needs of the doctor by means of valve means or other known control means present on the dental unit. The structure of these sub-branches currently presents a drawback given the impossibility of sterilizing the sub-branch intended for the sterile liquid, since the two separate branches flow into the main duct at two distinct points of the duct itself. -361.C3250.12.IT.100 Eng. Luain / Lanzoni LLA / B Register 217BM This architecture of the sub-branches, therefore, does not allow for the sterilization and / or disinfection of the sub-branch used for supplying the sterile liquid which, over time, could receive contaminants (for example from outside in the absence of the fluid container) which, during use of the supplied sterile fluid, could spread throughout the main duct, effectively compromising the previous sterilization or disinfection operations. The purpose of this invention is therefore to eliminate the aforementioned drawback by creating a water system for supplying sterilization and / or disinfection fluids and sterile fluids for use on dental units, capable of achieving maximum hygiene for each duct and branch present in the dental unit's circuitry and without excessively altering the architecture of the water system itself. The purpose specified above is substantially achieved by a water system for the supply of sterilization fluids and sterile fluids for use comprising a main duct for supplying a network fluid to a plurality of connecting branches with corresponding operating handles; connected to the main duct, upstream of the connecting branches, are a first sub-branch for supplying sterile fluid for use, as an alternative to the network fluid, and a second sub-branch for supplying sterilization / disinfection fluid to the main duct and the connecting branches; each first and second sub-branch is provided with an element or capsule for the association of a relative container of fluids to be supplied. -461 .C3250.12JT.100|η9· Luciin£L^izoni ll / vb Albo PratVN^!l7BM deserve and a cannula, connected to the relevant first or second sub-branch, insertable inside the container, and capable of drawing the fluid in correspondence with a request by the relevant control means; the second sub-branch for supplying the sterilizing / disinfecting fluid branches off from the corresponding capsule and connects directly to the first sub-branch so as to allow the alternating supply and by means of the control means, of the sterilizing or disinfecting fluids and the sterile fluid along a single first sub-branch connected to the main duct. The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforementioned purposes, are clearly evident from the content of the claims reported below and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the attached drawings, which represent a purely exemplary and non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a diagram of a part of the water circuits of a dental unit equipped with the water system for supplying sterilization fluids and sterile fluids for use in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the water system shown in Figure 1 in a schematic view. In accordance with the figures in the attached drawings, and with particular reference to figure 1, the water system in question is designed to supply sterilization / disinfection fluids and sterile fluids for use in dental equipment, such as dental units. -561.C3250.12.IT.100 Ing. LuaJrre Songs LUVB Register of Professors - / N / 217BM This water system comprises, in its essential parts, a main conduit 1 for supplying a network fluid (usually water) to a plurality of connecting branches 2 with corresponding operating handpieces 3. These branches 2 vary in number depending on the handpieces 3 present on the dental unit and here, for example, they are four in number. Connected to the main duct 1, upstream of the connecting branches 2 with respect to the direction of fluid supply, indicated by the arrow F, are a first sub-branch 4 for the supply of the aforementioned sterile fluid for use, used as an alternative to the mains fluid, and a second sub-branch 5 for the supply of the aforementioned sterilization fluid! disinfection of the main duct 1 and the connecting branches 2. As can also be seen in figure 2, the first and second sub-branch 4 and 5 are each provided with an element or capsule 6, 7 for the association (via screwing or snap locking) of a relative container 8, 9 of the aforementioned fluids to be fed and of a cannula 10, 11, connected to the relative first or second sub-branch 4 and 5, which can be inserted inside the relative container 8 and 9 when this is associated with the corresponding capsule 6, 7. These cannulas 10 and 11 take the relevant fluid in correspondence with a request from the relevant control means 12 consisting, for example, of a pneumatic system (present on the whole dental unit, but here shown schematically with two ducts 12a and 12b and a control unit 17) and connected to the containers -661.C3250.12.IT.100 Ing. LuciiM / à / zoni LLA / B Albo ProiVtì / Z17BM tori 8 and 9 in order to allow them to be pressurised and therefore to supply the fluids to the sub-branches 4 and 5 and, subsequently, to the main duct 1. As can be clearly seen in figures 1 and 2, the second sub-branch 5 for supplying the sterilising / disinfecting fluid departs from the corresponding capsule 7 and connects directly to the first sub-branch 4 supplying the sterile fluid so as to allow the supply, alternately and by means of the aforementioned control means 12, of the sterilising / disinfecting fluids or of the sterile fluid along a single first sub-branch 4 connected to the main duct 1 (solution illustrated in a discontinuous line in figure 2). In a preferred solution, the second sub-branch 5 is diverted and brought to join the first sub-branch 4 at the beginning of the same sub-branch 4 already inside the capsule 6 and, therefore, immediately downstream of the relative cannula 10. To achieve operational safety and the total guarantee that the two fluids do not interfere with each other, each capsule 6 and 7 is provided, at the upper end of the aforementioned cannulas 10 and 11, with a valve means 13 and 14 capable of allowing, via the control means 12, the flow of one of the fluids into the single sub-branch 4, when required. In practice, each capsule 6 and 7 is provided with a non-return valve 13, 14 at the upper end of the corresponding cannula 10, 11. More precisely, the second association capsule 7 - 761 .C3250.12JT, 100 Eng. Luciano Sianioni LL / VB Albo ProtJw217BM sub-branch 5 for the supply of the sterilization / disinfection fluid can be provided with an inverted “L”-shaped channel 15 connected to the second sub-branch 5 for the diversion of the fluids towards the other capsule 6. The capsule 6 for the association of the first sub-branch 4 for the supply of the sterile fluid can be provided with a T-shaped channel 16 to allow the flow of fluids, alternately, towards the main duct 1. To further increase the safety of the water system, it is possible to add, on the second sub-branch 5 connecting the two capsules 6, 7 of the second means 18 with a closing and safety valve of the same second sub-branch 5, capable of keeping the same second sub-branch 5 closed during the use of the sterile fluid. In practice, the water system thus structured works in the following way. In order to carry out a sterilization / disinfection cycle of the circuit, the pneumatic duct 12b (see arrow F12b) is activated (see figure 2), so as to allow the flow of fluid into the second sub-branch 5 (see arrow F5 and with valve 18 in the open position), and then into the first sub-branch 4 through the connection created in the capsule 6 so as to flow into the main duct 1 and the connecting branches. In order to use the sterile fluid, the pneumatic duct 12a is activated (see arrow F12a in discontinuous section) to allow the flow of the sterile fluid inside the prì-861.C3250.12.IT.100|η9· Ludaj^Mzoni Hjyg Albo PrócW^f17BM mo under branch 4 (see arrow F4 in discontinuous line) and then into the main conduit 1, while the safety valve 18 is kept in the closed position to eliminate the possibility of mixing between the two fluids. Obviously, after a sterilization or disinfection cycle, sub-branch 4 is automatically rinsed with the same sterile liquid as per the disinfection / sterilization cycle program, a cycle in which it is usually possible to select the rinsing fluid. This water system fully achieves its intended purposes thanks to a simple and highly safe structure, as the construction architecture allows the use of a single sub-branch to supply multiple fluids, keeping the same sub-branch always sufficiently sanitized, without distorting the existing structural parts in that area of ​​the dental unit. With this solution, therefore, on the one hand the circuits are simplified, and on the other a complete sanitization of all the pipes and branches present in the water circuit supplying branches 2 is carried out: in effect, therefore, the entire water system, from the supply sources to branches 2, is operational in a completely sanitized situation. The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept. Furthermore, all details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. Water system for the supply of sterilization / disinfection fluids and sterile fluids for use in dental equipment, water system comprising at least one main duct (1) for supplying a network fluid to a plurality of connecting branches (2) with corresponding operating handpieces (3); to said main duct (1) being connected, upstream of said connecting branches (2), at least a first sub-branch (4) for supplying said sterile fluid for use, as an alternative to said network fluid, and a second sub-branch (5) for supplying said sterilization / disinfection fluid to said main duct (1) and said connecting branches (2); each said first and second sub-branch (4, 5) being provided with an element or capsule (6, 7) for the association of a relative container (8, 9) for said fluids to be supplied and of a cannula (10, 11), connected to the relative first or second sub-branch (4, 5),insertable inside said container (8, 9), and capable of drawing said fluid in correspondence with a request by the relative control means (12), characterised by the fact that said second sub-branch (5) for supplying said sterilising or disinfecting fluid departs from the corresponding said capsule (7) and is connected directly to said first sub-branch (4) supplying said sterile fluid, and immediately downstream of the corresponding said cannula (10), so as to allow the supply, alternately and by means of the relative said control means (12), of said sterilising / disinfecting fluids or said sterile fluid along a single first sub-branch (4) connected to said main duct (1).

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said second sub-branch (5) branches off from the corresponding said capsule (7) and connects directly to said capsule (6) of said first sub-branch (4) supplying said sterile fluid.

3. System according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that each said capsule (6, 7) is provided, at the upper end of said cannula (10,11), with a valve means (13, 14) suitable for allowing, via said control means (12), the flow of the relative fluid into said single sub-branch (4) when required.

4. System according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said capsule (7) for the association of said second sub-branch (5) for the supply of said sterilisation / disinfection fluid is provided with an inverted “L” shaped channel (15) connected to said second sub-branch (5) for the diversion of said fluids in the direction of the other said capsule (6).

5. System according to claim 2, characterised in that said capsule (6) for the association of said first sub-branch (4) for the supply of said sterile fluid is provided with a “T” channel (16) to allow the flow of said fluids, alternately, into said main duct (1).

6. System according to claim 3, characterised in that each said capsule (6, 7) is provided with a non-return valve (13, 14) at the upper end of the corresponding -11 61.C3250.12.IT.100 LL / VB said cannula (10, 11).

7. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said control means (12) for the supply of each said fluid comprise an air passage channel (12a, 12b) created on each said capsule (6, 7) and which can be activated, by means of a relative unit (17), for the generation of pressure inside the relative said container (8, 9) so as to allow the supply of the selected fluid.

8. System according to claim 1, characterised in that said second sub-branch (5) connecting said two capsules (6, 7) is provided with second valve means (18) for closing and safety of the same second sub-branch (5) in case of use of said sterile fluid.

9. System according to the previous claims and as described and illustrated with reference to the figures of the attached drawings and for the aforementioned purposes.