System and method of gas infusion for dental irrigation systems and home oral irrigation units

Abstract

A dental irrigation system delivers highly oxygenated water to each dental office chair, thus enhancing oral hygiene and patient outcomes, and includes water flowing into a hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber gas infusion module connected directly to the main waterline. Simultaneously, oxygen from an oxygen generator is introduced into the gas infusion module, facilitating efficient dissolution into the water and ensuring a bubble-free mixture. The highly oxygenated water then passes through a water filtration system, removing impurities to guarantee cleanliness and safety for dental use. Subsequently, the oxygen-enriched water enters a distribution header, directing it through individual water lines to each dental office chair and irrigation system. Additionally, the system can be implemented for home use with an oxygen-enhanced water flosser or oral irrigator.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GAS INFUSION FOR DENTAL IRRIGATIONSYSTEMS AND HOME ORAL IRRIGATION UNITSINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

[0001] Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 656782, filed June 6, 2024.BACKGROUNDField

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to the field of dental irrigation systems, and more particularly to dental irrigation systems (both in professional dental settings and for home use in oral irrigators or water flossers) utilizing highly oxygenated water to enhance oral hygiene and reduce infection risks.Description of the Related Art

[0003] Dental irrigation systems, often referred to as dental waterline systems, are essential for delivering water during dental procedures for rinsing, cooling, and cleaning purposes. These systems can include components such as but not limited to Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWLs), high-speed handpieces, and air-water syringes. However, maintaining water quality within these systems can be a significant challenge due to the formation of biofilms within DUWLs. Biofilms, which are slimy layers of bacteria adhering to the tubing's interior surfaces, can harbor pathogenic microorganisms. This contamination poses substantial infection risks to both patients and dental staff. Additionally, water used in dental units can become contaminated with bacteria, fungi, and viruses, exacerbating these risks. Of particular concern is the presence of Legionella bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Aerosolization of contaminated water during dental procedures further increases the risk of respiratory infections. Patients who are immunocompromised or havepreexisting health conditions are especially vulnerable. To mitigate these risks, dental practices implement stringent infection control protocols, including regular water quality monitoring, disinfection of waterlines, the use of sterile water for certain procedures, and proper equipment maintenance and staff training.SUMMARY

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved dental irrigation system designed to deliver highly oxygenated water to each dental office chair, thereby enhancing oral hygiene and contributing to better patient outcomes.

[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a dental irrigation system can utilize advanced technology to enhance oral hygiene, starting with the flow of water into a hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber gas infusion module which can be directly or indirectly connected to the main waterline. Concurrently, oxygen generated by an oxygen generator can be introduced into the gas infusion module. The microporous structure of the hollow fibers can enable efficient dissolution of oxygen into the water, ensuring a bubble-free mixture. Subsequently, the highly oxygenated water can exit the gas infusion module and undergo further purification through a water filtration system, reducing or eliminating any remaining impurities to provide cleanliness and safety for dental use, either in professional dentist offices or in oral irrigators for home use.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a dental irrigation system, including: an oxygen source; a gas infusion module including a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, and a plurality of microporous hollow fibers; and a filtration system in fluid communication with the gas infusion module, wherein the gas infusion module is configured to receive water from a water source via the liquid inlet and configured to receive oxygen from the oxygen source via the gas inlet so that the water can pass into the gas infusion module to flow between and along the microporous hollow fibers and so that the oxygen can flow into the microporous hollow fibers so that the oxygen flows through the microporous hollow fibers and exits the microporous hollow fibers via micropores thereof so that the water flowing between and along the microporous hollow fibers is infused with the oxygen, and wherein the oxygenated water can exit the gas infusion module and flow through the filtration system to reduce impurities in the oxygenated water and towards a dental tool.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of infusing water with oxygen for dental applications, including: flowing water from a water source into a gas infusion module via a liquid inlet; flowing oxygen from an oxygen source into the gas infusion module via a gas inlet on the gas infusion module and through a plurality of microporous hollow fibers disposed in the gas infusion module, the oxygen flowing along a length of the microporous hollow fibers and out of micropores of the microporous hollow fibers to infuse the water flowing between and along the microporous hollow fibers with oxygen; and flowing the oxygen infused water through a filtration system and towards a dental tool.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a dental irrigation system using gas infusion of irrigating water.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Figure 1 shows a dental office irrigation system 100 (e.g., with oxygenated water). The system 100 can include a liquid inlet 101 and one or more infuser modules 102 (e.g., a gas infusion module) into which water from a water source (e.g., water tank, municipal water source) can be directed (e.g., via the inlet 101). Separately, a gas source (e.g., an oxygen concentrator 104 and / or oxygen booster 106) can deliver gas (e.g., oxygen) into the infuser module 102 via a gas inlet 108 of the infuser module 102. The infuser module 102 can have a microporous hollow fiber membrane via which the gas (e.g., oxygen) can be introduced. In one example, the microporous hollow fibers can be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Teflon®. The gas (e.g., oxygen) can pass through the micropores in the walls of the fibers into the water flowing through the infuser module 102 in between and about the fibers, in order to infuse the water with oxygen. The oxygen infused water can exit the infuser module 102 and pass through a filter system 110 to remove impurities or particulates, after which the filtered oxygenated water can be directed to one or more dental chairs 114 in one or more dental offices via a distribution header 112. In some embodiments, the water can pass through the filter system 110 before being infused with gas (e.g., oxygen). In some embodiments, the gas infused water can be delivered directly to a dental chair 114 or dental office (e.g., withoutpassing through a distribution header, such as distribution header 112). Further details on microporous hollow fiber membrane modules can be found in PCT Application Nos. PCT / US2025 / 029373, filed May 14, 2025, and PCT / US2025 / 030449, filed May 21, 2025, and details on methods of making them can be found in PCT Publication No. WO 2024 / 097525filed 10 / 16 / 2023, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and which should be considered a part of this specification.

[0010] Each of the fibers (in any of the gas infusion modules disclosed herein) can be a microporous hydrophobic hollow fiber (e.g., made of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Teflon®) with a plurality of micropores having a pore size of between about 0.01 pm and 5 pm, inclusive (e.g., 0.01 pm, 0.1 pm, 0.5 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm), which can advantageously facilitate bubbleless gas transfer into the liquid (e.g., to supersaturate the liquid with the gas), which can make the gas infusion process more efficient and inhibit or prevent loss of gas via bubbles. Each fiber can in some examples have an outer diameter of about 0.54 mm and inner diameter of about 0.35 mm (e.g., wall thickness of about 190 mm), or an outer diameter of about 0.54 mm and inner diameter of about 0.45 mm (e.g., wall thickness of about 0.095 mm), or an outer diameter of about 0.35 mm and an inner diameter of about 0.28 mm (e.g., wall thickness of about 0.070 mm), or any value, approximate value, or range of values within any of the foregoing ranges. The fibers can be made of a material (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene) that is water repellent. In one example, the fibers have a porosity of between 50% and 90%, such as 75%, or any value, approximate value, or range of values within the foregoing range. In one example, the gas infusion module 102 has a packing factor of between about 20% and about 50%, such as about 38% (e.g., 38% of the space in the gas infusion module is taken up by the fibers), or any value, approximate value, or range of values within the foregoing range. The number of fibers in the gas infusion module 102 can be between about 700 and about 1500, such as about 1100, or any value, approximate value, or range of values within the foregoing range. In some embodiments, the micropores can be positioned along 90% of the length of the fibers, or in a range from 80% or approximately 80% to 100% the length of the fibers, or from 60% or approximately 60% to 100% or approximately 100% the length of the fibers, or from 40% or approximately 40% to 100% or approximately 100% the length of the fibers, or any value, approximate value, or range of values within the foregoing ranges. Each of the fibers can be microporous and / or hollow and can extend (e.g., linearly)within the gas infusion module 102. The oxygenated water can reach or exceed 20 ppm of dissolved oxygen, or in a range from 10 ppm or approximately 10 ppm to 30 ppm or approximately 30 ppm, or from 1 ppm or approximately 1 ppm to 40 ppm or approximately 40 ppm, or any value, approximate value, or range of values within the foregoing ranges. The oxygen generators can concentrate oxygen at levels including: concentrated oxygen at levels of 90% or more, 80% or more, 70% or more, 60% or more, or at levels greater than ambient atmospheric oxygen levels and up to 90% or more concentrated oxygen. Concentrated oxygen may be supplied from the oxygen generator to the gas infusion module(s) at levels of 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, or greater than 97% oxygen.

[0011] In some embodiments, the system 100 can include a plurality of gas infusion modules (e.g., infuser 102). For example, the plurality of gas infusion modules can be arranged in an array, and liquid (e.g., water) can pass through the plurality of gas infusion modules in series and / or in parallel. For example, the system 100 can include 4 gas infusion modules, or in a range from 2 or approximately 2 to 8 or approximately 8 gas infusion modules, or from 1 or approximately 1 to 16 or approximately 16 gas infusion modules, or any value, approximate value, or range of values within the foregoing ranges. In some embodiments, one or more components of the system 100 can be positioned within a frame or a container. In some embodiments, the system 100 can include a recirculation pump that can recirculate water from the gas infusion module back into the gas infusion module to increase an amount of dissolved oxygen in the oxygen infused water. In some embodiments, the system 100 can include a pump to pump water from the water source through the system 100. In some embodiments, the system 100 can include an ultraviolet light treatment unit that can emit high-intensity germicidal ultraviolet light, which may effectively neutralizing a wide array of waterborne pathogens.

[0012] The system 100 can utilize advanced technology to enhance oral hygiene, starting with the flow of water into a hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber gas infusion module (e.g., infuser 102), which can be directly or indirectly connected to a water source (e.g., the main waterline of a dental office or home, a bottle, etc.). Concurrently, oxygen generated by an oxygen generator (e.g., oxygen concentrator 104 and / or oxygen booster 106) can be introduced into the gas infusion module (e.g., infuser 102). The microporous structure of thehollow fibers can enable efficient dissolution of oxygen into the water, ensuring a bubble-free mixture. Subsequently, the highly oxygenated water can exit the gas infusion module and undergo further purification through a water filtration system (e.g., filter system 110), which may reduce or eliminate any remaining impurities to improve cleanliness and safety for dental use. In some embodiments, the water can pass through the water filtration system 110 before flowing into the gas infusion module (e.g., infuser 102).

[0013] Following filtration and / or gas infusion, the gas infused liquid (e.g., oxygen-enriched water) can enter a distribution header 112, which may act as a central hub to direct the water through individual water lines to each dental office chair 114, room and / or irrigation system. This arrangement may ensure that every dental unit within the facility can receive a consistent supply of gas infused liquid (e.g., oxygen-enhanced water), thereby enhancing the effectiveness of dental procedures and contributing to improved patient outcomes. In some embodiments, the water can flow through a laminar flow line to a water dispenser and / or irrigation wand.

[0014] The benefits of this system extend beyond dental office settings, as the use of an oxygen-enhanced water flosser or oral irrigator (e.g., for home use) can provide several advantages for oral health. A gas infusion system for an oxygen enhanced water flosser or oral irrigator can be similar to the system 100 described above (e.g., include the same components as in the system 100) but exclude a distribution header (e.g., distribution header 112) and a dental office chair (e.g., dental office chair 114); rather the oxygen infused water can be directed from the filter system 110 to an oral irrigation wand or water flosser. The unique properties of oxygen can play a crucial role in promoting oral hygiene, including improved breath freshness, enhanced wound healing, reduced plaque and tartar formation, gum health maintenance, improved overall oral hygiene, and a soothing effect on oral tissues. These benefits make oxygen-enhanced water flossers and / or oral irrigators valuable additions to oral care routinesAdvantages

[0015] The dental irrigation system described herein can offer numerous technical advantages:1. Superior Antibacterial Properties: The highly oxygenated water can effectively kill anaerobic bacteria, which thrive in low-oxygen environments. This can reduce the risk of oral infections, help prevent gum disease, and improve bad breath by neutralizing the bacteria responsible for halitosis.2. Enhanced Wound Healing and Tissue Health: Oxygen can be vital for tissue repair and wound healing. Using oxygenated water in an irrigation system can significantly aid in the recovery of oral tissues following surgery, injury, or infections, promoting a healthier healing environment. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals recovering from dental procedures or suffering from mouth ulcers and periodontal disease.3. Reduced Plaque and Tartar Formation: By inhibiting anaerobic bacteria that contribute to plaque and tartar formation, the oxygen-enhanced system can help maintain cleaner teeth and gums, potentially reducing the risk of cavities and periodontal disease. This may support long-term oral health by preventing the buildup of harmful biofilms.4. Gum Health: Regular use of an oxygen-enhanced water flosser or oral irrigator can reduce inflammation and bacterial load in the gums, which may help to prevent and manage conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis. The gentle massaging action of the water may also promote better circulation in the gums.5. Improved Oral Hygiene: The oxygen-enhanced system can complement traditional brushing and flossing by providing a more thorough cleaning experience. This additional layer of protection against oral bacteria can enhance overall oral hygiene, ensuring that areas often missed by brushing and flossing are effectively cleaned.6. Soothing Effect on Oral Tissues: The oxygen-enhanced water can have a soothing effect on sore or irritated oral tissues. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with sensitive gums, mouth ulcers, or other oral irritations, providing relief and promoting comfort.

[0016] In summary, the dental irrigation system described herein presents a significant advancement in dental irrigation technology, offering enhanced safety, effectiveness, and versatility for dental offices and their patients. The dental irrigation systemcan deliver highly oxygenated water to each dental office chair, thus enhancing oral hygiene and patient outcomes. Additionally, the system's benefits extend to home use, where an oxygen-enhanced water flosser or oral irrigator can provide numerous advantages for oral health, including, without limitation, improved breath freshness, enhanced wound healing, reduced plaque and tartar formation, gum health maintenance, overall oral hygiene improvement, and a soothing effect on oral tissues. Thus, the invention represents a significant advancement in dental irrigation technology, offering enhanced safety, effectiveness, and versatility for dental practices and their patients.Additional Embodiments

[0017] In examples of the present disclosure, a gas infusion system and method of operation may be in accordance with any of the following clauses:

[0018] Clause 1. A dental irrigation system, comprising: an oxygen source; a gas infusion module comprising a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, and a plurality of microporous hollow fibers; and a filtration system in fluid communication with the gas infusion module, wherein the gas infusion module is configured to receive water from a water source via the liquid inlet and configured to receive oxygen from the oxygen source via the gas inlet so that the water can pass into the gas infusion module to flow between and along the microporous hollow fibers and so that the oxygen can flow into the microporous hollow fibers so that the oxygen flows through the microporous hollow fibers and exits the microporous hollow fibers via micropores thereof so that the water flowing between and along the microporous hollow fibers is infused with the oxygen, and wherein the oxygenated water can exit the gas infusion module and flow through the filtration system to reduce impurities in the oxygenated water and towards a dental tool.

[0019] Clause 2. The dental irrigation system of clause 1, wherein the dental tool comprises one or more of a dental unit water line, a high-speed handpiece, an air-water syringe, a water flosser, and an oral irrigator.

[0020] Clause 3. The dental irrigation system of clause 1 or 2, further comprising a header in fluid communication with the filtration system, wherein the oxygen infused water can flow from the filtration system through the header to be distributed to a plurality of dental tools.

[0021] Clause 4. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein the oxygen source comprises an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen booster in fluid communication with the oxygen concentrator.

[0022] Clause 5. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein the water source is a water line of a dental office.

[0023] Clause 6. The dental irrigation system of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the water source is a water line of a residential home.

[0024] Clause 7. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein each of the microporous hollow fibers have an inner diameter between 0.28 mm and 0.45 mm.

[0025] Clause 8. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein the microporous hollow fibers comprise Teflon®.

[0026] Clause 9. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein the water is infused with oxygen with at least 75% efficiency.

[0027] Clause 10. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein the oxygen infused water has a supersaturated level at or exceeding 20 ppm.

[0028] Clause 11. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein the microporous hollow fibers have a porosity of 75% or greater.

[0029] Clause 12. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, further comprising a recirculation pump configured to recirculate water from the gas infusion module back into the gas infusion module to increase an amount of dissolved oxygen in the oxygen infused water.

[0030] Clause 13. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, further comprising an array of gas infusion modules, wherein water can flow through the array of gas infusion modules in parallel.

[0031] Clause 14. The dental irrigation system of any preceding clause, wherein the dental tool is proximate a dental chair.

[0032] Clause 15. A method of infusing water with oxygen for dental applications, comprising: flowing water from a water source into a gas infusion module via a liquid inlet; flowing oxygen from an oxygen source into the gas infusion module via a gas inlet on the gas infusion module and through a plurality of microporous hollow fibers disposed in the gas infusion module, the oxygen flowing along a length of the microporous hollow fibers and outof micropores of the microporous hollow fibers to infuse the water flowing between and along the microporous hollow fibers with oxygen; and flowing the oxygen infused water through a filtration system and towards a dental tool.

[0033] Clause 16. The method of clause 15, wherein the dental tool comprises one or more of a dental unit water line, a high-speed handpiece, an air-water syringe, a water flosser, and an oral irrigator.

[0034] Clause 17. The method of clause 15 or 16, further comprising flowing the water through a header in fluid communication with the filtration system to be distributed to a plurality of dental tools.

[0035] Clause 18. The method of any one of clauses 15-17, wherein flowing oxygen from the oxygen source comprises flowing oxygen from an oxygen generator to an oxygen booster and from the oxygen booster to into the gas infusion module.

[0036] Clause 19. The method of any one of clauses 15-18, wherein flowing water from a water source comprises flowing water from a water line of a dental office.

[0037] Clause 20. The method of any one of clauses 15-18, wherein flowing water from a water source comprises flowing water from a water line of a residential home.

[0038] Clause 21. The method of any one of clauses 15-20, wherein each of the microporous hollow fibers have an inner diameter between 0.28 mm and 0.45 mm.

[0039] Clause 22. The method of any one of clauses 15-21, wherein the microporous hollow fibers comprise Teflon®.

[0040] Clause 23. The method of any one of clauses 15-22, wherein the water is infused with oxygen with at least 75% efficiency.

[0041] Clause 24. The method of any one of clauses 15-23, wherein the oxygen infused water has a supersaturated level at or exceeding 20 ppm.

[0042] Clause 25. The method of any one of clauses 15-24, wherein the microporous hollow fibers have a porosity of 75% or greater.

[0043] Clause 26. The method of any one of clauses 15-25, further comprising recirculating the water from the gas infusion module back into the gas infusion module to increase an amount of dissolved oxygen in the oxygen infused water.

[0044] Clause 27. The method of any one of clauses 15-26, wherein flowing the water into a gas infusion module comprises flowing the water into an array of gas infusion modules.

[0045] Clause 28. The method of any of clauses 15-27, wherein flowing the oxygen infused water towards a dental tool includes flowing the oxygen infused water to a dental tool proximate a dental chair.

[0046] While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present inventions is defined only by reference to the appended claims.

[0047] Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0048] Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting incertain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0049] Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and / or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0050] For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0051] Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and / or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and / or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with orwithout user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and / or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[0052] Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

[0053] Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees.

[0054] The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.

[0055] Of course, the foregoing description is that of certain features, aspects and advantages of the present invention, to which various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, the devices described herein need not feature all of the objects, advantages, features and aspects discussed above. Thus, for example, those of skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications and methods of use, which are withinthe scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of these specific features and aspects of embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the discussed devices.

Claims

WHA T IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A dental irrigation system, comprising: an oxygen source; a gas infusion module comprising a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, and a plurality of microporous hollow fibers; and a filtration system in fluid communication with the gas infusion module, wherein the gas infusion module is configured to receive water from a water source via the liquid inlet and configured to receive oxygen from the oxygen source via the gas inlet so that the water can pass into the gas infusion module to flow between and along the microporous hollow fibers and so that the oxygen can flow into the microporous hollow fibers so that the oxygen flows through the microporous hollow fibers and exits the microporous hollow fibers via micropores thereof so that the water flowing between and along the microporous hollow fibers is infused with the oxygen, and wherein the oxygenated water can exit the gas infusion module and flow through the filtration system to reduce impurities in the oxygenated water and towards a dental tool.

2. The dental irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the dental tool comprises one or more of a dental unit water line, a high-speed handpiece, an air-water syringe, a water flosser, and an oral irrigator.

3. The dental irrigation system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a header in fluid communication with the filtration system, wherein the oxygen infused water can flow from the filtration system through the header to be distributed to a plurality of dental tools.

4. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the oxygen source comprises an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen booster in fluid communication with the oxygen concentrator.

5. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the water source is a water line of a dental office.

6. The dental irrigation system of any of claims 1-4, wherein the water source is a water line of a residential home.

7. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein each of the microporous hollow fibers have an inner diameter between 0.28 mm and 0.45 mm.

8. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the microporous hollow fibers comprise Teflon®.

9. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the water is infused with oxygen with at least 75% efficiency.

10. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the oxygen infused water has a supersaturated level at or exceeding 20 ppm.

11. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the microporous hollow fibers have a porosity of 75% or greater.

12. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, further comprising a recirculation pump configured to recirculate water from the gas infusion module back into the gas infusion module to increase an amount of dissolved oxygen in the oxygen infused water.

13. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, further comprising an array of gas infusion modules, wherein water can flow through the array of gas infusion modules in parallel.

14. The dental irrigation system of any preceding claim, wherein the dental tool is proximate a dental chair.

15. A method of infusing water with oxygen for dental applications, comprising: flowing water from a water source into a gas infusion module via a liquid inlet; flowing oxygen from an oxygen source into the gas infusion module via a gas inlet on the gas infusion module and through a plurality of microporous hollow fibers disposed in the gas infusion module, the oxygen flowing along a length of the microporous hollow fibers and out of micropores of the microporous hollow fibers to infuse the water flowing between and along the microporous hollow fibers with oxygen; and flowing the oxygen infused water through a filtration system and towards a dental tool.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the dental tool comprises one or more of a dental unit water line, a high-speed handpiece, an air-water syringe, a water flosser, and an oral irrigator.

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising flowing the water through a header in fluid communication with the fdtration system to be distributed to a plurality of dental tools.

18. The method of any one of claims 15-17, wherein flowing oxygen from the oxygen source comprises flowing oxygen from an oxygen generator to an oxygen booster and from the oxygen booster to into the gas infusion module.

19. The method of any one of claims 15-18, wherein flowing water from a water source comprises flowing water from a water line of a dental office.

20. The method of any one of claims 15-18, wherein flowing water from a water source comprises flowing water from a water line of a residential home.

21. The method of any one of claims 15-20, wherein each of the microporous hollow fibers have an inner diameter between 0.28 mm and 0.45 mm.

22. The method of any one of claims 15-21, wherein the microporous hollow fibers comprise Teflon®.

23. The method of any one of claims 15-22, wherein the water is infused with oxygen with at least 75% efficiency.

24. The method of any one of claims 15-23, wherein the oxygen infused water has a supersaturated level at or exceeding 20 ppm.

25. The method of any one of claims 15-24, wherein the microporous hollow fibers have a porosity of 75% or greater.

26. The method of any one of claims 15-25, further comprising recirculating the water from the gas infusion module back into the gas infusion module to increase an amount of dissolved oxygen in the oxygen infused water.

27. The method of any one of claims 15-26, wherein flowing the water into a gas infusion module comprises flowing the water into an array of gas infusion modules.

28. The method of any of claims 15-27, wherein flowing the oxygen infused water towards a dental tool includes flowing the oxygen infused water to a dental tool proximate a dental chair.

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