Abstract:
A dissolved ozone delivery system comprises a generator for producing gaseous ozone, a bottle for holding a liquid suitable for receiving the gaseous ozone, flow conduits for delivering the gaseous ozone to the bottle and dissolving the ozone into the liquid to form an ozonated liquid, and a multicomponent bottle closure sealing device. The multicomponent bottle closure sealing has several discrete gas flow passageways for channeling the ozone gas into the bottle, venting undissolved gas and delivering the ozonated liquid to an exterior surface for decontamination thereof or medical instruments for sterilization or use in medical or dental procedures.

Description:
[0001]    Benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/299,897, filed Jan. 29, 2010 is claimed. 
     
    
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a system for introducing ozone into bottles of water and dissolving the ozone in the water. The ozonated water can be used for various applications such as dental and medical procedures, particularly dental irrigation, as well as cleaning and decontaminating surfaces, particularly exterior and interior surfaces of dental and medical equipment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is well known that ozone is useful as a disinfectant for killing bacteria, viruses and mold spores and rendering harmless contaminates that are on instrument, device surfaces and food products as well as contaminants which may be present in the air. There have been disclosures of the use of ozone in the treatment of wounds, and there are numerous publications, primarily in Europe, directed to the use of ozone in dental procedures to aid in healing of dental conditions. 
         [0004]    One problem in working with ozonated water is that ozone dissolved in water rapidly decays to oxygen. Depending on the concentration of the ozone and the temperature of the water, the half-life (useful life) of the ozonated water can be from 3 days to as little as 30 minute; at elevated temperatures decomposition is more rapid. Therefore, ozone can not be readily bottled for extended storage and later use. Also, ozone is considered to be a toxic substance and inhalation or unintended skin contact can be harmful. It is therefore desirable to manufacture ozone, dissolve it in water and use the ozone/water composition, that is, bring it into contact with the dental surfaces to be treated, as quickly as possible and then decompose the excess or used ozone so that it does not create a health hazard. Further, it is desirable to reduce the amount of ozone that must be generated by maximizing the efficiency of dissolving the ozone that is generated into water for use in the decontamination process. 
         [0005]    Bacteria that causes tooth decay is found deep within the tooth structure. Ozone is effective in the reduction of bacteria from tooth surfaces or around the gum line and is better and more effective than chlorine based disinfectants. Ozone also has value in tooth whitening as well as reducing tooth sensitivity, gum line pockets, gum line irritation, halitosis and has been shown to assist in the reversal of the decay process in shallow, initial cavities as well as infections deep within the root as part of endodontic procedures. 
         [0006]    Since 1998 Professor Edward Lynch, Queen&#39;s Dental Hospital and Belfast University, Ireland, has been demonstrating the utility of ozone in dental procedures. It destroys organic effluents that are produced by these bacteria. By effectively sterilizing the lesion, minerals from the patient&#39;s own saliva then remineralizes the areas of mineral loss, also hardening the tooth. Once the tooth is hardened, it is more resistant to future bacterial attack and mineral loss. 
         [0007]    Studies from Europe (Abu-Salem et al, 2003; Baysan and Lynch 2001; Holmes, 2003; Holmes and Lynch, 2003) have demonstrated that the use of ozone in dental care is effective as a non-destructive method to manage decay and its destructive effects. The effects of ozone reduce tooth destruction in routine procedures (Clifford, 2004; Holmes, 2004; Holmes and Lynch, 2004) and ozone reduces the time and the cost of dental care (Domingo and Holmes, 2004; Johnson et al, 2003). In Endodontics, ozone is effective against  Enterococcus faecalis  (Chang et al, 2003). 
         [0008]    It is also known that water supply passageways, even for the supply of purified water, will develop a bacterial or fungal growth on their inner surfaces, referred to as a biofilm. For example, dental units used to supply rinse water to the mouth of a patient can often be contaminated unless particular efforts are made to disinfect and clean the water supply lines. Test show that, if not properly maintained, these water supply systems may have bacterial counts in excess of one million colony forming units of bacteria per millimeter of water (&gt;1×10 6  CFU/ml). While bacterial counts in dental units are generally less then 1×10 6 , they are usually far in excess of the American Dental Association recommended bacterial levels of below 200 CFU/ml in dental water supply systems. The source of the bacterial contamination may be the supply water or back splatter from the irrigation fluids sprayed into the patient&#39;s mouth. In spite of over 35 years of scientific and clinical studies worldwide, it is estimated over 30 percent of the dental units still use city water as a source. As a result, there are over 300,000 contaminated patient treatment sites in the US alone. Of further concern, even though certain dental units use bottles of sterile water is that they are often refilled with city water, defeating the intended purpose of using pre-bottled pure water. Still further some units allow the mounting of two bottles one of which is usually filled with city water. A further inadequate alternative is to use city water and add a decontaminating agent, such as silver iodide or other microbiocides, to each bottle of water. This may decontaminate the water but then the patients will also be exposed to the chemicals. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,436 to Labib et al discloses a method of cleaning small passageways in a fluid distribution system such as a dental water supply unit, endoscopes, biopsy devices, heat exchangers, micro-filtration, ultra-filtration, dialysis and reverse osmosis equipment. US Published Application 2006/0191849 to Garrison et al is directed to a method of cleaning a dental unit water system using a silver colloid, hydrogen peroxide composition. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,898 to Ekberg et al. is an example of a device for the production of water which includes dissolved ozone. The ozone generated by the use of a plasma resonance electrode is added to pure water by a combination of diffusion and injector technology. The system appears to recirculate the water solution until a desired ozone concentration is reached (1.5-2 ppm). One disclosed application is the cleaning or sterilization of a medical instrument. To do so a spray bottle is filled with the ozone-water mixture. Alternatively, ozone gas is feed into a contaminated, water filled container to decontaminate the container. 
         [0011]    The need for a simple and effective method and system to prepare bottled ozonated water for various applications including, but not limited to, providing ozonated water for dental and medical procedures and decontamination of medical and dental devices as well as dental irrigation systems has clearly been shown. Previous devices or systems have not be found to be acceptable because they are too difficult to use, too large for use in dental or medical procedures or do not provide and effective treatment without leaving residual chemicals that may be detrimental to the patient. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    A compact ozone generator that generates large quantities of ozone in a relatively short time feeds the ozone into bottles of water attached to the device so that the ozone dissolves in the water. Also disclosed is a bottle cap specifically designed to receive the ozone gas and bubble that ozone gas through water enclosed within the bottle. The bottle cap or a part of the bottle cap is also designed for decoupling from the compact ozone generator and then receiving a dispensing instrument for delivering the ozonated water for use in instrument decontamination or dental procedures. Once a desired ozone concentration in the water is reached, the bottle is disconnected from the ozone generator and attached to a delivery system for application of ozonated water to the intended surface. Additional bottles of water can be attached to the ozone generator so that a continuous supply of bottles with ozonated water can be available. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway schematic drawing showing the major components of an ozone generation and delivery system with a bottle attached incorporating features of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway schematic representation of a bottle of ozonated water after detachment from the ozone generator, the bottle configured for delivery of the ozonated water. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a partially cutaway perspective view of a bottle of ozonated water such as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 13  attached to a holding stand of an ozone generator and charging unit. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a partially cutaway perspective view of the bottle of ozonated water and stopper as shown in  FIG. 3  configured for placing ozone in the bottle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partially cutaway view of the bottle of  FIG. 3  with the lower stopper portion configured for placement of an ozonated water delivery device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the bottle stopper upper portion. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged cutaway view of the stopper showing the upper and lower stopper portions in their joined configurations including the ozone feed path shown as a dotted line. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is an expanded drawing showing the various components of the quick connect bottle stopper of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged expanded view of  FIG. 6  showing the stopper lower portion. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged expanded view of  FIG. 8  showing the stopper upper portion. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the lower stopper portion. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a bottle containing ozonated water such as shown in  FIG. 5  placed in a holding stand with a dental irrigation device for delivery of ozonated water attached thereto. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a bottle mounted to a charging stand to receive ozone. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    A device for producing bottles of water with ozone dissolved therein is described. Once the sufficient ozone has been dissolved in the water the bottles are disconnected from the ozone generating system, also referred to as charging station, and then connected to other devices for use in cleaning and disinfecting articles or for dental procedures. In one application the ozonated water is used to clean and disinfect small flow channels in various pieces of equipment, particularly medical devices and more particularly dental units. Once treated with ozone the dental units can also be used to provide a sterile oral rinse solution during a dental procedure. In another application the bottle of ozonated water is attached to a delivery device for directly applying the ozonated water to teeth of tissue in the mouth. However, as explained herein, the potential uses of the bottles of ozonated water produced using the system are not limited to dental units or dental applications. 
         [0027]    An ozone generating and bottle filling/charging system  10 , also referred as a bottle charging station, in its simplest configuration is shown schematically in  FIG. 1 . The arrows on  FIG. 1  indicate the flow direction of the gaseous streams through the system. Atmospheric air, preferably filtered atmospheric air, is feed through a desiccant containing air drying device  12 . The source gas can also be air or oxygen supplied from a pressurized tank or a centralized air or oxygen supply system or an oxygen generating or concentrating device. Alternatively, desiccated air may be provided by an appropriate compressor or pump. This source-gas is preferably supplied under pressure. However, if it is at ambient conditions, for example atmospheric air, it can be drawn into the system via the suction side of a pump  15  within the bottle charging station  10  or part of the ozone generator  14 . Ozone can be generated by various techniques including, but not limited to a hot spark/corona discharge, ultraviolet light or a cold plasma. Various different commercially available ozone generators can be incorporated in the system. However a preferred ozone generator is a corona discharge unit. This ozone generator  14  and pump  15  attached thereto or included therein preferably continuously generates about 250 mg of ozone per hour from a ambient air stream fed to the ozone generator  14  at ambient conditions. In  FIG. 1  the pump  15  is shown disposed between the desiccant air drying device  12  and the ozone generator  14 . However, it can be positioned in other locations in the system, for example prior to the desiccant air drying device  12  to push the feed air through the system or after the ozone generator  14  to draw the air feed stream through the system. Still further, if the air fed into the system is pre-pressurized, such as bottled air or oxygen or a central compressed air or oxygen feed system, or a stream of gas with a greater concentration of oxygen is provided to the system under pressure it may be possible to eliminate the pump within the charging station  10  and rely on the pressure of the feed stream. 
         [0028]    It is preferred that the feed stream to the ozone generator have an enhanced oxygen concentration. If a higher concentration oxygen steam is delivered to the ozone generator  14  then a greater amount of ozone can be generated over the same period of time or the same amount can be generated in a shorter time period. This can be accomplished by using bottled pressurized oxygen, or a centrally supplied, enhanced oxygen source such as available in a hospital or clinic setting. 
         [0029]    A bottle  16  of liquid  17 , preferably water (distilled, deionized , sterile, etc) and referred to herein after as water, containing from about 100 to about 1000 cc of water, is mounted to the charging station  10  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 13 . The term “bottle” is used in its general sense and is not intended to limit the scope thereof to a glass container and, in fact, is intended to indicate any suitable container or vessel formed from any suitable material including, but not limited to, a glass, plastic or a metal container. Other suitable liquids or water solutions can be used. However, for simplicity of description, the liquid will be referred to as water. An ozone delivery tube  20  connects the output of the ozone generator to the feed tube connector  19  that passes through the top portion of a multi-component gas-tight stopper  22  attached to the bottle and into the feed tube  18  within bottle  16  to a point below the surface of the water  17 . A preferred stopper  22 , shown in a simple schematic form in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , preferably comprises at least two major components, namely a lower portion  24  for attachment to the bottle top exterior or for insertion into the top of the bottle  16  and an upper portion  26  to receive, in an air tight manner, the ozone delivery tube  20  from the ozone generator. Alternatively, the upper portion  26  of the stopper may have a delivery tube  20  pre-attached thereto. The upper portion  26  and lower portions  24 , which can each comprise multiple components, are preferably configured as a quick connect/disconnect assembly or twist lock arrangement which creates an air tight seal on the top of the bottle  16 . Preferred connect/disconnect stopper assemblies are described herein. The disclosed stopper arrangement allows the bottle  16  with ozonated water therein to be disconnected from the bottle charging station  10  or the upper portion of the stopper  26  for transferring the bottle with its contents to suitable delivery devices. The stopper can have valved openings (not shown) in the top to allow removal of the delivery tube  20  as well as an undissolved ozone return line or separation of the two parts of the stopper. The fittings  34  on the upper portion allow for connection of tubing for removing undissolved ozone  33  from the bottle. The undissolved ozone  33  can be fed to an ozone destruct system or recycled to the input side of the ozone generator, increasing the efficiency of ozone generation. In a preferred embodiment two tubes, discussed below, are permanently attached to the lower portion  24  of the stopper  22 . A valving mechanism, such as pinch valve or turn valve (not shown) may be incorporated as part of the upper or lower portion  24 ,  26  of the stopper  22  to prevent loss of gaseous ozone from the bottle during transfer operations. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a partially cutaway view of a preferred stopper assembly mounted on the bottle  16  showing an ozone feed tube  18  with diffuser  30  and an ozonated water delivery tube  36  (which is the lower end of delivery line  42  shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  11  extending from the stopper into the bottle.  FIG. 5  shows the same assembly after removal of the top half of the stopper configured for attachment of a device for transfer of the ozonated water such as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0031]    As an added feature the bottle charging station  10  or a bottle holder  18  on the charging station  10  may include a sensor  28  which senses the presence of the bottle  16 .  FIG. 1  shows the sensor  28  positioned adjacent the normal location of the lower portion  24  of the stopper  22  to sense the presence of the stoppered bottle on the charging station  10  for filling. The sensor  28  may be a mechanical, electrical, optical, or other device capable of sensing the presence of an object (the bottle) in a certain position and then to turning on the ozone generator  12  in the charging station  10 . As an added feature the sensor  28  or a second sensor  28  may also sense, by a level sensor or by measuring the bottle weight, whether the bottle  16  contains an adequate amount of water. The signal from the one or more sensors, upon sensing the presence of the bottle  16  in the ozone receiving position can then actuate the production of ozone by the ozone generator  14 , and/or open a pinch tube or other type of valve located at the entrance to or exit from the ozone generator  14  or on the gas fed line to the system (values not shown) to commence generating ozone and filing the bottle. The presence of one or more sensors  28  can prevent the system from turning on if there is no water or inadequate water in the bottle. Still further the bottle holder  18  may include a weight sensing device which requires that the proper bottle, stopper and amount of water is present before ozone generation is commenced, thus preventing unsuitable containers being used to collect ozone. Switches/actuators are not more fully described because numerous suitable devices, incorporated herein by reference, are disclosed within the prior art. 
         [0032]    Once the water filled bottle  16  is properly attached to the bottle charging station  10  the ozone generator  14  can be manually or automatically turned on and the ozone gas generated and fed under a controlled pressure through the tube  20  into the bottle  16 . The ozone containing gas passes through the tube  20  and then through the diffuser  30  into the water  17  in the bottle. The diffuser  30  is preferably positioned near the bottom of the bottle to provide the greatest contact time between the ozone passing through the diffuser and the water. Some of the ozone containing gas stream  32  is thereby bubbled through the water  17  and becomes dissolved in the liquid to produce ozonated water. The ozone-containing gas  32  which is not dissolved in the water is vented through one or more return fittings  34 . As indicated above, the undissolved ozone  33  can be delivered to an ozone destruction canister  37  which contains a catalyst, chemical or absorbent which will collect and/or decompose the ozone to regenerate oxygen which is then discharged from the canister. The prior art describes such ozone decomposing agents. Alternatively, the undissolved ozone  33  may be mixed with the feed stream fed into the desiccant filled air drying device  12  or into the ozone generator  14  for recycling. 
         [0033]    After the dissolved ozone concentration in the water  17  in the bottle  16  has reached and acceptable level, preferably ≧2 ppm, the bottle  16  containing the ozonated water or fluid can be disconnected from upper portion  26  of the stopper (shown in  FIG. 6  or otherwise separated from the bottle charging station  10  (see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ) and joined to a delivery device, such as shown in  FIG. 12  which includes a suitable mating connector. While the system does not show a detector to measure the level of dissolved ozone, a detector may be included within the bottle  16  or the ozonated water from the bottle can be placed in an ozone detection system or test strips can be used to verify ozone levels. Still further, the operation of the system has been standardized so that under fixed operating conditions (temperature, pressure feed gas characteristics, water quantity, etc. a charging time can be established that is known to produce the desired concentration of ozone in the water. These operating parameters and end results can be presented as a series of charts or graphs provided as part of the operating instructions so that each bottle of ozonated water does not have to be tested for ozone concentration.  FIG. 2  schematically shows one embodiment of a charged bottle  38  with an upper delivery stopper  40  which has a delivery line  42  and a pressure line  44  attached thereto ready for attachment to a device for delivering the ozonated water  46 . As an alternative, the bottle  16  can be applied to any suitable mating devices and the ozonated water or fluid  46  can be used to disinfect fluid paths in and the surface areas around, devices or surfaces to be cleaned and disinfected or, as shown in  FIG. 12  used as an irrigating fluid or treatment fluid in a dental procedure. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3 and 13  show one example of a charging system  10  with a bottle  38  of ozonated water  46  attached thereto.  FIG. 3  shows the bottle cutaway so the ozone feed tube  18  and the ozonated water delivery tube  36  are readily visible.  FIG. 4  is a view of  FIG. 13  with the charging unit deleted so that a mounting bracket  48  for the upper portion  26  of the stopper can be seen. The bracket  48  is attached to the charging system  10  so that the bottle  16  with lower portion  24  can be readily separated from the upper portion  26 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 6-10  show the various components of the stopper  22  in an assembled and exploded views. The dotted line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 7  marks the location where the lower and upper portion  24 ,  26  separate. 
         [0036]    Lower portion  24  comprises, going from the outside inwardly, an outer bottle nut  60 , an inner bottle nut  61  which is split vertically into two half cylindrical section  62 ,  64  (or more than two partial cylindrical sections), a down spout  66  with a first O-ring  68  on the down spout  66  outer surface, and a lower cap  70 . The outer surface of the two sections  62 ,  64  of the inner bottle nut  61  has vertical grooves  72  therein that mesh with vertical teeth  74  on the inner wall  75  of the outer bottle nut  60  so that, when assembled, rotation of the outer bottle nut  60  causes the inner bottle nut to also rotate. The down spout  66  has a circumferential flange  76  on its upper end. The lower cap has a matching flange  78  with a circumferential groove  80  above the flange  78 . When assembled, a collar/groove arrangement  82  on the top end of the inner bottle nut  61  secures the down spot  66  to the bottom of the lower cap  70 , as best shown in  FIG. 7 . The inner wall of the inner bottle nut has spiral grooves  84  to match spiral threads  86  on the top of the bottle  16  used to attach the stopper  22  to the bottle  16 . Additional O-rings  88  are strategically placed throughout the assembly to seal potential points of ozone leakage. As best shown in  FIG. 11 , the ozone feed tube  18  and the delivery line  42  are attached to the bottom of the down spout with the inner lumen of each communicating with holes through the down spout  66 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8  and  10 , the upper portion  26  comprises, proceeding from the top down, an upper cap  100 , a distribution plate  102  with upper and lower tubular extensions  104 ,  106  and a locking collar  108 . One or more fittings  34 , through which undissolved ozone  33  leaves the bottle  16  and the stopper  22 , are securely attached to openings in the top of the upper cap  100 . The figures show two such fittings  34  but one fitting or more than two may be used. A similar appearing fitting which serves as the ozone feed tube connector  19  is also secured in a third opening in the top of the upper cap  100 . 
         [0038]    As best illustrated by the downward flow path of the ozone in  FIG. 7 , the upper portion of the downward ozone flow channel in the down spout  66  passes through the interior of the upper tubular extension  104  configured to receive the ozone flow, through the lower tubular extension  106  and out a side opening  110  into the top of the down spout  66 . The interlocking components of the lower and upper portions  24 ,  26  also include various matching pins, holes, extensions, slots and grooves so that when the components are assembled they are placed in the proper orientation to other components to allow proper flow of the ozone through those various components. 
         [0039]    Ozone fed into ozone feed tube connector  19  flows downward into the lumen in the upper tubular extensions  104 . An O-ring  88  on the outer surface of the upper tubular extensions  104  prevents ozone from escaping from the intended flow path (see  FIG. 7 ) In the embodiment shown, the upper tubular extensions  104  is integral with the distribution plate  102  and the lower tubular extensions  106  so that ozone flow that enters the upper tubular extension  104  continues downward through the lower extension  108  exiting through a side hole  110  (see ozone flow path in  FIGS. 7 and 10 ). When properly assembled the side hole  110  is positioned directly adjacent to a hole (not shown) extending vertically from the inner wall to the outer wall of the lower portion of the lower cap  70  into a matching hole in the inner top edge of the down spout  66 . The hole in the down spout leads to an inner channel  126  then extends vertically within the wall of the down spot and into the ozone delivery tube  18  secured to the bottom of the channel  126 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the lower end of the stopper with the ozone feed tube  18  and the delivery line  42  extending downward. The bottom partially closed end of the lower tubular extensions  106  is shown in the center of the bottom view. The eyebrow shaped ozone exit  128  in the bottom of the lower tubular extensions  106  provides a means for the undissolved ozone  33  to pass through the lower tubular extensions  106 , into a hollow space  130  within the upper cap and exit the fittings  34  for recycling or destruction. The flow path of the undissolved ozone  33  is also shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0041]    Referring back to  FIGS. 4-10  the locking collar  108  has one or more openings  140  and an internal groove  142  to receive a mating portion of the lower cap  70 , namely wings  144  that extend radially outward therefrom. In one method of assembling the system for charging a bottle of water, the lower portion  24  is screwed onto the top of the bottle. The upper portion  26  is attached to the charger  10  and the ozone delivery tube  20  is attached to the feed tube connector  19 . The lower cap is then placed in to the lower opening in the locking collar  108  with the wings  144  in the openings  140  and twisted so that the wings run along the internal groove  142  in the locking collar  108  resulting in the lower portion  24  being joined to the upper portion with proper alignment of the ozone flow paths for leak proof ozone transmission from the ozone generator to the diffuser  30  in the water in the bottle  16   
         [0042]    Once adequate ozone is dissolved in the water  17 , resulting in a usable ozonated water solution  46 , the bottle  16  with the lower portion  24  of the stopper is separated from the upper section  26 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , and a suitable ozonated water delivery system is attached to the bottle.  FIG. 12  shows the bottle  16  with cap lower portion  24  positioned in a stand  120 . Inserted into the top of the cap lower portion  24  is a power head  122  with a dental irrigator  124  attached thereto. The power head  122  provides means (not shown), such as a hand pump or a pressurized gas cartridge, to pressurize the air space above the ozonated water  46  in bottle  16  to force the ozonated water up the delivery tube  36  and then into the irrigator  124 . Alternatively, the power head  122  may enclose a pump (not shown) to provide pressure or to draw the ozonated water  46  out of the bottle  16  and through the irrigator  126 . One skilled in the art will recognize there are numerous techniques to move the ozonated water  46  from the bottle and numerous devices that can be attached to the bottle  16  or the power head for applying the ozonated water to objects or devices, for example for sterilization or cleaning purposes, or to provide the ozonated water for medical procedures. 
         [0043]    Applications for the bottled ozonated water include the delivery through internal passages and lumens or onto external surfaces of medical treatment appliances and surfaces. Typical applications include, but are not limited to cleaning and disinfecting of dental units and dental water lines, the surfaces of medical and diagnostic devices and appliances, ENT treatment units, endoscopes, biopsy devices, veterinary treatment systems, heat exchangers, micro-filtration, ultra-filtration, and dialysis devices, reverse osmosis systems, food and food equipment, food processing appliances and machinery and food preparation surfaces. It is also known that ozonated water, when properly applied and adequate safety precautions are taken, has known benefits in medical procedures and particularly in dental procedures. One particular intended use of the devices and systems described herein is to provide bottled ozonated water for subsequent attachment to medical delivery devices such as irrigation systems used to delivery ozone into a patient&#39;s mouth during the performance of dental procedures to destroy bacteria, and other contaminants that can create medical problems following the completion of the procedure. 
         [0044]    One skilled in the art, based on the description provided herein will recognize that various modifications may be made within the scope of the teachings herein to provide an assembly that functions in substantially the same manner. Further, one skilled in the art is well aware of the materials of construction reasonably necessary to assemble a device such as described herein for generating, transferring, temporarily storing and delivering ozone and ozonated water, particularly stainless steel, Teflon, plastics and silicon rubber and other ozone resistant or ozone stable materials.