Patent Publication Number: US-2017348448-A1

Title: Water treatment dispensing apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/631,207 filed Dec. 29, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the art of water treatment and purification technology. The particular water treatment of the invention concerns a water purification apparatus for a dental water system. The apparatus includes a water purification cartridge having disinfectant particulate substances and resins that neutralize microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, protozoa and pathogens. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Human and animal populations, agricultural and industrial development and natural disasters have reduced the supply of potable water. Pollutants that pose a threat to humans and animals are pathogens including bacteria and viruses along with organic and inorganic contaminants. Water can contain suspended materials, dissolved solids, and bacteriological contaminants. Domestic water systems are increasingly being contaminated with pollutants that effect human and animal health. 
     Medical and dental uses of water require a supply of water that does not contain organic, inorganic and pathogenic contaminants. Conventional tap water must be treated to remove organic and inorganic materials and destroy pathogenic contaminants, such as bacteria and viruses that are detrimental to humans. Dental instruments used in dental treatment theaters and clinics utilize coolant and rinse water. The water supply can be tap water or bottled water. The water supply can be contaminated with organic and inorganic materials pathogenic microorganisms. Contaminated water can cause infection in dental patients and cross-infection between dental patients. Dental treatment includes subgingival invasion of the mucosa therefore providing direct access to the patient&#39;s vascular system. It is prudent to use microbiologically treated water for use with dental instruments in the dental treatment theater. 
     Water purification cartridges have been used with dental instruments to provide the dental instruments with clean and disinfected water. The cartridges are located in the water lines connected to the dental instruments. The cartridges have water purification resins containing polyiodide that neutralizes and kills disease-causing bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The water discharged by the dental instrument contains the disinfectant thereby reducing the potential of cross infection between dental patients. Examples of a water purification system for a dental instrument is disclosed by Leo H. Wolf and Mark F. Wolf in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,230,624; 5,370,534 and 5,556,279. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The water treatment dispensing apparatus functions to neutralize and destroy the active effectiveness of pathogenic contaminants including water borne bacteria and viruses to provide safe and clean potable water. The apparatus has a container or bottle having an internal chamber for holding water. The container is releasably mounted on a housing to allow the container to be removed from the housing for cleaning and replacement of a cartridge located within the container. A water supply unit is operable to supply water to the housing for discharge into the interior chamber of the container. The water source can be tap water from a municipal water supply or bottled water including distilled or deionized water. An air pressure device operates to supply air under pressure to the housing and internal chamber of the container to subject the water in the internal chamber to air pressure. A cartridge containing a bed of disinfectant material located in the internal chamber has an end member connected to the housing to allow disinfected water to flow out of the cartridge to the housing and from the housing to a desired location. The air pressure in the interior chamber forces the water in the internal chamber of the container to flow through the cartridge. Filters associated with end member sleeves retain the bed of disinfectant material in the internal chamber of the container and remove organic, inorganic and microbiological contaminants from the water flowing into and out of the internal chamber of the cartridge. An air pressure gauge connected to the housing monitors the pressure of the air in the internal chamber of the container. 
     The cartridge has an elongated tubular body having an internal chamber or lumen accommodating disinfectant material, including multi-valent iodine resin, silver compositions and silver impregnated activated carbon. A first end member releasably mounted on one end of the tubular body has a passage allowing water from the internal chamber of the container to flow into the internal chamber of the tubular body. The first end member includes a sleeve accommodating a filter operative to remove organic and inorganic materials from the water flowing through the filter. The sleeve is releasably mounted on the tubular body to allow the end member to be placed on and removed from the tubular body and to allow the disinfectant material to be placed in the internal chamber of the tubular body. A second end member releasably mounted on the water outlet end of the tubular body is attached to the housing to fix the location of the cartridge in the internal chamber of the container with the cartridge extended into the water in the internal chamber of the container. The second end member includes a sleeve accommodating a filter operative to retain the disinfectant material in the internal chamber of the tubular body. 
     The water treatment dispensing apparatus including the cartridge containing disinfectant material is usable in medical and dental applications. A flexible conduit or hose is joined to the water inlet of the dynamic dental instrument to supply the instrument with clean and disinfected water. The conduit is easy to install without the need to cut into expensive dental instrument tubing. Iodine containing disinfectant material is an effective destroyer of water borne pathogenic organisms. Other types of disinfectant materials can be used to inhibit and destroy bacteria, viruses and pathogens in water supplied from the cartridge to the dental instrument. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a water treatment dispensing apparatus having a water disinfectant cartridge; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view partly sectioned of the water treatment dispensing apparatus showing the water disinfectant cartridge; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of the top plan view of  FIG. 1  employed with a dynamic dental instrument; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view taken along line  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged foreshortened front elevational view of the first embodiment of the water disinfectant cartridge employed in the water treatment dispensing apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a foreshortened sectional view taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along the line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along the line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged foreshortened front elevational view of a second embodiment of the water disinfectant cartridge; 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a foreshortened sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged foreshortened front elevational view of a third embodiment of the water disinfectant cartridge; 
         FIG. 20  is a top plan view of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a foreshortened sectional view taken along the line  22 - 22  of  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a sectional view taken along line  23 - 23  of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a sectional view taken along the line  24 - 24  of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a sectional view taken along the line  25 - 25  of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 26  is an enlarged foreshortened front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the water disinfectant cartridge; 
         FIG. 27  is a top plan view of  FIG. 26 ; 
         FIG. 28  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 26 ; 
         FIG. 29  is a sectional view taken along line  29 - 29  of  FIG. 26 ; 
         FIG. 30  is a sectional view taken along line- 30 - 30  of  FIG. 29 ; 
         FIG. 31  is a sectional view taken along line  31 - 31  of  FIG. 29 ; and 
         FIG. 32  is a sectional view taken along the line  32 - 32  of  FIG. 29 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF WATER DISPENSING APPARATUS 
     A water treatment dispensing apparatus  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , has a container or bottle  11  joined to a housing or cap  17 . Container  11  has a cylindrical side wall  12  and a neck  13  surrounding an internal chamber  16 . Neck  13  includes a passage  14  open to chamber  16  and the bottom of cap  17 . Neck  13  and cap  17  have cooperating threads  26  or releasable connectors that allow container  11  to be turned on and off of cap  17 . A bracket  15  retains cap  17  on a support. Other structures can be used to hold cap  17  and container  11  in a fixed position. As shown in  FIG. 4 , cap  17  has a body  18  joined to a downwardly directed sleeve  19 . Body  18  is connected to a tube  21  with a connector  22  for supplying water to a passage  23  in body  18 . Passage  23  is open to passage  14  whereby water  20  is dispensed into chamber  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a water supply unit connected to a water supply  44  directs water into tube  21 . A valve  46  incorporated in tube  21  is manually operated to regulate the flow of water into chamber  16 . Water supply  44  can be ordinary tap water from a municipal water system. Distilled or deionized water in a bottle can be dispensed into chamber  16 . Water having a pH level less than  8  and a chlorine level less than  6  is preferred. As shown in  FIG. 4 , sleeve  19  surrounds a cavity  24  accommodating neck  13  of container  11 . Neck  13  and sleeve  19  have cooperating threads  26  that retain container  11  on cap  17 . A seal  27 , shown as an O-ring, located between the annular end of neck  13  and body  18  prevents air and water leakage from container  11 . Container  11  is manually turned to attach container  11  to cap  17  and remove container  11  from cap  17 . 
     Compressed air is supplied to cap  17  with an air supply unit having an air pump  28  driven with an electric motor controlled with a manually operated controller  29 . Air is directed to a check valve  31  located in a tube  32 . A connector  33  secures tube  32  to body  18  to direct air to a passage  34  in body  18  open to neck passage  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , air in chamber  16  applies pressure, shown by arrows  50 , on water  20  to force the water to flow into a water purification cartridge  43 . The water exit end of cartridge  43  is connected to a tube  41  joined with a connector  42  to body  18  of cap  17 . Body  18  has a passage  36  open to tube  41  and a flexible conduit or hose  37  operable to transport water shown by arrow  51  from container  11  to a dental hand instrument  38 . A connector  39  joins hose  37  to body  18  of cap  17 . Dental instrument  38  shown as a dental hand piece includes an air/water syringe, ultrasonic scaler or other dynamic dental instruments. 
     The air pressure in chamber  16  is monitored with an air pressure gauge  47  mounted on body  18  of cap  17  with a connector  48 . Gauge  47  has an indicator providing visual information concerning the air pressure in chamber  16 . Other types of air pressure gauges or indicators can be used to monitor the air pressure in chamber  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4A , body  18  has a passage  49  connecting air pressure gauge  47  with passage  14  whereby gauge  47  visually displays the air pressure in chamber  16 . The air pump  28  is operated to supply air under pressure to chamber  16  at selected air pressure levels. 
     A first embodiment of cartridge  43 , shown in  FIGS. 5 to 11 , comprises an elongated linear tubular body  52  having a cylindrical side wall  53  including a first inlet end  54  and a second outlet and  56  surrounding an internal chamber  57 . Body  52  is a tubular one-piece member of polymeric material, such as rigid polyethylene or like materials that are resistant to build up of organic matter inside the tubular member. Polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride can be used as materials for the tubular member. A first end member  58  attached to inlet end  54  of body  52  allows water from chamber  16  to flow into chamber  57  of body  52 . Member  58  has a base  59  joined to a sleeve  61 . Body end  54  and sleeve  61  have cooperating threads  63  that allow member  58  to be assembled on and removed from end  54 . When base  59  is assembled on end  54 , an annular shoulder of base  59  is located in engagement with the annular bottom surface  62  of end  54 . Base  59  has an opening  64  in communication with a cavity  66  in base  59  and sleeve  61 . A filter  67  located in cavity  66  is used to remove organic, inorganic and foreign materials from the water flowing into chamber  57 . Filter  67  is a cylindrical polypropylene member having small porosity such as  5  microns. Other types of filters can be used to remove particulates from the water flowing through member  58  into chamber  57 . Filter  67  can be removed from cavity  66  and replaced with another filter. The filter  67  can extend into chamber  57 . Filter  67  can include activated charcoal that functions to remove chlorine and chlorine compounds from the water flowing out of the filter into chamber  57 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, and 9 , chamber  57  contains a bed of disinfectant material  68  that has germicidal functions to neutralize and destroy water contaminants including bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. The disinfectant material  68  also supplies a residual disinfectant in the water flowing out of cartridge  43 . The residual disinfectant eluted from the disinfectant material  68  neutralizes water contaminants in tube  41 , hose  37  and hand piece  38 . The materials of tube  41  and hose  37  absorb disinfectant until the inside walls of tube  41  and hose  37  become passivated or saturated with disinfectant to prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm slime in tube  41  and hose  37 . The water spray dispensed from hand piece  38  includes the disinfectant which destroys oral flora and reduces the potential cross-infection between dental patients and prevents disease transmission to the patients. 
     An example of disinfectant material  68  is a resin containing polyiodide, I 5 , as described by Lambert and Fina in U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,477 and Fina, Lambert and Bridges in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,190. A continuous release of iodine into the water neutralizes disease causing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Iodine is an effective disinfectant for water borne pathogenic bacteria and viruses. An alternative disinfectant material can be an iodinated anionic exchange resin manufactured and sold by MCV Technologies International, Inc. of Belleville, Ill. This resin releases a specific and consistent amount of iodine into the water flowing in chamber  57  to neutralize the microbial contaminates in the water. The disinfectant material  68  can be a resin matrix iodinated with elemental iodine, I 2 , to a level of 2 to 6 ppm of iodine in water flowing through the resin. The resin contains approximately 46 percent by weight active iodine and 54 percent by weight of inactive ingredients. The effluent iodine removes biofilm from tube  41 , hose  37  and hand piece  38  and performs a germicidal function thereon. The disinfectant material  68  can be a silver composition that contains silver and a metal or a silver impregnated activated carbon that maintains sufficient amounts of silver ions in the water to effectively disinfect the water. Examples of silver self-regulating water purifications are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,223,149 and 6,254,894. 
     A second end member  69  on the outlet end portion  56  of body  52  has a sleeve  71  and tubular nipple  73 . Sleeve  71  and end portion  56  have cooperating threads  72  that releasably connect member  69  to body  52 . Thread  72  allows end member  69  to be assembled on an removed from body  52 . Sleeve  71  has a cavity  76  open to chamber  57  and a passage  74  in nipple  73  to allow water to flow from chamber  57  into the lumen of tube  41 . A filter  77  located in cavity  76  prevents disinfectant material  68  from flowing through end member  69  into tube  41 . Filter  77  is a cylindrical polypropylene porous member that fills cavity  76  with a tight fit contact with sleeve  71 . Filter  77  can extend inwardly into chamber  57 . Other types of filters and screens can be used to confine the disinfectant material  68  to chamber  57 . An annular outside wall  78  joined to sleeve  71  surrounds nipple  73 . Wall  78  spaced from nipple  78  provides an annular pocket  79 . Tube  41  telescoped on nipple  73  extends into pocket  79  to connect tube  41  to end member  69  and allow water to flow from cartridge  43  to cap  17  and hand piece  38 . Alternative connections, such as a luer connector, can be used to retain tube  41  on nipple  73 . 
     A second embodiment of a cartridge  143 , shown in  FIGS. 12 to 18 , is useable with water dispensing apparatus  10  to disinfect water supplied to dental hand piece  38 . Cartridge  143  has the same structures as cartridge  43  with like element having the same reference numbers with the prefix  1 . Cartridge  143  has an elongated cylindrical body  152  with first and second end members  158  and  159  releasably connected to opposite end portions  154  and  156  of body  152 . First end member  159  has a cylindrical body  159  joined to a sleeve  161 . End portion  154  of side wall  153  of body  152  and sleeve  161  have cooperating threads  163  that releasably connect end member  159  to body  152 . End member  159  can be removed from body  152  and replaced with another or different end member. End member  159  has an annular shoulder  162  located in engagement with the end of end portion  152  when end member  159  is located on body  152 . End member  158  has an opening  164  in communication with a cavity  166  within sleeve  161 . A filter  167  disposed in cavity  166  removes particulates from water flowing through filter  167  into chamber  157  located within cylindrical wall  153  of body  152 . A bed of disinfectant material  168  located within chamber  157  destroys and neutralizes bacteria, viruses and pathogens in the water flowing in chamber  157 . Disinfectant material  168  is the same as disinfectant material  68 . Second end member  169  has a sleeve  171  mounted on end portion  156  of body  152 . Cooperating threads  172  on end portion  156  and sleeve  171  releasably retain sleeve  171  on body  152 . End member  169  has a tubular nipple  173  having a passage  174  open to a cavity  176  within sleeve  171 . A filter  177  located in cavity  176  prevents disinfectant material  168  from flowing with water through the filter  177  into passage  174  and hose  37  and hand piece  38 . End member  169  has an annular wall  178  located around nipple  173  providing an annular pocket  179  for accommodating a tube connecting cartridge  1443  to cap  17 . Annular wall  178 , shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , has a plurality of inwardly tapered ribs  181  that facilitate manual turning of end member  169  onto body  152  and the removal of end member  169  from body  152 . 
     A third embodiment of a cartridge  243 , shown in  FIGS. 19 to 25 , is usable with water dispensing apparatus  10  to disinfect water supplied to dental hand piece  38 . Cartridge  243  has the same structures and functions as cartridge  43  with the same elements having the same reference numbers with the prefix  2 . The first end member  258  has the same structure as second end member  269 . This allows the first and second end members  258  and  269  to be selectively connected to tube  41 . The cartridge  243  can also be used in water lines to disinfect water. As shown in  FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 , end members  258  and  269  each have a plurality of tapered ribs  281  and  283  that facilitate manual turning of end members  258  and  269  onto the opposite ends of body  252 . End members  258  and  269  have annular pockets  282  and  279  for accommodating tubes or conduits for supplying water to and discharging treated water from cartridge  243  to a remote location. A bed of disinfectant material  268  located in chamber  257  neutralizes bacteria, viruses and pathogens in the water flowing through the disinfectant material  268 . Disinfectant material  268  includes the same resins disclosed with regard to disinfectant material  68 . These resins are incorporated by reference to identify disinfectant material  268 . 
     A fourth embodiment of a cartridge  343  shown in  FIGS. 26 to 32 , is usable with a water dispensing apparatus  10  to disinfect water supplied to dental hand piece  38 . Cartridge  343  has the same structures and functions as cartridge  43  with the same elements having the same reference numbers with the prefix  3 . End members  358  and  369  releasably connected to the opposite ends of tubular body  352  have identical structures that can be connected to tubes or conduits for supplying water to cartridge  343  and allowing water to flow out cartridge  343 . Cartridge  343  can be inserted into a water line connecting a dental hand piece to a supply of water. As shown in  FIGS. 26 and 29 , end members  358  and  369  have tubular nipples  364  and  373  adapted to be inserted into tubes or conduits accommodating water. As shown in  FIGS. 29 and 32 , end member  358  has a body  359  joined to a sleeve  361 , nipple  364  and an annular wall  380 . The end portion  352  of wall  353  and sleeve  361  have cooperating threads  363  operable to releasably attach end member  358  on body  352 . A filter  367  located in a cavity  366  in sleeve  361  is operable to collect particulates and foreign matter from water flowing through filter  367 . End member  369  has the same structures as end member  358 . End member  369  has a sleeve  371  and annular wall  383 . Sleeve  371  and adjacent end portion of body  352  have cooperating threads  372  that releasably attach sleeve  371  to body  352 . A filter  377  located in a cavity  376  in sleeve  371  retains disinfectant material  368  in chamber  357 . A bed of disinfected material  368  located in chamber  357  neutralizes bacteria, viruses and pathogens in the water flowing through disinfectant material  368 . Disinfectant material  368  includes the same resins disclosed with regard to disinfectant material  68 . These resins are incorporated by reference to identify disinfected material  368 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 8 , cartridge  43  containing disinfectant material  68  is installed on cap  17  by connecting tube  41  on nipple  73 . Tube  41  telescopes onto nipple  73  and extends into annular pocket  79 . Tube  41  has a compression fit on nipple to prevent leakage of water from tube  41 . The neck  13  of container  11  is located adjacent sleeve  19  of cap  17 . Container  11  is turned about its upright axis whereby threads  26  cooperate to secure container  11  to cap  17 . The top annular end of neck  13  engages O-ring  27  to prevent air and water from leaking out of container  11 . The water supply unit is activated to discharge water  16  into the internal chamber of container  11 . Valve  46  is used to control the amount of water directed into tube  21  and container  11 . Air  50  generated by air pump  29  is directed through check valve  31  into tube  32  coupled to cap  17 . Cap passage  34  delivers air under pressure to the internal chamber of container  11 . Water  16  in internal chamber of container  11  subjected to air pressure is forced into cartridge  43  and out of cartridge  43  to cap  17  and dental instrument  38 . Dental instrument has manually operated a water control valve  40  that regulates the flow or spray of water from the operating end of dental instrument  38 . Cartridge  43  elutes the disinfectant into water flowing through the disinfectant material and out of the second end member  69  to the dental instrument  38  at a bacteria level of less than 200 cfu. In a typical water treatment dispensing apparatus, cartridge  43  may be used for about 365 days or until the disinfectant, such as iodine, falls below 0.5 ppm. After use, cartridge  43  is removed from container  11 . A new container is then attached to cap  17 . The water treatment dispensing apparatus is ready for further use. 
     There has been shown and described several embodiments of water disinfectant cartridges usable with a water treatment dispensing apparatus. Changes in material, structures and disinfectant materials can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the invention.