Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Method for treating containers for human excretions
Technical field
The present invention relates to a method for treating at least one container
for human waste and
to a washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste.
Such washer-
disinfectors and methods are used, for example, in a hospital or nursing
setting for cleaning
containers such as bedpans, urine bottles, chamber pots, emesis basins,
washbowls, commode
pans, measuring cups and other containers which are suitable for holding human
or animal waste,
in particular with a volume of at least 100 ml, in particular at least 500 ml
or even at least 1000
ml, for example 1000-5000 ml.
Technical background
A multitude of washers and cleaning methods for treating containers for human
waste are known
from the prior art. The containers to be cleaned may contain relatively large
amounts of liquid or
of solid waste, which usually have to be disposed of during cleaning.
Conventional dishwashers
are therefore generally not suitable for cleaning such containers. Moreover,
such containers may
contain infectious waste or be otherwise contaminated, and so disinfection is
also usually required
in addition to emptying. Such washers for treating containers for human waste
are accordingly
commonly also referred to as washer-disinfectors. Besides the stated
containers, they are in
principle also suitable for cleaning other medical articles, as used in
hospitals or elderly care homes
for example. Usually, however, the items to be cleaned consist of urine
bottles, bedpans, emesis
basins, washbowls or similar containers, the cleaning of which may entail the
disposal of relatively
large amounts of waste.
Examples of washer-disinfectors are shown in DE 103 48 344 Al or else in WO
2013/037723 Al.
The constructions of washer-disinfectors described therein may in principle
also be referred to by
way of example in the context of the present invention, it being possible for
the washer-disinfectors
shown to be used in modified and/or augmented form in the context of the
present invention.
However, other configurations are also possible in principle. Thus, for
example, the washer-
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disinfector described in DE 103 48 344 Al comprises a device for recooling of
items to be cleaned.
The items to be cleaned are rinsed within a chamber, followed by a precleaning
washing step.
Afterwards, the items to be cleaned that are contained in the chamber are
subjected to a final clean
with a water containing a rinse aid additive, before carrying out a step to
disinfect the items to be
cleaned in the chamber through introduction of steam into said chamber. With
the door closed, air
is forcibly introduced into the steam-filled chamber, thus bringing about
condensation of steam
within the chamber and also cooling and drying of the items to be cleaned that
are contained in the
chamber.
In a washer-disinfector, the items to be cleaned are therefore usually treated
by running a program
which is usually stored in a controller of the washer-disinfector. After the
washer-disinfector has
been loaded, a user usually selects a cleaning program and usually starts it
by pressing a relevant
button, for example on a membrane keypad. In doing so, the user generally has
to subjectively
decide what type and/or degree of soiling and/or microbial contamination
is/are present on the
articles to be cleaned. Here, incorrect selection of a cleaning program may,
however, in principle
result in continued microbial contamination of the items to be cleaned
following the treatment.
Another technical challenge in many washer-disinfectors is that, under certain
circumstances of
microbial contamination, steam disinfection with steam is insufficient to
ensure sufficient
antimicrobial action on specific microbes. Disinfectants may in principle be
added to the cleaning
agents previously used for washing, or said cleaning agents themselves have an
antimicrobial
effect. Nevertheless, it would be desirable to ensure a more universal and yet
more reliable
disinfection effect in washer-disinfectors. For instance, microbes which are
not killed or only
insufficiently killed by conventional disinfection methods are known
especially in hospital and
care facility settings. In this connection, Clostridioides difficile (C.
difficile) bacteria may be
mentioned for example. However, other microbes as well may also play a role in
this regard. In
particular, a spoticidal effect is also usually not achievable or not fully
achievable with the known
methods. It would therefore be desirable to provide not only the depleting
cleaning with a cleaning
fluid but also a valid sporicidally effective method component in order to
inactivate any spores
that may have remained on the items to be washed.
In addition, one technical challenge is that many chemical disinfectants are
difficult to handle in
practice. Thus, they may be, for example, extremely aggressive, corrosive,
flammable or unstable,
depending on the nature of the disinfection.
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In principle, disinfectants and disinfection methods in numerous different
variants are known from
other areas of science and technology. Merely by way of example, reference is
made to the
disinfection methods which have been described in WO 2019/219220 Al and in WO
2019/219959
Al and in which a disinfectant is formed in situ. The disinfection methods
described therein are
used especially in the area of skin disinfection, of disinfection of packaging
and of disinfection of
endoscope tubes.
US 2018/0058053 Al describes a toilet assembly with various embodiments of a
cleaning system.
The toilet assembly has a toilet bowl, a toilet tank, a flush valve, a rim
inlet port, and a rim flow
path extending from an outlet of the flush valve to the rim inlet port. The
cleaning system
comprises a reservoir for holding a liquid cleaning agent having an outlet
port in fluid
communication with the interior of the reservoir and a housing for receiving
the reservoir. The
cleaning system further has a supply conduit in fluid communication with the
interior of the
reservoir, a flow control device capable of controlling flow through the
supply conduit, and a
control system activatable by an actuator feature. Upon activation of the
actuator feature, the
control system is adapted to initiate a clean cycle by operating the flow
control device for a first
period of time sufficient to deliver a dose of a liquid cleaning agent from
the supply conduit to an
interior of the flush valve in a closed position, wherein the flush valve is
arranged for delivery of
fluid to the rim inlet port, and further operating the flush valve to open the
flush valve to introduce
flush water to carry the dose of the liquid cleaning agent through the rim
inlet port into the toilet
bowl.
WO 2019/036828 Al discloses a steam-cleaning flush toilet comprising: a flush
toilet, a toilet tank
and a toilet cover. Provided within the toilet tank are a water storage tank
and a steam generator
tank which is opposite to and separate from the water storage tank. A steam
generator is provided
within the steam generator tank and comprises: a water inlet tank, a heating
pipe, a steam tank and
a control assembly. A water supply pipe is provided on the water inlet tank
and a steam outlet pipe
is provided on the steam tank. The toilet rim at the upper portion of the
toilet body of the flush
toilet is provided with a steam inlet pipe for circulating steam from the
steam outlet pipe within a
steam circulation conduit.
US 2017/0260728 Al describes a toilet apparatus for providing an intelligent
bidet dispensing
system. Dynamic dispensing according to bidet wand position, type of substance
dispensed, user
preferences, user gender and user identification is described. Cleansers,
surfactants, moisturizers,
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medicines, deodorants and fragrances are dispensed through a bidet wand to a
user and are stored
in reservoirs which are contained in a tank area of the toilet. In other
embodiments, reporting the
levels of reservoir substances is automated.
Object of the invention
In view of the above-described technical challenges of conventional washer-
disinfectors, it would
therefore be desirable to provide a method for treating at least one container
for human waste and
a washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste that
at least largely avoid
the disadvantages of known devices and methods of the type mentioned. In
particular, the intention
is to achieve a disinfection effect which is simple, universal, and at least
largely independent of
operating personnel experience and yet safe.
General description of the invention
This object is addressed by a method for treating at least one container for
human waste and a
washer-disinfector for treating at least one container for human waste having
the features of the
independent claims. Advantageous developments, which can be implemented
individually or in
any desired combination, are given in the dependent claims.
In the following text, the terms "exhibit", "have", "comprise" or "include" or
any grammatical
deviations therefrom are used non-exclusively. Accordingly, these terms can
refer either to
situations in which, besides the features introduced by these terms, no
further features are present,
or to situations in which one or more further features are present. For
example, the expression "A
exhibits B", "A has B", "A comprises B" or "A includes B" can refer either to
the situation in
which, apart from B, no further element is present in A (i.e., to a situation
in which A exclusively
consists of B), or to the situation in which, in addition to B, one or more
further elements are
present in A, for example element C, elements C and D or even further
elements.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the terms "at least one" and "one or
more" and grammatical
modifications of these terms, if they are used in association with one or more
elements or features
and are intended to express the fact that the element or feature can be
provided once or more than
once, generally are used only once, for example when the feature or element is
introduced for the
first time. When the feature or element is subsequently mentioned again, the
corresponding term
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"at least one" or "one or more" is generally no longer used, without this
restricting the possibility
that the feature or element can be provided once or more than once.
Furthermore, in the following text, the terms "preferably", "in particular",
"for example" or similar
terms are used in conjunction with optional features, without alternative
embodiments being
restricted thereby. In this regard, features which are introduced by these
terms are optional features,
and the scope of protection of the claims, and in particular of the
independent claims, is not
intended to be restricted by these features. In this regard, the invention, as
will be recognized by a
person skilled in the art, can also be carried out using other configurations.
In a similar way,
features which are introduced by "in one embodiment of the invention" or by
"in one exemplary
embodiment of the invention" are understood as optional features, without
alternative
configurations or the scope of protection of the independent claims being
intended to be restricted
thereby. Furthermore, all of the possible ways of combining the features
introduced by these
introductory expressions with other features, be they optional or non-optional
features, are
intended to remain unaffected by these introductory expressions.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a method for treating at least one
container for human
waste is proposed. The method comprises the steps described and defined in
greater detail below,
which steps may preferably be carried out in the stated order. In principle, a
different order is,
however, also possible. Furthermore, it is possible to carry out two or more
of the described method
steps at the same time or overlapping in time. Moreover, one or more or all of
the stated method
steps, individually or else in groups, may also be carried out once or
multiple times repeatedly.
Moreover, the method may comprise additional method steps that are not stated.
The method comprises the following steps:
a. at least one emptying step, comprising emptying of the container
contents within at least one
cleaning chamber into at least one drain, wherein the drain comprises at least
one odor trap;
b. at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of at
least one cleaning liquid
on the container in the cleaning chamber; and
c. at least one disinfection step, comprising at least one mixing of at
least two reactive
components to produce at least one disinfectant and impingement of the
disinfectant on the
container.
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In general, the method may be carried out in at least one washer-disinfector,
in particular according
to one or more of the configurations that will be described in greater detail
below. The term
"washer-disinfector" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its
usual and common
meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a specific or
adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a
device arranged to
carry out a treatment of the container, including at least one clean and at
least one disinfection.
The at least one clean and the at least one disinfection may in particular be
effected in separate
program steps of a program sequence. For example, the method and/or the washer-
disinfector may
comprise or support a program in which at least one cleaning step and at least
one disinfection step
are provided as separate program steps. In particular, the washer-disinfector
may comprise a
bedpan washer or be configured or arranged as a bedpan washer.
The term "treatment" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its
usual and common
meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a specific or
adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to
cleaning which, as will
be described in greater detail below, involves impingement of at least one
cleaning fluid on the
container. The cleaning may in particular be configured in such a way that it
at least largely frees
the container of adherent contamination. Furthermore, the treatment includes
not only cleaning,
but also disinfection.
The term "disinfection" and grammatical variations thereof as used here are
likewise broad terms
which are to be accorded their usual and common meaning as understood by a
person skilled in
the art. The terms are not restricted to a specific or adapted meaning.
Without restriction, the terms
may relate in particular to microbial reduction. In general, disinfection may
involve a method
which brings about microbial reduction in a defined test method with specific
test specimens by a
factor of at least 10-5, i.e., in which, for example, from originally 1 000
000 viable microbes, so-
called colony-forming units (CFU), there are no more than ten that survive.
Here, the disinfection
effect and antimicrobial action may be tested by using, for example,
standardized test methods
and/or standardized CFU or test organisms, as described in European standard
CEN TC 216 WG1
and WG3 for example.
The disinfection effect may, for example, be checked and/or monitored, for
example on a random
basis. Alternatively or additionally, the conditions of the method may,
however, also be monitored,
for example by appropriate sensors and/or a controller. The conditions of the
method may be
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adjusted in such a way that the desired disinfection effect is achieved. Thus,
for example, the
desired disinfection may be achieved by complying with technical conditions,
for example specific
conditions selected from the group consisting of temperature profiles, thermal
equivalents,
concentrations of chemical active ingredients and action times. Said technical
conditions for
achieving the disinfection effect may, for example, also be standardized, for
example in standards
which specify minimum standards and test methods for specific groups of
devices and/or specific
applications.
Microbial reduction that exceeds disinfection is also referred to as
sterilization. In the case of
sterilization, microbial reductions of at least 10-6 are typically required.
Microbial reduction may, for example, be effected by a thermal treatment
and/or by a chemical
treatment of the at least one container, for example by a treatment with at
least one disinfectant,
for example a disinfecting liquid compound, a disinfecting gas and/or a
disinfecting gas, for
example steam. The disinfection may optionally culminate in sterilization of
the container.
The term "container for human waste" as used here is likewise a broad term
which is to be accorded
its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The
term is not
restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may
relate in particular
to a container which has at least one receiving region, for example a cavity
or a depression, in
which a relatively large amount of human waste or else animal waste is
receivable, for example an
amount of at least 50 ml, in particular at least 100 ml, preferably at least
200 ml or even at least
500 ml or at least 1000 ml. For example, a maximum amount within the range
from 100 ml to 5 1,
for example 1000 ml to 5000 ml, may be receivable. In addition to the at least
one receiving region,
for example the at least one cavity, the container may also have at least one
opening. Said opening
may be present from the outset and/or may else be created at a later time.
Furthermore, at least one
opening may also be created during and/or before the treatment, for example by
mechanically
opening the container and/or by cutting open and/or tearing open the
container, for example as part
of the proposed method. Furthermore, the opening may be arranged to be
reversibly or irreversibly
opened and/or closed. The container may have at least one container wall,
which may be rigid or
else deformable, in particular flexible. Thus, the container may comprise, for
example, a vessel
having a rigid container wall, composed of, for example, one or more of the
materials glass, plastic,
ceramic and metal. Alternatively or additionally, the container may also have
at least one
deformable container wall, for example at least one film bag, in particular a
film bag composed of
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a plastics material. Thus, the container for human waste may, for example,
also be wholly or partly
in the form of an initially closed container in the shape of a film bag. In
general, the container may
be selected, for example, from the group consisting of: a urine bottle; a
bedpan; a urine bag; an
emesis basin; a commode pan; a measuring cup.
As discussed above, the method first comprises, in method step a., emptying of
the container
contents within at least one cleaning chamber, for example a cleaning chamber
of the washer-
disinfector, into at least one drain, for example a drain of the washer-
disinfector. Here, the
emptying may be effected especially by a change in position and/or orientation
of the container,
for example by completely or partially tipping the contents of the container
into the drain. As will
be described later, this change in position and/or orientation may be
effected, for example, as a
result of attachment of the container to a door of the washer-disinfector that
is swivelable, and so
the change in position occurs upon swiveling. Emptying may therefore be
effected through the
weight of the container contents. Alternatively or additionally, a different
type of change in
orientation is also possible, for example through a separate swiveling device.
The contents may be
emptied, for example, through an opening of the container. Alternatively or
additionally, a
different configuration may, however, also be provided as discussed above, for
example cutting
open a bag, in particular automatic cutting. In this case, a change in
position is also not necessary
in principle, but may nevertheless be provided.
The term "cleaning chamber" as used here is a broad term which is to be
accorded its usual and
common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a
specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in
particular to a completely
or partially closed chamber into which the container is introducible and in
which the treatment or
part of the treatment of the container takes place. In particular, the washer-
disinfector may be a
single-chamber washer, with performance of all the treatment steps in the same
cleaning chamber.
What may therefore take place in the cleaning chamber is impingement of the
cleaning fluid, and
optionally the disinfection of the container and/or emptying of the container.
For example, the
washer-disinfector may be arranged to carry out at least one cleaning program
comprising at least
the abovementioned method steps. The cleaning chamber may in particular be
completely closed
and may have, for example, at least one door, as will discussed in greater
detail below.
As discussed above, the container contents are emptied within at least one
cleaning chamber into
at least one drain. The term "drain" as used here is a broad term which is to
be accorded its usual
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and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is
not restricted to a
specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in
particular to a device
which is arranged to supply liquid waste for disposal. In particular, the
drain may comprise at least
one opening in the floor region of the cleaning chamber. Furthermore, the
drain may comprise at
least one drain pipe which is connected to the opening. Said drain pipe may
have, for example, a
mouth at the opening in the floor of the cleaning chamber. Said mouth may in
particular be open
in such a way that the container contents can flow into the drain without any
obstacles and solely
on the basis of their weight. For example, the cleaning chamber in the floor
region may run toward
the drain at least partially in the shape of a funnel and/or at an incline.
The drain may be, for
example, directly or indirectly connected to a building-side disposal system
and/or a wastewater
system. The drain, in particular the drain pipe, may in particular have a
cross section of at least 30
mm, in particular at least 50 mm, particularly preferably at least 70 mm or
even at least 100 mm.
In this way, the abovementioned amounts of liquid can also be disposed of
through the drain.
As discussed above, the drain comprises at least one odor trap. The term "odor
trap" as used here
is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as
understood by a person
skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted
meaning. Without restriction,
the term may relate in particular to a device which is arranged to keep gases
from at least one drain
pipe away from the interior of the cleaning chamber. For example, the odor
trap may comprise at
least one siphon bend. The washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to
empty the container
into the drain in the cleaning program. As discussed above, this emptying in
the cleaning program
may comprise automatic emptying and/or emptying which, for example, occurs
while introducing
the container into the cleaning chamber, for example while closing a door,
comprising for example
connection of a mount for the container to the door and swiveling thereof
while closing the door.
The closing of the door may be entirely or partially driven by a drive, for
example by a motor, a
mechanism, hydraulics or pneumatics, and/or may else be entirely or partially
driven by muscle
power. The container contents can flow away via the drain, and the odor trap
can at least partially
prevent gases or vapors from the drain from flowing back into the cleaning
chamber.
As discussed above, method step b. comprises at least one washing step in
which impingement of
at least one cleaning liquid on the container takes place in the cleaning
chamber, in particular
impingement on at least one surface of the container. Therefore, a washing
step may be understood
in general to mean an operation in which the container is contacted with at
least one cleaning fluid
in the form of a cleaning liquid. Therefore, as an umbrella term, the term
"cleaning fluid" as used
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here is a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as
understood by a
person skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted
meaning. Without
restriction, the term may relate in particular to a liquid and/or a gas which
have a cleaning effect
on the container, for example by the cleaning fluid washing off adherent
contaminants from at
least one surface of the container. This may be at least one outer surface of
the container and/or
else at least one internal surface, for example at least one inner surface of
at least one container
interior, which, for example, may be impinged on by the at least one cleaning
liquid via at least
one nozzle.
The cleaning fluid may in particular be an aqueous cleaning fluid, in which
case water may be
used, optionally with addition of one or more cleaning agents and/or
auxiliaries and/or
disinfectants. Such cleaning fluids are known in principle from the prior art.
The washer-
disinfector may comprise, for example, at least one tank, via which the
impingement device can
be provided with the cleaning fluid. Alternatively or additionally, the washer-
disinfector may also
comprise one or more connections for providing the cleaning fluid, for example
a fresh water
connection and/or a hot water connection, which may be connected to a building-
side supply for
example. Furthermore, as will be discussed in greater detail below, the washer-
disinfector may
also comprise, for example, one or more steam generators for impingement of
steam on the
container. Furthermore, the washer-disinfector may also comprise one or more
metering tanks in
which additives of the cleaning fluid can be stored, for example by mixing
them with other
components of the cleaning fluid in a metered manner, for example by metered
mixing into water.
For example, one or more cleaning agent tanks and/or one or more tanks for
auxiliaries and/or one
or more tanks for disinfectants may be provided in the washer-disinfector
and/or on the washer-
disinfector. As a specific form of cleaning fluid, the term "cleaning liquid"
relates to a cleaning
fluid in liquid form.
In particular, as will be described in greater detail below, the impingement
may be effected by
means of at least one impingement device of the washer-disinfector. For
example, the impingement
may be effected in the form of spraying the container with the cleaning liquid
and/or dripping the
cleaning liquid onto the container and/or jetting the cleaning liquid onto the
container. In
particular, the impingement device may comprise at least one nozzle which
generates at least one
fluid jet, specifically at least one liquid jet, which strikes the container.
For example, the
impingement device may comprise at least one nozzle which sprays and/or jets
one or more jets of
the cleaning liquid onto the container from one or more spatial directions in
a targeted manner.
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As also discussed above, the method comprises, with method step c., at least
one disinfection step.
In the at least one disinfection step, or, if multiple disinfection steps are
provided, in at least one
of said disinfection steps, what takes place at least once is mixing of at
least two reactive
components to produce at least one disinfectant. Furthermore, impingement of
the disinfectant on
the container, for example at least one surface of the container, takes place.
This may be the same
at least one surface which can also be impinged on in method step b. or else
at least one other
surface. Again, the surface may be at least one outer surface of the container
and/or else at least
one internal surface, for example at least one inner surface of at least one
container interior.
The term "reactive components" as used here is a broad term which is to be
accorded its usual and
common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a
specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in
particular to chemical
compounds which are arranged to carry out a chemical reaction with one
another, alone or under
the influence of one or more additives such as catalysts. Thus, for example,
the reactive
components may comprise at least one component A and at least one component B
that can react
with one another as reactants, alone or with the involvement of one or more
additives, it being
possible to form for example at least one component or compound AB or else C
as product, and
also optionally further products or by-products. The reaction may be
homogeneous or else
heterogeneous. The reaction may take place on its own once the reactants are
contacted with one
another or it may require additional initialization, such as chemical
initialization, thermal
initialization, photochemical initialization or else catalytic initialization.
Thus, for example, the
reaction may take place depending on whether certain environmental conditions
are present. Said
environmental conditions may be caused and determined, for example, by a
temperature, by a pH,
by the presence of one or more catalysts or else by other parameters or
combinations of the stated
parameters and/or other parameters. Thus, for example, a pH may be
specifically set in such a way
that initially no reaction takes place, and this is then followed by adjusting
the pH, for example on
the container, in such a way that the reaction can take place. For example,
the reactive components
may be mixed and applied to the container, it being possible for the mixing to
be done before the
application or else during or after the application, in a state in which the
pH prevents the reaction
from taking place. The pH may then be adjusted on the container, for example
by specific
application of acid and/or alkaline solution, in such a way that the reaction
is initiated.
Alternatively or additionally, the initiation may also be effected, for
example, by specific
illumination with UV light or else in some other way. Alternatively or
additionally again, initiation
may also be effected, for example, by mechanical action, for example by the
action of ultrasound.
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Ultrasound can destroy or dissolve, for example, separations between the
reactive components, for
example encapsulations, and so the action of ultrasound can result in
contacting and reaction of
the reactive components. The reaction may be in one stage or else in multiple
stages.
The term "disinfectant" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded
its usual and common
meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a specific or
adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a
chemical compound, a
chemical substance or else a mixture of multiple chemical substances that have
an antimicrobial
effect, in particular a disinfecting effect or else a sterilizing effect. In
particular, the disinfectant
may exhibit at least one effect selected from the group consisting of: a
sporicidal effect; a virucidal
effect, in particular a full virucidal effect; a fungicidal effect; a
bactericidal effect. Furthermore,
the disinfectant may also have a destructive effect on at least one parasite
selected from the group
consisting of unicellular human-pathogen parasites, preferably Euglenozoa,
Parabasalidea,
Diplomonadida, Entamoebidae, Heterolobosea or Alveolata, and multicellular
human-pathogen
parasites, preferably Platyhelminthes, Platyzoa, Nematoda, Nematomorpha,
Annelida,
Pentastomida, Arachnida or Insecta.
As also discussed above, method step c. involves at least one mixing of the at
least two reactive
components. The term "mixing" as used here is a broad term which is to be
accorded its usual and
common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a
specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in
particular to an operation
in which the at least two reactive components are contacted with one another
so that they can react
with one another to form the disinfectant directly in one step or indirectly
in multiple steps, alone
or else with involvement of one or more auxiliaries. Various possibilities are
conceivable and will
also be explained in greater detail below.
Thus, the reactive components may be present, for example, in the same state
of matter or else in
different states of matter, it being possible for the reactive components,
after they have been mixed,
to be homogeneously or heterogeneously mixed or else to have at least one
common interface with
one another. Thus, for example, when mixing the reactive components, a liquid
comprising the
reactive components may form, in particular a liquid selected from a liquid
mixture, a solution, a
suspension, an emulsion or a dispersion, which reactive components may react
further immediately
or else after a time delay to form the at least a disinfectant. The reactive
components may be
contacted with one another in pure form. Alternatively or additionally, at
least one of the reactive
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components may also be incorporated in at least one auxiliary and/or carrier,
for example in at
least one solvent. The auxiliary or carrier, it also being possible to use
both terms synonymously,
may be, for example, solid, liquid or else gaseous. The same carrier may be
used for the at least
two reactive components, or different carriers may also be used.
The mixing may therefore comprise, for example, the reactive components, each
in the form of
liquids or contained in liquids, being contacted with one another or being
brought together, for
example in a mixing chamber, a mixing container, a mixing vessel, a pump, a
mixing section
and/or in a jet. Alternatively or additionally, the mixing may, however, also
comprise at least one
of the reactive components being introduced into at least one other of the
reactive components,
each in liquid form for example. Alternatively or additionally again, the
mixing may also comprise,
for example, at least one of the reactive components being applied to at least
one surface, for
example at least one container surface of the container, and then either at
least a second reactive
component of the reactive components being applied to the surface and/or the
surface being
exposed to an atmosphere, for example a gas or vapor atmosphere, which
comprises at least a
second reactive component of the reactive components. Alternatively or
additionally again, the
mixing may also comprise, for example, the reactive components being
introduced into the
cleaning chamber and/or being applied to the container once or multiple times
alternately. Thus,
as discussed above, the mixing may take place inside or outside the cleaning
chamber. As
discussed, mixing within the cleaning chamber may occur, for example, by
alternate application
of the reactive components to the container or in some other way.
Alternatively or additionally
again, the at least one carrier may also be present, for example entirely or
partially in solid form,
and at least one of the reactive components may be embedded in the carrier.
For example, tabs
composed of a soluble carrier having at least two chambers in which the
reactive components are
present are conceivable. Upon contact with at least one solvent, for example
water, for example
before or during the impingement on the container, the tabs can then, for
example, dissolve and
the reactive components can mix. Various possibilities are conceivable and
will be described in
greater detail below.
As also discussed above, the container is impinged on by the at least one
disinfectant. As will be
discussed in greater detail below, this impingement involves, in general, the
container being
contacted with the at least one disinfectant on at least one surface,
preferably over a large area.
There are a number of possibilities for this, which will also be discussed in
greater detail below.
For instance, the disinfectant itself may be applied to the container.
Alternatively, at least one of
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the reactive components may, however, also be applied to the container, and
what may take place
on the container itself is the above-described chemical reaction of the
reactive components, in
which the at least one disinfectant is formed. It is thus possible that the at
least one disinfectant is
formed wholly or partly in a different space from the container and is then
applied to the container,
for example to the above-described at least one internal or external surface
of the container, and/or
that the at least a disinfectant is formed wholly or partly on the container
itself, for example on the
at least one above-described internal or external surface of the container.
Irrespective of this, the
impingement of the disinfectant on the container involves the at least one
container being wholly
or partly in contact with the at least one disinfectant at at least at one
moment.
Both variants, i.e., the formation of the disinfectant outside the container
and subsequent
application of the disinfectant to the container or the formation of the
disinfectant on the container
itself, have advantages that can be made use of according to the given
situation.
In the case of formation of the disinfectant outside the container, a mixing
ratio may be set
precisely for example, and the reaction to form the disinfectant may be
controlled more precisely
for example.
If, by contrast, the disinfectant is formed wholly or partly directly on the
container, for example
by reacting the at least two reactive components on the at least one surface
of the container, this
can have in particular the advantage of the components being applied
separately from one another,
one after the other or at the same time. In the case of rapid reactions with
subsequent rapid
decomposition of the disinfectant, this can better utilize the useful life of
the disinfectant, which is
formed directly on the surface, since the disinfectant does not have to be
applied to the container
first, with possible loss of valuable time. Furthermore, undesired gas
formation, which may for
example occur upon decomposition of the disinfectant, can also be better
controlled if the
disinfectant forms directly on the surface of the container, and so gases, for
example, either do not
form at all or are formed to a reduced extent, or the disinfectant can already
be rinsed off again
from the surface of the container before said disinfectant decomposes and
before gas is formed.
The method may thus in general involve in situ formation of the disinfectant
from the at least two
reactive components within the washer-disinfector used for the method. The
term "in situ" may
refer to the fact that the disinfectant is formed in the washer-disinfector
itself. This covers a number
of possibilities, namely formation inside the washer-disinfector, but outside
the cleaning chamber,
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formation within the cleaning chamber of the washer-disinfector, but before
the impingement on
the container, or else formation on the surface of the container. Combinations
are also conceivable.
The method may further comprise the following step:
d. at
least one final-rinsing step, comprising at least one impingement of at least
one rinse aid
liquid on the container.
Final-rinsing step d. may be carried out before disinfection step c. and/or
else after disinfection
step c. Multiple final-rinsing steps are also possible.
The term "final-rinsing step" as used here is a broad term which is to be
accorded its usual and
common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a
specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in
particular in general to
impingement of at least one rinse aid liquid on at least one item to be
cleaned. The rinse aid liquid
may be a cleaning fluid which comprises at least one rinse aid additive. The
rinse aid liquid may
in particular be distinguished from the cleaning liquid which is used in the
washing step and which
may also be referred to as washing liquid or washing fluid. Thus, for example,
the washing liquid
may comprise water having at least one cleaning agent additive, whereas the
rinse aid liquid
comprises water having at least one rinse aid additive which quickens drying
of the container
and/or which promotes residue-free trickling or flowing of the rinse aid
liquid from the container
surface.
The method may further comprise the following method step:
e.
at least one steam disinfection step, in particular downstream of the
final-rinsing step and/or
the disinfection step, comprising at least one impingement of vapor, in
particular steam, on
the container.
For example, the washer-disinfector may comprise at least one steam generator
in which the vapor,
for example the steam, is generated. Said steam generator may comprise, for
example, at least one
water reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, the steam generator may also
comprise, for example,
at least one heating device, for example at least one heating coil. The steam
generator may, for
example, be connected to the cleaning chamber via at least one steam line. For
the impingement
in method step e., the washer-disinfector may comprise, for example, at least
one steam nozzle,
which may, for example, be separate from the impingement device for the
washing step and/or the
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optional final-rinsing step. Alternatively or additionally, the steam nozzle
and the impingement
device for the washing step and/or the optional final-rinsing step may also be
combined in whole
or in part.
As discussed above, the mixing in step c. may be configured in different ways
that are also
combinable with one another. In particular, the mixing in step c. may comprise
at least one mixing
of the reactive components, i.e., contacting of the reactive components with
one another, selected
from the group consisting of:
- the reactive components are mixed, wherein the disinfectant is formed in
the mixture and the
mixture is applied to the container;
- the reactive components are applied to the container and mixed on the
container, wherein
the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container;
- at least one first reactive component of the reactive components is
applied to the container,
and the container with the first reactive component applied thereto is exposed
in the cleaning
chamber to an atmosphere which comprises at least one second reactive
component of the
reactive components, such that the reactive components are mixed on the
container, wherein
the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container.
Examples will be described in greater detail below.
As also discussed above, the reactive components, at least one of the reactive
components or else
the disinfectant may each independently of one another be present in pure form
or else in
combination with one or more further substances, for example one or more
carriers. Thus, for
example, the disinfectant may be contained in at least one carrier, in
particular in at least one
solvent, in particular water. In principle, the carrier may in particular be
fluid, i.e., liquid and/or
gaseous. Aerosols and/or mists may also be used. The carrier may in particular
comprise, for
example, an aqueous carrier, since water or water-containing solvents
generally pose less of a
challenge than other solvents as regards their disposal, in particular via the
drain.
The disinfectant and the carrier, in particular the solvent, may form an
active solution, which may
optionally also comprise one or more further additives. The term "active
solution" as used here is
a broad term which is to be accorded its usual and common meaning as
understood by a person
skilled in the art. The term is not restricted to a specific or adapted
meaning. Without restriction,
the term may relate in particular in general to a fluid medium, in particular
a liquid, which may
comprise the at least one disinfectant and also at least one carrier, and
optionally one or more
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additives. For example, said carrier may comprise at least one solvent. The
active solution may be
or comprise, for example, a solution of the at least one disinfectant in the
at least one carrier, a
dispersion of the at least one disinfectant in the at least one carrier, a
suspension of the at least one
disinfectant in the at least one carrier or an emulsion of the at least one
disinfectant in the at least
one carrier. The container may in general be impinged on by the at least one
active solution, in
particular in method step c.
As discussed above, method step c. may in particular comprise mixing of at
least one of the reactive
components with the at least one carrier. This may be the same carrier that
may also contain the
disinfectant, for example the same solvent. Alternatively, this may, however,
also be for example
merely at least one component of this carrier of the disinfectant, for example
at least one
component of a multicomponent solvent.
Other possible configurations concern the reactive components. For instance,
the reactive
components may in particular comprise at least one oxidizing agent and at
least one anion of an
acid. The term "oxidizing agent" as used here is a broad term which is to be
accorded its usual and
common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a
specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in
particular to a substance
which can accept other substances and is reduced itself as a result.
Alternatively or additionally,
the term may relate to a substance which can absorb at least one electron,
i.e., which may act as an
electron acceptor. The term "anion of an acid" as used here is a broad term
which is to be accorded
its usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The
term is not
restricted to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may
relate in particular
to a singly or multiply negatively charged ion, i.e., an anion, which can be
formed as a result of an
acid releasing one or more positively charged hydrogen ions or protons, i.e.,
H+ ions.
In particular, reference may be made to the above-described documents WO
2019/219220 Al and
WO 2019/219959 Al for possible reactive components and also for possible
disinfectants which
are also usable in the context of the present invention. Other reactive
components and/or
disinfectants are, however, also possible in principle. For example, as an
alternative or in addition
to peroxynitric acid, other active ingredients having corresponding reactive
components may also
be used as the disinfectant. Thus, for example, chlorine-based disinfectants
and/or
peroxycarboxylic acids could be used.
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As a result of the reaction of the at least two reactive components, the
method, as discussed above,
may comprise in situ production of the disinfectant in the washer-disinfector.
Therefore, the
disinfectant is preferably formed only during the method, in particular in the
washer-disinfector.
This also allows the use of unstable, aggressive or flammable disinfectants
that would be difficult
or impossible to use without in situ production. This can increase the
spectrum of activity with
respect to antimicrobial action and/or improve the antimicrobial effect. The
storage and stockpiling
of comparatively harmless starting materials is also safer and easier to
implement than would be
the case for unstable, aggressive or flammable disinfectants.
In particular, the disinfectant may comprise at least one active ingredient
selected from the group
consisting of: a reactive nitrogen compound (reactive nitrogen oxide species,
RNOS), in particular
a reactive nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of:
peroxynitric acid (ONOOH);
peroxynitrite (ON00-); a reactive oxygen compound (reactive oxygen species,
ROS), in particular
11202; a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000H); an
anion of a
peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000); and a
chlorine compound, in
particular a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of
hypochlorous acid (HC10),
an anion of hypochlorous acid (C10), chlorous acid (11C102), an anion of
chlorous acid (C102),
chloric acid (HC103), an anion of chloric acid (C103), a chlorine oxide, in
particular chlorine
dioxide.
The reactive components or at least one of the reactive components may
comprise, for example,
hydrogen peroxide (H202) and/or ozone (03) or generate them in a chemical
reaction, in particular
as oxidizing agent.
Furthermore, at least one of the reactive components, in particular a
different reactive component,
may comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of:
nitrate (NO3); nitrite
(NO2); a carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3COOH); an anion of a
carboxylic acid, in
particular acetic acid (CH3C00); hypochlorite (C10); chlorite (C102); chlorate
(C103).
The reactive components may in particular comprise at least one combination,
in particular as a
combination of at least one first reactive component and at least one second
reactive component,
selected from the group consisting of:
- hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrite (NO2);
- hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrate (NO3);
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- a carboxylic acid and an oxidizing agent, in particular hydrogen peroxide,
in particular
acetic acid (CH3COOH) and hydrogen peroxide (11202);
-
hypochlorite (C10) and an acid, in particular hypochlorite (C10) and an
acid selected from
the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric
acid and nitric acid;
-
chlorite (C102) and an acid, in particular chlorite (C102-) and an acid
selected from the
group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid
and nitric acid;
- chlorate (C103-) and an acid, in particular chlorate (C103-) and an acid
selected from the
group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid
and nitric acid.
Thus, for example, the disinfectant peroxynitric acid (ONOOH) can be prepared
by reaction of
hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrite (NO2) as reactive components, in
particular in an acidic
medium, by means of the reaction:
11202 + NO2- + H30+ ¨> ONOOH +2 H20.
Regarding possible concentrations and parameters of the mixture of the
reactive components,
reference may likewise be made to the above-described documents WO 2019/219220
Al and WO
2019/219959 Al by way of example. In particular, reference may be made to said
documents
regarding the concentrations of the reactive components, regarding the pH of
the disinfectant
and/or of an active solution containing the disinfectant on the container and
also regarding the
preferred mixing times. Other compositions and/or concentrations and/or
parameters are, however,
also possible.
Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the disinfectant peroxyacetic acid
(CH3C000H) can,
for example, be prepared by reaction of acetic acid (CH3COOH) and hydrogen
peroxide (H202) as
reactive components, by means of the reaction:
CH3COOH + H202 ¨> CH3C000H + H20
Furthermore, likewise as an alternative or in addition to one or both of the
abovementioned options,
the disinfectant chlorine dioxide (C102) can, for example, be prepared by
reaction of chlorate
(C103) and an acid, in particular citric acid (CH3COOH) and hydrogen peroxide
(H202) as reactive
components, by means of the reaction:
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C103- + ¨> C102 + H20
Furthermore, likewise as an alternative or in addition to one or more of the
abovementioned
options, the disinfectant hypochlorous acid (HC10) can, for example, be
prepared by reaction of
hypochlorite (C10-) and an acid, for example citric acid, phosphoric acid,
sulfuric acid, nitric acid
or acetic acid, as reactive components, by means of the reaction:
C10- + 11+ HC10
The hypochlorite ions can, for example, be provided in a first reactive
component or solution
comprising a salt of hypochlorous acid in alkaline solution. Said first
reactive component can, for
example, be mixed with a second reactive component comprising the acid.
Other preparations of disinfectants from multiple reactive components are also
possible.
Unlike the direct introduction of the disinfectants, the reactive components
can be chosen such
that they are comparatively easy to handle. For example, peroxyacetic acid,
peroxynittic acid or
chlorine dioxide are unstable, flammable and extremely reactive, and so they
difficult to handle
and can be used in a washer-disinfector. As a result of in situ production, in
particular in the
cleaning chamber, from two or more reactive components which are easier to
handle in their own
right, the aggressive and possibly short-lived disinfectants are only formed
within the cleaning
chamber, in particular on the surface of the container to be cleaned, where
they develop their effect
in a targeted manner.
Thus, at least one of the reactive components may in general comprise, for
example, hydrogen
peroxide, i.e., H202, and/or ozone, i.e., 03, in particular as oxidizing
agent. Other oxidizing agents
are also usable in principle. However, hydrogen peroxide is in general easy to
handle in washer-
disinfectors and is a very effective oxidizing agent. The stated acids are
also easy to handle.
Likewise, nitrates, nitrites, chlorates, chlorites or hypochlorites are easily
providable in the form
of corresponding salts, for example sodium salts, for example in the form of
aqueous solutions of
said salts. For example, nitrite salts according to formula KNO2 may be
provided, for example
NaNO2.
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Other substances may be present in addition to the reactive components. These
may be, for
example, auxiliaries, such as surface-active substances, surfactants, foaming
agents, fragrances or
combinations of the stated auxiliaries. Furthermore, as an alternative or in
addition, additional
auxiliaries may be present, such as acids, bases or buffers.
Method step e. may in particular be carried out in such a way that a period of
not more than 75 s,
in particular not more than 20 s, in particular not more than 15 s, passes
between the mixing of the
at least two reactive components and the impingement on the container, if the
mixing does not in
any case take place on the container surface. The time window may be, for
example, 1 s to 20 s.
For example, a period of time of 2-3 s may pass between the mixing of the at
least two reactive
components and the impingement on the container, for example in the case of
the above-described
reaction of the reactive components hydrogen peroxide and nitrate and/or
nitrite ions.
Furthermore, the disinfectant may be present as an active solution or be
present in an active
solution, for example as a real solution, as a dispersion, as a suspension or
as an emulsion. The
carrier, in particular solvent, used may be, for example, water. As discussed
above, said carrier
may, for example, also act as a carrier for one or more of the reactive
components, in particular
for hydrogen peroxide and/or nitrate and/or nitrite ions, which are mixed
outside the surface of the
container or else only on the surface of the container. Especially when using
water as a carrier for
the disinfectant and/or for one or both of the reactive components, the
conditions may, for example,
be set in such a way that there is a pH of 2.1 to 6.8 in the active solution
with the disinfectant and
the carrier contained therein.
Especially in the case of the above-described reaction of the reactive
components hydrogen
peroxide and nitrate and/or nitrite ions, the concentration of the nitrate
and/or nitrite ions, in
particular in the mixed active solution with both reactive components before
the reaction, may be,
for example, in a range from 5 to 500 mM (corresponding to 5 to 500 x 0.001
mo1/1), in particular
in a range from 8 to 200 mM, in particular in a range from 10 to 100 mM, for
example 50 mM.
In general, the concentration of the disinfectant on the surface of the
container over time, for
example, may be considered for efficacy, and the so-called Haber's efficacy
parameter H may be
defined therefrom by:
H = ft2 CDCIt
(1)
tl
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Here, CD is the concentration of the disinfectant on the surface of the
container, and H is determined
from the integral of this concentration over time tin the application interval
(ti, t2).
Specifically for the above-described use of peroxynitric acid, Haber's
efficacy parameter H can,
for example, be calculated as
H = 5t2[ONOOH]clt
(2)
Here, [ON001/] is the concentration of peroxynitric acid on the surface of the
container.
In general, the method may in particular be carried out in such a way that
Haber's efficacy
parameter H is in the range from 10 mM=s to 400 mM mM.s, in particular in the
range from
10mM=s to 200 mM= s, in particular in the range from 20 mM= s to 100 mM.s, in
particular for the
use of peroxynitric acid as disinfectant. The desired efficacy parameter in
the method may in
particular be set via the concentration of the disinfectant and/or via the
action time. Monitoring
may be effected, for example, via at least one sensor, as will be described in
greater detail below.
The container may, for example, be impinged on for a specified action time by
the at least one
disinfectant and/or the at least one active solution, which may comprise the
at least one carrier, the
at least one disinfectant and optionally one or more additives. Said action
time may begin, for
example, with contacting of the container with the disinfectant and/or the
active solution, and may
end, for example, by rinsing off the disinfectant or else in some other way.
The action time may
be infinite or else limited. Rinse-off may also, for example, be replaced
and/or supplemented by
impingement of steam on the container, for example according to method step e.
The action time
may, for example, be limited, for example to 90 seconds or less, to 50 seconds
or less, to 30 seconds
or less, or else to 15 seconds or less. For example, the action time may be 1
s to 90 s. For example,
the action time may be 1 s to 10 seconds, in particular 2 seconds to 3
seconds. Method step c. may
thus in general also comprise at least one action step, in which the
disinfectant acts on the container
for a specified action time.
Further optional possibilities concern the impingement in method step c. Thus,
the impingement
in method step c. may in particular comprise at least one impingement with at
least one type of
impingement selected from the group consisting of: spraying; jetting;
dripping; gas treatment;
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vapor treatment; fogging, in particular cold fogging. If the reactive
components are only mixed in
the cleaning chamber, for example in the atmosphere of the cleaning chamber
and/or on the surface
of the container, the reactive components may also be applied by means of a
different type of
impingement in each case. Thus, for example, one of the reactive components
may be sprayed
onto the container, whereas another of the reactive components is, for
example, atomized and is
applied to the container as condensation from the mist. The reactive
components may then be
mixed, for example, wholly or partly on the container surface or else wholly
or partly in the
atmosphere of the cleaning chamber. The mixing may furthermore be assisted by
additional
devices, for example by at least one fan for circulating the mist.
As also discussed above, the method may comprise additional, unmentioned
method steps in
addition to method steps a. to c. and optionally also in addition to optional
method steps d. and/or
e. In particular, the method may further comprise at least one displacement
step. In the
displacement step, gases, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases, can
be discharged from the
cleaning chamber, in particular forcibly. The displacement step may in
particular be carried out
after method step c., for example immediately after method step c. or within a
specified time
interval, for example within a time interval of 1 s to 90 s. For example, the
displacement step may
be carried out within a time interval of 5 seconds to 90 seconds, in
particular within a time interval
of 10 seconds to 60 seconds, after the end of method step c., but for example
before carrying out
optional method step e. Alternatively or additionally, the displacement step
may, however, also be
carried out after method step d. and/or after method step e. The last
possibility may have in
particular the advantage that time for carrying out the method may be saved,
since it is then
possible, for example, for displacement of the steam in steam disinfection e.
to be temporally
combined with the step of displacement of vapors in disinfection step c., and
so it is possible to
dispense with carrying out the displacement step multiple times. Furthermore,
alternatively or
additionally, carrying out the displacement step after steam disinfection e.
and/or after final-rinsing
step d. may have the advantage that vapors from disinfection step c. are
additionally diluted by
water and/or steam from final-rinsing step d. and/or from steam disinfection
e. Nevertheless, it is
also possible to carry out the optional displacement step multiple times.
Therefore, one or more
displacement steps may in general be carried out, for example after one or
more of method steps
c., d. and e.
The displacement step may, however, also be carried out multiple times, for
example once after
carrying out method step c. and at least one more time after carrying out
optional method step e.
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Thus, for example, in a first displacement step downstream of method step c.,
gases containing
nitrogen oxides (N0x) can be discharged from the cleaning chamber, whereas in
a second
displacement step downstream of method step e., steam is discharged from the
cleaning chamber.
Accordingly, the method may comprise, for example, method steps a. to c. and
optionally d.,
followed by a first displacement step, which in turn is followed by method
step e., which in turn
is followed by the second displacement step. In this way, disinfection step c.
and optional steam
disinfection step e. can be clearly separated, and at least one displacement
step can be carried out
between said disinfection steps c. and e. and at least one displacement step
can optionally also be
carried out after steam disinfection step e. This means, for example, that
harmful gases from
method step c. and also optionally vapors and moist air disagreeable to the
operating personnel
can be discharged in the displacement steps before a door of the cleaning
chamber is opened, and
their release into the room air can be prevented.
The displacement step may in particular be carried out in such a way that the
displacement step
comprises discharging the gases from the cleaning chamber through at least one
bypass into the
drain downstream of the odor trap. Therefore, the washer-disinfector may thus
comprise at least
one bypass, for example at least one pipeline, which connects the cleaning
chamber and the drain
downstream of the odor trap, in particular the siphon. The bypass may
comprise, for example, at
least one check valve and/or at least one other type of valve which prevents
gases from flowing
back into the cleaning chamber from the drain.
The displacement step may in particular be carried out forcibly. This may be
realized, for example,
by increasing the pressure in the cleaning chamber and/or by introducing at
least one displacement
medium into the cleaning chamber, in particular under positive pressure. For
this purpose, the
washer-disinfector may comprise, for example, at least one supply line for the
displacement
medium, in particular with at least one valve, and/or at least one fan, which,
for example, forcibly
introduces air into the cleaning chamber. Alternatively or additionally, gases
may also be sucked
out of the cleaning chamber in the displacement step.
As discussed above, the at least one displacement step may in particular be
carried out multiple
times. In particular, the displacement step may be carried out at least once
after disinfection step
c. and preferably before optional steam disinfection step e. Furthermore, the
displacement step
may optionally be carried out at least once after optional steam disinfection
step e.
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As an alternative or in addition to the displacement step, the method may also
comprise at least
one conversion step. In the conversion step, gases from the cleaning chamber,
for example nitrogen
oxide-containing gases, can in particular be supplied to at least one
conversion device for chemical
and/or physical and/or biological processing of at least a portion of the
gases. The conversion
device may comprise, for example, at least one device selected from the group
consisting of a
catalyst, a filter and a scrubber. The filter may comprise, for example,
activated carbon, since
activated carbon can bind, for example, nitrogen oxides and in particular NO2
well. The conversion
step may also be carried out in such a way that it comprises at least one step
in which the catalyst
and/or the filter are regenerated and/or made reusable. This may be achieved,
for example, by the
action of temperature, for example on a zeolite material as catalyst and/or on
the filter material,
and/or in some other way, for example chemically.
Thus, for example, nitrogen oxide-containing gases may be converted into
gaseous nitrogen,
carbon dioxide and water in a humid atmosphere by a catalyst, for example a
platinum-containing
catalyst and/or a palladium-containing catalyst. The conversion step may be
carried out in the
cleaning chamber itself, or the conversion step may comprise discharging gases
from the cleaning
chamber, for example by displacement and/or suction, and supplying said gases
to the conversion
device, for example the filter and/or catalyst and/or scrubber. After
processing by the conversion
device, the gases may be passed on, for example, in at least one way selected
from the group
consisting of: the gases are returned to the cleaning chamber, in particular
in a circulation process
or circulation method; the gases are released into a surrounding area; the
gases are discharged into
an exhaust system; the gases are discharged into the drain downstream of the
odor trap. The first
possibility may be effected, for example, in circulation mode, for example by
repeatedly passing
the gases through the conversion device. The circulation method may be carried
out, for example,
until the processed gases meet certain quality requirements, for example until
at least one gas
component no longer exceeds a concentration threshold, for example in the
cleaning chamber. The
quality requirements may be measured, for example, by at least one sensor.
Thus, the gases after
the disinfection step may, for example, also be decomposed over one or more
catalysts in a
circulation method. Alternatively or additionally, they may be bound, for
example, to water in a
scrubber. The water may then be used, for example, in a subsequent cleaning
method, for example
in a subsequent washing step and/or a washing step of a subsequent rinses
cycle. Alternatively or
additionally, the water may also be disposed of, for example through the
drain.
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The at least one optional conversion step may be carried out continuously or
batchwise. It may
also be carried out as an alternative or in addition to the described
displacement step. Regarding
possible times at which the conversion step may be carried out in the method,
reference may be
made to the possible times of the displacement step. Thus, for example, the
conversion step may
in particular be carried out after method step c., for example immediately
after method step c. or
within a specified time interval, for example within a time interval of 1 s to
90 s. Alternatively or
additionally, the conversion step may, however, also be carried out after
method step d. and/or
after method step e. Regarding the options, reference may be made to the
description of the
displacement step.
As discussed above, the method may also comprise further method steps. Thus,
the method may
comprise, for example, at least one drying step. Said drying step may be, for
example, downstream
of the disinfection step and/or the steam disinfection step. As discussed
above, the method may
comprise, for example, initially method steps a. to c. and optionally method
step d., method step
d. being preferably upstream of method step c. After carrying out method step
c., a first
displacement step may then be carried out, optionally followed by steam
disinfection step e. and
optionally the at least one second displacement step and the drying step. The
second displacement
step and the drying step may be separate method steps or may else be common
method steps in
whole or in part.
As will be further discussed below, one or more sensors may be used in the
method. In particular,
one or more sensors may be used that monitor one or more of method steps a.-c.
and/or optionally
one or more of optional method steps d. and/or e. and/or one or more
parameters which play a role
in said method steps and which characterize the execution of said method
steps. In particular, one
or more sensors may be used that monitor the at least one disinfection step or
else one or more
partial steps thereof For example, the mixing of the reactive components
and/or the impingement
of the disinfectant on the container may be monitored by one or more sensors.
This monitoring
may be used, for example, for control of the method, in particular the
disinfection step, in particular
for feedback control. Alternatively or additionally, this monitoring may also
be used to detect
malfunctions which, in particular, might have an influence on the disinfection
of the container. If
a malfunction is detected, the method may comprise, for example, outputting of
a warning signal
to a user.
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Thus, the method may in general, as discussed, comprise the use of at least
one sensor. The sensor
may in particular be arranged in at least one way selected from the group
consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one
component selected from
the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution
containing the
disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the
reactive components
mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product
formed in a
reaction of the reactive components; and/or
b) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one
reaction product within
the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the
group consisting
of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-
product.
If the sensor is arranged according to variant a), this at least one property
of the at least one
component may be detected within the cleaning chamber or else outside the
cleaning chamber, for
example in a line system through which the at least one component flows, as
will be discussed in
greater detail below.
As discussed above, the sensor may be used, for example by means of at least
one controller, to
influence the method. In particular, the disinfection step may comprise
influencing at least one
parameter of the disinfection step in accordance with at least one sensor
signal of the sensor. The
parameter may be selected, for example, from the group consisting of: a mixing
ratio of the reactive
components; a concentration of at least one of the reactive components; a
concentration of the
disinfectant.
As will also be discussed in greater detail below, one or more filter elements
may also be used in
the method. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the method may in
particular be carried
out using at least one washer-disinfector. Accordingly, the at least one
filter element may in
particular be part of the at least one washer-disinfector. The filter element
may in particular be
disposed in at least one line system through which at least one component
flows, for example at
least one line of said line system, for example a line system of the washer-
disinfector. For example,
this may be a disinfection line system. The at least one component may in
particular be selected
from the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution
containing the
disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the
reactive components mixed
with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed
in a reaction of the
reactive components.
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The filter element may in particular also be used to process the at least one
component and, for
example, to avoid precipitates, particle formation or similar undesired
effects. Furthermore, the
filter element may also be part of monitoring of the functioning of the
method, for example the
disinfection step. Thus, for example, the method may further comprise
measurement of at least
one pressure in the line system upstream and downstream of the filter element
by means of at least
one pressure sensor, in particular at least one differential pressure. If, for
example, the filter
element becomes clogged, for example because of aging effects and/or else the
formation of
undesirable constituents in the component flowing through the filter, this can
be detected on the
basis of the pressure. The method may in particular be arranged in at least
one of the following
ways:
- the disinfection step is controlled in accordance with the at least one
pressure signal; and/or
- the pressure signal is monitored and at least one item of information, in
particular at least
one warning, is output to a user in the event of deviations of the pressure
signal from at least
one specified normal value, at least one specified normal profile or at least
one specified
normal range.
If, for example, a viscosity increases because of a composition of the
disinfectant that deviates
from a normal range, because of a concentration that deviates from a normal
range, or similar
effects, this can be detected on the filter element on the basis of the
pressure, for example by the
differential pressure rising. The disinfection step may then be controlled,
for example, by means
of said pressure signal, for example by specifically influencing the
concentration. Alternatively or
additionally, warnings may be output, for example, if there is a deviation
from the normal range.
Such effects may also be logged.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a washer-disinfector for
treating at least one container
for human waste is proposed. The washer-disinfector is arranged to carry out
the proposed method
in one or more of the above-described configurations and/or according to one
or more of the
embodiments that will be described in greater detail below. Accordingly, for
possible definitions
and options of the washer-disinfector, reference may be largely made to the
description of the
method.
The washer-disinfector comprises, as discussed above, at least one cleaning
chamber. Furthermore,
the washer-disinfector comprises at least one drain having at least one odor
trap, in particular a
siphon bend. Furthermore, the washer-disinfector comprises at least one
impingement device for
impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the container in the cleaning
chamber. The term
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"impingement device" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its
usual and common
meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a specific or
adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a
device arranged for
impingement of the at least one cleaning fluid on the container. For example,
impingement may
be effected in the form of spraying the container with the cleaning fluid
and/or dripping the
cleaning fluid onto the container and/or jetting the cleaning fluid onto the
container. In particular,
the impingement device may comprise at least one nozzle which generates at
least one fluid jet
which strikes the container. For example, the impingement device may comprise
at least one
nozzle which sprays and/or jets one or more jets of the cleaning fluid onto
the container from one
or more spatial directions in a targeted manner.
As discussed above, the term "cleaning fluid" is to be understood as an
umbrella term and may
include liquid cleaning fluids and also gaseous cleaning fluids. Liquid
cleaning fluids are also
referred to as cleaning liquids. If multiple cleaning fluids are provided for
treating the container in
the washer-disinfector, then different impingement devices or else common
impingement devices
may be provided for these different cleaning fluids. Thus, for example, the at
least one
impingement device may comprise at least one washing system, for example
having at least one
washing nozzle usable for the above-described washing step, in which, for
example, the container
is impinged on by at least one cleaning liquid in the form of at least one
washing liquid.
For the at least one optional final-rinsing step, the impingement device may
comprise, for example,
optionally at least one final-rinsing system, for example having at least one
final-rinsing nozzle.
The washing system and the final-rinsing system may be wholly or partly
separate, but may also
be wholly or partly combined. In particular, the washing system may comprise
at least one washing
tank and at least one washing line system. The final-rinsing system may
comprise at least one
final-rinsing tank and at least one final-rinsing line system.
Furthermore, the impingement device for the at least one optional steam
disinfection step may
comprise at least one steam system which, for example, may comprise at least
one steam nozzle,
at least one steam generator and at least one steam line. Here too, for
example, the steam system
may be wholly or partly separate from the washing system and the final-rinsing
system, or may
else be wholly or partly combined with one or both of these systems. Thus, for
example, the final-
rinsing line system may be wholly or partly used as the steam line as well,
just as for example the
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final-rinsing nozzle may be wholly or partly used as the steam nozzle. A
separate design is also
possible.
Moreover, the impingement device for carrying out the at least one
disinfection step c. may
comprise at least one disinfection system. As will be described in greater
detail below, said
disinfection system may comprise, for example, at least two reservoirs for the
reactive components
and at least one disinfection nozzle for impingement of one or both of the
reactive components on
the container, wherein the impingement may be effected in liquid form and/or
in gaseous form.
Furthermore, the disinfection system may comprise at least one disinfection
line system which, for
example, may supply the reactive components and optionally one or more
carriers to the at least
one disinfection nozzle.
The washer-disinfector further comprises at least two reservoirs for
accommodation of the at least
two reactive components. These may in particular be reservoirs for liquids.
Said reservoirs may be
completely or partially closed, for example as canisters and/or other types of
reservoirs.
The washer-disinfector further comprises at least one controller for control
of at least one cleaning
program. The term "cleaning program" as used here is a broad term which is to
be accorded its
usual and common meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The
term is not restricted
to a specific or adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in
particular to a
sequence of program steps which is used for cleaning items to be cleaned and
in which the items
to be cleaned are treated in different ways. At least one of the program steps
involves impingement
of at least one cleaning fluid. Multiple program steps with differing
impingement of different
cleaning fluids may be provided. For possible configurations, reference may be
made, for example,
to the method according to the present invention.
The term "controller" as used here is a broad term which is to be accorded its
usual and common
meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art. The term is not
restricted to a specific or
adapted meaning. Without restriction, the term may relate in particular to a
device, in particular an
electronic device, arranged to drive, to control, to regulate or to influence
in any other way at least
one function of another device. The controller may be centralized or else
decentralized and/or may
comprise, for example, at least one data processing device programmed to
control the cleaning
program. For example, the data processing device may be arranged to set one or
more or all of the
program parameters of the cleaning program, for example in a specified order
and/or with a
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specified time schedule. The controller may be centralized and/or in the form
of one component
or may else be decentralized and comprise multiple control components. For
example, the
controller may comprise one or more processors, which may optionally be
connected to one
another wirelessly or nonwirelessly in order to exchange information and/or
commands. The at
least one controller, for example the at least one optional data processing
device, may in general
be wholly or partly integrated into a common module with the at least one
cleaning chamber, for
example into a common housing. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one
controller, for
example the at least one data processing device, may also be wholly or partly
disposed outside a
module of the washer-disinfector that comprises the cleaning chamber, for
example outside a
housing that encloses the cleaning chamber, for example as an external
controller. The at least one
controller may comprise one or more control components, for example multiple
data processing
devices, which, for example, may be connected to one another via at least one
interface and/or at
least one data connection in order, for example, to exchange data and/or
general information and/or
control commands. In general, the controller may also wholly or partly
comprise at least one data
processing device which serves not only for control of the washer-disinfector
but also for at least
one other purpose, for example a PC. In general, the controller may thus
comprise one or more
control components, each of which may be wholly or partly realized as hardware
components
and/or wholly or partly realized as software components. If multiple control
components are
provided, they may be different hardware components which may be spatially
separated, for
example in the form of multiple data processing devices. Alternatively or
additionally, the
controller may comprise multiple control components which may be implemented
as software
components in the same piece of hardware, for example in the same data
processing device.
The controller may in particular be arranged to carry out at least method
steps b. and c., and
optionally method steps d. and/or e., in particular as program steps of the
cleaning program.
The controller may in particular be arranged to control the disinfection step.
Here, the controller
may be, for example, specifically adapted to a desired antimicrobial action,
for example
automatically and/or on the basis of appropriate settings by the operating
personnel. Thus,
operating personnel may, for example, influence the disinfection step, for
example a duration
and/or an intensity of the disinfection step, by means of the controller. For
example, a type of
microbial contamination and control thereof may be settable here. For example,
what may be
specifically set is whether the disinfection is effective against a specific
type of pathogen, such as
against the typical hospital pathogen C. difficile, or else whether the
disinfection is to have a
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sporicidal effect, for example a full sporicidal effect. For this purpose, a
type and/or concentration
of the disinfectant and/or a duration of the disinfection step may be settable
by means of the
controller, for example. Explicitly, the previously defined and verified
Haber's efficacy parameter
H may then be influenced and set via the controller. The disinfection method
is therefore verifiable
and reliable (in accordance with the AO values).
The washer-disinfector may in particular comprise at least one disinfection
system which, for
example, may be part of the impingement device. In particular, the washer-
disinfector may
comprise at least one mixing device, wherein the mixing device may be arranged
to mix the
reactive components. Regarding possible configurations of the mixing
operation, reference may
be made to the above description of the mixing in method step c., it being
possible for the mixing
device to be in general a device for carrying out the described mixing
operation in one or more of
the described embodiments. In particular, the mixing device may be arranged to
mix the reactive
components before the impingement on the container, in particular in at least
one device selected
from the group consisting of: a mixing chamber; a mixing section; a pump, in
particular a
centrifugal pump; a nozzle, in particular a mixing nozzle. Thus, the mixing
device may in general
comprise not only the reservoirs, but also the at least one additional device.
The mixing chamber
may in particular be a chamber which is separate from the reservoirs and in
which the reactive
components, alone or with the addition of one or more carriers and/or
additives for example, can
be brought together before they are then applied to the container for example,
in particular via the
at least one nozzle or mixing nozzle. The mixing section may in particular
comprise at least one
fluidic conductor through which the reactive components, alone or with the
addition of one or
more carriers and/or additives for example, can flow, for example at least one
flow tube and/or at
least one nozzle, for example a flow nozzle. Alternatively or additionally,
the mixing section may
also comprise at least one mixing device selected, for example, from the group
consisting of a
static mixer and/or a pump, for example a centrifugal pump. The mixing nozzle
may in general be
at least one nozzle arranged to atomize at least one of the reactive
components or else the at least
two reactive components, alone or else with the addition of one or more
carriers and/or additives
for example, together, and so they strike the container and, for example, come
into contact with
one another over a stretch between the mixing nozzle and the container and,
for example, can react
with one another over this stretch or can else react with one another on the
surface of the container.
The reactive components may be present in the same state of matter or else in
different states of
matter. Thus, for example, at least one of the reactive components, alone or
with the addition of
one or more carriers and/or additives, may be sprayed onto the container in
liquid form by means
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of the mixing nozzle, whereas at least one other of the reactive components,
alone or with the
addition of one or more carriers and/or additives, may be introduced into the
cleaning chamber in
gaseous form for example, as an aerosol or as a mist, where it can react, for
example, on the surface
of the container with the first of the reactive components.
The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one processing tank for
processing of at least
one of the reactive components. Said processing tank may in general be a tank
which is connected
to at least one of the reservoirs. The processing tank may also be connected
to at least one reservoir
for at least one carrier, in particular a reservoir for water. The washer-
disinfector may be arranged
to mix the at least one reactive component with the carrier in the processing
tank. Therefore, the
processing tank may serve to introduce the reactive component or at least one
of the reactive
components into the at least one carrier, thereby making it possible, for
example, to set a
concentration in a specific manner and thereby also making it possible, for
example, to facilitate
atomization or misting of the at least one reactive component.
The washer-disinfector may in particular comprise at least one metering pump
arranged to
introduce a specifiable amount of the at least one reactive component into the
processing tank. For
example, the metering pump may be controlled by the controller, especially
also, for example, with
respect to the time of metered addition and/or with respect to the specified
amount of the at least
one reactive component and/or the additive.
The processing tank may in particular be connected to the reservoir via at
least one supply line
having at least one valve. The washer-disinfector may in particular be
arranged to introduce the
carrier into the processing tank via the supply line. This introduction may
be, for example, gravity-
driven or else driven by at least one further metering pump. For example, the
washer-disinfector
may be arranged, in particular by means of the controller, to control the
valve accordingly in order,
for example, to introduce a specified amount of the carrier into the
processing tank via the supply
line. For example, a timer may accordingly be provided to define the amount of
carrier.
In particular, the supply line may protrude into the processing tank. Thus,
for example, a mouth of
the supply line may be immersible within an amount of the reactive component
contained in the
processing tank. The controller may be arranged, for example, to first
introduce the at least one
reactive component into the processing tank, for example by appropriately
control of the metering
pump. The controller may further be arranged to then introduce the at least
one carrier into the
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processing tank, for example by appropriate control of the valve, wherein the
carrier may in
particular be introduced in such a way that it flows from inside out into the
reactive component,
via the mouth of the supply line that is immersed into the reactive component.
This can achieve
better and faster mixing of the reactive component with the carrier, which may
be advantageous
in particular for fast-running reactions and which may lead in particular to
good homogeneity in
the distribution of the reactive component in the carrier.
The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one steam generator for
generation of steam.
The steam generator may in particular comprise at least one reservoir, in
particular for water, and
at least one heating device for generation of the steam, wherein, for example,
the steam generator
may be connected to at least one steam nozzle on the cleaning chamber via at
least one steam line.
The above-described reservoir for the carrier may in particular be at least
partly identical to the
reservoir of the steam generator. Thus, for example, water may be withdrawn
from the reservoir
of the steam generator as a carrier for at least one reactive component.
At least one reactive components and in particular a number of the reactive
components may be
processed by introducing them into at least one carrier. Thus, the washer-
disinfector may in general
comprise, for example, at least two of the processing tanks, with different
reactive components
being processable in the processing tanks.
After one or more of the reactive components have been processed, they may be
mixed. Thus, the
washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to bring together the
reactive components from
the processing tanks that have been mixed with the at least one carrier and to
form the disinfectant.
This bringing together may comprise the above-described mixing or may be part
of the above-
described mixing, for example in one or more of the described variants. The
bringing together may
therefore take place outside the container, for example in a mixing chamber,
in a mixing section,
by means of a mixing nozzle, or a combination of the stated possibilities, or
else, for example, on
the container, for example by bringing together the processed reactive
components on the container
surface.
The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one pump arranged to pump
the reactive
components mixed with the at least one carrier out of the processing tanks and
to apply them to
the container. The pump may in particular be part of the impingement device.
Here, a separate
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disinfection pump may be provided which, for example, generates a required
pressure and/or
which supplies the processed reactive components to at least one disinfection
nozzle.
Further possible configurations concern the process control and the monitoring
of the cleaning
process, in particular the disinfection step. Thus, the washer-disinfector, as
discussed above in
connection with the method, may in particular comprise at least one sensor.
The sensor may in
particular measure at least one parameter and/or at least one measurable
variable relevant to the
operation of the washer-disinfector. This may in particular be at least one
physical and/or chemical
and/or biological variable. Relevant sensors, for example electrical and/or
electro-optical and/or
electromechanical sensors, are known in principle to a person skilled in the
art. Examples will be
described in greater detail below.
In particular, the at least one sensor may be arranged in at least one way
selected from the group
consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one
component selected from
the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution
containing the
disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the
reactive components
mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product
formed in a
reaction of the reactive components;
b) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one
reaction product within
the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the
group consisting
of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-
product.
Combinations of the stated possibilities are also conceivable.
According to stated variant a), the sensor may thus be arranged to detect at
least one property of
at least one component selected from the group consisting of: the
disinfectant; at least one active
solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components;
at least one of the
reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at
least one by-product
formed in a reaction of the reactive components. The by-product may be formed,
for example, in
liquid form or else in gaseous form.
In this way, it is possible in particular to monitor that, for example, a
mixing ratio between the at
least one carrier and the at least one reactive component and/or the
disinfectant has been set
correctly. The sensor may be disposed, for example, in at least one processing
tank, in at least one
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supply line, within the cleaning chamber or else at other locations at which
monitoring is
meaningfully possible.
Especially in one or both of the stated possibilities a) and/or b), the sensor
may in particular
comprise at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: a
conductivity sensor; a level
sensor; a pressure sensor; a flow sensor; an optical sensor, in particular an
optical sensor for
detection of yellowing; a sensor for detection of spectroscopic properties; a
sensor having one or
more light-emitting diodes, in particular having a defined wavelength, and one
or more light
detectors; a level sensor; a gas sensor; a pH sensor. The optical sensor may
comprise, for example,
at least one absorption sensor, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
The spectroscopic properties may be captured, for example, by means of at
least one spectral
camera and/or at least one hyperspectral camera. The light-emitting diodes may
be individual or
combined, for example in the form of multicolor light-emitting diodes. The at
least one light
detector may be configured in various ways, for example by having the
corresponding spectral line
properties.
Merely by way of example, one or more of the substances selected from the
group consisting of
nitrogen oxides, nitrate, nitrite, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitric acid and
peroxynitrite may be
optically detected, for example by qualitatively and/or quantitatively
optically detecting yellowing
of water in the presence of nitrate, nitrite, nitrogen oxides, peroxynitric
acid or peroxynitrite.
In particular, but not exclusively, if the sensor is at least partly arranged
in the way a), the sensor
may in particular be disposed in at least one line system through which the
component flows. In
particular, this may be at least one line of at least one disinfection line
system through which the
at least one component flows. In particular, the sensor may therefore be a
flow sensor in this case
or else in other cases, i.e., a sensor which can measure at least one property
of at least one flowing
medium. In particular, the sensor may be an optical sensor which can measure
at least one optical
property of the at least one flowing medium, in particular of the at least one
component.
As discussed above, the at least one sensor may be arranged for process
control and may, for
example, measure optically, electrically, mechanically or in some other way at
least one property
of the disinfectant, of at least one active solution containing the
disinfectant, of at least one of the
reactive components, of at least one of the reactive components mixed with at
least one carrier or
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of a combination of the stated substances, which may be used for process
control for example.
Thus, for example, optical, electrical or mechanical properties may be used to
infer a concentration.
As will be discussed in greater detail below, the at least one sensor may in
particular be coupled
to the at least one controller, and feedback control, for example, may be
provided in order, for
example, to adjust and/or to regulate concentrations of the stated substances
individually or in
combination.
As already discussed, the at least one sensor may comprise at least one
optical sensor. In particular,
the at least one sensor may comprise at least one optical absorption sensor.
The optical absorption
sensor may in particular comprise at least one light source and at least one
photodetector. The light
source and the photodetector may be disposed, for example, on opposite sides
of a cell in which at
least one medium used in the method and/or in the washer-disinfector is
present. In particular, this
may be a fluid medium, for example a liquid, which can flow through the cell
in particular. In
particular, the medium may be the at least one component already mentioned
above and used in
the context of the disinfection step, in particular the component selected
from the group consisting
of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the
disinfectant; at least one of the
reactive components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at
least one carrier, in
particular water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive
components. As
discussed in greater detail below, an active solution containing the
disinfectant may in particular
be monitored by means of the at least one sensor, for example the absorption
sensor, in particular
in a flowing state.
The at least one optional absorption sensor may in principle be tailored to
the absorbing properties
or spectral properties of the medium to be measured, for example the at least
one component. Thus,
the spectral properties of the medium and/or a component thereof are in
principle known in most
cases, for example in the form of absorption curves. In this way, by using the
Beer¨Lambert law
for example, the absorption properties may be used to infer one or more
concentrations. For
example, the at least one light source and/or the at least one photodetector
may be tailored to these
spectral properties. For example, the light source may emit in the ultraviolet
spectral range, and
the photodetector may likewise be sensitive in the ultraviolet spectral range.
However, other
spectral ranges are also possible, depending on the circumstances to be
measured.
As likewise discussed above, the sensor, in particular the optical sensor
and/or else other types of
sensors, may in particular be connected to the at least one controller. As
discussed, the controller
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may be in one part or else in multiple parts. Thus, for example, at least one
control component
may also optionally be specifically adapted for processing of the sensor
signals of the at least one
sensor and/or for at least one process step to be controlled by the sensor,
for example the
disinfection step. Accordingly, the controller may be in one part or else in
multiple parts and may
also comprise, for example, at least one disinfection controller specifically
arranged to control the
at least one disinfection step.
Accordingly, the controller may, for example, be arranged to control, in
particular to control by
feedback control, the disinfection step by means of at least one sensor signal
of the sensor. Thus,
the controller may in particular be arranged to influence at least one
parameter of the disinfection
step in accordance with the sensor signal, in particular at least one
parameter selected from the
group consisting of: a mixing ratio of the reactive components; a
concentration of at least one of
the reactive components; a concentration of the disinfectant.
The at least one sensor, in particular the at least one optical sensor and in
particular the optical
absorption sensor, may in particular be arranged to measure at least one
property of the
disinfectant, of the active solution containing the disinfectant or of a
precursor or of a partial
component, for example one or more of the reactive components. In this regard,
reference may be
made to options a) and b) above. The at least one property may, for example,
be captured as an
actual value by the controller via at least one sensor signal of the at least
one sensor and compared
with at least one target value in order to generate therefrom, for example,
corresponding control
signals and/or other information, for example about the monitored component.
The at least one
sensor signal may be or comprise, for example, at least one absorption signal
indicating, for
example, a degree of absorption of the monitored component. In general, the at
least one sensor
signal may be measured statically. Alternatively or additionally, a plot
against time of at least one
signal of the at least one sensor may also be monitored for example. For
example, the controller
may be arranged to compare the plot against time of the at least one signal of
the at least one sensor
with at least one target plot. In general, the controller may be arranged to
also infer, for example,
one or more errors, such as an incorrect mixing ratio, an incorrect and/or
aged reactive component
or other types of errors, from the at least one sensor signal and/or its plot
against time. For example,
relevant errors may be stored in the controller and may be assigned to
specific sensor signals and/or
plots of the sensor signals. Machine learning methods may also be used here,
for example by using
specific sensor signals or their plots against time having known errors as
training data in order then
to be able to infer a corresponding error in real use via a trained model.
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As discussed above, the at least one sensor may be disposed at various
locations. Thus, it may be
disposed outside the cleaning chamber, for example at one or more of the
following locations: at
the at least one processing chamber; at the at least one mixing device; at the
at least one mixing
chamber; at at least one bypass; at the at least one mixing section; at the at
least one mixing nozzle;
at at least one of the reservoirs; at at least one processing tank; at the at
least one supply line.
Alternatively or additionally, the at least one sensor may also be disposed
within the reaction
chamber and may, for example, be arranged to measure the at least one property
within the cleaning
chamber, for example on the surface of the container.
As also discussed above in connection with the proposed method, the washer-
disinfector may
further comprise at least one filter element. In particular, the filter
element may be disposed in at
least one line system through which at least one component flows, in
particular at least one fluid
component. Said component may in particular be selected from the group
consisting of: the
disinfectant; at least one active solution containing the disinfectant; at
least one of the reactive
components; at least one of the reactive components mixed with at least one
carrier, in particular
water; at least one by-product formed in a reaction of the reactive
components.
As likewise discussed, the function of the at least one filter element may be
used in various ways.
Thus, the at least one filter element may in particular exercise a processing
effect on the at least
one component, in particular retention of particles and/or solid or highly
viscous constituents.
Alternatively or additionally, the filter element may also act as a sensor, by
for example, as
discussed above, measuring and/or monitoring a pressure upstream and
downstream of the filter
element. In this way, contamination and/or changes in the composition may be
detected for
example, since, for example, a change in the composition may lead to a change
in the pressure
conditions upstream and downstream of the filter element.
Accordingly, as discussed above, the washer-disinfector may in particular
further comprise at least
one pressure sensor. The at least one pressure sensor may in particular be
arranged to measure a
pressure in the line system upstream and downstream of the filter element, in
particular at least
one differential pressure. The controller may in particular be arranged to
capture at least one
pressure signal of the pressure sensor. There are a number of ways as to how
the controller can
process this pressure signal. In particular, the controller may be arranged in
at least one of the
following ways:
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- the controller is arranged to control the disinfection step in accordance
with the at least one
pressure signal, for example by adjusting a mixing ratio of the at least two
reactive
components and/or at least one concentration;
- the controller is arranged to monitor the pressure signal and to output
at least one item of
information, in particular at least one warning, to a user in the event of
deviations of the
pressure signal from at least one specified normal value, at least one
specified normal profile
or at least one specified normal range.
As discussed above, the washer-disinfector comprises the at least one
impingement device. Said
impingement device may in particular be arranged for carrying out the at least
one washing step
and optionally for carrying out the at least one final-rinsing step and/or the
at least one steam
disinfection step. The washer-disinfector may thus be arranged to use the
impingement device for
the at least one washing step. The washer-disinfector may further comprise at
least one disinfection
impingement device, wherein the disinfection impingement device is part of the
impingement
device or may else be separate from the impingement device. Thus, for example,
the disinfection
impingement device may comprise at least one disinfection nozzle which, for
example, may be
separate from at least one washing nozzle. In this way, mixing of washing
liquid with one or more
fluids of the disinfection step can be avoided for example. The washer-
disinfector may in particular
be arranged to use the disinfection impingement device in the disinfection
step. The disinfection
impingement device may in particular comprise at least one spray nozzle as
part of the at least one
disinfection nozzle, and the washer-disfinector may be arranged to apply at
least one component
to the container by means of the spray nozzle. The component may be selected
from the group
consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least one
auxiliary, in particular at
least one carrier. The disinfection impingement device may in particular
further comprise, as an
alternative or in addition to the at least one spray nozzle, at least one
atomizer which, for example,
may be arranged to generate at least one fluid medium selected from the group
consisting of a
vapor and an aerosol. If an atomizer is used, it may in particular also, for
example, be used in
combination with at least one fan, for example at least one circulation fan
which can circulate in
the cleaning chamber a mist generated by the atomizer. The fluid medium may in
particular
comprise at least one component selected from the group consisting of the
reactive components,
the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular at least one
carrier.
As discussed above, the washer-disinfector may in particular comprise at least
one door to the
cleaning chamber. The door may in particular be a flap door, for example a
flap door having a
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horizontal swivel axis. The flap door may in particular comprise at least one
mount for the at least
one container, so that, for example, said container can be connected to the
door. The washer-
disinfector may in particular be arranged in such a way that, when the flap
door is closed, contents
of the container are emptied into the drain, for example as a result of
tipping of the container.
As discussed above, the washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one
bypass. For possible
configurations of the bypass, reference may be made to the above description.
Gases may be
dischargeable from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain
downstream of the odor
trap. The washer-disinfector may further comprise at least one displacement
device arranged to
discharge gases from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain.
The displacement
device may in particular comprise at least one device selected from the group
consisting of a
blower, a fan and a compressed gas source.
As also discussed above, the wisher-disinfector may be arranged to carry out
the at least one
conversion step. Accordingly, the wisher-disinfector may comprise. The
conversion device may
be arranged to chemically and/or physically and/or biologically process gases
from the cleaning
chamber, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases. As discussed above,
the conversion device
may comprise, for example, at least one catalyst and/or at least one filter
and/or at least one
scrubber. The washer-disinfector may in particular be arranged to pass on the
gases, after
processing by the conversion device, in a way selected from the group
consisting of: the gases are
returned to the cleaning chamber; the gases are released into a surrounding
area; the gases are
discharged into an exhaust system; the gases are discharged into the drain
downstream of the odor
trap. The washer-disinfector may comprise, for example, a pump and/or a
suction device which
sucks the gases out of the cleaning chamber, supplies them to the conversion
device and then
optionally either releases them into the surrounding area, discharges them
into the drain or returns
them to the cleaning chamber.
The method and the washer-disinfector according to one or more of the
presently proposed
configurations have numerous advantages over known methods and devices of a
similar type.
Thus, the multicomponent method using multiple reactive components which are
only brought
together and reacted in the washer-disinfector can produce disinfectants in
situ. Said disinfectants
can be short-lived and still have a high level of efficacy. Precisely devices
which must satisfy high
hygiene requirements, as is the case in washer-disinfectors, can benefit from
short-lived
disinfectants having a high level of efficacy.
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Especially the above-described use of peroxynitric acid, which can be prepared
in situ by a
chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and nitrite for example, offers
numerous advantages
here for washer-disinfectors. Thus, it generally has a very short life of
typically one second under
normal conditions, i.e., at room temperature and a pH of less than 10. Storage
is therefore only
possible at great effort, for example by freezing at -80 C and at pH=14.
However, the proposed
method makes it possible for the reactive components to be brought together
continuously and for
the disinfectant to be formed freshly, just before, during or just after the
impingement on container.
The disinfectant peroxynitric acid formed in situ has, however, a high
antibacterial effect.
The disinfectant can therefore be produced from at least two reactive
components which, for
example, may be brought together shortly before the desired effect.
Alternatively, the mixing may
also already be effected in advance and the mixture may be stored in premixed
form, for example
under passive ambient conditions. In the case of a mixture of nitrite and
hydrogen peroxide,
deactivation may be effected, for example, by setting the pH, for example by
storing the mixture
at p11=14. At the desired time for the effect, the pH may be changed for
activation, for example by
adding acid as an auxiliary.
For the mixing and the impingement on the container, a number of
possibilities, which are also
combinable, come into consideration. Thus, the reactive components may, for
example, be mixed
immediately before impingement, for example before spraying. They may, for
example, continue
to react beyond the time of mixing, even after the impingement on the
container. For example, a
mixing nozzle having at least two inlets may be used to mix the reactive
components.
Alternatively or additionally, the reactive components may be mixed during the
impingement
itself. Thus, they may, for example, mix in the spray jet, it being possible
in turn, for example, to
use one mixing nozzle or multiple nozzles with mutually overlapping spray
jets. The reactive
components are already mixed when they then strike the container, where they
can react or
continue to react. For example, a first reactive component may be sprayed from
at least one first
nozzle, and at least one second reactive component may be sprayed from at
least one second
nozzle, it being possible for spray jets from the nozzles to overlap.
Again as an alternative or in addition to one or both of the aforementioned
possibilities, the reactive
components may each strike the container separately, but with a time overlap
or at the same time.
There they can mix and react.
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Again as an alternative or in addition to one or both of the aforementioned
possibilities, the reactive
components may each strike the container separately one after the other and
react there. For
example, the cleaning chamber may first be filled with a gas or plasma
containing, for example, a
first reactive component, and the second reactive component may, for example,
be sprayed into
the cleaning chamber. For example, the cleaning chamber may first be filled
with a plasma
containing hydrogen peroxide, whereupon, for example, sodium nitrate may then
be sprayed in.
Again as an alternative or in addition to one or more of the abovementioned
possibilities, the
reactive components may each strike the container separately and one after the
other. This
operation may also be carried out repeatedly, and so, for example, the
reactive components each
strike the container separately and one after the other in alternation. The
different reactive
components may have the same state of matter or else different states of
matter. Thus, for example,
a first reactive component may be applied first, for example sodium nitrate.
After the application,
the second reactive component may, for example, then be applied, for example
in the form of a
gas, in particular a plasma. Thus, for example, the cleaning chamber may be
filled with plasma-
treated air containing, for example, ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide, which is
used for
impingement on the container. For example, the first component can then react
with the second
component on the container surface. Alternatively, the two reactive components
may also, for
example, be applied to the container one after the other once or multiple
times as liquids.
The impingement of one or more of the reactive components on the container may
also be wholly
or partly combined with another method step. Thus, for example, at least one
of the reactive
components may already be applied to the container in the washing step and/or
in the downstream
and optional final-rinsing step. For example, sodium nitrate could be present
in a film of water on
the container after the final-rinsing. In the context of the disinfection
step, which may also be
wholly or partly combined with a drying step for example, ozone and/or
hydrogen peroxide-
containing gas could, for example, be introduced into the cleaning chamber,
with, for example,
ozone being able to react with the air humidity in the cleaning chamber.
Contact with the sodium
nitrate on the container could trigger the reaction.
If the reactive components comprise at least one oxidizing agent, said
oxidizing agent may
comprise, for example, ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide. As discussed above,
ozone can, for
example, react with steam or water and form hydrogen peroxide. Ozone may, for
example, be
provided separately and/or may be produced in situ within the washer-
disinfector, for example
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electrically and/or optically, for example by means of a UV lamp. The reducing
agent, for example
sodium nitrate, may, for example, be applied in advance, for example in an
aqueous solution, or
may be sprayed into the cleaning chamber.
Again as an alternative or in addition to one or more of the above-described
possibilities, the
reactive components may be premixed, but may be kept in an inactive form in
order to prevent the
formation of the disinfectant. This may, for example, as discussed above, be
effected by means of
setting the pH. Thus, for example, an alkaline state can prevent or at least
slow down a reaction
between hydrogen peroxide and nitrite. Activation may, for example, be
effected just before the
impingement, during the impingement or else just after the impingement. Said
activation may, for
example, by effected by a pH change, by irradiation with UV light, by heating,
by means of a
catalyst or chemical initiator, by spraying with acid and/or alkaline solution
or in some other way
or by means of a combination of the stated possibilities and/or other
possibilities. If at least one
chemical activator is used, for example an acid, an alkaline solution, an
initiator or a catalyst, they
may be applied in various ways. Thus, impingement may, for example, be
effected by spraying.
Alternatively or additionally, said activators may, however, also, for
example, be mixed into wax
balls, which may then, for example, be broken up mechanically, for example in
a circulation pump
and/or a nozzle. Various other possibilities are conceivable.
As discussed above, there are various ways in which the method steps can be
combined, modified
or advantageously adapted in another way. For washer-disinfectors, a method
comprising the
following sequence of steps may in particular be used:
- emptying step a.,
- at least one prewashing step, in which cold prewashing is carried out,
- washing step b., which may comprise, for example, warm washing
- disinfection step c.,
- optional final-rinsing step d.,
- optional steam disinfection step e.,
- optional drying step, optionally also including or in combination with
the at least one
optional displacement step.
In the displacement step, gas may be discharged from the cleaning chamber into
the drain
downstream of the odor trap.
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Alternatively or additionally, the gas may, however, also, for example, be
discharged into a
surrounding area of the washer-disinfector via at least one filter and/or
catalyst.
Overall, the present invention can be used to realize a simple, fast and yet
highly effective
disinfection method which offers considerable advantages, especially in the
area of the cleaning
of care products, because of its universal spectrum of activity and its ease
of integration into
existing devices and methods.
In summary and without restricting further possible configurations, the
following embodiments
are proposed:
Embodiment 1
Method for treating at least one container for human waste, comprising
the
following steps:
a. at least one emptying step, comprising emptying of the container
contents within at least one
cleaning chamber into at least one drain, wherein the drain comprises at least
one odor trap;
b. at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of at
least one cleaning liquid
on the container in the cleaning chamber; and
c. at least one disinfection step, comprising at least one mixing of at
least two reactive
components to produce at least one disinfectant and impingement of the
disinfectant on the
container.
Embodiment 2 Method according to the preceding embodiment,
further comprising:
d.at least one final-rinsing step, comprising at least one impingement of at
least one rinse aid liquid
on the container.
Embodiment 3
Method according to either of the preceding embodiments, further
comprising:
e. at least one steam disinfection step, in particular downstream of the final-
rinsing step
and/or the disinfection step, comprising at least one impingement of steam on
the container.
Embodiment 4
Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the
mixing in step c. comprises at least one mixing of the reactive components
selected from the group
consisting of:
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-
the reactive components are mixed, wherein the disinfectant is formed in
the mixture
and the mixture is applied to the container;
the reactive components are applied to the container and mixed on the
container,
wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on the container;
at least one first reactive component of the reactive components is applied to
the
container, and the container with the first reactive component applied thereto
is
exposed in the cleaning chamber to an atmosphere which comprises at least one
second
reactive component of the reactive components, such that the reactive
components are
mixed on the container, wherein the disinfectant is formed in the mixture on
the
container.
Embodiment 5
Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the
disinfectant is contained in at least one carrier, in particular in at least
one solvent, in particular
water.
Embodiment 6
Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the disinfectant
and the carrier, in particular the solvent, form an active solution, wherein
the container is impinged
on by the active solution, in particular in method step c.
Embodiment 7
Method according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein
step c. comprises mixing of at least one of the reactive components with the
carrier.
Embodiment 8
Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the
reactive components comprise at least one oxidizing agent and at least one
anion of an acid.
Embodiment 9
Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the
disinfectant comprises at least one active ingredient selected from the group
consisting of: a
reactive nitrogen compound (reactive nitrogen oxide species, RNOS), in
particular a reactive
nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of: peroxynitric acid
(ONOOH);
peroxynitrite (ON00-); a reactive oxygen compound (reactive oxygen species,
ROS), in particular
11202; a peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (CH3C000H); an
anion of a
peroxycarboxylic acid, in particular peroxyacetic acid (C113C000-); and a
chlorine compound, in
particular a chlorine compound selected from the group consisting of
hypochlorous acid (HC10),
an anion of hypochlorous acid (C10-), chlorous acid (HC102), an anion of
chlorous acid (C102-),
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chloric acid (HC103), an anion of chloric acid (C103-), a chlorine oxide, in
particular chlorine
dioxide.
Embodiment 10 Method according to any of the preceding
embodiments, wherein the
reactive components comprise at least one component selected from the group
consisting of:
hydrogen peroxide (H202); ozone (03); 11 ; and an acid, in particular at least
one acid selected
from the group consisting of citric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid,
nitric acid and acetic acid.
Embodiment 11 Method according to any of the preceding
embodiments, wherein the
reactive components comprise at least one component selected from the group
consisting of: nitrate
(NO3); nitrite (NO2); a carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3COOH);
an anion of a
carboxylic acid, in particular acetic acid (CH3C00-); hypochlorite (C10);
chlorite (C102); and
chlorate (C103).
Embodiment 12 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments,
wherein the
reactive components comprise at least one combination selected from the group
consisting of:
hydrogen peroxide (H202) and nitrite (NO2); hydrogen peroxide (H202) and
nitrate (NO3); a
carboxylic acid and an oxidizing agent, in particular hydrogen peroxide, in
particular acetic acid
(CH3COOH) and hydrogen peroxide (H202); hypochlorite (C10) and an acid, in
particular
hypochlwite (C10) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic
acid, sulfuric acid,
citric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid; chlorite (C102-) and an acid, in
particular chlorite (C102-
) and an acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric
acid, citric acid, phosphoric
acid and nitric acid; chlorate (C103) and an acid, in particular chlorate
(C103) and an acid selected
from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid,
phosphoric acid and nitric acid.
Embodiment 13 Method according to any of the preceding
embodiments, wherein the
disinfectant exhibits at least one effect selected from the group consisting
of: a sporicidal effect; a
virucidal effect, in particular a full virucidal effect; a fungicidal effect;
a bactericidal effect.
Embodiment 14 Method according to any of the preceding embodiments,
wherein the
impingement in method step c. comprises at least one type of impingement
selected from the group
consisting of: spraying; jetting; dripping; gas treatment; vapor treatment;
fogging, in particular
cold fogging.
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Embodiment 15
Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, further
comprising at least one displacement step, wherein the displacement step
comprises discharging
gases, in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases, from the cleaning
chamber, in particular
forcibly.
Embodiment 16
Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the displacement
step comprises discharging the gases from the cleaning chamber through at
least one bypass into
the drain downstream of the odor trap, in particular forcibly.
Embodiment 17
Method according to the preceding embodiments, wherein the
displacement step is carried out at least once after the disinfection step and
preferably before an
optional steam disinfection step.
Embodiment 18
Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, further
comprising at least one conversion step, wherein the conversion step comprises
supplying gases,
in particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases, from the cleaning chamber to at
least one conversion
device for chemical and/or physical and/or biological processing of at least a
portion of the gases.
Embodiment 19
Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the conversion
device comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of a
catalyst, a filter and a
scrubber.
Embodiment 20
Method according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein
the gases, after processing by the conversion device, are passed on in a way
selected from the
group consisting of: the gases are returned to the cleaning chamber; the gases
are released into a
surrounding area; the gases are discharged into an exhaust system; the gases
are discharged into
the drain downstream of the odor trap.
Embodiment 21
Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the
method further comprises the use of at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is
arranged in at least
one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least
one component selected from
the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution
containing the
disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the
reactive components
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mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product
formed in a
reaction of the reactive components;
b) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least
one reaction product within
the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the
group consisting
of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-
product.
Embodiment 22
Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the disinfection
step comprises influencing at least one parameter of the disinfection step in
accordance with at
least one sensor signal of the sensor.
Embodiment 23
Method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the parameter is
selected from the group consisting of: a mixing ratio of the reactive
components; a concentration
of at least one of the reactive components; a concentration of the
disinfectant.
Embodiment 24
Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method
further comprises use of at least one filter element, wherein the filter
element is disposed in at least
one line system through which at least one component flows, wherein the
component is selected
from the group consisting of the disinfectant; at least one active solution
containing the
disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the
reactive components mixed
with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product formed
in a reaction of the
reactive components.
Embodiment 25
Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method further
comprises measurement of at least one pressure in the line system upstream and
downstream of
the filter element by means of at least one pressure sensor, in particular at
least one differential
pressure.
Embodiment 26
Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the method is arranged
in at least one of the following ways:
- the disinfection step is controlled in accordance with the at least one
pressure signal;
the pressure signal is monitored and at least one item of information, in
particular at least
one warning, is output to a user in the event of deviations of the pressure
signal from at
least one specified normal value, at least one specified normal profile or at
least one
specified normal range.
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Embodiment 27 Washer-disinfector for treating at least one
container for human waste,
comprising at least one cleaning chamber, further comprising at least one
drain having at least one
odor trap, in particular a siphon bend, wherein the washer-disinfector further
comprises at least
one impingement device for impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the
container in the
cleaning chamber, wherein the washer-disinfector further comprises at least
two reservoirs for
accommodation of reactive components, wherein the washer-disinfector further
comprises at least
one controller for control of at least one cleaning program, wherein the
washer-disinfector is
arranged to carry out the method according to any of the preceding
embodiments.
Embodiment 28 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding
embodiment, wherein the
controller is arranged to carry out at least method steps b. and c., and
optionally methods steps d.
and/or e., in particular as program steps of the cleaning program.
Embodiment 29 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding
embodiments
relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one mixing
device, wherein the mixing
device is arranged to mix the reactive components.
Embodiment 30 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding
embodiment, wherein the
mixing device is arranged to mix the reactive components before the
impingement on the
container, in particular in at least one device selected from the group
consisting of: a mixing
chamber; a mixing section; a nozzle, in particular a mixing nozzle; a pump, in
particular a
centrifugal pump.
Embodiment 31 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding
embodiments
relating to a washer-disinfector, wherein the washer-disinfector comprises at
least one processing
tank for processing of at least one of the reactive components, wherein the
processing tank is
connected to at least one of the reservoirs and wherein the processing tank is
also connected to at
least one reservoir for at least one carrier, in particular a reservoir for
water, wherein the washer-
disinfector is arranged to mix the at least one reactive component with the
carrier in the processing
tank.
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Embodiment 32
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
washer-disinfector comprises at least one metering pump, wherein the metering
pump is arranged
to introduce a specifiable amount of the at least one reactive component into
the processing tank.
Embodiment 33
Washer-disinfector according to either of the two preceding embodiments,
wherein the processing tank is connected to the reservoir via at least one
supply line having at least
one valve, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to introduce the carrier
into the processing
tank via the supply line.
Embodiment 34
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
supply line protrudes into the processing tank, such that a mouth of the
supply line is immersible
within an amount of the reactive component contained in the processing tank.
Embodiment 35
Washer-disinfector according to any of the four preceding embodiments,
further comprising at least one steam generator for generation of steam,
wherein the reservoir for
the carrier is at least partly identical to a reservoir of the steam
generator.
Embodiment 36
Washer-disinfector according to any of the five preceding embodiments,
wherein the washer-disinfector comprises at least two of the processing tanks,
wherein different
reactive components are processable in the processing tanks.
Embodiment 37
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
washer-disinfector is arranged to bring together the reactive components from
the processing tanks
that have been mixed with the at least one carrier and to form the
disinfectant.
Embodiment 38
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, further
comprising at least one pump, wherein the pump is arranged to pump the
reactive components
mixed with the at least one carrier out of the processing tanks and to apply
them to the container.
Embodiment 39
Washer-disinfector according to one of the preceding embodiments
relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one sensor,
wherein the sensor is
arranged in at least one way selected from the group consisting of:
a) the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least
one component selected from
the group consisting of: the disinfectant; at least one active solution
containing the
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disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components; at least one of the
reactive components
mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at least one by-product
formed in a
reaction of the reactive components;
b)
the sensor is arranged to detect at least one property of at least one
reaction product within
the cleaning chamber or on the surface of the container selected from the
group consisting
of: an acid which is formed; a gas formed from the reaction; a reaction by-
product.
Embodiment 40
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: a
conductivity sensor;
a level sensor; a pressure sensor; a flow sensor; an optical sensor, in
particular an optical sensor
for detection of yellowing; a sensor for detection of spectroscopic
properties, for example a
spectrometer and/or a hyperspectral camera; a sensor having one or more light-
emitting diodes, in
particular having a defined wavelength, and/or a multicolor light-emitting
diode and in particular
one or more light detectors, in particular corresponding light detectors; a
level sensor; a gas sensor;
a pH sensor.
Embodiment 41
Washer-disinfector according to either of the two preceding embodiments,
wherein the sensor is at least partly arranged in the way a), wherein the
sensor is disposed in at
least one line system through which the component flows, in particular in at
least one disinfection
line system.
Embodiment 42
Washer-disinfector according to any of the three preceding embodiments,
wherein the sensor comprises at least one optical absorption sensor, in
particular at least one optical
absorption sensor having at least one light source and at least one
photodetector, in particular a
light source emitting in the ultraviolet spectral range and at least one
photodetector sensitive in the
ultraviolet spectral range.
Embodiment 43
Washer-disinfector according to any of the four preceding embodiments,
wherein the sensor is connected to the controller.
Embodiment 44
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
controller is arranged to control, in particular to control by feedback
control, the disinfection step
by means of at least one sensor signal of the sensor.
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Embodiment 45
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
controller is arranged to influence at least one parameter of the disinfection
step in accordance
with the sensor signal, in particular at least one parameter selected from the
group consisting of: a
mixing ratio of the reactive components; a concentration of at least one of
the reactive components;
a concentration of the disinfectant.
Embodiment 46
Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments
relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one filter
element, wherein the filter
element is disposed in at least one line system through which at least one
component flows,
wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the
disinfectant; at least one active
solution containing the disinfectant; at least one of the reactive components;
at least one of the
reactive components mixed with at least one carrier, in particular water; at
least one by-product
formed in a reaction of the reactive components.
Embodiment 47
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, further
comprising at least one pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is
arranged to measure a
pressure in the line system upstream and downstream of the filter element, in
particular at least
one differential pressure.
Embodiment 48
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
controller is arranged to capture at least one pressure signal of the pressure
sensor.
Embodiment 49
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
controller is arranged in at least one of the following ways:
- the
controller is arranged to control the disinfection step in accordance with the
at least one
pressure signal;
- the controller is arranged to monitor the pressure signal and to
output at least one item of
information, in particular at least one warning, to a user in the event of
deviations of the
pressure signal from at least one specified normal value, at least one
specified normal
profile or at least one specified normal range.
Embodiment 50
Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments
relating to a washer-disinfector, wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged
to use the impingement
device for the at least one washing step, wherein the washer-disinfector
further comprises at least
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one disinfection impingement device, wherein the disinfection impingement
device is separate
from the impingement device and wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to
use the
disinfection impingement device in the disinfection step.
Embodiment 51 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment,
wherein the
disinfection impingement device comprises at least one spray nozzle, wherein
the washer-
disinfector is arranged to apply at least one component to the container by
means of the spray
nozzle, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of the
reactive components,
the disinfectant and at least one auxiliary, in particular a carrier.
Embodiment 52 Washer-disinfector according to either of the two
preceding embodiments,
wherein the disinfection impingement device comprises at least one atomizer,
wherein the
atomizer is arranged to generate at least one fluid medium selected from the
group consisting of a
vapor and an aerosol, wherein the fluid medium comprises at least one
component selected from
the group consisting of the reactive components, the disinfectant and at least
one auxiliary, in
particular a carrier, wherein the disinfection impingement device optionally
further comprises at
least one fan, in particular a circulation fan, to circulate the fluid medium
generated by the
atomizer, in particular within the cleaning chamber.
Embodiment 53 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding
embodiments
relating to a washer-disinfector, wherein the cleaning chamber comprises at
least one flap door
having at least one mount for the container, wherein the washer-disinfector is
arranged in such a
way that, when the flap door is closed, contents of the container are emptied
into the drain.
Embodiment 54 Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding
embodiments
relating to a washer-disinfector, further comprising at least one bypass,
wherein gases are
dischargeable from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain
downstream of the odor
trap.
Embodiment 55 Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment,
further
comprising at least one displacement device, wherein the displacement device
is arranged to
conduct gases from the cleaning chamber through the bypass into the drain, in
particular a
displacement device selected from the group consisting of a blower, a suction
device, a fan and a
compressed gas source.
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Embodiment 56
Washer-disinfector according to any of the preceding embodiments,
further comprising at least one conversion device, wherein the conversion
device is arranged to
chemically and/or physically and/or biologically process gases from the
cleaning chamber, in
particular nitrogen oxide-containing gases.
Embodiment 57
Washer-disinfector according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the
conversion device comprises at least one device selected from the group
consisting of a catalyst, a
filter and a scrubber.
Embodiment 58
Washer-disinfector according to either of the two preceding embodiments,
wherein the washer-disinfector is arranged to pass on the gases, after
processing by the conversion
device, in a way selected from the group consisting of: the gases are returned
to the cleaning
chamber; the gases are released into a surrounding area; the gases are
discharged into an exhaust
system; the gases are discharged into the drain downstream of the odor trap.
Brief description of the figures
Further details and features will become apparent from the following
description of exemplary
embodiments, in particular in conjunction with the dependent claims. In this
case, the respective
features may be implemented on their own or several may be implemented
together in
combination. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The
exemplary
embodiments are represented schematically in the figures. In this case, the
same reference signs in
the individual figures denote elements that are the same or have the same
function or elements that
correspond to one another in terms of their functions.
In detail:
Figure 1
shows one exemplary embodiment of a washer-disinfector for treating at
least one
container for human waste;
Figure 2 shows a detail of a further exemplary embodiment of a
washer-disinfector;
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Figure 3 shows a flow chart of one exemplary embodiment of a
method for treating at least
one container for human waste;
Figure 4 shows a plot against time of the concentration of the
disinfectant peroxynitric acid;
Figure 5 shows measurement results for the inactivation of C.
difficile in a bedpan washer
by disinfection with peroxynitric acid produced in situ; and
Figure 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a washer-
disinfector having an optical
sensor and a filter element.
Description of the exemplary embodiments
Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of one exemplary embodiment of a
washer-disinfector
110 for treating at least one container 112 for human waste. Said exemplary
embodiment of the
washer-disinfector 110 is depicted in a cleaning position. The washer-
disinfector 110 is in
particular arranged to carry out a method for treating the at least one
container 112 for human
waste. One possible exemplary embodiment of such a method is depicted in
Figure 3 and will be
described in greater detail below.
The washer-disinfector 110 comprises at least one cleaning chamber 114. In the
exemplary
embodiment depicted, the washer-disinfector 110 is by way of example a single-
chamber washer,
with performance of all the treatment steps in the same cleaning chamber 114.
Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 comprises at least one drain 116
having at least one odor
trap 118, in particular a siphon bend. As depicted in Figure 1, the drain 116
may comprise at least
one opening 120 in the floor region of the cleaning chamber 114 and/or may
open into an opening
120. Furthermore, the drain 116 may comprise at least one drain pipe 122 which
is connected to
the opening 120. Said drain pipe 122 may have, for example, a mouth at the
opening 120 in the
floor of the cleaning chamber 114. Said mouth may in particular be open in
such a way that the
container contents can flow into the drain 116 without any obstacles and
solely on the basis of
their weight.
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Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 comprises at least one impingement
device 124 for
impingement of at least one cleaning fluid on the container 112 in the
cleaning chamber 114. For
example, the at least one impingement device 124 may comprise at least one
washing system 126,
for example having at least one washing nozzle 128. Furthermore, the washing
system 126 may
comprise at least one washing tank 130 and at least one washing line system
132. The washing
line system 132 may in particular connect the washing nozzle 128 to the
washing tank 130, so that
a cleaning fluid stored in the washing tank 130 can be supplied to the washing
nozzle 128 via the
washing line system 132. For example, at least one pump 133 may be further
provided in the
washing tank 130 and/or in the washing line system 132 in order to supply the
cleaning fluid to
the at least one washing nozzle 128 under pressure. The washing system 126 may
be usable for a
washing step in which, for example, the container 112 is impinged on by at
least one cleaning
liquid in the form of at least one washing liquid.
For an optional final-rinsing step, the impingement device 124 may comprise,
for example,
optionally at least one final-rinsing system 134, for example having at least
one final-rinsing nozzle
136. The final-rinsing system 134 may comprise at least one final-rinsing tank
138 and at least one
final-rinsing line system 140. The final-rinsing line system 140 may fluidly
connect the final-
rinsing nozzle 136 to the final-rinsing tank 138, so that the container 112
can be impinged on by a
final-rinsing liquid stored in the final-rinsing tank 138 via the final-
rinsing nozzle 136. As depicted
in Figure 1, the washing system 126 and the final-rinsing system 134 may be
combined in whole
or in part. Thus, for example, the washing tank 130 may also be used as a
final-rinsing tank 138.
Likewise, the washing nozzle 128 may be used as the final-rinsing nozzle 136
and the washing
line system 132 may be used as the final-rinsing line system 140. However,
other designs are also
conceivable, for example designs in which the washing system 126 and the final-
rinsing system
134 are wholly or partly separate from one another.
Furthermore, the impingement device 124 may comprise at least one steam system
142 for at least
one optional steam disinfection step. The steam system 142 may comprise, for
example, at least
one steam nozzle 144, at least one steam generator 146 and at least one steam
line 148. The washer-
disinfector 110 may thus further comprise the at least one steam generator 146
for generation of
steam. The steam generator 146 may in particular comprise at least one
reservoir 150, in particular
for water, and at least one heating device 152 for generation of the steam,
for example at least one
heating coil. The steam generator 146 may be connected, for example, to the at
least one steam
nozzle 144 on the cleaning chamber 114 via the at least one steam line 148. In
this exemplary
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embodiment, the steam system 142 is at least partly separate from the washing
system 126 and the
final-rinsing system 134. However, other configurations are also possible
here, for example a
steam system 142 completely separate from the washing system 126 and the final-
rinsing system
134 or a complete combination of these systems. Thus, for example, the final-
rinsing line system
140 may also be wholly or partly used as the steam line 148 as well, just as
for example the final-
rinsing nozzle 136 may be wholly or partly used as the steam nozzle 144.
The washer-disinfector 110 further comprises at least two reservoirs 154 for
accommodation of at
least two reactive components. These may in particular be reservoirs 154 for
liquids. Said
reservoirs 154 may be completely or partially closed, for example as canisters
and/or other types
of reservoirs 154. In particular, a reactive component A and a reactive
component B may each be
provided with a reservoir 154.
Furthermore, the impingement device 124 may comprise at least one disinfection
system 156 for
carrying out at least one disinfection step, in particular a disinfection step
c. of the method for
treating the at least one container 112 that is described in greater detail in
Figure 3. The disinfection
system 156 may comprise, for example, the at least two reservoirs 154 for the
reactive components
and at least one disinfection nozzle 158 for impingement of one or both of the
reactive components
on the container 112, wherein the impingement may be effected in liquid form
and/or in gaseous
form. Furthermore, the disinfection system 156 may comprise at least one
disinfection line system
160 which, for example, may supply the reactive components and optionally one
or more carriers
to the at least one disinfection nozzle 158. Thus, the disinfection system 156
may comprise, for
example, at least one pump 161 which may be arranged to supply one or more of
the reactive
components from the reservoirs 154 to the disinfection nozzle 158 via the
disinfection line system
160 under pressure.
The washer-disinfector 110 further comprises at least one controller 162 for
control of at least one
cleaning program. For possible configurations of the cleaning program,
reference is made to the
method for treating the at least one container 112 for human waste that is
described in greater detail
in Figure 3. The controller 162 may be centralized or else decentralized
and/or may comprise, for
example, at least one data processing device 164 programmed to control the
cleaning program. For
example, the data processing device 164 may be arranged to set one or more or
all of the program
parameters of the cleaning program, for example in a specified order and/or
with a specified time
schedule. The controller 162 may be centralized and/or in the form of one
component or may else
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be decentralized and comprise multiple control components. For example, the
controller 162 may
comprise one or more processors 166, which may optionally be connected to one
another
wirelessly or nonwirelessly in order to exchange information and/or commands.
The at least one
controller 162, for example the at least one optional data processing device
164, may in general be
wholly or partly integrated into a common module with the at least one
cleaning chamber 114, for
example into a common housing. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one
controller 162, for
example the at least one data processing device 164, may also be wholly or
partly disposed outside
a module of the washer-disinfector that comprises the cleaning chamber 114,
for example outside
a housing that encloses the cleaning chamber 114, for example as an external
controller. The at
least one controller 162 may comprise one or more control components, for
example multiple data
processing devices 164, which, for example, may be connected to one another
via at least one
interface and/or at least one data connection 168 in order, for example, to
exchange data and/or
general information and/or control commands.
The controller 162 may in particular be arranged to carry out at least method
steps b. and c., and
optionally method steps d. and/or e. of the method for treating the at least
one container 112 for
human waste that is described in greater detail in Figure 3, in particular as
program steps of the
cleaning program.
The washer-disinfector 110 may further comprise at least one mixing device
170. The mixing
device 170 may be arranged to mix the reactive components. In particular, the
mixing device 170
may be arranged to mix the reactive components before the impingement on the
container 112, in
particular in at least one device selected from the group consisting of a
mixing chamber, a mixing
section, a pump and a mixing nozzle. In this exemplary embodiment, the mixing
device 170
comprises at least one mixing section 172. The mixing section 172 may in
particular comprise at
least one fluidic conductor through which the reactive components, alone or
with the addition of
one or more carriers and/or additives for example, can flow, for example at
least one flow tube
and/or at least one flow nozzle. Alternatively or additionally, the mixing
device 170 may also
comprise at least one mixing nozzle 174. The mixing nozzle 174 may in general
be at least one
nozzle arranged to atomize at least one of the reactive components or else the
at least two reactive
components, alone or else with the addition of one or more carriers and/or
additives for example,
together, and so they strike the container 112 and, for example, come into
contact with one another
over a stretch between the mixing nozzle 174 and the container 112 and, for
example, can react
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with one another over this stretch or can else react with one another on the
surface of the container
112.
In addition, the washer-disinfector 110 may in particular comprise at least
one door 176 to the
cleaning chamber 114. In this exemplary embodiment, the door 176 is a flap
door 178. For
example, the flap door 178 may have a horizontal swivel axis. The flap door
178 may in particular
comprise at least one mount 180 for the at least one container 112, so that,
for example, said
container 112 can be connected to the door 176. The washer-disinfector 110 may
in particular be
arranged in such a way that, when the flap door 178 is closed, contents of the
container 112 are
emptied into the drain 116, for example as a result of tipping of the
container 112.
Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 may comprise at least one bypass 182.
As depicted in
Figure 1, the bypass 182 may comprise, for example, at least one pipeline 184
which connects the
cleaning chamber 114 and the drain 116 downstream of the odor trap 118, in
particular the siphon.
Gases may be dischargeable from the cleaning chamber 114 through the bypass
182 into the drain
116 downstream of the odor trap 118. The washer-disinfector 110 may further
comprise at least
one displacement device, which is not depicted in Figure 1. The displacement
device may be
arranged to discharge, in particular to displace, gases from the cleaning
chamber 114 through the
bypass 182 into the drain 116. The displacement device may in particular
comprise at least one
device selected from the group consisting of a blower, a fan, a suction device
and a compressed
gas source. The bypass 182 may further comprise at least one check valve 186
and/or at least one
other type of valve which prevents gases from flowing back into the cleaning
chamber 114 from
the drain 116.
The washer-disinfector 110 may further comprise, in particular, at least one
conversion device 189
for chemical and/or physical and/or biological processing of at least a
portion of the gases from
the cleaning chamber 114. Said conversion device 189 may comprise, for
example, at least one
device selected from the group consisting of a catalyst, a filter and a
scrubber. For example, the
conversion device 189 may be disposed in a processing pipe 191 which branches
off from the
cleaning chamber 114 and which may be separate from the bypass 182 or may else
be wholly or
partly combined with the bypass 182. A pump 193, for example, may be provided,
for example a
circulation pump which draws in gases from the cleaning chamber 114 and
conducts them across
the conversion device 189. Thereafter, the gases processed in this way may be
returned to the
cleaning chamber 114, as depicted in Figure 1, may be discharged into the
drain 116 or may else
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be discharged into the surrounding area or into an exhaust system. This can
reduce, for example,
nitrogen oxides in the gases. The device shown in Figure 1 may be operated,
for example, in a
circulation mode. The pump 193 may be controlled, for example, by the
controller 162, and so
processing of the gases by the conversion device 189 may be integrated into
the method as one or
more conversion steps, for example after disinfection step c. has been carried
out.
The washer-disinfector 110 may comprise at least one disinfection impingement
device 183. The
disinfection impingement device 183 may be part of the impingement device 124.
Alternatively,
the disinfection impingement device 183 may also be separate from the
impingement device 124,
as shown in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1. Thus, for example,
the disinfection
impingement device 183 may comprise the at least one disinfection nozzle 158
which, for example,
may be separate from the at least one washing nozzle 128. In this way, mixing
of washing liquid
with one or more fluids of the disinfection step can be avoided for example.
The washer-disinfector
110 may in particular be arranged to use the disinfection impingement device
183 in a disinfection
step.
The disinfection impingement device 183 may in particular comprise at least
one spray nozzle 185
as part of the at least one disinfection nozzle 158. The washer-disinfector
110 may be arranged to
apply at least one component to the container 112 by means of the spray nozzle
185. The
component may be selected from the group consisting of the reactive
components, a disinfectant
and at least one auxiliary, in particular at least one carrier. The
disinfection impingement device
183 may in particular further comprise, as an alternative or in addition to
the at least one spray
nozzle 185, at least one atomizer 187 which, for example, may be arranged to
generate at least one
fluid medium selected from the group consisting of a vapor and an aerosol. The
fluid medium may
also be circulated by at least one optional fan, in particular at least one
circulation fan, in particular
in the cleaning chamber 114. The fluid medium may in particular comprise at
least one component
selected from the group consisting of the reactive components, the
disinfectant and at least one
auxiliary, in particular at least one carrier.
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a detail of a further alternative exemplary
embodiment of the
washer-disinfector 110. In this exemplary embodiment, the structure of the
impingement device
124 and the structure of the disinfection impingement device 183 have been
varied in particular.
The rest of the configuration of this washer-disinfector 110 substantially
corresponds to the
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exemplary embodiment from Figure 1, and so reference may be made here to the
description of
Figure 1.
As depicted in Figure 2, the washer-disinfector 110, in particular the
disinfection impingement
device 183, may comprise at least one processing tank 188 for processing of at
least one of the
reactive components. Said processing tank 188 may in general be a tank which
is connected to at
least one of the reservoirs 154. For example, reactive component A and
reactive component B may
each be provided with a processing tank 188, which may be connected to the
corresponding
reservoir 154. The processing tank 188 may also be connected to at least one
reservoir 190 for at
least one carrier, in particular a reservoir for water. The reservoir 190 for
the at least one carrier
may also be wholly or partly combined with the washing tank 130, the final-
rinsing tank 138 and/or
the reservoir 150 of the steam generator 146. Thus, as shown in this exemplary
embodiment, the
washing system 126, the final-rinsing system 134, the steam system 142 and
optionally the
disinfection system 156 may be partly combined or even completely combined.
The washer-disinfector 110, in particular the disinfection impingement device
183, may be
arranged to mix the at least one reactive component with the carrier in the
processing tank 188.
Therefore, the processing tank 188 may serve to introduce the reactive
component or at least one
of the reactive components into the at least one carrier, thereby making it
possible, for example, to
set a concentration in a specific manner and thereby also making it possible,
for example, to
facilitate atomization or misting of the at least one reactive component.
Alternatively or
additionally, the at least one reactive component may also be mixed with the
at least one carrier in
another way, for example in at least one common line and/or pump, for example
in a common
supply line to the processing tank 188 and/or in a line downstream of the
processing tank 188.
The washer-disinfector 110, in particular the disinfection impingement device
183, may in
particular comprise at least one metering pump 192 arranged to introduce a
specifiable amount of
the at least one reactive component into the processing tank 188. For example,
the metering pump
192 may be controlled by the controller 162, especially also, for example,
with respect to the time
of metered addition and/or with respect to the specified amount of the at
least one reactive
component and/or the additive. The metering pump 192 may be, for example, time-
controlled.
The processing tank 188 may in particular be connected to the reservoir 190
via at least one supply
line 194 optionally having at least one valve 196. The valve 196 may comprise,
for example, a
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2/2-way valve. As an alternative to using the valve 196, constructions without
a valve are, for
example, also conceivable, for example with an overflow, for example by
filling the treatment tank
188 from the washing tank 130 by means of an overflow.
The washer-disinfector 110 may in particular be arranged to introduce the
carrier into the
processing tank 188 via the supply line 194. This introduction may be, for
example, gravity-driven
or else driven by at least one further metering pump. For example, the washer-
disinfector 110 may
be arranged, in particular by means of the controller 162, to control the
valve 196 accordingly in
order, for example, to introduce a specified amount of the carrier into the
processing tank 188 via
the supply line 194. For example, a timer may accordingly be provided to
define the amount of
carrier.
In this exemplary embodiment, the washer-disinfector 110 may thus comprise at
least two of the
processing tanks 188, wherein different reactive components are processable in
the processing
tanks 188 by introducing them into at least one carrier.
Furthermore, the washer-disinfector 110 may comprise at least one sensor 198.
The sensor 198
may be disposed, for example, in the at least one processing tank 188. As
depicted in Figure 2, one
sensor 198 each may in particular be disposed in each of the processing tanks
188. In this
exemplary embodiment, the sensor 198 in the processing tank 188 may comprise a
level sensor
200. For example, the sensor 198 may comprise a conductivity sensor 202
arranged to detect a fill
level in the processing tank 188. However, additional sensors and/or other
configurations of the
sensor 198 are also possible.
The washer-disinfector 110 may further comprise at least one pump 204 arranged
to pump the
reactive components mixed with the at least one carrier out of the processing
tanks 188 and to
apply them to the container 112. The pump 204 may also itself serve as a
mixing device 170 or be
part of the mixing device 170. The pump 204 may in particular be a centrifugal
pump in order to
achieve a sufficient mixing effect. The pump 204 may in particular be part of
the impingement
device 124. Here, a separate disinfection pump 206 may be provided which, for
example, generates
a required pressure and/or which supplies the processed reactive components to
the at least one
disinfection nozzle 158.
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After one or more of the reactive components have been processed, they may be
mixed. Thus, the
washer-disinfector 110 may in particular be arranged to bring together the
reactive components
from the processing tanks 188 that have been mixed with the at least one
carrier and to form a
disinfectant. This bringing together may comprise mixing of the reactive
components. The
bringing together may take place outside the container 112, for example in the
mixing device 170
or else for example on the container 112, for example by bringing together the
processed reactive
components on the container surface. In this exemplary embodiment as well, the
mixing device
170 may comprise the mixing section 172 and/or the mixing nozzle 174 and/or
the pump 204.
The washer-disinfector 110 may additionally comprise one or more further
sensors 198 which, for
example, are disposed on the mixing device 170, in particular on the mixing
section 172, as shown
in Figure 2. Other dispositions of the sensor 198 are also conceivable, for
example in a bypass in
relation to the mixing section 172 and/or a branch in relation to the mixing
section 172. Here, the
sensor 198 may in particular comprise an optical sensor 208. The optical
sensor 208 may be
arranged to detect yellowing. Yellowing of water in the presence of nitrate,
nitrite, nitrogen oxides,
peroxynitric acid or peroxynitrite may therefore be qualitatively and/or
quantitatively optically
detected. Other sensors 198 may also be disposed here, for example a pressure
sensor and/or a
flow sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 198 may also be
installed directly in a
chamber wall of the cleaning chamber 114, for example in order to analyze
and/or monitor the
status of the disinfection process. Opening of the door 176 may, for example,
be released
depending on the contents of the cleaning chamber 114, for example by the
controller 162
monitoring a sensor signal of the sensor 198, in particular the sensor 198 in
the wall of the cleaning
chamber 114, and releasing the door 176 when one or more release conditions
have been met.
Thus, for example, it is possible prevent harmful substances from reaching the
surrounding area
from the cleaning chamber 114. Alternatively or additionally, the controller
162 may also monitor
the course of the disinfection step in the cleaning chamber 114. However,
other configurations of
the sensor 198 are also possible.
As shown by way of example in Figure 2, the washer-disinfector 110 may further
optionally
comprise at least one filter 210. The filter 210 may be arranged to filter the
cleaning fluid, the
final-rinsing liquid, the carrier containing the reactive components, and/or
the disinfectant. The
filter 210 may in particular be part of the impingement device 124 and/or the
disinfection
impingement device 183.
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Figure 3 shows a flow chart of one exemplary embodiment of a method for
treating the at least
one container 112 for human waste. In general, the method may be carried out
in at least one
washer-disinfector 110, in particular according to one or more of the
exemplary embodiments
described in Figures 1 and 2. However, other designs of the washer-disinfector
110 are also
possible.
The method comprises the steps specified in more detail below. These steps may
be carried out in
the sequence specified. However, a different sequence is also possible as a
matter of principle.
Furthermore, two or more of the specified method steps may be carried out with
a time overlap or
simultaneously. Furthermore, one or more of the specified method steps may be
carried out once
or else repeatedly. In addition to the specified steps, the method may
comprise further method
steps not mentioned here.
The method comprises the following steps:
a. (identified by reference sign 212) at least one emptying step,
comprising emptying of the
container contents within the at least one cleaning chamber 114 into the at
least one drain
116, wherein the drain 116 comprises the at least one odor trap 118;
b. (identified by reference sign 214) at least one washing step, comprising
at least one
impingement of at least one cleaning liquid on the container 112 in the
cleaning chamber
114; and
c. (identified by reference sign 216) at least one disinfection step,
comprising at least one
mixing of at least two reactive components to produce at least one
disinfectant and
impingement of the disinfectant on the container 112.
The emptying of the container 112 in method step a. may be effected especially
by a change in
position and/or orientation of the container 112, for example by completely or
partially tipping the
contents of the container 112 into the drain 116. This change in position
and/or orientation may be
effected, for example, as a result of attachment of the container 112 to the
mount 180 of the door
176 of the washer-disinfector 110 that is swivelable, and so the change in
position occurs upon
swiveling. Emptying may therefore be effected through the weight of the
container contents.
Furthermore, the impingement on the container 112 in method step b. may be
effected by means
of the at least one impingement device 124 of the washer-disinfector 110. In
particular, a cleaning
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fluid stored in the washing tank 130 may be applied to the container 112 via
the impingement
device 124.
In method step c., the mixing of the at least two reactive components may be
effected, in particular
by means of the mixing device 170 of the washer-disinfector 110. The
disinfectant produced in
this way may be applied to the container 112 via the impingement device 124,
in particular via the
disinfection impingement device 183.
The method may further comprise the following step:
d.
(identified by reference sign 218) at least one final-rinsing step, comprising
at least one
impingement of at least one rinse aid liquid on the container 112.
In this exemplary embodiment, final-rinsing step d. is preferably carried out
before disinfection
step c. However, it is also possible to carry out final-rinsing step d. after
disinfection step c.
Multiple final-rinsing steps are also possible, for example one final-rinsing
step d. before
disinfection step c. and one after.
The method may further comprise the following method step:
e.
(identified by reference sign 220) at least one steam disinfection step,
in particular
downstream of the final-rinsing step and/or the disinfection step, comprising
at least one
impingement of steam on the container 112.
In particular, the method may further comprise at least one displacement step
(identified by
reference numeral 222). In the displacement step, gases, in particular
nitrogen oxide-containing
gases, can be discharged from the cleaning chamber 114, in particular
forcibly. The displacement
step may be carried out after the end of method step c., but, for example,
before carrying out
optional method step e.
The displacement step may, however, also be carried out multiple times, for
example once after
carrying out method step c. and at least one more time after carrying out
optional method step e.
Thus, for example, in a first displacement step downstream of method step c.,
gases containing
nitrogen oxides (N0x) can be discharged from the cleaning chamber 114, whereas
in a second
displacement step downstream of method step e., steam is discharged from the
cleaning chamber
114.
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Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, the method may comprise, for
example, method steps
a. to c. and optionally d., followed by a first displacement step, which in
turn is followed by method
step e., which in turn is followed by the second displacement step. In this
way, disinfection step c.
and optional steam disinfection step e. can be clearly separated, and at least
one displacement step
can be carried out between said disinfection steps c. and e. and at least one
displacement step can
optionally also be carried out after steam disinfection step e. This means,
for example, that harmful
gases from method step c. and also optionally vapors and moist air
disagreeable to the operating
personnel can be discharged in the displacement steps before the door 176 of
the cleaning chamber
114 is opened, and their release into the room air can be prevented. In the
displacement step, the
gases can be discharged from the cleaning chamber 114, in particular forcibly,
via the bypass 182
of the washer-disinfector 110 into the drain 116 downstream of the odor trap
118.
As discussed above, as an alternative or in addition to the displacement step,
the at least one
optional conversion step may also be carried out, for example by means of the
conversion device
189, it may accordingly also be carried out at the times in the method that
have been described in
relation to the displacement step. However, other configurations are also
possible.
Furthermore, the method may comprise at least one drying step (identified by
reference numeral
224). Said drying step may be, for example, downstream of the disinfection
step and/or the steam
disinfection step. As depicted in Figure 3, the method may comprise, for
example, initially method
steps a. to c. and optionally method step d., method step d. being preferably
upstream of method
step c. After carrying out method step c., a first displacement step may then
be carried out,
optionally followed by steam disinfection step e. and optionally the at least
one second
displacement step and the drying step. The second displacement step and the
drying step may be
common method steps in whole or in part. Other configurations are also
possible, for example a
configuration in which the second displacement step and the drying step are
separate method steps.
Exemplary embodiment 1: Measurement of the concentration plot of the
disinfectant:
For microbiological tests, the disinfectant used was peroxynitric acid. The
carrier and solvent used
was water. The active solution used was therefore an aqueous solution of
peroxynitric acid.
The formation of peroxynitric acid was tested by using a device analogous to
the washer-
disinfector 110 shown in Figure 1, comprising the disinfection system 156 and
the disinfection
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impingement device 183. In general, check valves may optionally be provided in
each case
between the pump 161 and the reservoirs 154. Furthermore, for the test, some
of the mixed liquid
was discharged between the pump 161 and the disinfection nozzle 158 and
supplied via a throttle
valve and a delay line to an optical sensor not depicted in Figure 1, for
example a UV-VIS
spectrometer, in order to monitor the concentration. Since a direct, time-
dependent measurement
of the concentration of the disinfectant is in general difficult, in
particular the concentration on the
surface of the container 112 to be cleaned, the optical sensor, which
spectroscopically detects
yellowing in a flow cuvette for example, is used to determine an approximate
value of this
concentration. This makes it possible to quantify the concentration of the
disinfectant, for example
ONOOH, in particular by means of UV spectroscopy. Here, optionally as a result
of the use of an
additional valve or other components, it must be ensured that the nozzles in
the measurement setup
are operated at the same pressure and at the same flow rate as in the usual
washing process. If the
flight time of the disinfection liquid from the nozzle to the items to be
washed is not negligible, it
may be simulated in the measurement setup by a delay line. The time-dependent
absorbance A can
be measured using the UVNIS flow cuvette having an absorption length L
suitable for the
respective process and using a time resolution At sufficiently fine for the
respective process.
The quantification of the disinfectant, for example the concentration of ONOOH
on the surface of
the container 112, can then be carried out by curve fitting, in which the
concentration of the
disinfectant, for example ONOOH, and possibly other absorbing species i are
used as free
parameters. Here, for example, a model function
AMod = ([10NOOME
-ONOOH +Edilfi)L
(3)
can be fitted to the absorbance A for each measurement time. Here, E
-ONOOH and Ei are the
respective extinction coefficients for the disinfectant, for example ONOOH
here, and for the
species i, which can be found in the literature for example or can be
determined for the respective
test setup by appropriate calibration measurements.
By way of example, Figure 4 depicts a reaction profile which arises when using
starting liquid A
(110 mM H202 and 140 mM 113PO4 in distilled water) and starting liquid B (100
mM NaNO2 in
distilled water) and an injection time of 0.8 s. Said figure depicts the plot
of the concentration c of
ONOOH against the measurement time t, the concentration c being determined
optically in
accordance with the above description. The injection time can be seen in
Figure 4 from the
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concentration plateau at the start of the process. In this example, the
efficacy parameter H in
accordance with equation (2) above and the measurement depicted in Figure 4 is
37.2 mM s . To
further increase the efficacy parameter, when using the same starting liquids,
the injection time
can be extended and/or the reaction time in the hose system can be adjusted
such that the plateau
forms at a higher ONOOH concentration.
Exemplary embodiment 2: Quantification of efficacy:
For microbiological tests, the active solution was prepared by using an
aqueous solution A of 300
mM H202 (corresponding to 300 x 0.001 mo1/1) as a first reactive component.
Water was therefore
also used as the carrier and solvent for the first reactive component. As an
additive, phosphoric
acid (H3PO4) was further added to the solution of the first reactive component
in a concentration
of 60 mM (corresponding to 60 x 0.001 mo1/1), yielding overall a solution with
a pH of 1.8.
Furthermore, 0.1% of a slightly acidic rinse aid and softener (Doyen SK22E ,
from the
manufacturer etol Eberhard Tripp GmbH, 77728 Oppenau, Germany) was added to
the first
solution. This yielded a first reactive solution.
The second reactive component used was an aqueous solution of 100 mM NaNO2,
with a
calculated pH of 8.
The efficacy parameter used for the tests carried out was a value of 144 mM s.
For the microbiological tests, test specimens in the form of bedpans were
inoculated with C.
clifficile spores. To this end, 20 j.tl of the spore solution were applied in
each case to 5 different
positions, followed by drying for 60 minutes.
Thereafter, the disinfection step was carried out with the active solution in
the above-described
device analogous to Figure 1. The suction hoses were brought together via the
T-piece in front of
the pump 161 and connected to the pump 161. The two starting materials were
mixed for the first
time in the T-piece. The reaction was started from this time. By way of
example, the rest of the
hose system was designed in such a way that, from the time of first contact
between the two
components up to the striking of the items to be washed, approximately 2 s
elapsed.
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The microorganisms on the items to be washed were sprayed continuously with
the active solution
over a period T. Depending on the amount applied, the period T in the
experiment was either 6 s
in the case of a spray volume of 90 ml of active solution or 12 s in the case
of a spray volume of
180 ml of active solution.
Without restricting other possibilities, the efficacy parameter was determined
in the following way.
Thus, from the perspective of the microorganisms, a liquid element having a
constant ONOOH
concentration always initially reaches the surface of the items to be washed
over the spraying
period T. The concentration is determined from the time delay between first
contact of the
disinfection components and the time of impact on the surface. In the example
investigated, the
mixed disinfectant strikes the surface after 2 s. The ONOOH concentration is
approx. 12 mM after
2 s. This results in Haber's efficacy parameters of 12 mM x 6 s = 72 mM = s
and 12 x 12 s = 144
mM = s for the two spray times tested.
After the disinfection step, the cleaning chamber 114 was filled with fresh
air for 10 seconds, and
the bedpan was then removed from the cleaning chamber 114.
As control, spraying was carried out with 180 ml of distilled water.
In a next step, immediately after the bedpan had been removed from the
cleaning chamber 114,
the spores were covered and detached using 30 ml of neutralizing agent. This
was followed by
carrying out detachment and providing a cover using a lid, followed by
agitation for 30 minutes
on a horizontal shaker at 200 rpm.
The reduction factor was then quantified. To this end, the recovery solution
obtained as described
above was incubated on a nutrient medium at 36 C for 5 days. Finally, the
colony-forming units
CFU were counted at the different dilution levels, and the reduction factors
were determined.
The results of these tests for inactivation of C. difficile spores in the
washer-disinfector 110 with
peroxynitric acid are depicted in Figure 5 as a bar chart. There, the
logarithmic reduction log R is
plotted for three different conditions: reference number 510 shows results of
tests in which the
samples were subjected to rinsing only, reference number 512 shows results of
tests with a spray
volume of the above-described active solution of 90 ml and an action time of 6
s, and reference
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number 514 shows the corresponding results in the case of a spray volume of
180 ml of active
solution and an action time of 12 s.
The reductions are each divided into a pure depletion component 516 and a
disinfection component
518. Both components add up to the action component.
Furthermore, two limit values are drawn in as dashed lines in Figure 5. Thus,
line 520 denotes the
depletion requirements in accordance with the European standards EN 17126 and
EN 13697. Line
522 denotes the reduction detection limit.
The results clearly show that even the stubborn hospital pathogen C. difficile
can be efficiently
eliminated by the described method of in situ production of the disinfectant
ONOOH, with the
relevant standards being exceeded.
Figure 6 schematically depicts a further exemplary embodiment of a washer-
disinfector 110. This
is only a partial depiction; regarding the remaining parts of the washer-
disinfector 110, reference
may be made to other exemplary embodiments for example, in particular to the
example according
to Figure 1 or else the example according to Figure 2. Again, the washer-
disinfector 110 comprises
a disinfection impingement device 183 with reservoirs 154. They may be
connected to at least one
disinfection nozzle 158 of the washer-disinfector 110 via a disinfection line
system 160 and
optionally a pump 161 and also, as in the other exemplary embodiments as well,
via at least one
optional distributor 610. Regarding the possible options for mixing the
components from the
reservoirs 154, reference may be made to the above description of Figures 1
and 2. In principle,
any of the abovementioned options for mixing the components are also
realizable in the present
exemplary embodiment, and/or the present exemplary embodiment may, for
example, also be
integrated into the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 and/or 2.
In the exemplary embodiment of the washer-disinfector 110 shown in Figure 6,
two optional
features are implemented, which features may be used cumulatively or else
individually in the
example of the washer-disinfector 110 that is depicted or else in other washer-
disinfectors 110
according to the invention. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment according to
Figure 6, a sensor
198 is again provided as a first option and a filter element 612 is provided
as a second option usable
as an alternative or in addition. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, both
of these elements
198, 612 are provided in the disinfection line system 160, the exemplary
embodiment depicted
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showing positioning between the pump 161 and the distributor 610.
Alternatively or additionally,
positioning of one or both of these elements 198, 612 at a different location
is, however, also
conceivable, for example at a different location in the disinfection line
system 160.
In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the sensor 198 is arranged, for example,
to detect at least
one property of the active solution comprising the disinfectant, in particular
in the disinfection line
system 160.
By way of example, in the exemplary embodiment depicted, the sensor 198 is an
optical sensor
614, for example an absorption sensor, which, for example, can measure
absorption properties of
the active solution in the disinfection line system 160. For this purpose, the
optical sensor 614 may
comprise, for example, at least one flow cell 616 which, for example, can be
fluidically integrated
into the disinfection line system 160 and through which the active solution
can flow. The flow cell
may be, for example, completely or partially transparent. Furthermore, the
optical sensor 614 may
comprise at least one light source 618 and at least one photodetector 620. A
connecting line
between the light source 618 and the photodetector 620 may cross the flow cell
616, so that light
emitted by the light source 618 passes through the flow cell 616, interacts
with the active solution
there, and is finally detected by the photodetector 620. The wavelength of the
light source 618
and/or its spectral properties may be tailored to the nature of the active
solution and/or the relevant
component to be detected. For example, an ultraviolet light source 618, for
example a light-
emitting diode emitting in the ultraviolet spectral range, may be used for the
above-described
active ingredient peroxynitric acid (ONOOH) or peroxynitrite (ON00-). As an
alternative or in
addition to light-emitting diodes, other types of light sources may, however,
also be used, for
example lasers, incandescent lamps or other types of light sources. In
principle, the photodetector
620 may comprise at least one arbitrary light-sensitive element which, for
example, is tailored to
the spectral properties of the light source 618. For example, this may be a
photosensitive
semiconductor detector, for example a photodiode, a photoresistor or similar
photosensitive
semiconductor detectors. Other types of light-sensitive elements may also be
used as an alternative
or in addition.
The light source 618 may, for example, be electrically connected to a constant
current source 622
via at least one electrical line 621 and have a constant electric current
applied thereto by said
constant current source 622. How the light source 618 is electrically
controlled may, however, be
tailored to the type of light source 618.
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As also shown by way of example in Figure 6, the photodetector 620 may, for
example, be
connected via at least one electrical line 623 to at least one signal
converter, for example to at least
one signal amplifier 624. Alternatively or additionally, other types of signal
conversion are also
possible, for example analog-to-digital conversions or similar types of signal
conversion.
At least one sensor signal of the sensor 198, for example the optical sensor
614, may be transmitted,
for example, to the controller 162. In the example exemplary embodiment
according to Figure 6,
the optical sensor 614 may, for example, be connected to the controller 162
directly or else via the
signal amplifier 624 wirelessly or via at least one electrical line 626.
For example, the controller 162, as shown by way of example in Figure 6, may
be in multiple parts.
Thus, the controller 162 may comprise, for example, at least one disinfection
controller 628, for
example a microcontroller, which is arranged to control the disinfection step.
Said disinfection
controller 628 may be wholly or partly a software component and/or wholly or
partly a hardware
component as well. Optionally, it may be separate from a central machine
controller 630 which is
also associated with the controller 162 and which, for example, controls the
other functions of the
washer-disinfector 110, for example the washing step. The central machine
controller 630, which
may also be referred to as a CPU (central processing unit), may be connected,
for example, to the
disinfection controller 628 via one or more intermediate components 632, for
example via at least
one input/output board (I/0 board).
As discussed above, the controller 162 may be arranged to generate
corresponding control signals
in accordance with the at least one sensor signal of the at least one sensor
198. Thus, the controller
162 may, for example, be connected to the pump 161 and/or to other components
wirelessly and/or
electrically via at least one control line 634. This can produce, for example,
a controlled system
for control, regulation or adjustment of one or more parameters of the
disinfection step.
As also discussed above, Figure 6 implements an option which is realizable as
an alternative or in
addition to the sensor element 198 and in which at least one filter element
612 is provided. As can
be seen in the figure, what are also provided in this exemplary embodiment
upstream and
downstream of the filter element 612 are pressure sensors 636, 638 which, for
example, may be
fluidically connected via pressure lines 640, 642 to the disinfection line
system 160 upstream and
downstream, respectively, of the filter element 612. Instead of two pressure
sensors 636, 638, a
single differential pressure sensor may also be used, for example.
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Sensor signals of the pressure sensors 636, 638 may in turn be transmitted to
the controller 162,
for example, as also depicted in Figure 6. For example, this may be achieved
wirelessly or else,
for example, via electrical lines 644, 646. Again, this may be carried out,
for example, to the
specific disinfection controller 628 responsible for control of the
disinfection step.
In this way, the controller 162 can, for example, monitor the function of the
at least one filter
element 612. As the filter element 612 ages and/or if the filter element 612
becomes clogged, the
differential pressure falling across the filter element 612 may rise, for
example, and so the
controller 162 can, for example, detect this situation and, for example,
output a corresponding
warning. Alternatively or additionally, the differential pressure may also
provide, for example,
information about the composition of the active solution in the disinfection
line system 160 and/or
of the at least one component in said disinfection line system 160. Thus, the
composition may
have, for example, an effect on the viscosity, which in turn is reflected in
the differential pressure.
In this way too, the controller 162 can generate, for example, at least one
corresponding control
signal, for example in order to adjust the viscosity to a target value by
appropriate adjustment of
the composition of the active solution. Various types of control are possible.
The washer-disinfector 110 in one or more of the stated variants as shown in
Figure 6 can be used,
for example, for treating or avoiding spores or other pathogens, as discussed
above. Various use
strategies are conceivable here.
The multipart configuration of the controller 162 shown in Figure 6 may in
particular be used for
advantageous communication. Thus, the controller may be, for example, a
primary
computer/secondary computer system (master/slave system). For example, the
disinfection
controller 628, for example the microcontroller, may be used as the secondary
computer, whereas
the central machine controller 630 may act as the primary computer, for
example. The disinfection
controller 628 can then be controlled by the central machine controller 630.
However, the
communication may, for example, not be achieved directly, but, as discussed
above, optionally via
at least one further module, in this case for example the at least one
intermediate component 632,
for example the so-called input/output (I/0) board. This may be due to, for
example, the structure
of the overall system of the washer-disinfector 110, for example the hospital
disinfector.
A bus system 648, for example, may be used for the communication between the
intermediate
component 632, in particular the I/0 board, and the central machine controller
630 or CPU. The
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communication between the intermediate component 632, in particular the 1/0
board, and the
disinfection controller 628, for example the microcontroller, may be realized,
for example, via
wireless communication and/or via at least one digital signal line 650.
In particular, at least two separate data lines may be available for a
communication direction from
the intermediate component 632, in particular the 1/0 board, to the
disinfection controller 628, in
particular the microcontroller. They may be read in, for example, at defined
digital inputs of the
disinfection controller 628, for example the microcontroller. For example, as
a result of switching
of the signal levels (0 or 1) on the signal lines and binary evaluation in the
disinfection controller
628, different states may be detected and/or processed, for example four or
twenty-two different
states. The different states may be detected and/or processed, for example, as
start release, stop,
error or similar commands or information. The decision about the states of the
outputs of the
intermediate component 632, in particular the 1/0 board, and therefore of the
data lines may be
made, for example, by the central machine controller 630 or CPU.
The reverse communication direction, i.e., from the disinfection controller
628, in particular the
microcontroller, to the intermediate component 632, in particular the I/0
board, may be achieved
analogously or according to the same principle. However, at least four
separate signal lines, for
example, may be available for this purpose. They allow the signaling of 16 or
24 different states,
results, fill levels, error states or similar information. In order for the
central machine controller
630 or CPU to be able to decide on how to proceed, the signal levels present
at the inputs of the
intermediate component 632, in particular the I/O board, may be evaluated in
particular. In
particular, the result may then be transmitted to the central machine
controller 630 or CPU by
means of the bus system 648. The result may then in particular form the basis
of further decisions.
By means of the structure described in Figure 6, a measurement method may be
realized, for
example, which may be used, for example, for process validation of the method
for treating the at
least one container 112 that takes place in the washer-disinfector 110. In
general, the process
validation may also be, for example, part of documentation, for example in an
electronic logbook
of the washer-disinfector 110.
In particular, the sensor 198, in particular the optical sensor 614, may be
used for process
validation. As discussed above, it may be based, for example, on the use of a
light source 618 in
the form of a UV light-emitting diode (UV-LED), including a corresponding
optoelectronic sensor
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or photodetector 620. By using the photodetector 620, the incident light can
be converted into an
electrical quantity.
For example, the disinfection controller 628, in particular the
microcontroller, may start a
measurement by means of the sensor 198, in particular by means of the optical
sensor 614, at a
defined time which, for example, may be specified by the central machine
controller 630 or CPU.
This may in particular be an intensity measurement and/or absorption
measurement. For example,
as a result of the absorption properties of the active-ingredient solution,
for example of the
chemical constituents in the fluid mixture, that change over time, a specific
output voltage profile
can be established at the output of the photodetector 620. Said voltage
profile may depend, for
example, on the composition of the contents of the flow cell 616 and/or of the
active-ingredient
solution. In particular, this can mean that, in the event of one or both of
components A and/or B
being absent and/or the concentration of one or both of said components being
incorrect, in
particular deviating from targets, this error is reflected in the output
voltage or the signal of the
photodetector 620 or in the profile thereof. Through the use of the optional
signal amplifier 624
which, for example, amplifies the output signal of the photodetector 620 many
times over, even
small deviations may be reliably detected, for example.
The controller 162, for example the disinfection controller 628, may check,
for example, whether
the sensor signal of the at least one sensor 198, for example the signal of
the photodetector 620,
meets one or more targets and/or may use said signal as an input signal for
control. For example,
actual values of the sensor signal may be compared with corresponding values
stored in at least
one database. From the evaluation of the sensor signal, the controller 162 may
then, for example,
make decisions about the process sequence. For example, corresponding control
signals may be
generated, which, for example, may be transmitted via the control line 634.
Alternatively or
additionally, information and/or decisions may also be transmitted to the
central machine
controller 630, for example via the at least one intermediate component 632.
There, they may be
used, for example, to influence the process sequence of the method.
As discussed above, various types of sensors 198 may be provided in the washer-
disinfector 110.
Furthermore, the disinfection controller 628, in particular the
microcontroller, may take on
additional tasks, in particular tasks in connection with the disinfection
step. Thus, for example, the
disinfection controller 628 may take on further evaluation tasks especially
because of the typically
limited number of analog inputs of the intermediate component 632, for example
on the at least
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one I/0 board. Thus, the disinfection controller 628 may monitor, for example,
at least one fill
level, for example in at least one of reservoirs 154. Here, for example, at
least one fill level in at
least one of the reservoirs 154 and/or in at least one processing tank 188 may
be monitored;
reference may be made to the example in Figure 2, for example. At least one
level sensor 200, for
example, may be used for this purpose, for example in at least one reservoir
154 and/or in at least
one processing tank 188. The level sensor 200 may comprise, for example, at
least one conductivity
sensor, so that the fill level can be measured, for example, by means of one
or more conductivity
electrodes. They can signal the fill level within the respective container
monitored. This can ensure
that the required fill quantities are available for each cleaning process. The
monitoring may be
effected by means of the disinfection controller 628.
As discussed above, one or more pressure sensors, for example the pressure
sensors 636, 638, may
also be monitored by the disinfection controller 628. Said pressure sensors
636, 638 may be, for
example, piezoresistive pressure sensors. They may be wholly or partly
separate from the sensor
198 or may else be wholly or partly integrated into the sensor 138, in
particular the optical sensor
614, for example into a sensor housing. As discussed above, the pressure
sensors 636, 638 may be
used to detect and evaluate pressure changes in the disinfection line system
160, for example in a
hose system, before and after the filter element 612. These pressure
conditions may provide, for
example, information about various system states, for example about a state of
the filter element
612 itself, about properties of the active-ingredient solution or else about a
state of the disinfection
impingement device 183, for example the spray nozzles 185. If, for example,
the pressure rises,
this may be, for example, an indication of increasing contamination within the
disinfection
impingement device 183 and/or within the filter element 612. Alternatively or
additionally, as
discussed above, a differential pressure may be used, for example, to make
statements about a
viscosity and/or a composition of the active-ingredient solution. Furthermore,
signs of the
differential pressure may also be evaluated, since they may provide, for
example, information
about the location of contamination, for example upstream of the filter
element 612 or downstream
of same, in particular at the spray nozzles 185. If increasing contamination
is detected early,
appropriate measures may be taken, for example by the disinfection controller
628. This can
prevent, for example, insufficient cleaning and/or insufficient disinfection
of the container 112.
Thus, it is possible in particular to continuously ensure that the active
ingredients used reach the
container 112 in the required amount.
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List of reference signs
110 Washer-disinfector
112 Container
114 Cleaning chamber
116 Drain
118 Odor trap
120 Opening
122 Drain pipe
124 Impingement device
126 Washing system
128 Washing nozzle
130 Washing tank
132 Washing line system
133 Pump
134 Final-rinsing system
136 Final-rinsing nozzle
138 Final-rinsing tank
140 Final-rinsing line system
142 Steam system
144 Steam nozzle
146 Steam generator
148 Steam line
150 Reservoir
152 Heating device
154 Reservoir
156 Disinfection system
158 Disinfection nozzle
160 Disinfection line system
161 Pump
162 Controller
164 Data processing device
166 Processor
168 Data connection
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170 Mixing device
172 Mixing section
174 Mixing nozzle
176 Door
178 Flap door
180 Mount
182 Bypass
183 Disinfection impingement device
184 Pipeline
185 Spray nozzle
186 Check valve
187 Atomizer
188 Processing tank
189 Conversion device
190 Reservoir
191 Processing tube
192 Metering pump
193 Pump
194 Supply line
196 Valve
198 Sensor
200 Level sensor
202 Conductivity sensor
204 Pump
206 Disinfection pump
208 Optical sensor
210 Filter
212 Emptying step
214 Washing step
216 Disinfection step
218 Final-rinsing step
220 Steam disinfection step
222 Displacement step
224 Drying step
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510 Rinsing only
512 90 ml of active solution and an action time of 6 s
514 180 ml of active solution and an action time of 12 s
516 Depletion component
518 Disinfection component
520 Requirement for EN 17126 and EN 13697
522 Detection limit
610 Distributor
612 Filter element
614 Optical sensor
616 Flow cell
618 Light source
620 Photodetector
621 Electrical line
622 Constant current source
623 Electrical line
624 Signal amplifier
626 Electrical line
628 Disinfection controller
630 Central machine controller
632 Intermediate component
634 Control line
636 Pressure sensor
638 Pressure sensor
640 Pressure line
642 Pressure line
644 Electrical line
646 Electrical line
648 Bus system
650 Digital signal line
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