Prevention and Remediation of Biofilms in Dental Units

描述：(由申请人提供)有大量证据表明牙科单位水管内生长的生物膜中有丰富的微生物，以及它们随后可能导致感染。目前应对这一问题的方法效果有限。建议的设备是一种适用于任何牙科设备的系统，既可以产生按需消毒剂来修复牙科设备水管内的生物膜，也可以产生远低于ADA推荐目标200 cfu/ml的高质量冲洗剂。该设备还有一个额外的优点，即需要最少的用户干预，并且不需要消耗品。串联系统使用紫外线杀菌灯从流入的水流中清除微生物，以及根据需要产生两种浓度的过氧化氢的电化学电池的组合。较高的浓度将用作周期性冲洗，以去除管道中的生物膜污染，而较低的浓度将用作灌水器中的连续生物抑制剂。第一阶段的研究表明，该装置是可行和有效的。建议的设备是完全可扩展的，可以使用廉价的部件制造，并且是电驱动的，使其成为对广泛的商业应用具有吸引力的技术。

DESCRIPTION: (provided by the applicant) There is a substantial body of evidence demonstrating the abundance of microorganisms in biofilms growing inside water lines of dental units and their subsequent potential for causing infection. Current methods for countering the problem are of limited effectiveness. The device proposed is a system suitable for use with any dental unit, producing both an on-demand disinfectant to remediate biofilms within the dental unit water lines and a quality irrigant well below the ADA recommended goal of 200 cfu/ml. The device has the added advantages of requiring minimal user intervention and no consumables. The in line system uses a combination of an ultraviolet germicidal lamp to eliminate organisms from the incoming water stream, and an electrochemical cell which produces hydrogen peroxide on-demand at two concentrations. The higher concentration will be used as a periodic flush to rid lines of biofilm contamination, while the lower concentration will be used as a continuous biostatic agent in the irrigant. The Phase I study has demonstrated that the device is both feasible and effective. The proposed device is fully scalable, can be manufactured using inexpensive parts, and is electrically driven making it attractive technology for a wide range of commercial applications.