Enhanced Ozone Disinfection of Biofilms in Waterlines

描述(由申请人提供)：牙科单位的水线已经受到越来越多的审查，因为生物膜中含有和释放细菌，在某些情况下还会释放有害的病原体。因此，ADA主动建议牙科设备输送的水每毫升含有200个异养中温细菌菌落形成单位(CFU)。 到目前为止，我们已经大大超过了第一阶段的目标。我们证明，在5分钟内，中等浓度的溶解臭氧(每升3毫克)可以去除所有浮游细菌，并将生物膜水平降低99.99%。这表明，常规的臭氧处理(例如，每天1小时)既可以处理自由漂浮的浮游细菌，也可以处理生物膜。我们还通过使用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜显示，生物膜中50%的微生物负载可以在处理后三分钟内被灭活。 我们还使用耐化学腐蚀的微孔载体上的复合CMS全氟膜演示了在无气泡的水中提供溶解的臭氧。同时，我们还建立了用于无泡臭氧输送的CMS膜设备的商业供应，并展示了用于臭氧溶解的商业化学惰性CMS膜设备的性能。由于我们已经有了关键部件，臭氧输送系统的商业化得到了简化。第二阶段将专注于将这项技术扩展到交付用于牙科诊所临床测试的功能原型。我们已经邀请了2名生物膜专家来评估生物膜的去除和研究再生的可能性。膜设备的定制将在第二阶段研究期间进行，然后在第三阶段期间推出市场。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dental Unit Waterlines have come under increasing scrutiny as residents of biofilms which harbor and release bacteria and in some instances harmful pathogens. As a result ADA has pro actively recommended that the water delivered by dental equipment have <200 colony forming units (CFU) of heterotrophic, mesophilic bacteria/ml of water. To date we have significantly exceeded our Phase 1 objectives. We demonstrated that within 5 minutes, moderate levels of dissolved O3 (>3 mg per liter) can remove all of the planktonic bacteria and reduce biofilm levels by 99.99%. This suggerts that routine treatment (e.g. 1 hour/day) with O3 will treat both free floating planktonic bacteria and biofilms. We have also shown through the use of a confocal laser scanning microscope that >50% of the microbial load in the biofilm can be inactivated within three minutes of treatment. We also demonstrated the supply of dissolved O3 in water without bubbles using composite CMS perfluoromembranes on chemically resistant micro porous supports. In parallel we have also established a commercial supply of CMS membrane devices for bubbleless O3 delivery and have demonstrated the performance of a commercial chemically inert CMS membrane device for ozone dissolution. Since we have the key components in place, commercialization of the O3 delivery system is simplified. Phase II will focus on expanding this technology towards the delivery of a functional prototype for clinical testing at a dental practice. We have brought on board 2 biofilm experts to evaluate biofilm removal and study potential for regrowth. Customization of the membrane device will be conducted during the Phase II study, prior to market introduction during Phase III.