Patent Application
20080075639
Further advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
a shows an exemplary top view of a sterile vial.
b shows an exemplary cross-sectional view along line B of the sterile vial of
c shows an exemplary perspective view of a sterile vial.
d shows an exemplary enlarged cross-sectional view of the area circumscribed by line G of the sterile vial of
a shows an exemplary perspective view of a sterile vial and attached actuator cap.
b shows and exemplary diagrammatical view of an ozone conversion unit.
a shows an exemplary perspective view of an actuator cap.
b shows an exemplary inverted perspective view of the actuator cap of
c shows an exemplary top view of the actuator cap of
d shows an exemplary cross-sectional view along line D of the sterile vial of
e shows an exemplary cross-sectional view along line C of the sterile vial of
a shows an exemplary top view of a sterile vial.
b shows and exemplary cross-sectional view along line E of the sterile vial of
c shows an exemplary cross-sectional view along line E of the sterile vial of
a shows an exemplary perspective view of a sterile vial and an actuator cap.
b shows an exemplary perspective view of sterile vial with an attached actuator cap.
c shows an exemplary perspective and inverted view of the sterile vial and attached actuator cap of
d shows an exemplary side view of the sterile vial of
a shows an exemplary perspective view of a sterile vial and an actuator cap.
b shows an exemplary perspective view of a sterile vial with an attached actuator cap.
c shows an exemplary perspective and inverted view of the sterile vial and attached actuator cap of
d shows an exemplary side view of the sterile vial and actuator cap of
a shows an exemplary detailed perspective view of the sterile vial of
b shows an exemplary detailed perspective and inverted view of the sterile vial
Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, discussion of several terms used herein follows.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
Referring generally to
a-1d show an exemplary embodiment of sterile vial 100. Sterile vial 100 may have a variety of components, such as a casing 102, corona discharge assembly 104, electrical contact points 106, a port and one-way valve 108 and a key structure 111. Sterile vial 100 may be substantially sealed and filled with oxygen under pressure. Construction of the sterile vial may be accomplished by evacuating a vial under a vacuum; an exemplary pressure for which may be about 25 inches of Hg. The vial may be filled with, for example, about 10-30 ml of medical grade oxygen and then sealed. An exemplary embodiment may include port and one-way valve 108 for sealing, which may be constructed to reduce efflux of gas from sterile vial 100 and allow influx of gas when actuated. As depicted in
Casing 102 may be constructed out of a material that allows for UV transmission, such as, but not limited to, acrylic, quartz or any other such material known to one having ordinary skill in the art to have substantially similar absorption coefficients. This can allow passage of a UV beam through the gas so that the concentration of ozone can be measured.
As depicted in
a-2b shows an exemplary diagram of ozone conversion unit 200 and sterile vial 100. Ozone conversion unit 200 may be used to convert an amount of oxygen contained in sterile vial 100 to ozone by facilitating power. Ozone conversion unit 200 may include a high voltage transformer 210. In an exemplary embodiment, high voltage transformer 210 may have a potential difference of about 5-25 kV. High voltage transformer 210 may be connected to a power source and electrical contact points 212. In another exemplary embodiment, electrical contact points 212 may be arranged to reversibly interface with electrical contacts 106 of sterile vial 100.
Ozone conversion unit 200 may further include a dial 214, a UV measurement assembly 216, and a data display 218. UV measurement assembly 216 may include components relating to measurement using UV absorption techniques, whereby a beam is passed through the ozone and oxygen mixture to be received by a detector. Such a beam may have a wavelength of within a range on the UV spectrum known to those skilled in the art to be absorbed by ozone such as ranges UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C; it may be preferable to use light emissions having wavelengths of about 253.7 nm, within the bounds of the UV-C range. In an exemplary embodiment, a mercury vapor lamp may be used to measure the concentration of ozone. An alternative exemplary embodiment may employ a UV light emitting diode or other instruments known to one having ordinary skill in UV absorption techniques. An exemplary detector may be a photodiode or other photo detecting instruments known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Dial 214 may be used to regulate or input a desired ozone concentration. An exemplary therapeutically effective concentration of ozone is 6% by volume. Sterile vial 100 may be constructed to be received by ozone conversion unit 200 in such a way that orients sterile vial 100 for successful UV measurement; this may be achieved by including a lock 217 on ozone conversion unit 200 capable of receiving key structure 111.
In an exemplary embodiment, electrical contact points 212 may be situated to interface with the interior of a receptacle 220 formed in the ozone conversion unit that is capable of receiving sterile vial 100. UV measurement assembly 216 may be arranged to orient a UV measurement beam axially through and along receptacle 220 to be received by a UV detector 221. In an alternative embodiment, UV measurement assembly 216 may be arranged to orient the UV measurement beam through receptacle 220 transversely. A further exemplary embodiment may include a door 222 to be closed upon an engaged sterile vial 100, thereby reducing ambient light from infiltrating receptacle 220 and interfering with UV detector 221.
Data display 218 may be used to display measurement data collected by UV measurement assembly 216, indicate power status, or convey other relevant information such as input data or to confirm engagement of sterile vial 100 and ozone conversion unit 200. Data display 218 may be used to display any information or data that may be useful to one having ordinary skill in the art. Ozone conversion unit 200 may be constructed to receive power, which can be made to pass through high voltage transformer 210, electrical contact points 212 and electrical contact points 106, thereby causing corona discharge assembly 104 to act upon the oxygen contained by sterile vial 100 and effect the selected concentration of ozone.
a-3e depict an exemplary embodiment of an actuator cap 300. Actuator cap 300 may be constructed to act upon port and one-way valve 108 thereby permitting influx of oxygen. In a further embodiment, actuator cap 300 may be constructed to act upon port and one-way valve 108 to permit efflux of ozone following ozone conversion. Actuator cap 300 may be constructed to irremovably attach to port and one-way valve 108. Another embodiment of actuator cap 300 may include mechanisms known to one having ordinary skill in the art to prevent reattachment to port and one-way valve 108. In yet another exemplary embodiment, actuator cap 300 may be formed to permit attachment of an oxygen source. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, actuator cap 300 may be formed to permit withdrawl of ozone to allow subsequent injection into a patient. One exemplary embodiment may include mechanisms to signal attachment of actuator cap 300 to port and one-way valve 108 sufficient for gaseous mixture influx or efflux.
a-4c shows an exemplary embodiment of actuator cap 300 engaged with sterile vial 100.
a-5d shows another exemplary embodiment of sterile vial 100 and actuator cap 300. Casing 102 may be formed of quartz or similar material known to one skilled in the art. Actuator cap 300 may be formed to engage with port and one-way valve 108, as shown in
a-6b show yet another exemplary embodiment of sterile vial 100 and actuator cap 300. Casing 102 may be formed to include an opaque sleeve 103 having a portion constructed of acrylic or similar material known to one skilled in the art whereby the interior of sterile vial 100 may be viewed.
a-7b show another exemplary embodiment of actuator cap 300. Actuator cap 300 may be arranged to include a needle cap 700 and a valve actuator 702. In one exemplary embodiment, needle cap 70 could include a clutch mechanism to reduce ease of removing actuator cap 300 from sterile vial 100 when actuator cap 300 is attached to sterile vial 100.
The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
