CA1293196C - Method of chemical deodorization of articles and solutions used in medical and biological procedures - Google Patents

Abstract

METHOD OF CHEMICAL DEODORIZATION OF ARTICLES AND
SOLUTIONS USED IN MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCEDURES

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A method of deodorizing articles, devices, and solu-tions involved in or used in medical and biological procedures including endoscopic procedures and associated solutions and materials. The method is to treat the materials and solutions to be deodorized with 2,4-pentanedione as a chemical deodorant.
In a preferred treating composition the 2,4-pentanedione is used as an aqueous solution containing a small amount of an essential oil-type masking agent and an oil solubilizing surfactant.

Description

METHOD OF CHEMICAL DEODORIZATION OF ARTICLES AND
SOLUTIONS USED IN ~DICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCEDURES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to -the deodoriza-tion o~ solutions, articles, devices, and other equipment used in carryiny out bio-logical and medical procedures. ~ore particularly, the invention is directed to a method for chemically deodorizing apparatus in-cluding medical instruments such as endoscopes, related equip-ment, and also the solutions and vessels used in conducting explora-tive medical and therapeutic procedures. The deodorization of rooms is also embraced in the method of the invention.
The invention itself is predicated on an unexpected and totally unpredictable discovery of a "new use" for a particu-lar, known chemical compound.
Many "deodorants" and deodorant preparations have been described for use to mask or cover-up objectionable or unpleasant odors derived from various sources. Some of these preparations have been designated for household use; others for use in indus-trial or manufacturing establishments. Still others have been promoted for use primarily in sick rooms, nursing homes, and in medical offices, examining and treatment rooms, and in hospitals.
For the most partl the prior art products employed have been dispensed as air-borne sprays, usually as vapors from pres surized aerosol containers.
The "deodorizing" formulations which have heretofore been used depend entirely upon "counter-acting" or blanketing the unpleasant odor. Other odor-producing materials, such as essential oils ("perfumes"), and functionally e~uivalent odor-iferous preparations have been used to cover-up or mask the par-ticular odor sought to be curtailed or eliminated.
None of the prior art products, preparations, or formu-lations deals direct]y with o~fending odor-producing material;

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none attacks the problem at its source. None acts directly on the chemical agent or agents which generate and are thus directly responsible for the offensive or otherwise objectionable odor.
None "eliminates" the odor, but only covers it or masks it, temporarily at best. The results achieved have been far from satis-factory, and any "cover-up" achieved is short lived.
The present invention deals effectively with and re-solves a problem which has, until now, defied solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the unexpected, sur-prising, unpredictable, and unobvious discovery that a specific organic compound may be used effectively as a chemical deodorant.
The term "chemical deodorant" as used herein is intended to por-tray the fact that the compound identified and used in the method of the inve~tion functions to eliminate the objectionable odor by complexing, chelating, or by otherwise reacting chem}cally directly with the odor-producing agent. In this sense, the chemi-cal deodorant of the invention is substantively different in kind and in function from the masking and the cover-up agents of the prior art.
While the exact nature and the precise mechanism of the critical reactions which occur in the practice of the invention are not presently known, the observed and demonstrated effect is unequivocal. The method of the invention is effective per-manently to destroy the odor as well as the odor-generating capacity of the odoriferous metabolically produced organics with which the chemical deodorant of the invention comes into func~
tional contact. It is an important feature of the method of the invention t~at the chemical deodorant is effective to eliminate 31~3~

odors derived from various sources including those derived from urine and from fecal matter.
Another important feature is that solutions containiny the active chemical compound of the invention will not support bacterial growth; they are in this sense "self-sterilizing."
Yet another feature of the odor-destroying compositions of the invention is that they are non-toxic in nature.
A related feature is that the chemical deodorant of the invention, as used in practicing the invention, is not a primary, a secondary, or a tertiary skin sensitizer.
A utilitarian feature of the method of the invention is that it is useful in eliminating odors derived from colon endoscopic procedures including ddors from vacuum tanks and from recirculation tanks employed in such procedures.
A related feature of the invention is that it is use-ful in endoscopically-assisted urological and proctoscopic pro-cedures.
Yet another important feature is that the chemical deodorant of the invention may be added to the water circulated in an endoscopic system without interfering with the efficacy of the procedure being carried out.
An important practical feature of the method of the invention is its versatility and its widespread utility. It has been found useful as a wash or rinse solution to deodorize appa-ratus and fixtures including sinks, cGmmodes, bed pans and urinals. It also functions effectively as a spray to remove airborne odors in the ambient environment.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood upon a review of the following detailed description of preEerred embodi~
ments of the method of the invention. Such embodiments are pre-sented here as examples only and are not to be considared as limiting the invention in any way.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF P:REFERRED EMBODI~IENTS

The present invention is predicated on the discovery that a specific organic compound, namely 2,4-pentanedione, has the uni~ue and unexpected and unpredic-table capability of being used as a chemical agent to destroy certain unpleasant and ohjec-tionable odors. The compound used in practicing the methvd of the invention has the empirical Eormula C5H802 and the structure O O

The compound, 2,4-pentanedione, is also known in the literature as acetyl acetone or as diacetyl methane.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that, in contrast with prior widely used "cover-up" and "masking" preparations, the 2,~-pentanedione of the invention functions as a viable chemical reactant in the odor-generating system into which it is introduced or to which it is physically applied. Rather than functioning as a "cover-up" or "mask" (by virtue of its own counter "essence," "scent,")the 2,4-pentanedione as used in accordance with the method of the invention chelates, or complexes, or otherwise reacts with the odor-producing yroup or moiety of the odorierous chemicals. The ultimate effect of this chemical interaction is to nullify or functionally to neutra-lize or to destroy the propensity of the material to release un pleasant odors.
~ he mode of application of the chemical deodorant of the invention to t~e articles, or devices, or media to be deo-dorized is not critical. In a pxeferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the 2,4-pentanedione is used in the form of an aqueous solution in which the odor-destroying agent is present in a concentration-in the range of from about 0.1 percent to about 8 percent by weight. For most applications a 2 percent solution is preferred.

~3~96 In addition to the "active agent," it has been found advantageous, for some applications, to include a small concen-tration, in the order of 0.05 to 0.5 percent by weight of an aromatic essential oil or "perfume" to impart a pleasant aroma to the treating composition. In a preferred formulation of the in-vention the essential oil concentration is about 0.2 percent.
Suitable aromatic additives include geraniole, jasmine base, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, almond extract, lemon oil, lime oil, heliotropin, terpenes, lilac extract, and lavender oil. It will be appreciated that the exact concentration o~ axomatic material used may be lesser or greater than the range indicated and will be affected by the "strength" of the particular "oil" or the oil mixture selected, and by subjective considerations.
In order to enhance the dispersibility and the solu-bility of the essential oil in the aqueous system, a surfactant may be incorporated in the composition. The selection of any specific surfactant will be dictated, in part, by the par~icular essential oil used. In a preferred formulation for practicing the method of the invention, the "non-ionics" are preferred surfactants.
The concentration of the surfactant is conveniently in the range of about 1 percent by weight in the final aqueous solution. Those skilled in the art will understand that the surfactant concentration parameter is in no sens~ critical. In the light of the teachin~s herein set forth, persons skilled in the art will be able to make their own formulations including alternative combinations of essential oils and surfactants with-out the exercise of any inventive faculty, and within the concept of and without departing from the invention itself.
The essence of the present invention is in the use of 2,4-pentanedione as a destroyer of odors, and not in any specific formulation of carrier or diluent composition.

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A preferred working formulation used in practicin~ the method of the invention is set forth below, the relative concen-trations being in parts-by-weigh-t.

2,4-pentanedione 70 essential oil 7 surfactant 35 water 3,673 It has been found that the aqueous composition used in the mekhod of the invention is conveniently-prepared in accor-dance with the following general procedure:
As a first step, the essential oil is mixed with the surfactant. An al~quot, for example, about 10 percent of the total water is then added, with stirring. ~hereafter, the re-maining water is added in several incremental steps, the mixture being thoroughly stirred after each addition. Finally, the 2,4-pentanedione is added, with stirring, to provide a homo-geneous working composition. Preferably, the water used should be distilled water or "softened" water and should be preheated to a temperature in the range of 110F to about 150F, and pre-ferably 130F. Lesser or greater concentrations of water, for example, from about 850 to about 70,000 parts by weight, may be used for specific applications.
Treatment of articles or devices in accordance with the invention is carried out conveniently by washing with or by dipping in the 2,4-pentanedione solution. Removal of unpleasant room odors is achieved by distributing the chemical deodorant composition as an air spray. Spills or "accidents" in sick rooms or in examination rooms may be handled similarly. When used wi~h an endoscopic device, a mixture consisting of the deodorizing solu~

tion and water (preferably sterile) is substituted for the water normally used. A suitable ~ormulation is one-third to one-half deodorizin~ solution, and the balance sterile water. It is an 1~33~ 36 important property of the deodorizing composition of the inven-tion that it will not support bacterial growth. Solutions con-taining the 2,4-pentanedione appear to be "self-sterilizing."

Claims (9)

1. The method of deodorizing fluid and solid media and devices, instruments, appliances, articles and solutions used in connection with analytical, investigative, diagnostic and therapeutic, biological and medical procedures, said method being operative to eliminate odors derived from urine and from fecal matter and residues discharged during the carrying out of medical procedures including procedures using endoscopes and other exploratory and surgical apparatus, and urological, proctoscopic, and colonoscopic procedures, said method eliminating the odors through reaction of a chemical deodorant with odor-producing groups and moieties of metabolically-produced odoriferous chemicals present in urine and fecal matter discharged during spills and "accidents" in sick rooms and during the conducting of medical procedures, said method comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous composition containing 2, 4-pentanedione as a chemical deodorant, and applying said composition to a substance to be deodorized.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the concentration of 2, 4-pentanedione in said composition is in the range of from about 0.1 percent to about 8 percent by weight.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substance to be deodorized includes medical devices, appliances, and instruments used in connection with an investigative medical procedure and in treating a biological system.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the concentration of 2, 4-pentanedione in said composition is in the range of from about 0.1 percent to about a percent by weight.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of using an endoscopic device medically, retrieving fluid from a body cavity into which an endoscopic device is introduced, and adding 2, 4-pentanedione to the fluid to deodorize the fluid retrieved from the body cavity.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said 2, 4-pentanedione is used in a concentration of from about 0.1 percent to about 8 percent by weight in the fluid.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 including the step of adding 2, 4-pentanedione to the fluid as a dispersant distributed therethrough.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 and comprising the method of dispelling airborne odors in an ambient environment, said method including the step of dispersing into the air of the ambient environment, as a spray, an aqueous composition containing 2, 4-pentanedione as a chemical deodorant.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the 2, 4-pentanedione is present in said composition in a concentration in the range of from about 0.1 percent to about 8 percent by weight.