WO2022225491A2

WO2022225491A2 - Uv-c sterilizer to prevent mechanical ventilator-induced aerosol transmission of virus (covid-19)

Info

Publication number: WO2022225491A2
Application number: PCT/TR2022/050336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ahmet Murat KOYUNCU; Sadik KAGA; Ugur FIDAN; Elif KAGA
Original assignee: Afyon Kocatepe Universitesi Rektorlugu; Afyonkarahisar Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Ozel Kalem (Rektorluk)
Priority date: 2021-04-20
Filing date: 2022-04-15
Publication date: 2022-10-27
Also published as: TR202106861A2; WO2022225491A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a UV-C sterilizer that will prevent the increase in the aerosol-induced viral load of the environment during the use of mechanical ventilators in case of a viral pandemic.

Description

UV-C STERILIZER TO PREVENT MECHANICAL VENTILATOR-INDUCED AEROSOL TRANSMISSION OF VIRUS (COVID-19)

TECHNICAL FIELD

PRIOR ART

Various risk factors emerge during the use of mechanical ventilators in case of a viral pandemic. The most important of these is that while the air released from the device's outlet line is emitted to the intensive care environment, it increases the aerosol-induced viral load of the environment due to the ability of these devices to generate more aerosols than normal respiration. Although it is recommended to use various filters (HME, HMEF, HEPA, etc.) to reduce the viral load formed in this way, it is also known that these filters cannot completely prevent the viral load. This situation increases the virus exposure of healthcare professionals, and because they are infected, it causes both a decrease in their number and an increase in the epidemic.

For healthcare professionals, the most important risk of COVID-19 transmission is the risk of spreading the virus to the environment when the mechanical ventilator device releases the air from the patient to the intensive care environment. Although various filters are used to reduce this risk, it is known that these filters cannot completely prevent the risk.

There is no product specially developed for the current problem and intended to prevent viral load released from the mechanical ventilator to the environment. The current suggestion for solving this problem is to use HME (Heat and Moisture Exchanger) filters for this purpose, which are produced for other purposes (temperature and humidity regulator). However, although the effectiveness of these filters in COVID-19 is unknown, it has been determined that their use in H1 N1 and SARS epidemics does not completely solve the problem. This risk was identified by experts in SARS in 2003 and H1 N1 viral outbreaks in 2009, and it was recommended to perform ventilation by attaching various filters (HME, HMEF, etc.) to the outlet line of ventilators to reduce this risk. Although these filters reduce the viral load to a certain extent, they cannot completely prevent it. It is emphasized that filters with smaller pore diameters (HEPA, etc.) prevent air flow, thus prevent successful ventilation. In addition, these filters need to be changed frequently at certain periods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread to almost all countries in the world. One of the most important elements in the struggle is the running of professional health services. The COVID-19 virus causes severe acute respiratory syndrome as a result of the damage it causes to the lungs. Mechanical ventilators are therefore critical devices in the fight against COVID-19. However, there are various risks for healthcare professionals in the use of mechanical ventilators in the event of a pandemic. The most important of these is aerosol-borne viral transmission. While mechanical ventilators provide respiratory support to the intubated patient, the air exhaled from the patient's lungs is released to the intensive care environment by passing through the outlet line. In addition, as a result of mechanical ventilation, many ventilator devices cause much more aerosol formation than normal breathing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has spread very quickly compared to other epidemics and pandemics, there are many intubated patients in the intensive care units of hospitals. The intubation period of these patients lasts for days or even weeks. In short, healthcare professionals working in intensive care unit have to work in intensive care services with a high viral load caused by aerosol exhaled from the lungs of many COVID-19 positive patients. This is a very important risk factor for healthcare professionals. In SARS in 2003 and H1 N1 viral outbreaks in 2009, this risk was identified by experts and it was recommended to perform ventilation by attaching various filters (HME, HMEF, etc.) to the outlet line of ventilators to reduce this risk. Although these filters reduce the viral load to a certain extent, they cannot completely prevent it. When trying to increase the effectiveness of these filters by reducing the pore diameter, they prevent successful ventilation by preventing air flow. This invention is a UV-C germicidal ray-based sterilizer device that can be integrated into the outlet line of mechanical ventilators and thus prevent the transmission of patient-borne contagion from the outlet line to the environment. The invention is a biomedical product developed for the healthcare industry. Healthcare personnel are in the highest risk group in epidemic and pandemic situations such as COVID-19. A solution that will eliminate this risk arising from virus-positive patients connected to mechanical ventilators, especially in intensive care settings, will have a very important potential in the healthcare field. It will be a product with a high potential for use also in non-pandemic and non-epidemic periods, as it will be beneficial to be used in every case with an infectious risk, besides pandemic or epidemic situations. This invention will gain use not only in pandemic periods but also in the case of many diseases transmitted by common aerosol means. In the new world order, where countries will want to be more prepared for epidemic and pandemic situations, it will always be in the inventory of healthcare organizations as a piece of important equipment. This invention can be used in mechanical ventilators or other respiratory support devices not only for the treatment of the COVID-19 virus but also for the treatment of all viral and bacterial infections with aerosol transmission potential.

The invention, with the UV-C sterilizer positioned on the outlet line of the mechanical ventilator, enables the safe use of UV-C rays in environments such as intensive care units, where people are constantly present and there are patients generating infectious aerosols, and prevents the infection at the source before it is released into the environment.

The invention is a sterilization device that can prevent the air exhaled from the lungs of COVID-19 patients connected to the ventilator from increasing the viral load of the intensive care environment. The basis of this system is based on the principle of inactivating viruses on aerosol droplets and in the air by exposing them to UV-C radiation. UV-C radiation is a type of ray with strong germicidal properties that is widely used for killing and inactivating bacteria and viruses. For this reason, it is used for the sterilization of many viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19. Since UV-C light is a harmful light to the eyes and skin, it is inconvenient to have people in the environments where it is used. For this reason, the standard use of UV-C lamps for the sterilization of the viral load released into the ambient air as a result of mechanical ventilation is not suitable because there are always patients and personnel in the intensive care unit. For this reason, the UV-C filtering system, the prototype of which we have also prepared, consists of an isolated mechanism that allows the exhaled air to pass through a tube with a UV-C lamp attached to the outlet line of the mechanical ventilator device and does not allow the UV-C rays to spread to the environment.

FIGURES

Figure 1 . General View of the Invention During Use

Figure 2. Detail View of the UV-C Sterilizer

Figure 3. Detail View of the Enclosed UV-C Sterilizer Reference numbers corresponding to the part numbers indicated in the Figures

1 . Mechanical ventilator

1.1. Inlet Line

1 .2. Outlet Line

1.3. Air Outlet

2. UV-C Sterilizer

2.1. UV-C Light Source

2.2. Microcontroller Based Controller

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a sterilization device that can prevent the air exhaled from the lungs of COVID-19 patients from increasing the viral load of the intensive care environment. The basis of this system is based on the principle of inactivating viruses on aerosol droplets and in the air by exposing them to UV-C rays. The invention consists of an insulated mechanism that is attached to the outlet line of the mechanical ventilator device and is designed to pass through a tube containing a UV-C lamp, and that does not allow the UV-C radiation to diffuse into the environment.

The invention relates to the UV-C sterilizer (2) consisting of a UV-C light source (2.1 ), a microcontroller-based control element (2.2) positioned on the output line (1.2) of the mechanical ventilator (1 ) containing the inlet line (1.1), outlet line (1 .2), air outlet (1.3) sections.

The invention, with the UV-C sterilizer position on the outlet line of the mechanical ventilator, enables the safe use of UV-C rays in environments such as intensive care units, where people are constantly present and there are patients generating infectious aerosols, and prevents the infection at the source before it is released into the environment. In the UV-C sterilizer (2), a germicidal UV-C light source (2.1) is used to solve the problems we have described in the prior art. UV-C sterilizer (2), which prevents aerosol virus (COVID-19) transmission from the mechanical ventilator (1), and microcontroller-based control element (2.2) is used. The microcontroller- based control element used (2.2) is employed for the control of the time counter showing the useful life of the UV-C light source (2.1) with a wavelength of 254 nm, which has an effective usage time of 12,000 hours, and audible warning device (buzzer) that signals the decreasing service life of the UV-C light source (2.1). Thanks to the microcontroller-based control element (2.2), the time remaining from the operating time of the device (12.000 hours), depending on the usage, is displayed on the timer. At the end of the usage period, information is given to the health personnel by means of an audible warning device. In this way, the reliability of the system is constantly monitored. The timer is reset automatically when a new lamp is installed. Our system is fed by converting the mains voltage to 12V DC with an AC&DC power supply that converts the mains voltage taken as 220V 50 Hz to 12V DC voltage, which is the system requirement of the microcontroller- based control element (2.2) and the UV-C light source (2.1). The control of all values and the system is carried out throughout the operating period of the device.

Thanks to the UV-C tube voltage and the ballasts to be used as the transmission organ, the UV-C light source (2.1) will be triggered. After triggering, the voltage in the UV-C tube will reach 650 Vrms and 254 nm UV-C will be radiated. Thanks to this radiation, the air coming from the outlet line (1.2) of the mechanical ventilator (1 ) is sterilized by first passing through a suitable filter (HME, HMEF, etc.) and then through the UV-C (254 nm) sterilization line, and then is evacuated from the outlet line (1.2) of the mechanical ventilator (1 ). Thus, it will be ensured that the virus transmission that cannot be prevented by the filter is deactivated by the 254 nm radiation of the UV-C light source (2.1) in the channel with 500 cm³ air volume in the reflective cylinder tube, which is resistant to the effects created by the wavelength. Apart from this, the device is designed to provide 100% radiation isolation in order to ensure that it can be used safely in environments where people are present.

In addition, it is ensured that device-induced transmission to the maintenance personnel is prevented thanks to the invention during its maintenance and repair as the viral loads are minimized on the device.

Claims

1. It is a UV-C sterilizer that prevents the transmission of the aerosol virus (COVID-19) originating from the mechanical ventilator and is characterized by a UV-C sterilizer (2) positioned on at least one of the outlet line (1 .2) and air outlet (1 .3) section of the mechanical ventilator (1 ).

2. It is the UV-C sterilizer (2) positioned on the outlet line (1.2) of the mechanical ventilator (1) mentioned in Claim 1 and is characterized by a germicidal UV-C light source (2.1 ) and a microcontroller-based control element (2.2) that provides the control of the timer indicating the useful life of the UV-C light source (2.1 ) and the audible warning device (buzzer) that signals the decreasing service life of the UV-C light source (2.1 ).