PROSTHETIC ACCESSORY STERILIZER

Abstract

This invention relates to a prosthetic accessory sterilizer (1), and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a prosthetic liner or sleeve sterilizer. In accordance with this invention there is provided a prosthetic accessory sterilizer comprising an elongate support (3) for receiving a sleeve thereover, a number of ventilation openings (4) in the elongate support (3), air movement means to move air through the ventilation openings (4) and an airborne produced particle that kills bacteria, for example ozone, but not exclusively ozone.

Claims

1. A prosthetic accessory sterilizer comprising an elongate support for receiving a sleeve thereover, a number of ventilation openings in the elongate support and air movement means to move air through the ventilation openings.

2. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which the elongate support extends operatively upright from a base and has a cover locatable over the support and a lower open end of the cover to seat in a seat formation on the base.

3. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which the prosthetic accessory sterilizer includes an oil diffuser.

4. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 3 in which the diffuser diffuses oil from an oil reservoir.

5. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 4 in which the diffused oil is forced through the elongate support and out of the ventilation openings in the elongate support towards an inside surface of the sleeve.

6. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which the prosthetic accessory sterilizer includes an ozone source.

7. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which the elongate support terminates in a thickened end to support part of an inside of the sleeve thereon.

8. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 7 in which the thickened end has protrusions extending therefrom to support the sleeve thereon, spaced away from the thickened end.

9. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 8 in which the protrusions terminate in rounded ends.

10. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 7 in which the thickened end has a larger cross-section than a cross-section of the support so that the sleeve is spaced from the support when it is draped over the thickened end.

11. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 2 in which the cover includes a lid at a top open end thereof.

12. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 2 in which the cover or the base has a closeable moisture escape opening.

13. (canceled)

14. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which sterilizer includes an UV light.

15. (canceled)

16. The prosthetic sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which an air flow path extends from outside the base through filter openings in the base into an operatively lower end of the elongate support, operatively upwards in the elongate support and out through ventilation openings in the elongate support and through ventilation openings in the thickened end at the upper end of the elongate support.

17. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which the base houses the oil diffuser, electronic components, a moisture escape opening, air movement means, UV light or blue light and/or an ozone source.

18. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 1 in which the elongate support includes a series of ventilation openings.

19. The prosthetic accessory sterilizer as claimed in claim 4 in which the oil reservoir is a tray slidingly removable from the base for refilling thereof.

20. A method of sterilising a prosthetic accessory comprising the steps of: placing the accessory over an elongate support; and moving air from within the support, with air movement means, through a number of ventilation openings in the elongate support towards the accessory.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 further including the steps of: generating ozone to move ozone rich air through the elongate support, out through ventilation openings towards the accessory.

22. The method of sterilising a prosthetic accessory as claimed in claim 20 including the further step of: moving air containing diffused or atomised oil through the elongate support, out through the ventilation openings in the wall of the elongate support and towards the accessory.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the prosthetic accessory sterilizer;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a side view of part of the prosthetic accessory sterilizer, a lid of a cover being excluded from this view and an oil tray removed from the prosthetic accessory sterilizer;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of the prosthetic accessory sterilizer with the lid of the cover included and the tray located in its operative position;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows the prosthetic accessory sterilizer with a sleeve in transparent view for illustration purposes drawn over its elongate support;

[0038] FIG. 5 shows the same view of FIG. 1 of the prosthetic accessory sterilizer but without the lid on the cover; and

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a perspective front view of the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0040] With reference to the drawings, a prosthetic accessory sterilizer for sterilising a prosthetic accessory is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

[0041] The prosthetic sterilizer includes a hollow elongate support 3 for supporting a sleeve 23 thereover. Ventilation openings 4 allow air to flow from inside the support 3 towards an inner surface of the sleeve 23. Air movement means in the form of a fan 9 forces air up into the support 3 and out through the ventilation openings 4.

[0042] The accessory sterilizer 1 further includes a base section 17, an electrical supply cable 18, a removable cover 5 and lid 24.

[0043] The base 17 has a base plate 19, a top part 20 and a ventilation cavity 21.

[0044] The elongate support 3 is a tube which extends operatively upwardly from the centre of the base 17. The elongate support 3 is hollow and cylindrical in shape, having a bottom open end.

[0045] The base plate 19 is a disc-shaped bottom section or disc at the operatively bottom of the base 17.

[0046] The top part 20 extends from the base plate 19. The top part 20 is cylindrically or substantially dome-shaped and forms a lower housing as described further below. The apex of the dome 20 supports the elongate support 3 therein. A bottom end of the elongate support 3 terminates inside the dome 20.

[0047] An oil tray 7 is situated in a side of the dome 20. The oil tray 7 is and open-ended box, open at its operatively top. An outside surface of an outer wall of the oil tray 7 is complementary curved to the surface of the dome 20 to provide support walls (side walls and a bottom wall) for the tray. A handle extends from the outside surface or wall of the tray 7. The handle is rectangular with curved corners.

[0048] The support walls, complementary to a bottom and side surfaces of the tray 7, extend inwards from the dome 19, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0049] An air vent opening 25 is located on a side of the dome 20. The air vent opening 25 is rectangular in shape and extends through the side wall of the dome 20. A door 26 covers the opening. The door 26 is electronically operable and is moveable between a closed and opened position.

[0050] A control panel 2 is situated on or in a side of the dome 20. The control panel 2 is substantially rectangular in shape. The electronic control panel 2 controls the functionality of the components within the dome 20. The control panel 2 includes a timer (not shown) to control electronics of the components and thus the operation of the sterilizer 1. The timer allows for the electronic components to be switched on and/or off after a certain period of time or at a scheduled time.

[0051] A LED light 27, which emits a UV light such as a UVB light, is located on an operatively inside surface of the base plate 19.

[0052] A power cable 18 extends from the dome 20.

[0053] A flat operatively horizontal, ring-shaped divider wall, divides the base in a bottom housing and upper apex or frusto conical section. The wall extends around the elongate support up to a circumferential rim on the outside of the domed base. The outer circumference the rim forms an outer flat ring or step or seat around the base of the apex for receiving a bottom edge of the cover 5.

[0054] Ventilation openings 14 are spaced apart around the elongate support on the flat ring-shaped surface of the dome 20.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 2, air filters 15 are attached to the underside (inside) surface of the divider wall, below and covering ventilation openings 14 in the divider wall.

[0056] A diffuser 8 is attached to the inside of the bottom housing of the dome 20 at a top end of a tray cavity. The diffuser 8 has a nozzle that extends through a bottom end of the support 3 and terminates inside the support 3, above a fan 9.

[0057] The fan 9 is centrally located in the base 17. The fan impeller 24 is attached to a motor 9 attached to the base plate 19. The impeller 24 is situated at a top end of the motor 9.

[0058] The bottom open end of the elongate support 3 extends over the fan 9 with a bottom edge, just below its impeller 24.

[0059] An ozone generator 13 is situated on an inside surface at a lower end of the elongate support 3, above the fan impeller 24.

[0060] A ventilation cavity 21 is formed between and upside down (frusto conical) funnel or apex section with slots therein and the bottom end of the elongate support 3. The slots correspond with the filter openings 14 in the flat ring-shaped wall of the dome 20.

[0061] The elongate support 3, in the form of a tube, extends upwards from the dome 20 and terminates in a thickened end 22. The thickened end 22 is dome-shaped and has a larger diameter than the tube. The elongate support 3 has a larger diameter inside the dome 20. Thereafter the elongate support 3 tapers to a smaller diameter to where it joins with the apex of the slotted-funnel 21. The rest of the elongate support 3 is right-circular up to the thickened end 22.

[0062] Ventilation openings 4 are spaced apart on and about the wall of the elongate support tube 3.

[0063] Stubs 6 extend from the top surface of the thickened end 22. The stubs 6 are rounded, concave at their tops.

[0064] The cylindrical hollow cover 5, when in position, seats on the dome 20 in the step described above and covers the elongate support 3. The top end of the cover 5 is open.

[0065] A lid 24 seats on the top open end of the cover 5. A handle 16 extends from the lid 24. The lid 24 has a seal around a bottom edge thereof to form an air-tight seal between the lid 24 and cover 5.

[0066] An air flow path extends from outside the base through ventilation openings 14, or air vent opening 25, to inside the base 17 into an operatively lower end of the elongate support 3, operatively upwards in the elongate support 3 and out through ventilation openings 4 in the elongate support 3 and through ventilation openings 4 in the thickened end 22 at the upper end of the elongate support 3.

[0067] In use, a prosthesis sleeve 23 is placed over the elongate support 3. The stubs 6 space the prosthesis sleeve 23 from an outer surface of the thickened end 22 in order to improve air distribution. The thickened end 22 also ensures that the sleeve 23 hangs away from the tube 3 i.e. spaced therefrom. The cover 5 is placed on the base 17. The lid 24 is located on the cover 5 using the handle to place the lid 24. The electrical cable 18 is connected to an electrical source. The fan 9 causes air circulation within the sterilizer 1, as described below. At this time, both the diffuser 8 and the ozone generator 12 may be operative or either one may be selectively operative. The control panel 2 may be used to selectively activate or de-activate the diffuser 8 and/or ozone generator 12. Oil is placed inside the oil tray 7. The diffuser 8 transports the oil to, or diffuses the oil, over the fan 9. Air enters the funnel 21 and dome 20 through the filter openings 14 in the funnel 21 and dome 20. The air is filtered through the filters 15. The fan 9 pushes the air upwards inside the elongate support 3 and through the ventilation openings 4. The ozone generator 12 and the diffuser 8 causes the air to be mixed with diffused oil and/or ozone before the air is pushed to and through the ventilation openings 4 in the elongate support 3. The oil impregnated air and ozone will push through the ventilation openings 4 and onto an inner surface of the sleeve 23 in case of an air impervious sleeve 23. In case of an air-pervious sleeve 23 some of the air diffused oil and/or ozone will travel through the sleeve 23. It is possible for the user to require that the ozone need to be denatured at a faster rate, therefore an UVB light 27 could be switched on at the control panel 2 for any desired period of time. The UVB light 27 removes ozone at an accelerated pace. In any event, whether or not the air or part thereof flows through the sleeve 23, the cover 5 and lid 24 contain and circulate the air inside the sterilizer 1. In order for the ozone to work optimally, the door 26 of the air vent opening 25 will be opened to first release any excess moisture in the air inside the cover 5. Thereafter the door 26 will be closed to keep the ozone within the cover 5.

[0068] It is envisaged that the sterilizer 1 described above herein will be convenient to use to sterilise a prosthetic sleeve with ozone and to diffuse oil for aromatic effect. In some cases the oil may include anti-microbial substances which will be diffused and circulated as with the oil. Ozone is emissive and should also not be inhaled and although the cover 5 and lid 24 might not provide an airtight seal the cover 5 and lid 24 mostly contain the ozone inside the sterilizer 1. The UV light also denatures the ozone. The lid 24 makes it easy for a user to place the sleeve or liner 23 inside the sterilizer 1.

[0069] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the prosthetic accessory sterilizer may have either a diffuser or an ozone generator or both. The cover may also be airtight or it may be adjusted to allow for a small passage for small volumes of air to enter the sterilizer. The control may be located remotely from the sterilizer, the sterilizer may even be remote controlled. The housing or dome may be any convenient shape. The elongate support may be any substantially elongate, hollow column and need not be circular with different diameters as disclosed.