Ozone Foam for Treating Dermatitis

Abstract

A method of placing a glove onto a user's hand. In a first step, the user's hand is coated in foam. In a second step, the user's hand is inserted into the glove, while the user's hand is coated in the foam. The foam may contain ozone in a concentration that is selected to treat and/or prevent dermatitis. The foam may also contain alcohol for disinfecting the user's hand.

Claims

1. A method of placing a glove onto a hand comprising: at least one of: coating the hand in foam; and applying foam into an inner cavity of the glove; and sliding the hand into the glove.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the foam is applied into the inner cavity of the glove before sliding the hand into the glove.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the foam contains ozone.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the foam has a concentration of ozone that is selected to treat dermatitis on the hand.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the foam has a concentration of ozone that is selected to protect the hand from dermatitis.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the foam has a concentration of ozone that is selected to promote healing of the hand.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the foam has a concentration of ozone that is selected to kill pathogens on the hand.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the foam disinfects the hand.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the foam contains alcohol for disinfecting the hand.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the foam is selected to remain stable for a preselected period of time.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the foam comprises bubbles of gas in a foamable liquid; and wherein at least one of the gas, the foamable liquid, a size of the bubbles, a ratio of the foamable liquid to the gas, and a method of generating the foam are selected so that at least some of the bubbles remain intact for the preselected period of time.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least 50% of the bubbles of gas remain intact for at least 30 seconds.

13. The method according to claim 3, wherein the foam comprises bubbles of an ozonated gas in a foamable liquid.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the bubbles have a mean bubble diameter in a range of 50 μm to 600 μm.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the foam has a ratio of between about 1:5 and about 1:60 of the foamable liquid to the ozonated gas by volume.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the foam comprises between about 0.5 mL and 10 mL of the foamable liquid and between about 2.5 mL and 100 mL of the ozonated gas.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the foamable liquid comprises a foaming agent; wherein the foaming agent comprises a surfactant; and wherein the foamable liquid comprises about 0.1% to 15% of the surfactant by volume.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the ozonated gas has between 0.000001% and 0.05% ozone by volume.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the foam has a concentration of ozone that is selected to treat dermatitis on the hand and/or to protect the hand from dermatitis; wherein the foam contains alcohol for disinfecting the hand; and wherein the ozonated gas comprises ozonated air.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the foam is selected to remain stable for a preselected period of time; wherein at least 50% of the bubbles of gas remain intact for at least 30 seconds; wherein the bubbles have a mean bubble diameter in a range of 50 μm to 600 μm; wherein the foam has a ratio of between about 1:5 and about 1:60 of the foamable liquid to the ozonated gas by volume; wherein the foam comprises between about 0.5 mL and 10 mL of the foamable liquid and between about 2.5 mL and 100 mL of the ozonated gas; wherein the ozonated gas has between 0.000001% and 0.05% ozone by volume; wherein the foamable liquid comprises a foaming agent; wherein the foaming agent comprises a surfactant; and wherein the foamable liquid comprises about 0.1% to 15% of the surfactant by volume.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0271] Further aspects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0272] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a foam dispenser in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0273] FIG. 2 is a side view of the foam dispenser shown in FIG. 1, with the internal components of the foam dispenser hidden from view within a housing;

[0274] FIG. 3 is a side view of a user's hand that is coated with foam to assist in placing a glove onto the user's hand;

[0275] FIG. 4 is a side view of the foam dispenser shown in FIG. 2 dispensing foam into a glove; and

[0276] FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of a hand hygiene station in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0277] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a foam dispenser 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The foam dispenser 10 is operative to discharge an ozone containing foam 44 from a foam outlet 26 onto a user's hand 28. The internal components of the foam dispenser 10 are shown schematically in FIG. 1, and are hidden from view within a housing 58 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the foam dispenser 10 has a fluid reservoir 12, a pump 14, an ozone generator 16, a desiccant 18, an air inlet tube 20, a controller 22, a foam generator 24, and a foam outlet 26. The fluid reservoir 12 contains a foamable liquid. The foamable liquid is preferably a hand sanitizing liquid that may, for example, contain alcohol for the purpose of disinfecting/sanitizing a user's hand 28. The fluid reservoir 12 is in fluid communication with a liquid inlet 40 of the pump 14 for delivering the foamable liquid to the pump 14.

[0278] The air inlet tube 20 has an open end 30 that is open to the atmospheric air. The desiccant 18 is in fluid communication with the air inlet tube 20, and serves to remove moisture from atmospheric air that is drawn through the desiccant 18 from the open end 30. The desiccant 18 is in fluid communication with the ozone generator 16 for delivering the dried atmospheric air to the ozone generator 16.

[0279] The ozone generator 16 is preferably in the form of a corona discharge chamber 32 having a first electrode 34 and a second electrode 36. The first electrode 34 and the second electrode 36 are connected by wires 38 to the controller 22. The controller 22 is configured to activate the ozone generator 16 by applying a sufficiently high voltage between the first electrode 34 and the second electrode 36 to generate a corona discharge. When the ozone generator 16 is activated, the corona discharge converts oxygen in the dried atmospheric air received from the desiccant 18 into ozone, thereby producing ozonated air. The ozone generator 16 is in fluid communication with an air inlet 42 of the pump 14 for delivering the ozonated air to the pump 14.

[0280] The pump 14 is configured to draw the foamable liquid from the fluid reservoir 12 into the pump 14 through the liquid inlet 40; to draw the ozonated air from the ozone generator 16 into the pump 14 through the air inlet 42; and is in fluid communication with the foam generator 24 for delivering the foamable liquid and the ozonated air from the pump 14 to the foam generator 24. The foam generator 24 is configured to thoroughly mix the foamable liquid and the ozonated air to generate an ozone containing foam 44, which is then discharged from the foam outlet 26. The ozone containing foam 44 is preferably discharged from the foam outlet 26 onto a user's hand 28, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0281] After the foam 44 is dispensed onto the user's hand 28, it is preferably spread over the entire outer surface of the user's hand 28 by, for example, rubbing the user's hands 28 together, so that there is a coating of foam 44 covering the user's hand 28 as shown in FIG. 3. With the foam 44 covering the user's hand 28, the alcohol in the foam 44 disinfects the user's hand 28 by killing some or all of the pathogens that are on the user's hand 28. The ozone in the foam 44 also preferably helps to treat and/or protect against dermatitis on the user's hand 28. The ozone may, for example, react with molecules on the surface of the user's hand 28, providing a transient and mild oxidative stress that activates the body's natural defense mechanisms and repair mechanisms.

[0282] Preferably, while the hand 28 is coated with the foam 44, the hand 28 is placed inside a glove 46, as shown in FIG. 3. The foam 44 may help to reduce the friction between the user's hand 28 and the glove 46, thus making it easier to put on the glove 46, and may help to reduce irritation of the user's skin.

Ozone Concentration

[0283] The ozone containing foam 44 that is dispensed from the foam outlet 26 preferably contains a suitable quantity/concentration of ozone for treating dermatitis on the user's hand 28 and/or for protecting the user's hand 28 from dermatitis. The ozone containing foam 44 may, for example, contain a concentration from 2 to 300 μM of ozone, or a concentration from 10 to 40 μg/mL of ozone. Optionally, when the ozone containing foam 44 is to be used to treat dermatitis and/or to protect the user's hand 28 from dermatitis, the concentration of ozone in the ozonated air may be less than 0.05% (or 500 ppm) by volume; less than 0.04% (or 400 ppm) by volume; less than 0.03% (or 300 ppm) by volume; less than 0.02% (or 200 ppm) by volume; less than 0.01% (or 100 ppm) by volume; less than 0.005% (or 50 ppm) by volume; less than 0.001% (or 10 ppm) by volume; less than 0.0001% (or 1 ppm) by volume; less than 0.00001% (or 0.1 ppm) by volume; or between 0.000001% (or 0.01 ppm) and 0.05% (or 500 ppm) by volume. The concentration of ozone could also be greater than 0.05% (or 500 ppm) by volume. Higher concentrations of ozone may be desired, for example, if the ozone is to be used as a biocide or sanitizing agent. The dispenser 10 could also be configured to dispense foam 44 that contains no ozone, or which contains only a trace amount of ozone. Having little or no ozone may be desired, for example, if the foam 44 is not intended to treat dermatitis, and is provided only for the purpose of reducing friction between the user's hand 28 and the glove 46. The invention is not limited to any particular quantity/concentration of ozone, and a person skilled in the art could select any desired quantity/concentration of ozone that is suitable for the intended use of the foam 44.

Foam Characteristics

[0284] The characteristics of the foam 44 may be selected based on its intended use, including foam height, foam bubble size, foam bubble size distribution, foam consistency, and foam stability or foam life time. Preferably, the foam 44 is formulated so as to remain relatively stable for at least a short duration of time after the foam 44 is dispensed, so that at least some of the bubbles in the foam 44 remain intact while the user spreads the foam 44 over his or her hands 28 and then puts on gloves 46. The foam 44 may, for example, be formulated so as to remain stable with at least some of the bubbles, and preferably most of the bubbles, intact for a preselected period of time. The foam 44 may, for example, remain stable with at least 25%, or at least 50%, or at least 75%, or at least 90%, or at least 95% of the bubbles intact for at least 5 seconds, or at least 10 seconds, or at least 20 seconds, or at least 30 seconds, or at least 1 minute, or at least 5 minutes after being dispensed.

[0285] Foam life time may be considered a measure of foam stability, and can be defined as a period in which the foam 44 remains after discharge as a foam 44 without collapsing into a liquid. Foam life time may be considered in one measure as foam half-life, being the period of time that one half of the gas bubbles remain without collapse into a liquid after discharge of the foam 44 onto a surface. The foam 44 may, for example, have a foam life time of at least 10 seconds, at least 30 seconds, at least 60 seconds, or greater. The foam half-life may, for example, be at least 20 seconds, at least 30 seconds, or greater.

[0286] In some embodiments of the invention, the foam 44 may be selected to have a relatively small bubble size, to improve the stability of the foam 44. The foam bubbles may, for example, be smaller than 2 mm or smaller than 1 mm. Optionally, the bubbles have a mean bubble diameter in a range of 50 μm to 600 μm, or in a range of 100 μm to 300 μm.

[0287] Other foam characteristics, such as the ratio of the foamable liquid to the ozonated air and the volume of the foam 44 that is dispensed with each activation of the dispenser 10, could also be selected based on the intended use of the foam 44. The ratio by volume of the foamable liquid to the ozonated air in the foam 44 when the foam 44 is dispensed could, for example, be about 1:5; about 1:10; about 1:15; about 1:50; about 1:60; or between about 1:5 and about 1:60. The volume of the foamable liquid and the ozonated air that are dispensed as a dose of foam 44 with each activation of the dispenser 10 could, for example, be about 0.5 mL of foamable liquid and about 2.5 mL of ozonated gas; or about 1 mL of foamable liquid and about 5 mL of ozonated gas; or about 1 mL of foamable liquid and about 10 mL of ozonated gas; or about 2 mL of foamable liquid and about 40 mL of ozonated gas; or about 2 mL of foamable liquid and about 80 mL of ozonated gas; or about 5 mL of foamable liquid and about 100 mL of ozonated gas; or about 10 mL of foamable liquid and about 100 mL of ozonated gas; or about 1 mL of foamable liquid and about 50 mL of ozonated gas; or about 5 mL of foamable liquid and about 25 mL of ozonated gas.

[0288] A person skilled in the art could adjust the formulation of the foam 44 so as to provide the desired degree of stability and other foam characteristics by, for example, adjusting the chemical composition or other properties of the ozone containing gas; the chemical composition or other properties of the foamable liquid; the size of the bubbles; the ratio of the gas to the foamable liquid; and the method by which the foam is generated, including for example the construction and material properties of the foam generator 24.

[0289] Foam characteristics that may be advantageous in some circumstances are described in US Patent Publication 2017/0231437 to Ciavarella, published Aug. 17, 2017, and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,842,725 to Wegner et al., issued Nov. 20, 2010, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Foamable Liquid

[0290] Any suitable foamable liquid could be used, and the invention is not limited to any particular composition of the foamable liquid. The foamable liquid could, for example, contain water and an alcohol. The alcohol could, for example, be selected from ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, and mixtures thereof. The alcohol may, for example, comprise 20% to 90% by volume of the foamable liquid and the water may, for example, comprise 80% to 10% by volume of the foamable liquid. The foamable liquid also optionally includes an effective amount of a foaming agent, such as a surfactant. Suitable surfactants may include silicone containing compounds, surfactants containing silicon or silane, surfactants containing dimethicones, fluorosurfactants, and/or siloxane polymer surfactants. The surfactants may, for example, comprise 0.1% to 15% by volume of the foamable liquid. The foamable liquid may also contain other additives, such as foam stabilizers, emulsifying agents, conditioners, skin moisturizers, emollients, preservatives, fragrances, and dyes. Preferably, the foamable liquid does not include additives that would react with the ozone so as to reduce the concentration of ozone below the intended concentration. A person skilled in the art could adjust the composition of the foamable liquid based on its intended use.

Other Optional Features and Uses

[0291] Optionally, the foam dispenser 10 could be used to dispense the ozone containing foam 44 directly into an inner cavity of the glove 44 before the glove 44 is put onto the user's hand 28, as shown in FIG. 4. Dispensing the foam 44 into the glove 44 may help to reduce the friction between the user's hand 28 and the glove 44, thus making it easier to put on the glove 44 and potentially reducing skin irritation. Dispensing the foam 44 directly into the glove 44 could be done in addition to, or instead of, dispensing the foam 44 directly onto the user's hand 28.

[0292] Optionally, the controller 22 functions as an ozone adjuster 56 that is capable of adjusting the amount of ozone that is dispensed in the ozone containing foam 44 with each activation of the dispenser 10. The controller 22 may, for example, be configured to receive operating instructions from a user or input from a computer system to select a mode of operation from a set of possible modes of operation, with each mode of operation providing a different amount of ozone in the ozone containing foam 44. Any suitable mechanism for providing operating instructions to the controller 22 could be used, such as an electronic switch, a mechanical dial, a touchscreen interface, or a wireless connection. The controller 22 could, for example, allow for selection from a first mode of operation, in which the amount of ozone is selected to treat and/or prevent dermatitis; a second mode of operation, in which the amount of ozone is selected to kill pathogens on the user's hands 28; and a third mode of operation, in which the foam 44 is ozone-free. In the first mode of operation, the controller 22 could be configured to activate the ozone generator 16 for a relatively short amount of time, so that only a relatively low dose of ozone is generated, such as less than 0.05% of ozone by volume in the ozonated air. In the second mode of operation, the controller 22 could be configured to activate the ozone generator 16 for a longer period of time, so that a larger dose of ozone is generated, such as 0.1% of ozone by volume in the ozonated air. In the third mode of operation, the controller 22 could be configured to not activate the ozone generator 16 at all, so that no ozone is generated or dispensed.

[0293] The controller 22 could also be configured to adjust the amount of ozone that is dispensed from the dispenser 10 by, for example, adjusting the volume of the ozone containing gas that is mixed with the foamable liquid; the ratio of ozone containing gas to the foamable liquid; and/or the volume of the ozone containing foam 44 that is dispensed from the foam outlet 26. Any other suitable mechanism for adjusting the amount of ozone that is dispensed from the dispenser 10 in a single dosage could also be used.

[0294] Optionally, the dispenser 10 includes a sensor 60 that senses a concentration of ozone in the ozone containing gas that is generated by the ozone generator 16, or that senses a parameter that can be used to estimate or calculate the concentration of ozone in the ozone containing gas. The sensor 60 could be used, for example, to provide feedback to the controller 22 so that the operation of the ozone generator 16 can be adjusted to provide the desired concentration of ozone. The controller 22 preferably controls the ozone generator 16 so that the concentration of ozone in the ozone containing gas is within a preselected range of acceptable concentrations.

[0295] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which depicts a hand hygiene station 48 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Like numerals represent like components.

[0296] The hand hygiene station 48 shown in FIG. 5 incorporates a foam dispenser 10 and a glove dispenser 50. The foam dispenser 10 preferably dispenses ozone containing foam 44, similarly to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The glove dispenser 50 carries three glove boxes 52 from which gloves 46 can be dispensed. The three glove boxes 52 may, for example, dispense small, medium, and large sized gloves 46, respectively. The glove dispenser 50 and the foam dispenser 10 are mounted on a support post 54, with the foam dispenser 10 positioned directly above the glove dispenser 50. This provides a convenient one-stop location for users to sanitize their hands 28 and put on gloves 46. The hand hygiene station 48 may, for example, be used to coat the user's hands 28 in ozone containing foam 44 prior to placing gloves 46 onto the user's hands 28, as described above with respect to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The foam dispenser 10 of the hand hygiene station 48 shown in FIG. 5 is optionally identical to the dispenser 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and may be used in the same manner as the dispenser 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 as described above.

[0297] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore provide use of a foam 44 to assist in sliding a hand 28 into a glove 46.

[0298] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide use of an ozone containing foam 44 to treat dermatitis.

[0299] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide use of an ozone containing foam 44 to prevent dermatitis.

[0300] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a dispenser 10 for dispensing an ozone containing foam 44, the dispenser 10 comprising: an ozone generator 16 that generates an ozone containing gas; a foam generator 24 that receives the ozone containing gas and mixes the ozone containing gas with a foamable liquid to generate the ozone containing foam 44; and a discharge outlet 26 for discharging the ozone containing foam 44; wherein the ozone containing foam 44 is for at least one of: treating dermatitis and preventing dermatitis.

[0301] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a dispenser 10 for dispensing an ozone containing foam 44, the dispenser 10 comprising: an ozone generator 16 that generates an ozone containing gas; a foam generator 24 that receives the ozone containing gas and mixes the ozone containing gas with a foamable liquid to generate the ozone containing foam 44; a discharge outlet 26 for discharging the ozone containing foam 44; and an ozone adjustor 56 for adjusting an amount of ozone that is dispensed in the ozone containing foam 44 upon activation of the dispenser 10.

[0302] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of placing a glove 46 onto a hand 28 comprising: coating the hand 28 in foam 44; and sliding the hand 28, while the hand 28 is coated in the foam 44, into the glove 46.

[0303] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of placing a glove 46 onto a hand 28 comprising: applying foam 44 into an inner cavity of the glove 46; and sliding the hand 28 into the glove 46.

[0304] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of placing a glove 46 onto a hand 28 comprising: at least one of: coating the hand 28 in foam 44; and applying foam 44 into an inner cavity of the glove 46; and sliding the hand 28 into the glove 46.

[0305] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of treating dermatitis comprising: applying an ozone containing foam 44 to a person's skin.

[0306] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of preventing dermatitis comprising: applying an ozone containing foam 44 to a person's skin.

[0307] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of treating dermatitis on a hand 28 comprising: placing an ozone containing foam 44 into a glove 46; and placing the hand 28 into the glove 46.

[0308] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of preventing dermatitis on a hand 28 comprising: placing an ozone containing foam 44 into a glove 46; and placing the hand 28 into the glove 46.

[0309] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a dispenser 10 for dispensing an ozone containing foam 44, the dispenser 10 comprising: an ozone generator 16 that generates an ozone containing gas; a foam generator 24 that receives the ozone containing gas and mixes the ozone containing gas with a foamable liquid to generate the ozone containing foam 44; and a discharge outlet 26 for discharging the ozone containing foam 44.

[0310] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a foam for use in assisting in sliding a hand 28 into a glove 46.

[0311] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide an ozone containing foam 44 for use in treating dermatitis.

[0312] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide an ozone containing foam 44 for use in preventing dermatitis.

[0313] The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 therefore also provides a hand hygiene station 48 comprising: a foam dispenser 10 for dispensing foam 44; and a glove dispenser 50 for dispensing gloves 46; wherein the foam 44 is for at least one of: assisting in sliding a user's hand 28 into one of the gloves 46; treating dermatitis; and preventing dermatitis.

[0314] It will be understood that, although various features of the invention have been described with respect to one or another of the embodiments of the invention, the various features and embodiments of the invention may be combined or used in conjunction with other features and embodiments of the invention as described and illustrated herein.

[0315] The present invention is not limited to the particular construction of the foam dispenser 10 as shown and described herein. Rather, the foam dispenser 10 could have any desired structure or combination of features suitable for generating ozone and/or for generating foam 44. The foam dispenser 10 could, for example, incorporate any suitable structures or components as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,596 to Ophardt et al., issued May 27, 2014; U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,099 to Ophardt, issued Dec. 4, 2007; U.S. Pat. No. 8,272,539 to Ophardt et al., issued Sep. 25, 2012; U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,596 to Ophardt et al., issued May 27, 2014; U.S. Pat. No. 9,573,152 to Ophardt et al., issued Feb. 21, 2017; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,105,018 to Jones et al., issued Oct. 23, 2018, which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0316] The invention is also not limited to the particular method of generating foam as described herein, nor to the particular foam generator 24 that has been shown and described. Nor is the invention limited to the exemplary methods of operating the dispenser 10 that are described herein. All other methods of operating the dispenser 10 that would be apparent to a person skilled in the art are included within the scope of the invention.

[0317] Although the foamable liquid is preferably a hand cleaning fluid, such as hand sanitizer, other types of foamable liquids could be used instead. The term “foamable liquid” is intended to encompass any flowable substance that is capable of foaming. Although the preferred embodiments have described the ozone containing gas as being ozonated air, this is not necessary. Other types of ozone containing gases could also be used, such as a mixture of oxygen and ozone, a mixture of nitrogen and ozone, or a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and ozone.

[0318] Any other types of suitable ozone generators 16 could be used instead of the corona discharge chamber 32, including for example generators 16 that use ultraviolet radiation or cold plasma to generate ozone.

[0319] All measurements referred to herein are preferably at atmospheric pressure (1 atm) and room temperature (20° C.).

[0320] Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are functional, electrical, chemical or mechanical equivalents of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated herein.