Water line decontamination system

Claim 3

A method of decontaminating a fluid line as recited in claim 1, wherein the second fluid is a disinfectant.

Claim 4

A method of decontaminating a fluid line as recited in claim 2, comprising the further step of allowing the disinfectant to stand in the fluid line for longer than a predetermined time period.

Claim 5

A method of decontaminating a fluid line as recited in claim 1, wherein the second fluid is a pressurized gas.

Claim 6

A method of decontaminating a fluid line as recited in claim 4, comprising the further steps of: using the pressurized gas to purge the water from the fluid line; and drying the fluid line for longer than a predetermined time period.

Claim 7

A decontamination system for a water line, comprising: a first inlet for connection to a water supply; a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply; an outlet for connection to a fluid line inlet; a valve assembly for selectively connecting one of the first or the second inlets to the outlet while the other inlet is not connected to the outlet; and a controller for controlling the valve assembly so that water from the water supply is supplied to the outlet when the valve assembly is connected to the first inlet and a second fluid from the second fluid supply is supplied to the outlet when the valve assembly is connected to the second inlet; wherein biofilm in the water line is suppressed by supplying the second fluid to the outlet.

Claim 8

A decontamination system for a water line, comprising: a first inlet for connection to a water supply; a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply; an outlet for connection to a fluid line inlet; a valve assembly for selectively connecting one of the first or the second inlets to the outlet while the other inlet is not connected to the outlet; and a controller for controlling the valve assembly so that water from the water supply is supplied to the outlet when the valve assembly is connected to the first inlet and a second fluid from the second fluid supply is supplied to the outlet when the valve assembly is connected to the second inlet; wherein biofilm in the water line is suppressed by supplying the second fluid to the outlet.

Claim 9

A decontamination system as recited in claim 6, wherein the second fluid is a disinfectant which flushes the water line to suppress biofilm development.

Claim 10

A decontamination system as recited in claim 6, wherein the second fluid is a pressurized gas which dries the water line to suppress biofilm development.

Claim 11

A fluid line decontamination system as recited in claim 6, wherein the valve assembly is comprised of two or more valves.

Claim 12

A decontamination system as recited in claim 6, wherein the water supply is comprised of sterile water.

Claim 13

A decontamination system as recited in claim 6, further comprising: a water supply line connected to the water supply; and sterilizing means placed upstream from the water supply in the water supply line.

Claim 14

A decontamination system for a water line, comprising: a first inlet for connection to a water supply; a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply; a third inlet for connection to a third fluid supply; an outlet for connection to a fluid line inlet; a valve assembly for selectively connecting one of the first, second or third inlets to the outlet while the other two inlets are not connected to the outlet; and a controller; wherein the controller supplies water from the water supply to the outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the first inlet, a second fluid from the second fluid supply to the outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the second inlet and a third fluid from the third fluid supply to the outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the third inlet; wherein biofilm development is suppressed by purging liquid from the water line when the valve assembly is connected to the third inlet.

Claim 15

A decontamination system for a water line, comprising: a first inlet for connection to a water supply; a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply; a third inlet for connection to a third fluid supply; an outlet for connection to a fluid line inlet; a valve assembly for selectively connecting one of the first, second or third inlets to the outlet while the other two inlets are not connected to the outlet; and a controller; wherein the controller supplies water from the water supply to the outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the first inlet, a second fluid from the second fluid supply to the outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the second inlet and a third fluid from the third fluid supply to the outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the third inlet; wherein biofilm development is suppressed by purging liquid from the water line when the valve assembly is connected to the third inlet.

Claim 16

A decontamination system as recited in claim 12, wherein liquid is purged from the water line by flushing the water line with a disinfectant fluid.

Claim 17

A fluid line decontamination system as recited in claim 13, wherein the disinfectant fluid is colored.

Claim 18

A decontamination system as recited in claim 12, wherein liquid is purged from the water line by a pressurized gas which dries the water line.

Claim 19

A decontamination system as recited in claim 12, wherein the water supply is comprised of sterile water.

Claim 20

A decontamination system as recited in claim 12, further comprising: a water supply line connected to the water supply; and sterilizing means placed upstream from the water supply in the water supply line.

Claim 21

A fluid line decontamination system as recited in claim 17, wherein the sterilizing means is comprised of a micro filter.

Claim 22

A decontamination system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a bacterial filter located at the outlet to isolate the system from the water line.

Claim 23

A decontamination system as recited in claim 12 wherein the water supply and the second fluid supply are disposable containers.

Claim 24

A decontamination system as recited in claim 12, wherein the valve assembly is comprised of two or more valves.

Claim 25

A decontamination system for a water line, comprising: a housing with a gas inlet for connection to a pressurized gas supply, a gas outlet and a housing outlet for connection to a fluid line inlet; a valve assembly with a first inlet for connection to a water supply, a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply, a third inlet for connection to the pressurized gas supply through the gas inlet and a valve assembly outlet connected to the housing outlet; the valve assembly being capable of selectively connecting one of the first, second or third inlets to the housing outlet while the other two inlets are not connected to the housing outlet; and a controller that supplies a first fluid from the water supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the first inlet, a second fluid from the second fluid supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the second inlet and pressurized gas from the pressurized gas supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the third inlet; wherein biofilm development is suppressed by purging liquid from the water line when the valve assembly is connected to the third inlet.

Claim 26

A decontamination system for a water line, comprising: a housing with a gas inlet for connection to a pressurized gas supply, a gas outlet and a housing outlet for connection to a fluid line inlet; a valve assembly with a first inlet for connection to a water supply, a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply, a third inlet for connection to the pressurized gas supply through the gas inlet and a valve assembly outlet connected to the housing outlet; the valve assembly being capable of selectively connecting one of the first, second or third inlets to the housing outlet while the other two inlets are not connected to the housing outlet; and a controller that supplies a first fluid from the water supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the first inlet, a second fluid from the second fluid supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the second inlet and pressurized gas from the pressurized gas supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the third inlet; wherein biofilm development is suppressed by purging liquid from the water line when the valve assembly is connected to the third inlet.

Claim 27

A fluid line decontamination system as recited in claim 22, further comprising a gas microfilter located at the gas inlet.

Claim 28

A fluid line decontamination system as recited in claim 23, further comprising: a pressurized line connecting the first and the second fluid supplies to the pressurized gas supply; and a pressure regulator located between the gas inlet and the first and the second fluid supplies to control the pressure of pressurized gas supplied to the first and second fluid supplies through the pressurized line.

Claim 29

A medical or dental apparatus, comprising: a dispensing device for dispensing a fluid; a fluid line connected at a first end to the dispensing device; a housing with a gas inlet for connection to a pressurized gas supply, a gas outlet and a housing outlet connected to a second end of the fluid line; a valve assembly with a first inlet for connection to a water supply, a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply, and a valve assembly outlet connected to the housing outlet, the valve assembly being capable of selectively connecting either the first or the second inlet to the housing outlet while the other inlet is not connected to the housing outlet; and a controller that supplies a first fluid from the first fluid supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the first inlet and a second fluid from the second fluid supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the second inlet; wherein the controller regulates flow of liquid into the fluid line so that the first liquid can be removed from the fluid line and the second liquid can be introduced into the fluid line to suppress biofilm development in the fluid line.

Claim 30

A medical or dental apparatus, comprising: a dispensing device for dispensing a fluid; a fluid line connected at a first end to the dispensing device; a housing with a gas inlet for connection to a pressurized gas supply, a gas outlet and a housing outlet connected to a second end of the fluid line; a valve assembly with a first inlet for connection to a water supply, a second inlet for connection to a second fluid supply, and a valve assembly outlet connected to the housing outlet, the valve assembly being capable of selectively connecting either the first or the second inlet to the housing outlet while the other inlet is not connected to the housing outlet; and a controller that supplies a first fluid from the first fluid supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the first inlet and a second fluid from the second fluid supply to the housing outlet when the valve assembly is selectively connected to the second inlet; wherein the controller regulates flow of liquid into the fluid line so that the first liquid can be removed from the fluid line and the second liquid can be introduced into the fluid line to suppress biofilm development in the fluid line.

Claim 31

A medical or dental apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising the first and the second liquid supplies.

Claim 32

A medical or dental apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein the first and the second liquid supplies are disposable containers.

Claim 33

A medical or dental apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the fluid line is disposable.