Patent US6063081A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6454871B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of cleaning passageways using a mixed phase flow of gas and a liquid
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1999-12-17
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Granted: 2002-09-24
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Expires: 2019-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A method of cleaning surfaces using a mixed phase cleaning mixture of an aqueous solution and a flow of gas sufficient to produce droplets of the liquid which are entrained by the gas for a time sufficient to clean tubing of various lengths and geometries and porous membranes to remove biofilm, debris and contaminants.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohamed Emam Labib
- 👤 Ching-Yue Lai
- 👤 Peter A. Materna
- 👤 Geoffrey Lawrence Mahon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:07
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/395; C11D3/3956; A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0061; A61C1/0076; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/16; A61L2/18; A61L2/186; A61L2/22; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/14; A61M1/16; A61M1/168; A61M1/1682; A61M1/169; B; B01; B01D; B01D65/00; B01D65/02; B01D65/022; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/032; B08B9/0321; B08B9/0326; B08B9/0327; C11D3/02; C11D3/04; C11D3/042; C11D3/044; C11D3/12; C11D3/14; C11D3/39; C11D3/3947; C11D3/48; C23; C23G; C23G5/00; A61L2103/00; A61L2103/15; B01D2321/00; B01D2321/04; B01D2321/20; B01D2321/2066; B08B2209/00; B08B2209/02; B08B2209/022; C11D2111/00; C11D2111/10; C11D2111/14; C11D2111/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of removing biofilm, debris and contaminants from surfaces of a passageway comprising forming a mixed phase flow of liquid droplets dispersed in a gas along a surface of the passageway from a mixture of gas and a liquid that creates shear or impact stresses and wherein the droplets are pulled from the surface of the liquid by hydrodynamic instability, for a time sufficient to remove biofilm, debris and contaminants from the surfaces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of removing biofilm, debris and contaminants from surfaces of a passageway comprising forming a mixed phase flow of liquid droplets dispersed in a gas along a surface of the passageway from a mixture of gas and a liquid that creates shear or impact stresses and wherein the droplets are pulled from the surface of the liquid by hydrodynamic instability, for a time sufficient to remove biofilm, debris and contaminants from the surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid has a surface tension of at least 18 dynes/cm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the velocity of the gas is greater than 1 meter/second.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the velocity of the gas is from about 10 meters to 100 meters/second.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway includes one or more changes of direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway divides into multiple passageways.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway is either the shell side or tube side of a shell and tube geometry.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway is a biopsy device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the surface of the passageway is a permeable membrane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the portion of liquid introduced into the passageway through a permeable membrane reacts with the liquid flowing within the passageway to form additional bubbles that clean the pores and surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the exterior of the passageway is subjected to a pressurized gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the liquid includes a dissolved gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the exterior of the passageway is subject to a pressurized liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway comprises a hemodialyzer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 14 wherein the mixed-phase flow is formed by adding the liquid into the permeable surface of the passageway wherein the gas is flowing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the direction of flow of the mixed-phase flow is reversed one or more times.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixed phase flow is pulsed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the volumetric flow rate of the gas at standard conditions to the volumetric flow rate of the liquid is between about 50:1 to about 6000:1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the rinse is pulsed to remove residual surfactants, biofilm, debris and contaminants.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein after removal of the biofilm, debris and contaminants, the passageway is rinsed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixed-phase flow comprises a plurality of interconnected liquid films or light foam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixed phase flow is partially formed by the release of a gas dissolved in the liquid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid includes solid particles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid includes one or more biocides.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid includes one or more oxidizing agents.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway divides into a plurality of conduits, each conduit having surfaces, wherein the opposite side of each of said surfaces defines part of the boundary of another conduit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the passageways comprise a spiral wound membrane filter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway comprises an input header, a plurality of conduits, and wherein the mixed-phase flow contacts the inside of the conduits and the inside of the input header and the output header.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein prior to forming the mixed-phase flow, the passageway is soaked in the liquid to soften the biofilm, debris and contaminants.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the mixed-phase flow is heated above ambient temperature.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the inlet pressure of the gas is at least 15 psig.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway is exposed to ultrasonic vibrations during the removal period.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid includes one or more surfactants.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the droplets are continually pulled from the surface of the liquid.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of removing biofilm, debris and contaminants from the exposed surfaces of a passageway having a portion of the surfaces comprised of a permeable membrane comprising forming a mixed phase mixture of a liquid and a gas having a volumetric ratio of gas to liquid greater than 50:1 by introducing at least a portion of the liquid through pores in the passageway at a sufficient velocity for a sufficient time to form droplets and bubbles that remove the biofilm, debris and contaminants.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of removing biofilm, debris and contaminants from the exposed surfaces of a passageway having a portion of the surfaces comprised of a permeable membrane comprising forming a mixed phase mixture of a liquid and a gas having a volumetric ratio of gas to liquid greater than 50:1 by introducing at least a portion of the liquid through pores in the passageway at a sufficient velocity for a sufficient time to form droplets and bubbles that remove the biofilm, debris and contaminants.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the liquid is exposed to a pressure drop sufficient to initiate boiling.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the liquid contains a dissolved gas which forms bubbles due to the pressure drop through the membrane.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the passageways comprise a hemodialyzer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the passageways comprise a hollow fiber membrane filter.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the passageways comprise a tubular membrane filter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-23 | 2006-03-25 | 2006-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-23 | 2010-03-25 | 2010-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-23 | 2014-03-25 | 2014-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |