WO1991018578A1

WO1991018578A1 - Equipment to inactivate matrix at the fluidization therapy

Info

Publication number: WO1991018578A1
Application number: PCT/NL1991/000078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Victor George Ryhiner
Original assignee: Reditac B.V.
Priority date: 1990-05-28
Filing date: 1991-05-07
Publication date: 1991-12-12
Also published as: DE69128523D1; EP0496841B1; DE69128523T2; ATE161415T1; ES2110439T3; EP0496841A1; NL9001211A

Abstract

With the presence of a continuous dehydration device, the relative humidity degree of the air fluidized therapy will be as low as < 40 % to inactivate and to avoid culture of microorganisms. The application made the therapy accessible to all parts of the world, also those with a high humidity degree and temperature, to achieve optimum therapeutical depth for all tissue defects without risk of contamination or crossinfection, with an existing subcapillary closing pressure. To mobilize the patient, the unit has been adapted with a pulse and petrissage therapy, to modulate the enclosure of tissue and body with a remaining sequence of active dehydration and temperature control. For patient and nursing comfort, the therapeutical basin has been provided with an electric lifting system.

Description

EQUIPMENT TO INACTIVATE MATRIX AT THE FLUIDIZATION THERAPY

The invention relates to the basic principle derived from the air fluidization therapy as developed by Thomas S. Hargest and Artz. Studying this theme, Victor G.Ryhiner has further improved the fluidization therapy, as brought on the market at the moment by the name "Redaσtron Fluidized Therapy" and registered under patent nr.NL-8800792 premier depot 03-29-88 In this way it is already possible to extract moisture from one or more bodies.

However, in order to make the therapy completely accessible to all parts of the world, thus also those with a high humidity degree and temperature, it is necessary to reach a development, by which a continuous dehydration system will be present, so that, under all climatological circumstances, a relative humidity degree of the flotation medium of less than ά0% is reached. Besides, by means of a previous study on the behaviour of micro organisms, it has been confirmed that at a limit of RH 40%, no matrix is available for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

The equipment is not being applied to therapeutical purposes only, but can also be used for industrial and/or agrarian products. The principal aim, however, is to treat patients with severe tissue deformation in the gradation from excematic to gangrenous deformation, therapeutically and sterile without the risk of contamination or crossinfection. The optimum therapeutical depth by means of this equipment, is reached at indication of burns 1-3 degrees, skin grafts and autograftβ, intensive- and coronary care units, atrophy, geriatrics and many other applications, by which very vulnerable tissue is involved. The equipment is based on the principle, by which the entering air, as well as the vapour tension coming from the absorbing raicrospheres , will be extracted from moisture continuously. Owing to this, an air entrance will occur which is < RH 40% at a temperature adjustable from 2έ°C (lower than the body temperature) to 38°C (higher than the body temperature),

SUBSTITUTE SHEET independent from the ambient temperature. The viscosity is, also because of the low sg of the microspheres, 1.2 and brought in a fluidized state that could be compared with dry water with a RH < ώ0%. The body in its shape, will be covered almost completely by the microspheres, which will benefit the therapy, also because of the subcapillary pressure of ± 8mm/HG and the bubbling effect of the fluidized mass. The dissipated heat from the condensing unit will be utilized at the demand for heating of the flotation medium, so that a reσirσulation of the dissipated heat will hardly influence the ambient temperature. At the same time, all moisture which will be extracted from the surroundings as well as the contents of the equipment, will be recirculated into the ambient, in this manner making the atmosphere where the patient is being treated, pleasant, as a result of a higher humidity. Also the ambient temperature will hardly increase.

The equipment of the invention could be devided into three main components: 1. An evaporator with a constant temperature of 5°C, connected to a vacuum condensing chamber and atomizer. The evaporator is controlled by a condensing unit consisting of a compressor part with a direct expansion, modulating and a tracking pressure, depending on the ambient temperature of 17°C to a maximum of 45°C. As coolant freon or substitute is applied. 2. The air chamber, supplied with a twostage compressor, to achieve the fluidization pressure (preferential pressure P=500mm/H20) . In the suctionline an airvalve has been adapted, which is controlled by a therraostatic device and is connected to the condensing chamber. 3. Therapeutical basin filled with 550 kg microspheres, in which the patient is treated and which is covered by a loose stretched polycon filtersheet or other comparable material with a permeability of 35 micron. The therapeutical basin can also be filled with microspheres which have a hollow structure and if possible a diameter of lOOμ and larger. By means of pressure

SUBSTITUTE SHEET adjustments with a differential pressure of at least P=200mm/ H20, an equivalent viscosity of the flotation medium will be obtained. The use of the microspheres with a hollow structure has as great benefit that the total weight of the microspheres will be decreased with a factor 5. Owing to this, the fluidization unit can be installed on wooden floors without support, consequently accessible for installation in every imaginable space.

The operation of the invention is based on the following principle: (see figure 1). The ambient air will, after passing the dustfilter Fl, pass the evaporator F2. Since the evaporator is brought to a temperature of 5°C, water- particles will be precipitated on the evaporator and will condensate. The evaporator chamber F2 is connected with the vacuum chamber F3 by means of a reference leak. The vacuum chamber F3 is connected to a vacuum pump or other venturi mechanism, in order to reach the desired underpressure. Causing an average vacuum pressure of 0,lmm/H20, the boilingpoint of the water will be lowered and atomized again into the ambient. After the air treatment, the air from which the water¬ particles have been extracted, will be carried to a twostage air compressor FA, where it will reach a pressure .of 500ram/H20 under the fluidization compartment as installed in F5. In this fluidization compartment the hygrostat which has been installed, will deactivate the condensing unit and evaporator, after the flotation material (microspheres) has reached the relative humidity degree of 35% (constant dehydration mode) . The fluidization pressure of 500mm/H20 is enough to "boil" the mass (± 550 kg microspheres) in the basin F5, with a viscosity of 1.0-1.2.

In case moisture is inserted in the absorbing microspheres, a vapour pressure will be created to the evaporator F2, which has a temperature of 5°C. This as a result of the second law of the thermodynamics. Here the vapour pressure will again condensate in waterparticles and drained into the vacuum

SUBSTITUTE SHEET - ά -

chamber. At the demand for heating of the flotation medium, the airstreara will be a mixture of the ambient air together with the condensing di-ssipation by means of airvalve F7, which will be opened. With this a recirculation of the absorbed and dissipated ambient heat is reached.

In order to simplify the nursing actions and to improve the patient's comfort, basin F5 is adjustable in height from 65-85cm or from 80-100σm, measured from the floor surface, by means of an electric- or otherwise applied lifting system. The therapeutical basin is equipped with a molecular polyethylene fluidization sheet with a surface permeability of 5-20μ and a pressure drop of 20.5mBar (see figure 2 drawing C) . Owing to the stiff behaviour of the polyethylene, an equal and smooth fluidization is only possible at an absolute horizontal installation of the "njt see figure 2 drawing B) . By modulating the installation of the basin within h degrees with regard to the horizontal situation (see figure 2 drawing A), the fluidization will be equally shifted in a varied liquid and solid mass of the microspheres. With this not only an enclosure of the tissue as well as the body is reached, but a petrissage therapy will take effect, which will stimulate the circulation of the blood and reduce the pains, also as a result of the dehydration system.

The modulating rotation system of the basin is connected to the existing lifting system and can be adiusted in time values from 10-60 minutes by means of an electronic control. At a constant fluidization therapy, the basin is held in a horizontal position of 90° (see figure 2 drawing B) .

By applying the molecular polyethylene fluidization board with a stiff behaviour, the carrying profile has been provided with a mechanical level adjustment (see figure 3 part A) With this is achieved that the fluidization pressure measured on each part of the body, will remain constant.

The pulse therapy is built in as standard equipment, in order to eliminate sliding forces and traction formation as

SUBSTITUTE SHEET much as possible.

By reducing the fluidization pressure to the critical value of 250mm/H2O, the flotation material (microspheres) will remain air permeable and "mould" the body of the patient in a firm shape. By reducing the volume of the air compressor to 80M3 per hour, a reduction of the working pressure will be achieved. The temperature control as well as drain of moisture from the body will remain active. The electronic adjustment of the pulse therapy can be controlled in period intervals of 1-10 minutes passive and 1-10 seconds active.

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Claims

1. Equipment to constantly absorb moisture from the entering airstream, with the character that the application is based on a fluidization therapy to carry bodies in an absorbing microspheres mass . 2. Equipment to inactivate matrix, with the character to protect the therapeutical basin against micro organisms, avoiding contamination and crossinfection.

3. Equipment according to claims 1 and 2, with the character that the equipment is especially meant for patients with severe tissue deformation, wherein the patient is carried with an extremely low subcapillary pressure in an airpermeable and bubbling surface and by which the temperature can be adjusted according to requirements in the margins 26°C and 38°C and that, at a thermostatic demand for heating of the microspheres, the heat that has been released as a result of the direct expansion of the condensing unit, will be utilized, resulting in a recirculation of the absorbed and dissipated ambient heat. ά . Equipment according to claim 3, with the character that moisture derived from body exudates of the patient, will be drained to a condensing element, where it will be brought to boiling point in a vacuum chamber at a normal ambient temperature to be atomized again in the surroundings.

5. Equipment according to claim 1, with the character by which moisture is extracted from air and mass and which is supplied with a condensing unit and an evaporator, connected to a vacuum chamber by means of a reference leak, to be atomized hereafter in the ambient.

6. Equipment according to the previous claims, with the character by which the flotation medium partially consists of hollow microspheres, with a diameter preferable larger than lOOμ and a sg lower than 2.2.

7. Equipment according to claim 6, with the character that the beads are not solid, in order to achieve a lower sg per mass . 8. Equipment according to claim 3, with the character

SUBSTITUTE SHE that the therapeutical basin is provided with an electric- or other lifting system, in order to vary the lying level to the floor surface from 65-85σm or from 80-100cm.

9. Equipment according to all above mentioned claims, with the character that the applications will not only be limited to medical/therapeutical treatments, but will also be applied to bedsystems for domestic use.

10. Equipment according to all above mentioned claims, with the character that the basin can be modulated at an angle of 4° with regard to the horizontal level, in order to achieve an intermittently enclosure of body and tissue.

11. Equipment according to all above mentioned claims, with the character that the fluidization pressure can be reduced by means of an electronical a-synchronous multivibrator, in order to eliminate sliding forces and to mobilize the patient.

12. Equipment according to all above mentioned claims, with the character that the carrying profile has been provided with a mechanical level adjustment, in order to keep the smooth fluidization pressure on the body of the patient, as constant as possible.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET