Portable Recyclable Fluid Flushing Method is a US patent # 7,000,267. This patent
addresses devices that are primarily intended for emergency eye and wound flushing.
USPTO Hyperlink for US Patent # 7,000,267.
A Portable Recyclable Fluid Flushing Method is a small-scale portable recyclable fluid flushing method used for the emergency flushing of irritants or inflammatory agents from the skin or eyes, or for flushing infectious debris from wounds when no other fluid source is available.
The diagram and pictures below show one version of a portable sprayer where the contaminated spray runs into an extended upper rim of a 2 fl oz plastic container with a manually operated sprayer. The contaminated fluid flows through a one-way valve, through a filter media and enters the lower tank portion of the container so it can be re-sprayed as clean fluid.
The filtering media suggested for use in the devices is Mycelx™, which immediately removes the entire range of organic compounds from water. A multi-layered or multistage filter assembly incorporating Mycelx™ or a similar oil-removing filter media, along with a secondary filter employing activated charcoal in granular or block form, or Powder Activated Coconut Carbon (PAC) would probably be best. Other alternative filter media and cartridge types could also be used and are suggested in the patent application.
Diagram and Photos of Preferred Embodiment
A small-scale portable recyclable fluid flushing method used for flushing irritants or inflammatory agents from the skin or eyes, or for flushing infectious debris from wounds. The invention is either made reusable or disposable, and typically comprises: a. a single or plurally chambered container with at least one flushing fluid chamber filled with an uncontaminated flushing fluid appropriate for the intended flushing procedure; b. a first outflow fluid conduit, e.g., a channel or tube, which transports uncontaminated fluid from the container flushing fluid chamber to a pump or impeller housing; c. a manual or electrically operated pump or impeller for transporting uncontaminated fluid through to a second outflow fluid conduit to a dispersal outlet or nozzle; d. a fluid runoff collector surrounding the dispersal outlet, or a catch basin situated below the dispersal outlet, either of which acts as a sump to capture the contaminated runoff fluid from the flushing procedure; e. a first drain fluid conduit; f. an optional one-way elastomeric drain valve, e.g., a synthetic polymer duckbill valve, such as silicone rubber, or other form of check valve preceding the first drain fluid conduit to avoid reverse flow spillage; g. an appropriate sealed filter media unit suitably housed in line with the first drain fluid conduit for decontamination of the contaminated fluid run-off from the drain; h. a second drain fluid conduit to re-introduce the reclaimed decontaminated fluid from the sealed filter media back into the flushing fluid chamber for re-introduction to the fluid transport system; i. an optional second outflow fluid filter for final removal of any residual contaminants prior to re-introduction to the first outflow fluid conduit. The portable recyclable fluid flushing method of the invention provides a reliable emergency supply of flushing fluid for continuous flushing dispersal onto an affected body part. Typically, the filtering media used will have visual indicators to warn when the useful life of the media is ending.
