BACKGROUND

In the practice of dentistry, many procedures require the evacuation of saliva, blood, tissue, bodily fluids, and other debris from the oral cavity of patients. Dental offices commonly rely on power suction systems to provide suction necessary to evacuate such debris. These power suction systems are typically located in operatories or exam rooms and are connected by a network of suction pipes, either underground or overhead, that lead to a centrally located suction unit. The suction unit generally consists of a powerful vacuum-type unit located centrally in an office and, often, near a drain. Typically, these vacuum-type units are also connected to a central filter and/or amalgam separator. Large debris evacuated from the oral cavity of a patient is typically collected in baskets and filters in each exam room. Smaller debris travels through the suction lines and are typically collected in filters at or near the suction unit.

As the debris and fluids are transferred through the system of pipes, particulate and sediment settle within the pipe and collect at the base, bends, and other areas of the pipes. Additionally, because the pipes are continually moist or wet, biofilm forms within the walls of the pipe. The sediment and biofilm collect over time and may constrict, impede, or interrupt the free flow of debris through the pipes. To clean the pipes, practitioners typically rely on the existing power suction equipment to introduce various solutions into the pipes to break down the sediment and biofilm.

Such cleaning methods include introducing enzyme solutions into the pipes using existing power suction systems. Although enzyme solutions may dissolve biological solids, i.e., biofilm within the pipes, enzyme solutions have minimal or no effect on other non-biological solids that accumulate in the pipes. In the past, acid solutions have also been introduced into the pipes through existing power suction systems in an attempt to dissolve non-biological solids that collect within the pipes. However, the use of acid solutions may cause dissolved solids to release mercury vapors into the air and into city sewer systems, as well as void any warranty on office amalgam separators. As such, the use of acid solutions to clean dental vacuum lines is no longer an accepted practice within the industry.

Therefore, a need exists for a system and method of removing both biological and non-biological debris that accumulate in dental pipe systems that do not require the use of corrosive solutions. It is such a system and method that the presently disclosed inventive concepts are directed.

SUMMARY

A system and method for removing debris from pipes of a suction pipe network in a medical office are disclosed. The medical office will be described herein by way of example as a dental office. It should be understood, however, the present disclosure is not limited to only a dental office. The problem of removing biological and non-biological debris without the use of a corrosive solution is addressed by relying on turbulent flow created by a pump to effect cleaning of the pipes using a cleaning fluid solution having a neutral pH. Furthermore, the problem of voiding the warranty on an office amalgam separator and/or filter is avoided by decoupling the suction pipe network from the office amalgam separator and/or filter, and instead using a separate filter system to remove debris from the cleaning fluid solution that is circulated throughout the pipes of the suction pipe network. The cleaning of the suction pipe network may be achieved by utilizing a vacuum line cleaning system. To remove debris from pipes of the suction pipe network, the suction pipe network may be decoupled from all existing lines, filters, hoses, dental instruments, etc. The suction pipe network may also be decoupled from a central vacuum-like unit, amalgam separator and/or filter, and also from any power suction system present in each examination room or operatory. The vacuum line cleaning system may be rolled into the dental office and placed in a central location with access to the suction pipe network. The vacuum line cleaning system includes a pump to circulate a cleaning fluid solution through at least a portion of the pipes of the suction pipe network to effect cleaning of at least a portion of the suction pipe network. The pump may be fluidly connected to the suction pipe network at the location from which the central vacuum-like unit was decoupled. The vacuum line cleaning system also includes at least one filter, that is connected to the suction pipe network. Upon circulation of the cleaning fluid solution by the pump, the filter receives the cleaning fluid solution that has been circulated through the suction pipe network and removes debris therefrom. In some embodiments, multiple filters are provided, and may be fluidly connected to the suction pipe network at each examination room or operatory. The vacuum line cleaning system may also be provided with a holding tank having a holding chamber storing the cleaning fluid solution. The pump is in fluid communication with the holding chamber, and pumps the cleaning fluid solution throughout at least a portion of the suction pipe network. In some embodiments, the suction pipe network includes a main trunk link formed by one or more of the pipes. In these embodiments, the cleaning fluid solution may flow through the main trunk line of the suction pipe network and into each of the exam room(s) through pipes forming branch lines that extend from the main trunk line. From the branch line of each exam room the cleaning fluid solution is passed through the filter to remove any debris that was collected by the cleaning fluid solution from the suction pipe network. After being filtered, the cleaning fluid solution may be returned into the holding chamber to be recirculated through the suction pipe network or stored in a collection tank. After a sufficient time to remove the debris from within the pipes of the suction pipe network, the pump may be reversed to evacuate at least a portion of the pipes of the suction pipe network of any remaining cleaning fluid solution.

Consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, the vacuum line cleaning system may comprise a cart having a support surface; a holding tank positioned on the support surface, the holding tank having a holding chamber adapted to contain a cleaning fluid solution having a neutral pH. The holding tank has a chamber outlet and a chamber inlet, the chamber outlet and the chamber inlet configured to provide fluid access to the holding chamber. The cart includes a plurality of wheels supporting the support surface such that the support surface can be moved by rolling the wheels across a surface without tipping the holding tank. The vacuum line cleaning system also includes a suction pipe network installed in a medical office. The suction pipe network may comprise a plurality of pipes connected to form a main trunk line and at least one branch line extending from the main trunk line. In the embodiments including a main trunk line, the main trunk line has a downstream end. The vacuum line cleaning system includes at least one filter having a filter inlet and a filter outlet, the filter inlet in fluid communication with the at least one branch line. The cart supports a pump having a first port and a second port. The first port is in fluid communication with the holding chamber outlet and the second port is in fluid communication with the downstream end of the main trunk line, the pump is selectively operable for flow from the first port to the second port in a first direction to circulate the cleaning fluid solution through the main trunk line, and from the second port to the first port in a second direction to evacuate the cleaning fluid solution from the main trunk line.

