BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the deodorization of solutions, articles, devices, and other equipment used in carrying out biological and medical procedures. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method for chemically deodorizing apparatus including medical instruments such as endoscopes, related equipment, and also the solutions and vessels use in conducting explorative medical and therapeutic procedures. The deodorization of rooms is also embraced in the method of the invention.

The invention itself is predicated on an unexpected and totally unpredictable discovery of a "new use" for a particular, known chemical compound.

Many "deodorants" and deodorant preparations have been described for use to mask or cover-up objectionable or unpleasant odors derived from various sources. Some of these preparations have been designated for household use; others for use in industrial or manufacturing establishments. Still others have been promoted for use primarily in sick rooms, nursing homes, and in medical offices, examining and treatment rooms, and in hospitals.

For the most part, the prior art products employed have been dispensed as air-borne sprays, usually as vapors from pressurized aerosol containers.

The "deodorizing" formulations which have heretofore been used depend entirely upon "counter-acting" or blanketing the unpleasant odor. Other odor-producing materials, such as essential oils ("perfumes"), and functionally equivalent odoriferous preparations have been used to cover-up or mask the particular odor sought to be curtailed or eliminated.

None of the prior art products, preparations, or formulations deals directly with offending odor-producing material; none attacks the problem at its source. None acts directly on the chemical agent or agents which generate and are thus directly responsible for the offensive or otherwise objectionable odor. None "eliminates" the odor, but only covers it or masks it, temporarily at best. The results achieved have been far from satisfactory, and any "cover-up" achieved is short lived.

The present invention deals effectively with and resolves a problem which has, until now, defied solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the unexpected, surprising, unpredictable, and unobvious discovery that a specific organic compound may be used effectively as a chemical deodorant. The term "chemical deodorant" as used herein is intended to portray the fact that the compound identified and used in the method of the invention functions to eliminate the objectionable odor by complexing, chelating, or by otherwise reacting chemically directly with the odor-producing agent. In this sense, the chemical deodorant of the invention is substantively different in kind and in function from the masking and the cover-up agents of the prior art.

While the exact nature and the precise mechanism of the critical reactions which occur in the practice of the invention are not presently known, the observed and demonstrated effect is unequivocal. The method of the invention is effective permanently to destroy the odor as well as the odor-generating capacity of the odoriferous metabolically produced organics with which the chemical deodorant of the invention comes into functional contact. It is an important feature of the method of the invention that the chemical deodorant is effective to eliminate odors derived from various sources including those derived from urine and from fecal matter.

Another important feature is that solutions containing the active chemical compound of the invention will not support bacterial growth; they are in this sense "self-sterilizing."

Yet another feature of the odor-destroying compositions of the invention is that they are non-toxic in nature.

A related feature is that the chemical deodorant of the invention, as used in practicing the invention, is not a primary, a secondary, or a tertiary skin sensitizer.

A utilitarian feature of the method of the invention is that it is useful in eliminating odors derived from colon endoscopic procedures including odors from vacuum tanks and from recirculation tanks employed in such procedures.

A related feature of the invention is that it is useful in endoscopically-assisted urological and proctoscopic procedures.

Yet another important feature is that the chemical deodorant of the invention may be added to the water circulated in an endoscopic system without interfering with the efficacy of the procedure being carried out.

An important practical feature of the method of the invention is its versatility and its widespread utility. It has been found useful as a wash or rinse solution to deodorize apparatus and fixtures including sinks, commodes, bed pans and urinals. It also functions effectively as a spray to remove airborne odors in the ambient environment.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood upon a review of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the method of the invention. Such embodiments are presented here as examples only and are not to be considered as limiting the invention in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is predicated on the discovery that a specific organic compound, namely 2,4-pentanedione, has the unique and unexpected and unpredictable capability of being used as a chemical agent to destroy certain unpleasant and objectionable odors. The compound used in practicing the method of the invention has the empirical formula C₅ H₈ O₂ and the structure ##STR1## The compound, 2,4-pentanedione, is also known in the literature as acetyl acetone or as diacetyl methane.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that, in contrast with prior widely used "cover-up" and "masking" preparations, the 2,4-pentanedione of the invention functions as a viable chemical reactant in the odor-generating system into which it is introduced or to which it is physically applied. Rather than functioning as a "cover-up" or "mask" (by virtue of its own counter "essence," "scent,")the 2,4-pentanedione as used in accordance with the method of the invention chelates, or complexes, or otherwise reacts with the odor-producing group or moiety of the odoriferous chemicals. The ultimate effect of this chemical interaction is to nullify or functionally to neutralize or to destroy the propensity of the material to release unpleasant odors.

The mode of application of the chemical deodorant of the invention to the articles, or devices, or media to be deodorized is not critical. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the 2,4-pentanedione is used in the form of an aqueous solution in which the odor-destroying agent is present in a concentration in the range of from about 0.1 percent to about 8 percent by weight. For most applications a 2 percent solution is preferred.

In addition to the "active agent," it has been found advantageous, for some applications, to include a small concentration, in the order of 0.05 to 0.5 percent by weight of an aromatic essential oil or "perfume" to impart a pleasant aroma to the treating composition. In a preferred formulation of the invention the essential oil concentration is about 0.2 percent. Suitable aromatic additives include geraniole, jasmine base, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, almond extract, lemon oil, lime oil, heliotropin, terpenes, lilac extract, and lavender oil. It will be appreciated that the exact concentration of aromatic material used may be lesser or greater than the range indicated and will be affected by the "strength" of the particular "oil" or the oil mixture selected, and by subjective considerations.

In order to enhance the dispersibility and the solubility of the essential oil in the aqueous system, a surfactant may be incorporated in the composition. The selection of any specific surfactant will be dictated, in part, by the particular essential oil used. In a preferred formulation for practicing the method of the invention, the "non-ionics" are preferred surfactants.

The concentration of the surfactant is conveniently in the range of about 1 percent by weight in the final aqueous solution. Those skilled in the art will understand that the surfactant concentration parameter is in no sense critical. In the light of the teachings herein set forth, persons skilled in the art will be able to make their own formulations including alternative combinations of essential oils and surfactants without the exercise of any inventive faculty, and within the concept of and without departing from the invention itself.

The essence of the present invention is in the use of 2,4-pentanedione as a destroyer of odors, and not in any specific formulation of carrier or diluent composition.

A preferred working formulation used in practicing the method of the invention is set forth below, the relative concentrations being in parts-by-weight.

______________________________________2,4-pentanedione        70essential oil           7surfactant              35water                   3,678______________________________________

It has been found that the aqueous composition used in the method of the invention is conveniently prepared in accordance with the following general procedure:

As a first step, the essential oil is mixed with the surfactant. An aliquot, for example, about 10 percent of the total water is then added, with stirring. Thereafter, the remaining water is added in several incremental steps, the mixture being thoroughly stirred after each addition. Finally, the 2,4-pentanedione is added, with stirring, to provide a homogeneous working composition. Preferably, the water used should be distilled water or "softened" water and should be preheated to a temperature in the range of 110° F. to about 150° F., and preferably 130° F. Lesser or greater concentrations of water, for example, from about 850 to about 70,000 parts by weight, may be used for specific applications.

Treatment of articles or devices in accordance with the invention is carried out conveniently by washing with or by dipping in the 2,4-pentanedione solution. Removal of unpleasant room odors is achieved by distributing the chemical deodorant composition as an air spray. Spills or "accidents" in sick rooms or in examination rooms may be handled similarly. When used with an endoscopic device, a mixture consisting of the deodorizing solution and water (preferably sterile) is substituted for the water normally used. A suitable formulation is one-third to one-half deodorizing solution, and the balance sterile water. It is an important property of the deodorizing composition of the invention that it will not support bacterial growth. Solutions containing the 2,4-pentanedione appear to be "self-sterilizing.