Method of cleaning passageways using a mixed phase flow of a gas and a liquid
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.
1 . A method of removing biofilm, debris and contaminants from surfaces of a passageway comprising forming a mixed-phase flow along a surface of the passageway from a mixture of gas and a liquid that creates shear or impact stresses for a time sufficient to remove biofilm, debris and contaminants from the surfaces.
2 - 7 . (canceled)
8 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway is a biopsy device.
9 . A method according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the surface of the passageway is a permeable membrane.
10 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the passageway comprises a hemodialyzer.
11 - 22 . (canceled)
23 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid includes one or more surfactants.
24 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid includes one or more oxidizing agents.
25 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid is selected from one or more members of the group consisting or surfactants, alcohols, a pH modifier, a chelating agent, a humectant, a viscosity modifier and an anti-foaming agent.
26 . (canceled)
27 . 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 into the passageway through the permeable membrane and mixing the liquid with the gas flowing within the passageway at a sufficient velocity for a sufficient time to remove the biofilm, debris and contaminants.
28 . A method according to claim 27 wherein the portion of liquid introduced into the passageway through the permeable membrane reacts with the fluid flowing within the passageway to form bubbles.
29 . A method according to claim 27 wherein the liquid is exposed to a pressure drop sufficient to initiate boiling.
30 . A method according to claim 27 wherein the liquid contains a dissolved gas which forms bubbles due to the pressure drop through the membrane.
31 . A method according to claim 27 wherein the passageways comprise a hemodialyzer.
32 . A method according to claim 27 wherein the passageways comprise a hollow fiber membrane filter.
33 . A method according to claim 27 wherein the passageways comprise a tubular membrane filter.
34 . 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.
35 . 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.
36 - 43 . (canceled)