American Sterilizer Company

Steris Inc.

Arthur T Nagare

Susan M Napierkowski

Wolfgang Mueller

Richard J Verga

Aaron L Hill

John C Houston

Joseph T Sestak

Jude A Kral

Daniel N Kelsch

Bernard John Moss

James C Hlebovy

Mark E Chiffon

Thomas J Fendya

Frank E Dougherty

E L Thomas, Jr

John M Bulko

Joseph Tvcrgyak

Jeffery R Horacek

Stanley M Voyten

Raja Saluja

A hydrogen peroxide vapor generation unit () receives hydrogen peroxide and water solution at an interface () and interconnects with an air dryer () by way of nipples (). In one embodiment, the dryer includes a clamping assembly () which is latched () with the nipples and which receives a disposable desiccant cartridge (). In an alternate embodiment, a reusable desiccant cartridge (') is connected directly to the nipples (). When the desiccant cartridge (&#x2032;) is saturated, it is removed and placed in a regenerator unit (). A regenerated cartridge is installed in its place.

Hydrogen peroxide vapor system with replaceable desiccant cartridge

A sequential delivery assembly ( ) sequentially releases three different treatment materials into a fluid flow path ( ) to form a treatment fluid with a composition which varies throughout a cleaning and microbial decontamination cycle. A chamber ( ) receives items to be cleaned and decontaminated. A pump ( ) pumps the treatment fluid from the sequential delivery assembly along a fluid flow line ( ) to nozzles ( ) disposed within the chamber. The nozzles spray the treatment fluid over the items to be cleaned and decontaminated. The delivery assembly includes a well ( ) for receiving a three compartment cup ( ). The cup contains a first compartment ( ) which includes a cleaning material ( ), such as a detergent. A second compartment ( ) contains pre-treatment materials ( ), such as buffers and corrosion inhibitors, which prepare the system for receiving a microbial decontaminant ( ), such as a concentrated solution of peracetic acid, contained in the third compartment ( ). The sequential delivery assembly includes a cup cutter assembly which sequentially cuts base portions ( ) of the three compartments to release the treatment materials into the fluid flow line. The system allows items to be cleaned and then microbially decontaminated in a single process, avoiding the need to handle potentially hazardous instruments between cleaning and decontamination steps and ensures thorough cleaning and decontamination of the instruments with measured doses of the treatment materials.

Three part cup for packaging cleaning and sterilizing agents and sequential cutter

A guidance assembly ( ) guides a door ( ) to a cabinet ( ) while it is moved between an open position, in which access to an interior chamber is provided through an opening ( ) in the cabinet, and a closed position, in which the door covers the opening. The guidance assembly includes two pivotable support members ( ) which are pivotally connected to the door. The pivotable support members each include a roller ( ) which rolls along a horizontal rail ( ) mounted to an exterior wall ( ) of the cabinet, adjacent an upper end of the opening. A door positioning system ( ), comprising upper and lower door positioners ( ), maintains a space between the door the cabinet during opening and closing the door. This prevents damage to the door and the exterior wall of the cabinet and to a sealing member ( ) disposed between the door and the cabinet. As the door moves inward or outward, the pivotable support members pivot relative to the front face ( ) of the door and U-shaped portions ( ) the door positioners flex to relieve any stresses placed on the rollers.

Sterilizer horizontal motorized sliding door closure

An indirect locking and lock release mechanism is provided that permits remote actuation of the lock release function and automatic reset of the locking function in a chamber. Linear actuation of a push rod from a transfer platform causes linear actuation of a linearly aligned push rod on the ramp which in turn causes pivotal movement of a blocking member from a locked to an unlocked position in the chamber. A detent device on the transfer platform sealed in an airtight workstation permits remote actuation of the locking components in the chamber from a worksuit provided in the workstation. The locking function is automatically reset without any intervention by the user of the workstation.

Indirect lock and lock release mechanism

An apparatus for transferring a loading car to a sterilizer chamber having a frame defining an opening, the apparatus comprises a chamber track adapted for supporting the loading car and wherein the chamber track is positioned within the chamber; a carriage track adapted for supporting the loading car and wherein the carriage track is configured to extend parallel to and in axial alignment with the chamber track; connecting devices mounted on an end of the carriage track; and a bridge having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bridge pivotally mounted adjacent the opening of the chamber wherein the bridge may pivot between an open and a closed position, the top surface adapted for supporting the loading car, and the bridge having receiving devices adapted for receiving the connecting devices when the bridge is in the open position.

Sterilizer loading car transfer apparatus

An indirect locking and lock release mechanism is provided that permits remote actuation of the lock release function and automatic reset of the locking function in a chamber. Components on a transfer carrier permit remote actuation of locking components in a chamber through intermediate components on a ramp between the chamber and the transfer carrier. Members are provided to secure the transfer carrier to the ramp. Linear actuation of a push rod at the remote end of the transfer carrier causes linear actuation of a linearly aligned push rod on the ramp which in turn causes pivotal movement of a blocking member from a locked to an unlocked position in the chamber. Fail safe mechanisms are provided to prevent movement of the blocking member to the unlocked position when the transfer carrier is not secured to the ramp.

An indirect locking and lock release mechanism is provided that permits remote actuation of the lock release function and automatic reset of the locking function in a chamber. Linear actuation of a push rod from a transfer platform causes linear actuation of a linearly aligned push rod on the ramp which in turn causes pivotal movement of a blocking member from a locked to an unlocked position in the chamber. A detent means on the transfer platform sealed in an airtight workstation permits remote actuation of the locking components in the chamber from a worksuit provided in the workstation. The locking function is automatically reset without any intervention by the user of the workstation.

An apparatus for moving a chamber door between open and closed positions relative to the opening in a sterilizer or an autoclave chamber. The apparatus is adapted to be used with a door system wherein the door is slidably attached to the chamber by support brackets that are affixed to the end of the chamber. A first set of pulleys are attached to the lower corners of the door and a second set of pulleys, arranged perpendicular to and directly above the first pulleys, are attached to the chamber. A cable, having one end thereof attached to a motorized take-up drum that is attached to the chamber, is received on the first and second pulleys so that the door is suspended on two sides by the cable. The pulley and cable arrangement supports and controls the vertical movement of the door without interfering with the support brackets that are affixed to the chamber. The other end of the cable is attached to a weight for creating tension in the cable.

Apparatus for opening and closing a chamber door

A closure for a pressure vessel of the type in which the pressure vessel door is preferably slidably attached to the pressure vessel by door retention assemblies. The door is constructed of a plate member to which bars are attached at opposing edges of the door. Slider portions are inset in a portion of the surface of each slider bar to enhance sliding contact with the door retention assemblies in sliding door embodiments of the invention. A plurality of reinforcing members span the plate member between slider bars and taper from a maximum elevation at or adjacent the center of the reinforcing member to a minimum elevation at the edges of the reinforcing member, where a flange sandwiches the slider bars between the plate member and the flange.

Reinforced closure for a pressure vessel

An apparatus is provided for preventing the opening of a chamber door of a sterilizer or an autoclave. The apparatus is used on sterilizer and autoclave door systems wherein the door is slidably attached to the chamber. However, the present invention may also be used to control other doors. The apparatus includes a cylinder and piston in fluid communication with the chamber which is actuated when the pressure within the chamber is above a threshold level. A cam, pivotally attached to the side guide bar of the sterilizer, cooperates with the piston to prevent movement of the cam with the piston in the extended position but to allow movement when the piston is retracted. A pin, mounted to the door, cooperates wiht the cam such that the pin must slide along the lobe surface of the cam in order for the door to open. When the piston is in the extended position, the cam cannot move and the pin is received in a recess in the cam surface. The cylinder and piston are mounted to accept a lateral force on the piston without damage to the piston or cylinder. An adjustable stop screw, mounted perpendicular to the piston, prevents movement of the piston beyond acceptable limits. The cylinder is mounted to a housing by bolts which have between the bolt head and the housing resilient washers which allow the cylinder to pivot slightly so that the piston is not damaged by the impact of the cam.

Apparatus for blocking the movement of a chamber door

A counterbalanced arm for a lighthead has an upper arm portion, a lower arm portion adapted at one end to be connected to the lighthead and at the other end for articulation about the upper arm portion, and a pivot assembly connecting the upper arm portion to the lower arm portion. The pivot assembly defines a pivot axis about which the lower arm portion pivots with respect to the upper arm portion. A lever mechanism is positioned so that a first end is positioned on one side of the pivot axis and a second end is positioned on the opposite side of the pivot axis, with the first end being pivotally secured to either the upper arm portion or the lower arm portion. A pull rod is positioned within either the upper arm portion or the lower arm portion and is pivotally attached to the second end of lever mechanism. The pivot assembly and lever mechanism are designed to enable the lower arm portion to pivot about the pivot axis from a position forming an acute angle with respect to the upper arm portion through a position forming a 180 degree angle with upper arm portion. A spring is operatively connected to the pull rod so that the spring provides a force to counterbalance the lighthead.

Counterbalanced arm for a lighthead

An apparatus is disclosed for preventing the undesired movement of the tabletop of a surgical table. The table is provided with a superstructure which supports a carriage assembly having lateral and longitudinal channels supported by rollers. A first rotary electric solenoid is mounted on the table superstructure and actuates by linkages a first locking shaft to lock the lateral carriage to the table superstructure. A second rotary electric solenoid is mounted on the lateral carriage and is connected by linkages to a second locking shaft to lock the longitudinal carriage to the lateral carriage. When the rotary solenoids are activated, their respective locking shafts are retracted thereby enabling horizontal translation of the tabletop.

Translation lock for surgical table with displaceable tabletop

Apparatus for blocking the release of a surgical table from engagement with a floor bracket is provided. In a surgical table having a foot lever which actuates a bar to cause the release of connecting means from a tongue of a floor bracket, a vertical pin is provided on the bar. A base plate having a slot therein is provided on the lower portion of the surgical table adjacent to the pin. A blocking plunger of a first pulling solenoid may be extended across the slot to block the movement of the pin to prevent the displacement of the bar and the release of the connecting means from the tongue. The extension of the blocking plunger is caused by the retraction of an extension plunger of a second solenoid, which extension plunger is parallel to but disposed above the blocking plunger and is connected to the blocking plunger by a connecting block. The extension of the blocking plunger causes a cam surface on the connecting block to engage a cam follower to actuate a microswitch which produces a signal indicating the blocking of the pin. The blocking plunger may be retracted from its blocking position by being retracted by the first solenoid to free the pin and allow release of the surgical table from the floor bracket.

Locking apparatus for floor mount connector

Apparatus is provided for adjustably supporting an object, such as a surgical light, between two points on a yoke-type frame. A housing having a cylindrical cavity and a threaded axial bore therethrough is secured to one of two hubs provided on the legs of the yoke. An adjustment screw having a face plate passes through the aperture. Wave washers and a spherical washer having a spherically concave friction surface are provided within the housing's cavity. A shaft is supported within the housing by a spherical bearing and terminates in a nut having a spherically convex friction surface. A keyway and recessed area on the shaft serve to secure the light to the shaft. The hub on the other leg is provided with a spherical bearing which supports a second shaft. The second shaft has a keyway and a recessed area which are engaged by a key and adjusting screw on a second mounting bracket in the opposite side of the light. As such, the axial force generated by the adjusting screw creates a force on, respectively, the face plate, wave springs and the spherical washer. Such axial force creates a frictional force between the mating surfaces of the spherical washer and nut thereby adjustably retaining the light.

Adjustable support system

A device for stabilizing/ejecting a lamp from a plug-in socket wherein the lamp is mountable in a frame. The device includes a spring member for stabilizing the lamp in the frame and an ejection member pivotally attached to the spring member. The ejection member includes an upper ejector, or cam formed therein for separating the socket from the lamp, an outwardly extending lower ejector for ejecting the lamp from the frame and a lever for sequentially actuating the upper ejector and the lower ejector in one stroke. The stroke moves the lever from a rest position in which the spring member is operative, through a transition position in which the upper ejector is operative to eject the socket from the lamp and to reinforce the spring member to stabilize the lamp during the socket separation. The lever moves from the transition position to a final position in which the lower ejector is operative to eject the lamp from the frame. The spring member includes two prongs spaced from each other to receive a portion of the lamp therebetween to align the lamp relative to the frame.

Growing community of inventors

Erie, PA, United States of America

Arthur T Nagare