American Sterilizer Company

Steris Inc.

David A Karle

Robert W Childers

Thomas George Cook

Ronald P Krahe

Gerald L Yeaney

George E Sparber

Thaddeus Joseph Mielnik

Peter A Burke

Gerald E McDonnell

William R Miller

Peter J Buczynski

Arthur L Cummings

Teppo J Nurminen

Frank E Halleck

Jack H Young

Chad Rhodes

David F McCall

Alex D Biggie

William John Thomas Biebesheimer

Raymond C Kralovic

Elaine M Kopis

James M Huber

The present invention provides a sterilizer having a housing defining a sterilization chamber. An opening in the housing communicates with the chamber. A surface surrounds the opening, and a door is movable between one of an open position allowing access to the chamber through the opening and a closed position covering the opening. A seal element is associated with the surface for forming a fluid-tight seal between the door and the surface when the door is in the closed position. An operating system is provided for applying pressure to one side of the seal from a first source external to the operating system to force the seal into engagement with the door. Sensing means are provided for monitoring the pressure applied to the seal from the first pressure source. A second source of pressure is provided in the operating system and is connectable to the seal. Valve means connect the pressure source to the steam system if the sensing means detects a pressure below a set pressure sufficient to sustain a seal between the door and the surface.

Door seal system for steam sterilizer

Mail which may be contaminated with a biotoxin, such as Anthrax, is received in a preliminary sorting area () including a dirty side sorting room () that is sealed to the ambient environment. The mail is loaded into a pass-through decontamination system () in which the mail is sterilized or otherwise decontaminated. The mail is removed from the pass-through system in a second or clean room () which is isolated from the first. The mail is then sorted and processed in the lean room (). In the event that the sorting room () becomes contaminated or is suspected of being contaminated by pathogenic biological or chemical agents, a spray system () supplies a decontamination gas into the preliminary sorting area () to decontaminate the dirty side sorting room (), any equipment () in the room, and any mail located in the room.

Decontamination of critical mail

An enclosure assembly () includes a framework () formed from structural members and a flexible transparent enclosure () which provides an enclosed space for isolation and or treatment of patients, equipment, and the like. A treatment material, such as hydrogen peroxide or other gaseous or vapor sterilant, may be fed to the enclosure to microbially decontaminate or otherwise treat the equipment. The enclosure is quickly assembled and disassembled after use, making it suitable for treatment of large pieces of equipment which are not readily moved or which are too large to be accommodated conventional sterilization equipment.

Flexible walk-in environmental enclosure

A self-contained, closed loop steam sterilizer has an integral external boiler. The sterilizer employs a prevacuum sterilization cycle with a dwell phase to promote steam efficiency. A single pump accomplishes all pumping functions in a prioritized manner.

Steam efficient prevacuum sterilizer cycle

A self-contained, closed loop steam sterilizer having an integral external boiler. The sterilizer employs a prevacuum sterilization cycle with a dwell phase. A single pump accomplishes all pumping functions in a prioritized manner.

Self-contained, closed loop steam sterilizer

An improvement in a process for sterilizing goods comprising a method for substantially reducing condensate on the processed goods. The method includes producing an exothermic reaction during the process between effective amounts of at least two reactants to release at least a sufficient quantity of heat proximate the goods to substantially reduce condensate on the goods at the conclusion of the process. Hydratable salts may be housed in a liner which is permeable to a condensate vapor present in the process. Contact between the vapor, or condensate, and the salt produces the exothermic reaction during the process.

Method for reducing condensate on sterilized goods

A biological system for use in sterilization processes. The system contains a container having test spores and a growth medium therein and means for bringing the medium into effective contact with the spores. The container includes a closure providing a tortuous path from the exterior to the interior of the container.

Contamination-free sterilization indicating system

Apparatus for indicating whether the contents of a container have been sterilized during a sterilization process including a first member having a portion for coacting with the sterilization agent to indicate the sterility of the contents of the container. A second member is adapted to extend into the interior of the container to be sterilized and receive and releasably engage the first member so that said first member can be positioned within the interior of the container to be sterilized during the sterilization process and so that the first member can be placed in and withdrawn from the second member without exposing the contents of the container to the surrounding environment or the operator to the contents of the container. At least a portion of the second member is selectively permeable to the sterilization agent so that the sterilization agent can come in contact with the coacting portion of the first member and yet prevent the coacting portion from being contaminated if the contents of the container have been incompletely sterilized.

Apparatus for indicating whether the interior of a container has been

Method and apparatus are provided for ultrasonic cleaning and decontaminating, disinfecting, or sterilizing articles, such as surgical instruments, in a single piece of equipment. Energy transmission through a unitized shell wall coupled with deep vacuum conditions in the chamber enables rapid degasification, enhanced cavitation providing effective and efficient ultrasonic cleaning in a sealed vessel capable of carrying out high pressure sterilization. Sonic energy transducers are rigidly mounted externally of the unitized shell to achieve desired cavitation substantially uniformly throughout the volume of the chamber established for placement of articles to be ultrasonically washed and biocidally treated.

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Girard, PA, United States of America

David A Karle