Steris Inc.

American Sterilizer Company

Other

Francis John Zelina

Michael A Centanni

Aaron L Hill

Thaddeus Joseph Mielnik

Gerald E McDonnell

Kenneth J Klobusnik

Jude A Kral

Susan M Napierkowski

Peter A Burke

Iain McVey

Peter J Buczynski

Karl Ludwig

David F McCall

Karl F Ludwig

Jeffrey Charles Robertson

Daniel N Kelsch

Michael A Bacik

John C Houston

James C Hlebovy

Ward L Sanders

Alan J Greszler

Bill R Sanford

Leslie M Logue

Robert M Priest

Brian E Holtz

William B Zelina

Kevin O Williams

Edward M Shostek

David James Zolner

Mark J Parrini

Terrence L Lukas

Steven D Leight

Cameron J Pedersen

Steve Belinski

Julie R Hinson

Matthew V Sendak

Susan Mary Naperkowski

An apparatus for decontaminating a region within an enclosure. The apparatus comprises a conduit having a passageway therethrough that defines a path for a carrier gas. A plurality of tube sections, each of the tube sections having an opening extending therethrough, is selectively movable into and out of a gap in the conduit. A heating element is disposed in one of the tube sections and is operable to heat the carrier gas flowing therethrough. A destroyer is disposed in another of the tube sections and is operable to destroy sterilant in the carrier gas. A controller controls movement of the tube sections into and out of the gap.

Portable decontamination unit

A sterilizer having a cassette for holding metal instruments or medical devices. The cassette includes a metallic container that defines a sterilization chamber. The container has at least one outer surface. A plurality of spaced-apart, elongated rails extend along the at least one outer surface of the container. Each of the rails includes a free, longitudinal edge wherein the edges of the rails lie in a first plane. An insulating shell encases the metallic container and the plurality of rails. An outer surface of the insulating shell lies in the first plane. A receiving unit includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface engages the edges of the rails and the outer surface of the insulating shell when the cassette is disposed within the inner housing. A plurality of spaced-apart elongated ribs extends along the outer surface of the housing.

Steam sterilizer

A mobile deactivation apparatus for deactivating contaminants within a defined region that includes a source of a vaporous deactivating agent, a gas handling system, a support member, a drive means, a control system, and a power system is disclosed. The gas handling system dispenses the vaporous deactivating agent to the defined region. The support member is movable in the defined region and supports the source of the vaporous deactivating agent and the gas handling system. The support member can be propelled by the drive means. The control system is programmed to control the operation of the gas handling system and the drive means. A power system is provided to supply power to the mobile deactivation apparatus.

Method of deactivating contaminants in a region using a mobile deactivation apparatus

Self-contained deactivation device

The present invention provides a method of operating a reprocessor that has a chamber for receiving items to be sterilized. The reprocessor is filled with water that has passed through a first and a second filter element that both comprise a filtration system. A liquid sterilant is generated by mixing the water with dry chemical reagents. The liquid sterilant is circulated through a fluid circulation system and the filtration system wherein a portion of the liquid sterilant is directed through a bypass conduit and another portion is directed through the first and second filter elements. After a predetermined exposure time, the reprocessor is drained. Then the reprocessor is filled with water for rinsing that has passed through the first and the second filter elements. The water for rinsing is heated prior to being introduced into the reprocessor.

Filter assembly for a reprocessor

A flash vapor generator () provides a constant flow of vaporized hydrogen peroxide for rapidly sterilizing a large decontamination tunnel () with a high container throughput. The vaporizer includes a heated block which defines an interior bore or bores. The conditions within the decontamination tunnel are carefully monitored to avoid condensation of the vapor while maintaining the vapor as close as possible to the saturation limit.

Vapor phase decontamination of containers

A flash vaporizer () provides a constant flow of vaporized hydrogen peroxide or other antimicrobial compounds for rapidly sterilizing large enclosures (), such as rooms or buildings. The vaporizer includes a heated block () which defines an interior bore or bores (). The flowpath created by the bore or bores increases in cross sectional area as the hydrogen peroxide passes through the block to accommodate the increase in volume during the conversion from liquid to gas. The vapor is injected into dry air in a duct that circulates it to the large enclosure.

High capacity flash vapor generation systems

A reprocessor having a circulation system for circulating a microbial deactivation fluid through a chamber that forms a part of the circulation system. The reprocessor includes a water filtration system for filtering water used in the reprocessor. The water filtration system includes a fluid feed line connectable to a source of pressurized water. A first filter and second filter elements are disposed in the fluid feed line for filtering fluids flowing therethrough. The second filter element is downstream from the first filter element and has the capacity to filter particles smaller than the first filter element. The fluid feed line forms a fluid path for water entering the reprocessor, and defines a portion of a path for microbial deactivation fluid circulated through the circulation system.

A method of microbially decontaminating at least one of a defined area and an item within the defined area. The method includes the steps of (a) inductively heating a block comprising an electrically non-conductive material and an electromagnetically responsive material; (b) passing an atomized liquid into an interior passage defined by the block, wherein the inductively heated block vaporizes the atomized liquid that contacts walls of the passage to form an antimicrobial vapor; and (c) flowing the vapor out of the block to the defined area to microbially decontaminate at least one of the defined area and the item.

Method for vaporizing a fluid using an electromagnetically responsive heating apparatus

A vaporizer heating apparatus is comprised of electromagnetically responsive material and electrically non-conductive material. A antimicrobial fluid to be vaporized, such as water or hydrogen peroxide solution, is supplied to the heating apparatus where it is converted to a vapor. In one embodiment of the present invention, electromagnetically responsive material particulate is embedded into the electrically non-conductive material. In another embodiment of the present invention, a microwave generator is used to produce heat.

Electromagnetically responsive heating apparatus for vaporizer

An induction coil ( ) generates a magnetic field which induces current in an induction vessel ( ). The induction vessel is heated by the current and supplies the heat to a passage ( ) within the vessel. A liquid to be vaporized, such as water or hydrogen peroxide solution, is supplied to the passage where it is converted to vapor. The vapor is supplied to a defined area, such as a chamber ( ) of a steam or vapor hydrogen peroxide sterilizer ( ), where items are microbially decontaminated by the vapor.

Vaporizer using electrical induction to produce heat

A voice controlled surgical suite is provided for controlling a plurality of surgical apparatus by a single human. The system includes a voice recognition device adapted to recognize a plurality of predetermined speech commands from a single human and to generate a corresponding set of command output signals. A surgical table is operatively connected with the voice recognition device and is responsive to a first set of the command output signals to initiate selected surgical table movements. A surgical lighthead is similarly connected with the voice recognition system and is responsive to a second set of the command output signals to initiate selected surgical lighthead operations. In addition, surgical camera and task light devices are included in the system and are responsive to fourth and third sets of command output signals, respectively, generated by the voice recognition device to initiate selected surgical camera and surgical task light operations. The surgical apparatus has manual controls to provide redundancy, and to override voice control signals as needed.

Voice controlled surgical suite

A fluid delivery system ( ) for an automated processor (A) includes spray nozzles ( ) for sequentially spraying washing, microbial decontaminant and rinsing solutions over a lumened device (B), such as an endoscope. The fluid delivery system also includes connection ports ( ) for connecting with internal passages ( ) of the device to deliver the washing and microbial decontaminant solutions thereto. A removable rack ( ), specially configured for the particular device, positions the device within a chamber ( ). The spray nozzles are located on rear and side walls ( ) and on a door ( ) of the chamber, such that the device is impinged with spray from all directions. Sets ( ) of the spray nozzles are pulsed in sequence so that the spray jets ( ) do not cancel each other out. Leaking connectors ( ) connect the automated processor connection ports with inlet ports ( ) of the device and allow a portion of the cleaning, decontaminant, and rinsing solutions to leak from each inlet port. A computer control system ( ) controls cleaning, decontamination, rinsing, and drying stages of a cycle, which are all carried out within the chamber, obviating the need for human contact with the device during processing.

Fluid spray system for cleaning and sterilizing medical devices supported on a rack

A flash steam generator to be used as an integral component of a steam sterilizer. The generator is constructed of a metal block having a first bore drilled lengthwise through the metal block. Surrounding the first bore are a plurality of additional heater bores in which heating elements are inserted. The generator is integral to the sterilizer piping and control systems. Water is supplied to the first bore by the sterilizer piping system, and electricity is supplied to the heating elements by the sterilizer power supply. The heating elements convert the electricity to heat, which transfers via the metal block to the first bore where the heat rapidly boils the water contained therein in what is essentially a flash vaporization process.

Integral flash steam generator

The present invention is a flash steam generator (10) to be used as an integral component of a steam sterilizer (30). The generator comprises a metal block (11) having a first bore (12) drilled lengthwise through the metal block (11). Surrounding the first bore (12) are a plurality of additional heater bores (14) in which heating elements (15) are inserted. The generator is integral to the sterilizer piping (31, 34) and control systems. In a preferred form, the first bore (12) provides a non-linear flow path. For example, a packing material such as monel wool (41) or a spiral dowel (45) can provide such a tortuous flow path. Alternatively, the block (11) may be provided with a plurality of fluid containing bores (51, 57, 67, 73, 81) interconnected by manifolds (59, 69, 75, 83).

Growing community of inventors

Lake City, PA, United States of America

Francis John Zelina