Steris Inc.

American Sterilizer Company

Gerald E McDonnell

Kathleen M Antloga

Thaddeus Joseph Mielnik

Iain McVey

Herbert J Kaiser

Michael A Centanni

Francis John Zelina

Lewis I Schwartz

Peter A Burke

Mildred R Bernardo

Aaron L Hill

Victor M Selig

Daniel J Smith

Nancy-Hope Elizabeth Kaiser

Peter J Buczynski

David A Karle

Eric Halstead

Francis J Zelina, Jr

Robert M Priest

Jason Frank Tirey

Anthony J Fiorello

Chad Rhodes

Michael Geanous

Kevin O Williams

Matthew C Lawes

Jennifer A Scocos

Elaine M Kopis

William John Thomas Biebesheimer

Alex D Biggie

Ian F McVey

Shahin Kellor

Andy Witschi

A self contained unit and system for determining whether medical equipment or devices such as endoscopes, minimally invasive surgical instruments (MIS), etc., are blocked, or substantially free flowing, or are disconnected or leaking before they are subjected to cleaning and/or a disinfecting process that is either sequential or simultaneous. The apparatus has a manifold that generally receives predetermined amounts of a gas and/or liquid for dispensing to one and preferably a plurality of channels. Advantageously, the test apparatus of the present invention can be utilized as a stand-alone unit that is able to monitor the noted medical equipment or devices with regard to the flow of a gas and/or liquid therethrough such as large or small lumens and such flow can also be automatically verified by a system independent of human intervention. Alternatively, the test apparatus can be utilized as part of a comprehensive system in conjunction with other devices for testing, cleaning, and/or disinfecting.

Apparatus to decontaminate equipment containing internal channels

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

The disclosed invention relates to prion deactivating compositions and methods for using the same. The prion deactivating composition may comprise at least one prion denaturing agent and at least one prion deactivating enzyme. The invention relates to a method of cleaning and/or sterilizing a material contaminated with infectious proteins.

Prion deactivating composition and methods of using same

A method of decontaminating a surface or liquid which is contaminated with prions includes treating the surface with a composition which includes one or more phenol. Phenols which are particularly effective include p-chloro-m-xylanol, thymol, triclosan, 4-chloro, 3-methylphenol, pentachlorophenol, hexachlorophene, 2,2-methyl-bis(4-chlorophenol), and p-phenylphenol.

Decontamination of prion-contaminated surfaces with phenols

An oxidizing liquid (), such as hydrogen peroxide, is vaporized () and the vapor is used to deactivate nerve gas, blistering gas, or other biologically active substances such as pathogens, biotoxins, and prions. A second chemical compound () in vapor, mist, or fog form is used in conjunction with the oxidizing vapor. In one embodiment, the second chemical preconditions the biologically active substances to be deactivated more efficiently by the oxidizing vapor. In another embodiment, the second chemical boosts the reactivity of the oxidizing vapor. In another embodiment, the other chemical reacts with the oxidizing vapor to form an intermediate compound that deactivates at least some of the biologically active substances.

Activated oxidizing vapor treatment method

Self-contained deactivation device

A surface which carries a material which is infected with prions is cleaned with an alkaline cleaning solution to remove as much proteinaceous material as possible from the surface. The solution contains an alkaline cleaning agent which attacks prions remaining on the surface and which attacks prions removed from the surface during the cleaning step. After the cleaning step, the surface is exposed to a strong gaseous oxidant, preferably hydrogen peroxide vapor. The hydrogen peroxide or other strong oxidant attacks the prions, particularly the unclumped prion strands, deactivating the prions.

Decontamination of surfaces contaminated with prion-infected material with gaseous oxidizing agents

When microbial contamination is introduced into a room (*) of an enclosure, such as a building, an HVAC system including supply ductwork () and a return ductwork () is decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide vapor. A decontamination controller () operates controllable baffles () at outlet registers (), temporary controllable baffles () at inlet registers (), and a blower system () to circulate hydrogen peroxide vapor from hydrogen peroxide vapor generators () through the ductwork in both forward and reverse directions. Further, at least portions of the baffles are closed to create dwell times in which the hydrogen peroxide vapor resides in the ductwork with minimal or turbulent flow.

Building decontamination with vaporous hydrogen peroxide

An indicator device for determining the efficacy of an antimicrobial treatment process. The indicator device includes an active agent encapsulated in an encapsulation component. The encapsulation components preferably takes the form of an electrospun nanofiber including a polymer.

Indicator device having an active agent encapsulated in an electrospun nanofiber

A method of treating the surfaces of medical instruments which are contaminated with prions includes contacting the surface with a composition containing a source of peroxide ions, such as hydrogen peroxide, at a molar concentration of at least 1.5M peroxide (equivalent to approximately 5% hydrogen peroxide) and preferably, about 2M peroxide (approximately 7% hydrogen peroxide). The composition is optionally in the form of a gel. The composition is retained in contact with the surfaces for about 1-2 hours until all or substantially all prion contamination is removed.

Cleaning and decontamination formula for surfaces contaminated with prion-infected material

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

A method of treating the surfaces of medical instruments which are contaminated with prions includes contacting the surface with a composition containing a source of peroxide ions, such as hydrogen peroxide, at a molar concentration of at least 1.5M peroxide (equivalent to approximately 5% hydrogen peroxide) and preferably, about 2M peroxide (approximately 7% hydrogen peroxide). The composition is optionally in the form of a gel. The composition is retained in contact with the surfaces for about 1&#x2013;2 hours until all or substantially all prion contamination is removed.

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.

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Basingstoke, United Kingdom

Gerald E McDonnell