Ethicon, Gmbh

Surgikos, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Gmbh

Johnson & Johnson Medical Div of Ethicon, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Div Ethicon, Inc.

Harold R Williams

Szu-Min Lin

Robert M Spencer

James P Kohler

Robert Lukasik

Richard Jed Kendall

Paul Taylor Jacobs

Su-Syin S Wu

Henry K Hui

Xiaolan Chen

Jon Morrell Jacobs

Tralance O Addy

Leslie A Feldman

Anthony Lemus

Michael Hahs

Charles W Howlett

Hans Strobel

Jenn-Hann Larry Wang

Jay Wilson

Robert C Platt

Sungwook Yang

Alfredo M Choperena

Nancy S Chu

Richard Jackson

Jed Kendall

Richard A Jackson

A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via condensation and re-vaporization thereof, exploiting the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent to extract some of the solvent during the condensation process.

Sterilization system and method with temperature-controlled condensing surface

A method detects proper connection of an endoscope to an endoscope processor by measuring pressure pulses applied to the connection point. The method can include measuring for the pressure pulses at a second connection point on the endoscope processor and measuring for a beat frequency produced variations in the frequency of pressure pulses input at each connection point. The method can also include looking for echoes of the pressure pulsations from physical structures within a lumen of the endoscope connected to the connection point.

Method of detecting proper connection of an endoscope to an endoscope processor

A method of sterilizing an article includes placing the article into a chamber containing an inner atmosphere and exhausting the inner atmosphere to lower pressure in the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is present in the chamber during at least a portion of the step of exhausting the inner atmosphere. Exhaustion of the inner atmosphere is terminated and additional hydrogen peroxide is admitted into the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor contacts the article for a sufficient period to effect sterilization of the article.

Rapid sterilization system

A sterilizer includes a vacuum chamber, a source of vaporizable sterilant, a vacuum pump, and a control system. The control system is programmed to take one or more data inputs regarding the nature of the load, such as lumen length and diameter, and determine one or more parameters of the sterilization cycle based upon the inputs.

Sterilization/disinfection cycle control

Concentration of a chemical vapor sterilant, especially, hydrogen peroxide, can be calculated at a point within a lumen based upon physical characteristics of the lumen and process parameters of a sterilization process employing the sterilant.

Method for determining lumen penetration of a vapor phase sterilant

A sterilization container holds instruments during a sterilization process. It has an enclosure with an opening into the enclosure and an adapter at the opening. Various inserts such as semi-permeable filters and blocking plates may be placed into the adapter.

Sterilization container kit

A sterilization container holds instruments during a sterilization process. It has en enclosure with an opening into the enclosure. A self-closing mechanism at the opening keeps the opening closed when not attached to a sterilant delivery source.

Sterilization container with self-sealing closure

A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via condensation and re-vaporization thereof, exploiting the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent to extract some of the solvent during the condensation process. A heat pump coupled with the condensation surface enhances the speed and efficiency of condensing and revaporizing the germicide.

Sterilization system and method with heat pump operated vaporizer/condenser

Devices and methods for sterilizing lumens involve a booster that is attached to the lumen. In preferred embodiments, the contact area between the lumen and the booster enhances the penetration of an antimicrobial agent to the contact area.

Lumen sterilization device and method

A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by controlling the temperature of a diffusion path between a vaporizer and a sterilization chamber so as to condense and then re-vaporize at least a portion of the vapor.

Sterilizer with restrictor

Concentration of a chemical vapor sterilant, especially, hydrogen perioxide, can be calculated at a point within a lumen based upon physical characteristics of the lumen and process parameters of a sterilization process employing the sterilant.

A method for sterilizing medical devices and similar instruments in diffusion-restricted containers is provided. The sterilization method includes placing a liquid solution containing vaporizable germicide such as hydrogen peroxide into the diffusion-restricted container and vaporizing the germicide. The containers can be attachable and detachable to a sterilization system, and used as a vacuum chamber. An attachable/detachable container containing an article to be sterilized can be nested with a second container, and the article and inside and outside of the inner container are sterilized. The sterile article inside the nested containers can be transported and the sterile inner container with the sterilized article can removed from the outer container and placed in a sterile environment without contaminating the sterile environment. The sterile article can then be removed from the sterile container and utilized. Alternatively, the sterilization method may include introducing germicide vapor into an attachable/detachable container.

Growing community of inventors

San Clemente, CA, United States of America

Harold R Williams