Puritan-bennett Corporation

Ethicon, Gmbh

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Johnson & Johnson Medical Gmbh

Cardiovascular Devices, Inc.

Foxs Labs

Henry K Hui

Leslie A Feldman

Charles S Bankert

Masao Yafuso

Szu-Min Lin

Soonkap Hahn

Alan M Nelson

Nitu Kohli

William W Miller

Cheng F Yan

Alireza Ebrahim

Debra Timm

George A Divers

Monte Bennett

Patricia A Antonoplos

Harold R Williams

Su-Syin S Wu

Charles W Howlett

Nancy S Chu

Samuel D Riccitelli

Michael Hahs

Jeffrey T Jackson

Reinhard Kowatsch

Thomas G Lippold

Terry J Lumsden

Pascale D Endo

Tsutomu Hayashida

Les Authur Feldman

Richard A Gorham

Hans Strobel

Syed F Hossainy

Paul Taylor Jacobs

Thomas G Hacker

Mark B Roller

Mora Carolynne Melican

Thomas P Maxwell

Ben Fryer

Amos Gottlieb

Carmen L Soikowski

Thomas A Shern

Richard Homick

George Allen

Ron Albers

Hung P Nguyen

Sam Nutt

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 indicator of an aurin moiety in a substrate to detect the presence of an oxidizing agent.

Chemical indicator

Disclosed herein are methods of sterilizing a device in a sterilizer, methods of sterilizing a device in an enclosure in a sterilizer, and enclosures for retaining a device capable of being sterilized in a sterilization process. The sterilization process comprises hydrogen peroxide vapor or gas. The sterilization load may include an enclosure, which can be a tray or a container. The tray or container comprises at least a volume of aluminum oxide. The ratio of the amount of hydrogen peroxide gas or vapor introduced into the sterilizer to the volume of aluminum oxide is at least 24 mg/cm.

Surface treatment of aluminum alloys to improve sterilization process compatibility

The invention provides a method for single-step surface modification, grafting and sterilization for bio-active coating on materials and biomaterials used in medical devices, such as catheters, tissue engineering scaffolds, or drug delivery carrier materials. This may include any medical device or implantable that could benefit from improved antithrombogenic and biocompatible surfaces. Other relevant device examples may include heparin or urokinase coated stents to reduce clotting and restenosis, dental or ophthamological implants. These materials may be comprised of a variety of polymeric compositions such as, polyurethane, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyHEMA, polyvinyl alcohol, polysiloxanes, polylactic or glycolic acids, polycaprolactone, etc. The substrates can also be metal, ceramics or biologically derived materials.

Sterilization of bioactive coatings

An apparatus for determining exposure to an oxidative sterilant is described. The apparatus includes a chemical indicator for indicating exposure to the oxidative sterilant and a biological indicator for determining the effectiveness of the exposure to the oxidative sterilant. The chemical indicator has a metallic surface with a non-pH sensitive permanent indicator on the surface for indicating exposure to the oxidative sterilant. The chemical indicator may be on a self-contained biological indicator. The biological indicator and chemical indicator may be inside a test pack, where the test pack restricts sterilant flow to the indicators.

Apparatus with a chemical indicator for indicating exposure to an oxidative sterilant or disinfectant

An apparatus for monitoring the concentration of an oxidative gas or vapor includes a chemical substance which reacts with the oxidative gas or vapor to produce a heat change. A temperature probe is coupled to the chemical substance and adapted to respond to the heat change. The temperature probe can be coupled to the chemical substance by a carrier, and can include a reference temperature probe. Additionally, a method of using the apparatus is described, as well as a sterilization system which utilizes the apparatus.

Monitoring of sterilant apparatus and method for monitoring sterilant

A method and an apparatus for preventing reversion of the color of an indicator dye in a biological indicator is disclosed. The indicator dye changes color if viable microorganisms are present after sterilization, because acidic byproducts are formed when the microorganisms metabolize the growth medium. It has been found that the dye can change color back to the original color after the completion of the sterilization due to leaching or diffusion of basic impurities into the growth medium. The method and the apparatus employ a dual buffer system with one buffer which operates at high pH to moderate pH fluctuations at the start of the sterilization and a second buffer which operates at low pH to minimize pH fluctuations after the sterilization is complete. Less high pH buffer than low pH buffer is used in order to maximize the speed and sensitivity of the biological indicator.

Biological indicator for sterilization processes with double buffer system

A method for sterilizing the interior of the lumen, where a dry booster which does not contain liquid and which has a volume at least 2 times the volume of the lumen is attached to the end of the lumen. The lumen and dry booster are placed in a sterilization chamber, and germicide is introduced into the chamber. A higher pressure is created outside the booster than inside the booster. The empty dry booster draws germicide into the lumen, sterilizing the interior of the lumen. The method can be enhanced by reducing the pressure in the chamber before introducing the germicide.

Dry booster

Method of indicating an oxidizing agent

A method and apparatus detect exposure to an oxidation-type sterilant using a non-PH-sensitive bleachable dye as a chemical indicator. A change in color indicates exposure to oxidation-type sterilant.

Method for indicating exposure to an oxidative sterilant or disinfectant

A method and apparatus for detecting exposure to an oxidation-type sterilant using a chemical indicator comprising bleachable dye is disclosed. Using the method and apparatus disclosed, a bleachable azo dye is incorporated with an anodized aluminum or chromate conversion coated surface and exposed to an oxidation-type sterilant, such as hydrogen peroxide, and inspected upon completion of the sterilization process for color change. If exposed to sterilant for an appropriate amount of time the bleachable dye changes color thereby indicating adequate sterilization. The surface incorporating bleachable dye may be made to change color after a predetermined number of exposures to a oxidation-type sterilant.

Chemical indicator for oxidation-type sterilization processes using

A device for use with an endoscope is provided. The device allows the equalization of the pressure between an internal space of the endoscope and an environment outside the endoscope. The device includes a housing defining an opening, a gas-transmissive removal zone in the opening and at least one hydrophobic breathable membrane between the gas-transmissive removal zone and the environment. The housing of the device is adapted to receive a port that is connected to an internal space of the endoscope. The gas-transmissive removal zone includes a desiccant material and a material which removes an antimicrobial agent.

Pressure-equalizing cap

A pressure equalization device connects to a port on an endoscope and equalizes the pressure within the endoscope to an environment thereabout. An outlet check valve allows flow out of the port and blocks flow into the port. A filter may be provided for preventing known chemical agents from entering the port. If the agent is hydrogen peroxide, the filter preferably comprises a catalyst, such as copper wool, for decomposing the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. An inlet check valve may also be provided to communicate with the endoscope port and allow flow into the port in response to a downstream pressure gradient exceeding a predetermined value.

Endoscope pressure equalization system and method

Medical instruments incorporating solid lubricants are shown to survive an oxidizing sterilization process if they employ solid lubricants free from disulfide and diselenide compounds such as molybdenum disulfide and the instrument is kept free from such compounds. PTFE, powdered graphite and boron nitride are preferred solid lubricants. Of particular importance are flexible endoscope employing solid lubricants on fiber optic bundles encased in elastomeric coverings.

Medical instrument and method for lubrication and sterilization thereof

Growing community of inventors

Laguna Niguel, CA, United States of America

Henry K Hui