Purepulse Technologies, Inc.

James C Lierman

Joseph E Dunn

Reginald Wayne Clark

Donald Lander

An apparatus, and related methods for sterilizing microorganisms in a container, the apparatus consists of the container including a blister formed therein and a backing material that together with the blister form a cavity in which is contained a contact lens and a preservative fluid. A flashlamp generates high-intensity, short-duration pulses of light for deactivating microorganisms within the container by illuminating the container with the pulses of light having been generated.

Sterilization of packages and their contents using light

An approach for sterilizing microorganisms at a target object employs a flashlamp system including means for generating pulses of light, and for deactivating microorganisms within the target object by illuminating the target object with the pulses of light having been generated; a photo-sensitive detector positioned so as to receive a portion of each of the pulses of light as a measure of an amount of light illuminating the target object, for generating an output signal in response thereto; and a control system, coupled to the flashlamp system and the photo-sensitive detector, for determining, in response to the output signal, whether the pulses of light are sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms at the target object. In accordance with this approach sterilizing microorganisms involves steps of generating a pulse of light; deactivating microorganisms at the target object by directing the pulse of light having been generated at the target object; receiving a portion of the pulse of light as a measure of an amount of the pulse of light illuminating the target object; generating an output signal in response to the receiving of the portion of the pulse of light; and determining, in response to the generating of the output signal, whether the pulse of light is sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms at the target object.

Parametric control in pulsed light sterilization

An approach for sterilizing microorganisms at a target object employs a flashlamp system including means for generating pulses of light, and for deactivating microorganisms within the target object by illuminating the target object with the pulses of light having been generated; a photo-sensitive detector positioned so as to receive a portion of each of the pulses of light as a measure of an amount of light illuminating the target object, for generating an output signal in response thereto; and a control system, coupled to the flashlamp system and the photo-sensitive detector, for determining, in response to the output signal, whether the pulses of light are sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the target object. In accordance with this approach sterilizing microorganisms involves steps of generating a pulse of light; deactivating microorganisms at the target object by directing the pulse of light having been generated at the target object; receiving a portion of the pulse of light as a measure of an amount of the pulse of light illuminating the target object; generating an output signal in response to the receiving of the portion of the pulse of light; and determining; in response to the generating of the output signal, whether the pulse of light is sufficient to effect a prescribed level of deactivation of microorganisms in the target object.

Parametric control in pulsed light sterilization of packages and their

An approach for sterilizing product containers and deactivating microorganisms in such containers employs the container, which, in one embodiment, includes a polyolefin, and which transmits light in a spectrum of from between 180 nm and 300 nm. The container may be coupled to a port through which a product within the container can be withdrawn, or, alternatively, may include a blister that together with a backing material forms a cavity in which a contact lens is contained. A flashlamp system generates high-intensity, short-duration pulses of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum. The pulses of light generated by the flashlamp illuminate the container and thereby deactivate microorganisms within the container. In some embodiments, the container contains a transmissive product that transmits more than about one percent of light at a wavelength of 260 nm. In further embodiments, the high-intensity, short-duration pulses of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum deactivate microorganisms both within the container and within the port. In additional embodiments, the flashlamp advantageously deactivates sufficient microorganisms to achieve a sterility assurance level of at least 10.sup.-6.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

James C Lierman