Ethicon, Gmbh

Other

James P Kohler

Harold R Williams

Szu-Min Lin

Richard Jed Kendall

Robert Lukasik

Paul Taylor Jacobs

Jenn-Hann Larry Wang

Su-Syin S Wu

Nancy S Chu

Nick Ngoc Nguyen

Alfredo M Choperena

Ross G Krogh

Anahid Gamsarian

Curtis H Felt

Remigio Guinto

A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide. The path through the diffusion restriction can be closed to allow the pressure in a sterilization chamber to be lowered prior to receiving the concentrated germicide.

Sterilization system and method and orifice inlet control apparatus therefor

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 sterilizer employs a vaporizer having sloped surfaces over which flow liquid sterilant solution for vaporization. The arrangement promotes even distribution of the sterilant solution for more efficient vaporization.

Sterilization system and vaporizer therefor

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 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

A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide.

Sterilization system and method and inlet control apparatus therefor

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 is provided for rapidly determining whether a load of equipment to be sterilized in a sterilization chamber absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of germicide vapor or gas, such as hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope of the curve of a plot of ln(c/c ) versus time is determined, where c is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and c is the maximum concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope is determined in the first 100 seconds after the maximum in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. If the initial slope is approximately 0.016 sec or less, the load is acceptable. If the initial slope is significantly steeper than 0.016 sec , the load absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide. If the slope of the curve is steep, the system can abort the sterilization run before significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide have been absorbed, adsorbed, or condensed.

Method for rapidly sterilizing a load

Method for rapidly determining the acceptability of loads to be sterilized

A system and a method for delivering and metering a fixed volume of liquid, such as a liquid sterilant from a container into a vaporization system. The method for the delivering system includes the steps of sensing a requirement for additional liquid sterilant, determining whether the liquid sterilant to be added is acceptable for use, and delivering the liquid sterilant from a container into an accumulator. The method of metering the liquid sterilant into the vaporization system includes creating a vacuum in a chamber connected to the vaporizer and delivering the liquid sterilant into a vaporizer while continually sensing the flow of the delivery. The metering system maintains a slow, controlled flow in order to achieve efficient vaporization of the liquid sterilant and to provide accurate sensing of the gas/liquid interface.

Method and system for delivering and metering liquid sterilant

A sterilizing system for receiving a stream of solid-stabilizer-containing fluid and sterilizing an article comprises a chamber for receiving the article and an injection assembly coupled to the chamber for generating and introducing a fluid jet into the chamber. The system particularly comprises an injector impinger for removing particulates and liquid droplets from the solid-stabilizer-containing fluid by causing a sudden change of the stream line direction of the fluid jet. The injector impinger is positioned between the injection assembly and the article, so that the fluid jet can not reach the article without first interacting with the injector impinger. A method for removing particulates from a solid-stabilizer-containing fluid in a sterilizing process comprises the steps of providing the fluid, vaporizing the fluid, forming a vapor stream from the vaporized fluid, and removing the particulates and the droplets from the vapor stream by causing a sudden change of direction of stream line of the vapor stream.

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Laguna Hills, CA, United States of America

James P Kohler