Propper Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

John D Dyckman

Thomas A Augurt

Andrew Zwarun

Louise Macaro

A test pack for testing the adequacy of air removal in a prevacuum sterilizer. The test pack including a first plurality of planar sheets of substantially porous material disposed to form a stack; a second plurality of planar sheets of substantially porous material disposed to form a stack; an indicator adapted to provide an indication of the removal of air within the test pack and the replacement of the air by sterilizing gas; the indicator being disposed between the first and second pluralities of planar sheets; a tray formed of a gas inhibiting material, the tray having a base coextensive and aligned with an exposed side of one of the first and second pluralities of sheets and four side walls transverse to the base together substantially covering the exposed edges of the first and second pluralities of sheets having the indicator sandwiched between the first and second pluralities of sheets; the tray and the first and second pluralities of sheets with the indicator sheet disposed therebetween defining an assembly, the tray being open on one side opposite the base such that a surface of one of the first and second pluralities of sheets is not covered; and an organizer disposed all about the periphery of the assembly to maintain the sheets and the tray in a predetermined spatial relationship while permitting the passage of sterilizing gas and air to and from the assembly.

Sterilizer vacuum test pack

A sterilization biological test pack includes a first plurality of apertured planar sheets of substantially porous paper disposed to form a stack. Each of the sheets defines a generally centrally disposed aperture, the apertures operatively defining together a single cavity extending through the stack. Second and third pluralities of unapertured planar sheets of substantially porous paper are disposed on opposed sides of the stack and aligned therewith to close the stack cavity at either end thereof and define a chamber about the cavity configured and dimensioned to receive a biological indicator. The first, second and third pluralities together define a sheet pad. A tray formed of unapertured gas-inhibiting material, has a base coextensive and aligned with the exposed side of the third plurality and four sidewalls transverse to the base together substantially covering the exposed edges of the pad. The tray and the pad together define an assembly. An organizer is disposed all about the periphery of the assembly to maintain the sheets and the tray in a predetermined spatial relationship while permitting the passage of steam and air to and from the assembly.

Sterilization biological test pack

A sterilization biological test pack comprises a first plurality of apertured planar sheets of substantially porous paper disposed to form a stack. Each of the sheets defines a generally centrally disposed aperture, the apertures operatively defining together a single cavity extending through the stack. Second and third pluralities of unapertured planar sheets of substantially porous paper are disposed on opposed sides of the stack and aligned therewith to close the stack cavity at either end thereof and define a chamber about the cavity configured and dimensioned to receive a biological indicator. Fourth and fifth pluralities of unapertured planar sheets of paper of intermediate porosity are disposed on exposed sides of the third and fourth pluralities, respectively, and aligned therewith. A sheet of unapertured paper of a low but appreciable porosity is disposed as an overwrap all about the periphery of the assembly of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth pluralities to control passage of steam and air into and from the assembly, whereby the overwrapped assembly presents a challenge of graded decreasing porosity from the biological indicator in the chamber to both sides of the overwrapped assembly.

A disposable package is adapted to simulate the steam permeability and other qualities of the linen pack previously used to test the functioning of a steam sterilizer using a biological test device. The biological test device comprises spores on an appropriate carrier, either in a self-contained biological device or as a spore strip. The biological test device is placed within applicant's specially constructed package and the package is placed within the sterilizer, which is then cycled through a conventional sterilization cycle. During the sterilization cycle, applicant's package simulates the standard sterilizer linen pack previously used for such tests. After the sterilization cycle, sterility of the spore preparation is evaluated by incubating the spores in a culture medium to determine whether the spore population has been adequately destroyed.

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Commack, NY, United States of America

John D Dyckman