Sterilucent, Inc.

Kent A Larson

Steven J Olson

Jami McLaren

Robert J Gaskill

Patrick Lavalley

Peter R Kalkbrenner

Patrice J Amoapim

Jennifer M Berg

Patrick J LaValley

Nicole Williams

Roger P Martin

Dominique J Megran

Michelle Meyer

Dominque J Megran

A sterilization cycle for sterilizing material and items containing diffusion restricted spaces and lumens is provided that introduces vaporous sterilant, such as hydrogen peroxide, into the chamber in a controlled manner such that diffusion within the restricted spaces and lumens is enhanced as a precursor to additional sterilization steps thereby enhancing overall sterilization.

Sterilization cycle with enhanced diffusion

Liquid water detection in a sterilization chamber that can distinguish liquid water from material in the load that is outgassing and can dry the liquid, is independent of the vacuum pump and chamber leak rate, and that is capable of detecting small amounts of liquid and drying the liquid without freezing the liquid in the process is achieved by monitoring conditions in the chamber at two different pressures, one above the boiling point of water and another below the boiling point of water at a given load temperature.

Method for liquid detection and drying

The removal of moisture from an object to be sterilized is provided through at least the steps of placing the load in the chamber, reducing the pressure within the chamber to increase the rate of evaporation of moisture from the load, monitoring over a predetermined period of time the increase in the quantity of vapor within the chamber resulting from evaporation of moisture from the load, admitting gas into the chamber and repeating the steps following placing the load into the chamber.

Apparatus and method for drying and sterilizing objects in a load

A device useful in determining the efficacy of a chemical sterilization process includes a dead end cavity closed by an access cap having a port coupled to a challenge tube defining the only path by which a substantial quantity of sterilant can reach the cavity. A biological indicator is located within the cavity and a chemical indicator is also provided. These indicators, and particularly the biological indicator, provide an indication of whether chemical sterilant would reach all interior exposed surfaces of a load in sufficient concentrations to adequately sterilize the load.

Apparatus for assessing the effectiveness of a sterilization process

Apparatus and method for drying and then sterilizing objects in a load using a chemical sterilant

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Kent A Larson