Steris Inc.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Japan Foundation for Artificial Organs

Nanoscale Corporation

Nanoscale Materials, Inc.

Takeda Chemical Industries, Inc.

Asahi Medical Co., Ltd.

Timilon Technology Acquisitions LLC

United States Air Force

Paul S Malchesky

Yukihiko Nose

Kenneth J Klabunde

Olga B Koper

Yukihiko Nose'

Slawomir Winecki

Chung-Chiun Liu

Raymond C Kralovic

Christopher M Fricker

Kyle B Knappenberger

Bill Sanford

Shyamala Rajagopalan

John S Klabunde

Tom L Merk

Takashi Horiuchi

Ravichandra S Mulukutla

Donna M Richardson

Ronaldo Maghirang

Maciej Zborowski

George E Grignol

Brian C Wojcieck

Lisa S Martin

Brandon Walker

Joseph J Switka

Corrie L Carnes

Jason M Sell

Calvin Jeffrey Kissick

Jan Lewandowski

Denis G Dyke

Eric Steward

David F Wolf-Bloom

Donna M Haire

Dry mixtures and liquid formulations are provided that comprise metal oxide and/or metal hydroxide nanocrystalline particles. The dry mixtures are advantageously formulated with select surfactants to be readily solubilized and stable in liquid carriers. Additional select components are provided in preferred combinations that are capable of achieving improved biocidal and chemical agent efficacy. Notably, the inventive formulations provided herein allow for easier delivery of the formulations and increased shelf stability.

Compositions and methods for forming stable, liquid metal oxide/hydroxide formulations

Methods of reducing smoke levels in smoke-affected areas, reducing the level of toxic compounds produced by fires, fire suppression, and increasing flame retardancy. In particular, methods according to the present invention comprise dispersing nanocrystalline particles in the areas affected by smoke for sorption of smoke particulates and toxic compounds produced from a fire. The nanocrystalline particles are also effective for use in methods of fire suppression and flame retardancy.

Metal oxide nanoparticles for smoke clearing and fire suppression

Compositions and methods for destroying chemical and biological agents such as toxins and bacteria are provided wherein the substance to be destroyed is contacted with finely divided metal oxide nanoparticles. The metal oxide nanoparticles are coated with a material selected from the group consisting of surfactants, waxes, oils, silyls, synthetic and natural polymers, resins, and mixtures thereof. The coatings are selected for their tendency to exclude water while not excluding the target compound or adsorbates. The desired metal oxide nanoparticles can be pressed into pellets for use when a powder is not feasible. Preferred metal oxides for the methods include MgO, SrO, BaO, CaO, TiO, ZrO, FeO, VO, VO, MnO, FeO, NiO, CuO, AlO, SiO, ZnO, AgO, the corresponding hydroxides of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof.

Air-stable metal oxide nanoparticles

Improved area decontamination products and methods of use thereof are provided which include reactive nanoparticles (e.g., metal oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof) with one or more biocides and a liquid carrier for the nanoparticles and biocide(s). The products may be formulated for area decontamination as sprays, fogs, aerosols, pastes, gels, wipes or foams, and the presence of reactive nanoparticles enhances the neutralization of undesirable chemical or biological compounds or agents. The nanoparticles may be from the group consisting of the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, actinide and lanthanide oxides and hydroxides and mixtures thereof. In preferred forms, nanocrystalline oxides and hydroxides of Al, Ca, Ce, Mg, Sr, Sn, Ti and Zn are employed having single crystallite sizes of up to about 20 nm and surface areas of at least about 15 m /g.

Decontaminating systems containing reactive nanoparticles and biocides

An anticorrosive, penetration enhancing composition for cleaning decontaminating and rinsing includes electrochemically activated (ECA) water as the decontamination agent. The anticorrosive decontamination composition has, as the anticorrosive agent, a compound or mixture of compounds capable of inhibiting corrosion of various metals used in sterilization decontamination and rinsing systems and objects such as medical instruments. Preferred anticorrosive compounds include phosphates, azoles, and sulfates. Other additives, including wetting agents, are added to reduce the surface energy of the ECA water. This reduced surface energy permits the ECA water to penetrate into objects of complex design thus permitting complete decontamination of the treated object.

Chemical modification of electrochemically activated solutions for improved performance

A chamber ( ) is supplied with a pressurized cleaning agent of carbon dioxide and cosolvents from a first source ( ) and an antimicrobial fluid, such as ethylene oxide or hydrogen peroxide from a second source ( ). Chamber conditions are maintained in the sub-critical range for the carbon dioxide. The cleaning agent and antimicrobial fluid are recirculated through a separator ( ) and a condenser ( ) to filter contaminants from the mixture before returning the carbon dioxide, and optionally the antimicrobial fluid and other additives, to the chamber. Medical instruments or other articles within the chamber are cleaned by the cleaning agent and sterilized by the antimicrobial fluid in a single cycle, rendering them ready for reuse in a short period of time. The instruments may be cleaned and stored in hermetically sealable containers ( ). The cleaning agent is rapidly evaporated from surfaces of the articles at the end of the cycle by reducing the pressure in the chamber. optionally, a vacuum pump ( ) assists in removing the antimicrobial fluid from the chamber.

Sub-critical fluid cleaning and antimicrobial decontamination system and process

An electrolysis unit ( ) has an anode ( ) and a gas diffusion cathode ( ). Air is fed to the cathode ( ) to generate peroxide species, such as hydrogen peroxide, peroxide ions, or peroxide radicals by electrolysis of oxygenated water. A peracetic acid precursor, such as acetyl salicylic acid, reacts with the peroxide to form peracetic acid. An ion selective barrier ( ) optionally separates the unit into two chambers, an anodic chamber ( ) and a cathodic chamber ( ). By selecting either a proton permeable membrane or an anion exchange membrane for the barrier, the peracetic acid may be formed in either an alkaline electrolyte in the cathodic chamber or in an acid electrolyte in the anode chamber, respectively.

Electrolytic synthesis of peracetic acid

An electrolysis unit (,) has an ion selective barrier (,) for separating an anodic chamber (,) from a cathodic chamber (,). An electrolyte within the unit includes a precursor, such as potassium acetate, or acetic acid. A positive potential is applied to an anode (,) within the anodic chamber, resulting in the generation of a variety of shorter and longer lived oxidizing species, such as peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone. In one preferred embodiment, a solution containing the oxidizing species is transported to a site where articles, such as medical instruments, are to be decontaminated. The oxidizing species are generated as needed, avoiding the need to store hazardous decontaminants.

Electrolytic synthesis of peracetic acid and other oxidants

A recirculation system for electrochemically activated antimicrobial solutions returns antimicrobial solution which has been depleted of active antimicrobial species to a electrolytic cell for regeneration of the active species. Organic load, which frequently contaminates items to be sterilized or disinfected, such as medical instruments, rapidly depletes the active antimicrobial species in a conventional treatment system, reducing the effectiveness of microbial decontamination by electrochemically activated solutions. By recirculating the antimicrobial through the electrolytic cell, the concentration of active species is maintained at a level at which efficient sterilization is achieved.

Generation of active chlorine in the presence of an organic load from

An apparatus (A) for sterilizing medical instruments and other articles includes a tray (12) with an article receiving area (14). An article to be microbially decontaminated is positioned in the receiving area (14) and a microbe blocking lid (10) is closed. A water electrolysis apparatus (30) receives water, splits the water into two separate streams that pass respectively through an anode chamber (34) and a cathode chamber (36), and exposes the streams to an electric field that results in the production of a catholyte solution for cleaning and an anolyte solution for sterilization. The anolyte and catholyte are selectively circulated through the article receiving area (14) by a pump (66) to clean and microbially decontaminate the external surfaces and internal passages of an article located therein. The anolyte or deactivated anolyte provides a sterile rinse solution. A reagent dispensing well (60) receives an ampule (80) or the like. The ampule (80) contains internal compartments which are selectively accessed or opened to dispense detergent concentrate and/or sterilant concentrate reagents into the circulating anolyte and catholyte solutions. A water treatment apparatus (28) dispenses either a salt or a cleaning agent into the water received from the source (24) to vary the electrolysis reaction or to form a cleaning solution to clean and flush the electrolysis apparatus (30), respectively.

Sterilization apparatus utilizing catholyte and anolyte solutions

A porous material (10) is contaminated with soil (14). Optionally, the porous material is partially shielded by an impermeable layer. The contaminated porous material is packaged and shipped to a user site. The contaminated porous material is removed from the package and placed in an automated processor containing medical equipment (22). The medical equipment and porous material are subjected to a cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing cycle in the processor. The cleaning process is evaluated by examining the porous material with an infrared or other electronic reader (24) to determine the presence of remaining soil which has not be removed during the cleaning, disinfecting, or sterilizing cycle.

Method for the assessment and validation of cleaning processes

A method for cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing catheters (10) using a combination of liquid and gaseous/plasma sterilization techniques to ensure the complete and efficient sterilization of a catheter (10). Angiographic dye and saline are removed from the interior (36) of the balloon (14) and its lumen (16). The outer surfaces of the catheter (10) and a guide wire lumen (18) of the catheter (10) are cleaned, decontaminated, and sterilized (42) with a liquid sterilant. The liquid sterilant fills a balloon (14) and a balloon lumen (16) of the catheter (10). The liquid sterilant is retained in the balloon (14) and the lumen (16) for a select amount of time. Thereafter, the liquid sterilant is drained from the balloon (14) and the balloon lumen (16). The filling, retaining, and draining steps are repeated until an interior (36) of the balloon (14) and the balloon lumen (16) are sterilized. Residual liquid sterilant is rinsed from the interior (36) of the balloon (14) and the balloon lumen (16). The catheter (10) is dried and then a plasma or gaseous sterilant is used to sterilize at least the outer surfaces and the guide wire lumen (18) of the catheter (10).

Method and apparatus for cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing

A decontamination apparatus for medical devices includes a decontamination basin (14a, 14b) with a selectively opened and closed cover member (16a, 16b) to provide selective access to the basin (14a, 14b). A mixing chamber assembly (80) selectively dispenses detergent concentrate and decontaminant concentrate into a liquid to form a liquid cleaning solution or a liquid decontaminant solution, respectively. A source of decontaminated rinse liquid, such as a microbe removal filter (54), is in selective fluid communication with the basin (14a, 14b). A source of anti-microbial liquid is in selective fluid communication with the microbe removal filter (54) and rinse liquid flow paths (58) between the microbe removal filter and the basin for decontaminating the filter (54) and the rinse lines (58). Each channel of a medical device (E) being decontaminated is connected to a channel flush line (30) and a channel pump (32) for flushing the channels of the device (E). A pressure sensor (42) is in communication with each flush line (30) to sense a blockage in the channels of the medical device (E). The channel pumps (32) pump liquid or decontaminated air through the device channels. A leak test system is also provided for testing the integrity of an outer sheath of a medical device (E) such as an endoscope.

Apparatus and method for sterilizing medical devices

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Painesville, OH, United States of America

Paul S Malchesky