American Sterilizer Company

Steris Inc.

Church Dwight & Co., Inc.

Peter A Burke

Michael A Centanni

Phillip P Franciskovich

Tricia Cregger

William A Yirava

Mark James Leggett

Elizabeth H Schenk

Thaddeus Joseph Mielnik

Gerald E McDonnell

Francis John Zelina

Jude A Kral

Lewis I Schwartz

Karl Ludwig

Victor M Selig

Karl F Ludwig

Iain McVey

Michael J Harrison

David A Karle

Dennis R Blum

Chad Rhodes

Ian F McVey

Alex D Biggie

William John Thomas Biebesheimer

Elaine M Kopis

Gisela McBride

Stephen L Coulter

Tricia A Cregger

Gisela Mcbride

This invention relates to a wipe for killing spores comprising an absorbent sheet holding an aqueous composition and a sealed package containing the absorbent sheet, wherein the aqueous composition comprises water, an antimicrobial agent and a peroxide. The invention also relates to a process for killing spores using the above-indicated wipe.

Wipe for killing spores

This invention relates to a process and an aqueous composition for killing spores. The process comprises contacting the spores with the aqueous composition for a sufficient period of time to effect a desired reduction (e.g., at least a 4 log reduction) in the number of spores capable of reproduction, metabolism and/or growth. The aqueous composition comprises water, peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The concentration of peracetic acid in the water may be in the range from about 0.001 to about 60% by weight, or from about 0.001 to about 0.5% by weight. The weight ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide may be in the range from about 0.001 to about 0.5.

Process and composition for killing spores

This invention relates to a a process for decontaminating or sterilizing an article contaminated with spores. The process comprises contacting the spores with a liquid sterilant for a sufficient period of time to effect a desired reduction (e.g., at least a 4 log reduction) in the number of spores capable of returning to vegetative growth. The liquid sterilant may comprise water, an antimicrobial agent (e.g., peracetic acid) and a peroxide (e.g., hydrogen peroxide).

Process for decontaminating or sterilizing an article

This invention relates to a biological indicator derived from a composition comprising: a host organism comprising a spore forming bacteria; a reporter gene for producing an indicator enzyme; a regulatory gene; and a vehicle for inserting the reporter gene and the regulatory gene in the host organism; the host organism bearing a transposable genetic element in its genome for inserting an insertion sequence in the regulatory gene; the insertion sequence comprising a transposase, a pair of terminal inverted repeat sequences, and at least one open reading frame for expressing the transposase. The vehicle may be taken up by the host organism. The insertion sequence may be inserted in the regulatory gene. The host organism may undergo sporulation to form the biological indicator. A process and an apparatus for using the biological indicator are disclosed.

Biological indicator

A method for decontaminating articles having porous outer surfaces. The method includes providing a decontamination chamber; conveying the articles through the decontamination chamber at a predetermined speed wherein the speed is selected such that the articles are disposed in the decontamination chamber for a predetermined period of time; providing a source of sterliant vapor, the source providing the sterilant vapor at a temperature within a predetermined acceptable temperature range and at a concentration within a predetermined acceptable concentration range; conveying a sterilant vapor from the source of sterilant vapor to the decontamination chamber; and exposing the articles to the sterilant vapor. The predetermined period of time and the predetermined acceptable concentration range of the sterilant vapor are selected such that the sterilant vapor does not penetrate the porous outer surfaces of the articles.

Method for decontaminating food articles having a porous outer surface

An amperometric gas sensor for measuring the concentration of an analyte includes: a solid configured as an insulator without being contacted by the analyte and configured for diffusion of the analyte therethrough, the solid including a non-conductive polymer, the solid further configured to increase in electrical conductivity when in contact with the analyte; a working electrode positioned on and in contact with the solid; and a reference electrode positioned on and in contact with the solid, the reference electrode spaced apart and insulated from the working electrode without the solid being contacted by the analyte, the working electrode and the reference electrode configured to measure electrical conductivity of the solid when the solid is in contact with the analyte.

Amperometric gas sensor

The disclosed invention relates to an amperometric gas sensor for measuring the concentration of an analyte, comprising: a solid support; and a working electrode in contact with the solid support; wherein the analyte comprises a dopant which when in contact with the solid support increases the electrical conductivity of the solid support. A sterilization process employing the amperometric gas sensor is disclosed.

A method for decontaminating articles having porous outer surfaces. The method includes steps of: providing a decontamination chamber; conveying the articles through the decontamination chamber at a predetermined speed wherein the speed is selected such that the articles are disposed in the decontamination chamber for a predetermined period of time; providing a source of sterilant vapor, the source providing the sterilant vapor at a temperature within a predetermined acceptable temperature range and at a concentration within a predetermined acceptable concentration range; conveying a sterilant vapor from the source of sterilant vapor to the decontamination chamber; and exposing the articles to the sterilant vapor. The predetermined period of time and the predetermined acceptable concentration range of the sterilant vapor are selected such that the sterilant vapor does not penetrate the porous outer surfaces of the articles.

System for decontaminating food articles having a porous outer surface

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Concord, OH, United States of America

Peter A Burke