Ethicon, Gmbh

Johnson & Johnson Medical Gmbh

Other

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Surgikos, Inc.

Advanced Sterilization Products

Johnson & Johnson Medical Div of Ethicon, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Div Ethicon, Inc.

Szu-Min Lin

Paul Taylor Jacobs

Harold R Williams

Jenn-Hann Larry Wang

Richard Jed Kendall

Jon Morrell Jacobs

Tralance O Addy

Peter C Zhu

Robert Lukasik

James P Kohler

Henry K Hui

Xiaolan Chen

Robert C Platt

Jenn-Han Wang

Alfredo M Choperena

Su-Syin S Wu

Robert M Spencer

James Archie Swanzy

Keith Schubert

Anthony Lemus

Leslie A Feldman

Nancy S Chu

Rodrigo Berho

Ben Fryer

Debra Timm

Michael Hahs

Nitu Kohli

Paul T Jacobs

Paul Leonard

Douglas W Fett

Hans Strobel

Vinod Mirchandani

Thomas G Lippold

Pascale D Endo

Richard B Timmons

Todd Morrison

Mitch Agamohamadi

Anahid Gamsarian

Les Authur Feldman

Kevin Kyung-Hee Song

Sam Nutt

John F Prieve

Jed Kendall

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 method and apparatus provide for automatically cleaning and decontaminating medical instruments. The method comprising the steps of: a) placing the medical instruments into a container after their use in a medical procedure; b) closing the container to seal the instruments inside whereby to prevent personnel contact with the instruments and any contaminants which might be thereon; c) inserting the sealed container into a washer/decontaminator and sealing the washer/decontaminator; d) the washer/decontaminator automatically opening the container and applying a washing fluid thereto to wash the instruments within the container; and e) the washer/decontaminator automatically applying a disinfectant to the container to disinfect the instruments whereby to allow safe handling thereof by personnel.

Washer and decontaminator with lid control

A method provides flow to multiple channels in an endoscope during an endoscope decontamination procedure. A member is inserted into a chamber in a body of an endoscope through an opening into the chamber, the chamber being intersected by a first lumen and a second lumen. The member separates fluidly the first lumen from the second lumen. Fluid is flowed through a first channel through the member into the first lumen and through a second channel through the member into the second lumen. Additional lumens can be so treated at the same time. Fluids can include detergents and other cleaning fluids, disinfectants and sterilants.

Apparatus and method for providing flow to endoscope channels

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 device and method provide an aerosol germicide to a device having a lumen within a container. The container is divided into at least two compartments by an interface across which extends the lumen device, with one end of the lumen in one compartment and another end of the lumen in another compartment. A pressure differential can be used to flow the germicide through the lumen.

Method and apparatus for processing a lumen device

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

An endoscope processor, according to the present invention, provides for cleaning and sterilizing an endoscope having a body, and a first flexible tube attached to the body. It includes an operational housing and an enclosure which is attachable to and detachable from the operational housing, the enclosure being sealed from ingress of potentially contaminating microorganisms when detached from the operational housing. The enclosure is shaped, sized and oriented to receive the endoscope in an orientation with the first flexible tube depending vertically downwardly from the endoscope body. The enclosure includes a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The operational housing includes a circulating system comprising at least one liquid pump having a pump outlet connected to the liquid inlet of the enclosure when the enclosure is attached to the operational housing, and a pump inlet connected to the liquid outlet of the enclosure when the enclosure is attached to the operational housing, whereby to circulate liquid through the enclosure. A source of sterilizing fluid is associated with the pump and a control system is programmed to control a sterilization procedure whereby the pump circulates a liquid comprising the sterilizing fluid through the enclosure.

Cabinet type endoscope processor

A device and a method for rapidly determining the effectiveness of sterilization or disinfection processes are provided. The method involves contacting a biological indicator containing a known number of live spores to a sterilization or disinfection process. When the spores are killed, the minerals in the spores are released. Water is contacted with the dead spores to form an aqueous solution. A parameter related to the concentration of a mineral in the aqueous solution is measured. The effectiveness of the germicidal process is determined from the parameter and the initial number of spores in the biological indicator. Measuring the parameter by measuring the conductivity of the aqueous solution is particularly effective and sensitive.

Device and method for rapidly determining the effectiveness of sterilization or disinfection processes

A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical instrument, includes the steps of placing the instrument in a cleaning chamber; placing a soil standard in the cleaning chamber; cleaning the instrument and the soil standard with a cleaning solution; and detecting whether soil remains on said soil standard. The soil standard includes two substantially parallel substrates separated with two substantially equal thickness spacers, wherein a gap is formed between the two substrates with soil in the gap.

Monitoring of cleaning process

A method for cleaning and sterilizing a medical device comprises the steps of: placing the device into a container; cleaning the device in the container with a cleaning solution; rinsing the device in the container with a rinse solution; and vaporizing a liquid substance in the container to create a sterilant vapor and contacting the device with the vapor to effect sterilization of the device.

Integrated washing and sterilization process

A liquid measuring device is described for carrying out the assay using a gas or vapor permeable but liquid impermeable membrane barrier to control the volume of liquid to be measured or transferred. The membrane may be used in any instance where a fixed volume of liquid needs to be measured.

Liquid measuring device

A method and an apparatus for sterilizing a lumen device. A lumen and a container having an interface on a wall of the container are enclosed in a chamber. The lumen is placed across the interface so that one end of the lumen is in the container and the other end is in the chamber. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two ends of the lumen, so that the germicide flows through the lumen. The lumen may alternatively be placed across an interface which separates the chamber into two areas. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two areas of the chamber, causing the germicide to flow through the lumen.

Method for sterilizing a lumen device

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Laguna Hills, CA, United States of America

Szu-Min Lin