3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Thomas T Rosenlund

Robert A Asmus

Phillip Angelo Bolea

Sailaja Chandrapati

William E Foltz

Kelvin J Witcher

Ronald G Lulich

David George Peters

Sterilization indicator test packs for testing the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure are provided. Both non-challenge and challenge-type test packs are disclosed. The non-challenge test packs include generally comprise a tray for holding a sterilization indicator the tray containing an elevated rim surface defining the perimeter of the tray and a recessed trough for receiving a sterilization indicator. The rim surface includes a plurality of spaced-apart grooves along its length extending through the rim to the recessed trough; a sterilization indicator within the recessed trough of the tray; and a lid that forms a plurality of channels with the grooves in the tray such that sterilant can enter the tray through the channels and contact the sterilization indicator. The challenge-type test packs generally include a tray for holding a sterilization indicator, the tray comprising a substantially planar surface, a recessed trough for receiving a sterilization indicator, and a recessed groove of a defined length and cross-sectional area extending through the recessed trough and penetrating the edge of the tray; a sterilization indicator within the recessed trough of the tray; and a lid forming a substantially sterilant-impermeable seal with the planar surface of the tray and forming a lumen path with the recessed groove in the tray.

Sterilization indicator test packs

An apparatus reads a plurality of biological indicators (BIs) to determine efficacy of a plurality of sterilization cycles. Each BI exhibits fluorescence in response to biological activity indicative of bacterial growth in the BI. A plurality of BI holders are each configured to receive one of the BIs. A carriage is controllably movable relative to the plurality of BI holders to positions proximate each of the BI holders. A fluorescence sensor is mounted on the carriage and is positioned to sense fluorescence exhibited by the BI contained in the BI vessel in the selected BI holder. A controller is coupled to the fluorescence sensor to receive a fluorescence signal and to provide an output signal indicative of the fluorescence sensed.

Apparatus for reading a plurality of biological indicators

A sterilizer for sterilizing objects with biocidal gas which is designed to resist the deleterious effects of the biocidal gas. The invention provides a sterilizer having a sterilizing chamber for holding the objects to be sterilized, and a gas control system for manipulating the gaseous environment within the sterilizing chamber. The sterilizer has a vacuum control system, a vacuum line in fluid communication with the sterilizing chamber, a humidity sensor connected to that vacuum line at a point removed from or outside of the sterilizing chamber, and an isolation valve connected to the vacuum line at a point between the sterilizing chamber and the humidity sensor for temporarily isolating the humidity sensor from the sterilizing chamber. This arrangement assures that the humidity sensor received a sufficient sample for reading the adequacy of the humidification of the objects to be sterilized, while at the same time protecting it from the biocidal gas. In preferred embodiments, the sterilizer is provided with biocidal gas in disposable canisters intended to be positioned and locked inside the sterilizing chamber with the objects to be sterilized. At the appropriate time, the canister is punctured by a puncture apparatus. The preferred puncture apparatus has a metal bellows assembly that is particularly resistant to failure by chemical attack from the biocidal gas.

Sterilizer with gas control

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Thomas T Rosenlund