Ethicon, Gmbh

Asp Global Manufacturing Gmbh

Advanced Sterilization Products

Ethican, Inc.

Todd Morrison

Doug Vo Truong

Szu-Min Lin

Franklin A Jurik

Benjamin M Fryer

Alfredo M Choperena

Robert Lukasik

Ben Fryer

Fong Shyr Yang

Szu Min Lin

Veronica V Thralls

Ali S Siddiqui

A method of operating a sterilizer includes imaging a load of instruments to obtain an optical image and/or thermal image of the load, and selecting a sterilization cycle to be performed by the sterilizer based on one or more characteristics of the load determined from the image of the load. The characteristics may include the number of instruments, the presence of a diffusion-restricted space, the volume of the load, and the temperature of the load. The method may further include adjusting the sterilization cycle based on the characteristics of the load.

Adjusting sterilization cycles by imaging loads

A cleaning indicator including a substrate having an image upon it that can be interrogated to assist in monitoring a process for washing articles in a washing machine system. The image can be a printed image, which in turn is covered at least partially by a test soil to be removed by the washing process. Alternatively, the test soil can be formed into an image on the substrate. The cleaning indicator can be imaged before the start of a washing process to allow the washing process to proceed only if the appropriate image is observed. The cleaning indicator can be imaged during operation of the washing process, and when a criterion for cleanliness is met, the washing process can be automatically terminated. A washing system for using the cleaning indicator in an automated washing process is also disclosed.

Cleaning indicator and method of using same

A method of using a vacuum chamber to assist in detecting and removing moisture from an instrument having a lumen, e.g., an endoscope is disclosed. Second derivatives of pressure with respect to time are calculated and differences therebetween summed. These summations may be compared to a threshold value to determine whether residual moisture remains on the instrument in the chamber. The vacuum chamber may include a rack for hanging instruments having lumens, such as endoscopes.

Apparatus and method for detecting moisture in a vacuum chamber

A method of sterilizing medical instruments using a vacuum chamber connected to reservoir by a valve in a closed state is disclosed that includes placing instruments in a non-sterile state into a sterilization pack, opening a chamber, placing the pack into the chamber, closing the chamber, withdrawing a first volume of air from the chamber, changing a volume of liquid water into vapor, opening the valve, introducing sterilant into the chamber, introducing a second volume of air into the chamber, opening the chamber, removing the pack from the chamber, and removing the instruments in a sterile-state from the pack. The process may further include the steps of repeatedly determining pressure within the chamber, calculating second-derivative values of pressure with respect to time, and determining whether any local maxima exist in a plot of second derivative values that correspond to pressures above and/or below the triple-point pressure of water.

A method of using a vacuum chamber to assist in detecting moisture on an instrument, removing moisture from the instrument, and confirming dryness of the instrument is disclosed. The method may include the steps of opening a vacuum chamber; placing an instrument into the chamber, closing the chamber, withdrawing a first volume of air from the chamber; changing a volume of liquid water into vapor, introducing a second volume of air into the chamber, withdrawing the second volume of air from the chamber, changing a second volume of liquid water into vapor, introducing a third volume of air into the chamber, opening the chamber, and removing the instrument from the chamber in a dry state. This method may also include the steps of collecting pressure data corresponding to the pressure within the chamber while withdrawing the second volume of air from the chamber, calculating a first second-derivative value of pressure with respect to time corresponding to a pressure greater than approximately the triple-point pressure of water, calculating a second second-derivative value of pressure with respect to time corresponding to a pressure greater than approximately the triple-point pressure of water and a time subsequent to the time corresponding to the first second-derivative value, calculating a third second-derivative value of pressure with respect to time corresponding to a pressure less than approximately the triple-point pressure of water and a time subsequent to the time corresponding to the second second-derivative value, calculating a fourth second-derivative value of pressure with respect to time corresponding to a pressure less than approximately the triple-point pressure of water and a time subsequent to the time corresponding to the third second-derivative value, determining that the fourth second-derivative value is less than or equal to the third second-derivative value, determining that the second second-derivative value is less than or equal to the first second-derivative value. The vacuum chamber may include a rack for hanging instruments having lumens, such as endoscopes.

A method of delivering a liquid sterilant to a sterilizer involves piercing a cell of a cassette with a first needle having a first lumen, flowing a gas into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen. The liquid sterilant travels from the lumen to a vaporizer in the sterilizer.

Method of delivering liquid sterilant to a sterilizer

A cassette for a sterilizer has one or more cells containing a sterilant. Packaging for the cassette includes and outer fluid impermeable envelope and an absorbent web wrapped around the cassette to absorb and contain any sterilant which may leak out of the cassette. The absorbent web includes a superabsorbent polymer.

Sterilization cassette and packaging

A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by flowing a portion of the sterilant vapor through an instrument container using a normal portion of the exhaust process. Preferably, an exhaust conduit which draws a vacuum on a sterilization chamber is oriented so that the container is adjacent an inlet to the conduit.

Sterilization with flow through container

A Biological Indicator Evaluator Resistometer (BIER vessel) provides enhancements in controlling the start and end points of exposure to a sterilant gas. The end point control employs a large volume relative to the test chamber volume upon which is drawn a deep vacuum and then exposed to the test chamber to quickly exhaust the sterilant gas from the test chamber.

Resistometer

A method for determining exposure of a test sample to hydrogen peroxide in an atmosphere includes placing a substrate into the atmosphere, contacting the substrate with the hydrogen peroxide, reacting the hydrogen peroxide with a dye intermediate to produce a chromophore indicative of the integrated exposure of hydrogen peroxide in the atmosphere; and correlating the chromophore to the integrated exposure of hydrogen peroxide in the atmosphere. The dye intermediate may be a dye-couple of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride (MBTH) and 3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid (DMAB). The intensity of the chromophore is indicative of an integrated hydrogen peroxide exposure.

Growing community of inventors

Dana Point, CA, United States of America

Todd Morrison