3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Solventum Intellectual Properties Company

William E Foltz

Lewis P Woodson

Richard R Matner

Robert A Asmus

G Marco Bommarito

Kelvin J Witcher

Ronald G Lulich

Naiyong Jing

Barry W Robole

Kevin D Landgrebe

Timothy J Nies

Francois Ahimou

Scott D Anderson

Ryan W Clarke

Paul N Holt

Tushar A Kshirsagar

Sailaja Chandrapati

Louis C Haddad

Werner R Schwarz

Steven S Kirckof

Josef A Graessle

Jeffrey D Cotton

Lawrence D Fosler

Ryan T Woldt

Thomas T Rosenlund

Swarnalatha Swaminathan

Joshua M Schmitz

Chad M Herrlein

Assumpta Bennaars-Eiden

James H Wicks

Joshua M Schmltz

The disclosed sterilization monitoring device comprises a perfusion channel with a chemical indicating composition disposed in fluid communication with the perfusion channel. Exposure to a sterilant creates a laterally moving front across the chemical indicating composition in the perfusion channel.

Process and device for generating a moving front within a sterilization monitoring device and uses thereof

The present disclosure relates generally to chemical indicators. In particular, the chemical indicators are useful for monitoring sterilization processes. The chemical indicator includes a fluid pathway and a chamber comprises a chemical-indicating composition.

Sterilization chemical indicator

Spore carriers suitable for use in biological indicators are described. The spore carriers include a substrate such as polymeric film or non-woven web with a hydrophilic nanostructured layer bonded to it. Spores are bonded to the nanostructured layer. Nanostructured layers including nanoparticles, such as acid-sintered silica nanoparticles are described. Biological indicators including such spore carriers are also described.

Biological sterilization indicator

An article and method are provided for assessing the efficacy of a sterilization process. The article comprises an outer container having an interior volume; a dry source of measurable biological activity disposed in the interior volume; and an effective amount of a dry agent for neutralizing a sterilant compound; wherein both the source of measurable biological activity and the agent are in vapor communication with an environment outside the outer container. The method comprises exposing the article to a first sterilant and, optionally, a second sterilant for a period of time and detecting the measurable biological activity.

Biological indicator for monitoring a low-temperature sterilization process

Nanostructured spore carrier

A process challenge device comprising process challenge device comprising a container defining a space within the container, wherein the space can fully contain a process indicator; and at least one pressure-actuating valve associated with the container, wherein the at least one pressure-actuating valve regulates entrance of a sterilant into and exiting of a gas and/or liquid out of the space within the container, methods of using the device and a kit including the device are disclosed.

Process challenge device and methods

A sterilization process challenge device comprising a solid body comprised of walls which define a space, wherein the space can fully contain a sterilization indicator and a volume of gas of at least 5 cubic centimeters and not more than 1000 cubic centimeters; a flow restrictor associated with the solid body such that any flow of the gas out of the space and any flow of a sterilant into the space is restricted; wherein the sterilization indicator indicates whether or not it has been contacted by the sterilant for a time and at a temperature sufficient to sterilize an article; and wherein the walls of the solid body are impervious to the sterilant and have a thickness of at least 0.3 centimeter, methods of using the device and a kit including the device are disclosed.

Sterilization process challenge device

Sterilization indicators that include a neutralizer, such indicators useful for testing the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure by measuring the activity of an active enzyme whose activity is correlated with the survival of microorganisms.

Self-contained sterilization indicators including a neutralizer for residual oxidizing sterilant

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

A sterilization indicator for testing the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure comprises a source of an enzyme, a sterilant-resistant chemical associated with the enzyme, and a substrate that reacts with the enzyme to form a detectable enzyme-modified product that provides an indication of the failure of the sterilization procedure. The sterilant-resistant chemical may be a polyglycerol alkyl ester, polyglycerol alkyl ether, an ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol ester, or a polyhydric alcohol ether. The indicator may be used to test the effectiveness of a hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization procedure and may be provided with a non-challenge test pack or a lumen-challenge test pack.

Sterilization indicator with chemically stabilized enzyme

A rapid method of determining the efficacy of a sterilization cycle, and an indicator adapted to perform such method, comprising subjecting to the sterilization cycle a source of active enzyme having activity which correlates with the viability of a microorganism commonly used to monitor sterilization, and incubating the enzyme source, following the completion of the sterilization cycle, with an effective amount of a substrate system capable of reacting with any residual active enzyme to produce a detectable enzyme-modified product.

Rapid read-out biological indicator

An apparatus and method for detecting fluorescence of an unknown target material. An energy source arranged to excite both the target material and the reference material at approximately the excitation wavelength. A reference detector and a target detector are optically arranged to be responsive to light emitted from the reference material and the target material, respectively, at approximately the fluorescing wavelength. A reference measurement means generates a reference output in response to the reference detector in order to determine the amount of fluorescence generated by the reference material. A target measurement means generates a target output in response to the target detector means in order to determine the amount of fluorescence generated by the target material. Reference calibration means varies the electrical voltage supplied to the energy source and calibrates the reference output. Target calibration means calibrates the target output in response to a known target material.

Method and apparatus for detecting fluorescence

Growing community of inventors

Cottage Grove, MN, United States of America

William E Foltz