American Sterilizer Company

William R Barron

Peter E Zell

Peter T Miraldi

Anthony B Ruffo

A particularly useful method is disclosed for sterilizing micro-isolators in which a sipper bottle is contained. In the present invention, sterilization is effected by using a microprocessor control to regulate the pressure within a sterilization chamber in response to temperature conditions. Pressure within the chamber is regulated so that as temperature is raised and lowered, the boiling point of water in the sipper bottle is never exceeded. Prior to sterilization, the chamber is evacuated of air to permit effective distribution of steam. Subsequent to sterilization, the chamber is again evacuated in order to evaporate condensed steam that covers the micro-isolator and its contents. During each of these evacuations, the microprocessor control regulates the rate of vacuum draw down so that the boiling point of water in the sipper bottle is again not exceeded. This method permits micro-isolators to be sterilized with sipper bottles full of water, without losing a significant volume of water. The method of the present invention thus provides micro-isolators that are ready to use, including the drying of the micro-isolator, complete with bedding and food.

Micro-isolator steam sterilization cycle and apparatus

Means are provided for the monitoring of a sterilization procedure employing alkylene oxide, particularly ethylene oxide, to sterilize medical equipment, especially heat-sensitive equipment, and especially for monitoring the aeration of the so-sterilized goods and articles to desorb the retained alkylene oxide, which means employ interaction of the alkylene oxide with a cation-exchange resin and subsequent aeration of the cation exchange resin coupled with pH indicator means sensitive to changes in the ion exchange resin effected by the alkylene oxide employed in the sterilization and subsequently by the air employed in the desorption step.

Ethylene oxide sterilization and aeration indicator

A discharge evacuation system includes a conduit which accepts a fluid discharge containing a liquid discharge and a gaseous discharge. The conduit includes a main outlet through which the liquid discharge flows from the conduit into the discharge side of a plumbing system and a backup outlet through which at least a portion of the liquid discharge flows from the conduit when a predetermined volume of liquid discharge backs up within the conduit. Apparatus is provided for removing at least a portion of the gaseous discharge from the conduit and directing the flow of the portion of the gaseous discharge to an area remote from the area in which the conduit is located.

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McKean, PA, United States of America

William R Barron