The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 06, 1991
Filed:
Mar. 07, 1988
Edward T Schneider, Mentor, OH (US);
Raymond C Kralovic, N. Springfield, PA (US);
Steris Corporation, Mentor, OH (US);
Abstract
A tubing system (18) connects a source (10) of tap water with a container (20) holding an item to be sterilized. Powdered buffers, detergents, and corrosion inhibitors are deposited in a well (34) along with an ampule (46) containing a sterilant, such as peracetic acid. The ampule includes an exterior wall (80) which defines an interior volume (82) and a linear vent passage (84) extending from the exterior wall to a central region of the interior volume. A gas permeable liquid impermeable membrane (100) is mounted across a vent aperture (86) which is disposed adjacent the geometric center of the interior volume. The volume is filled less than half way full with the liquid sterilant such that in all orientations of the ampule (FIGS. 4A-C), an upper surface (98) of the sterilant remains below the vent aperture. A pump (50) recirculates the water through the container, the tubing system, and the well to dissolve the powdered reagents. A tubular needle (70) of an aspirator system (42) is moved along the vent passage and through the vent aperture such that its free end is immersed in the sterilant. An aspirator (44) draws the sterilant from the ampule into the tubing system, mixing it with the recirculating water.