Three part cup for packaging cleaning and sterilizing agents and sequential cutter

Abstract

A sequential delivery assembly ( ) sequentially releases three different treatment materials into a fluid flow path ( ) to form a treatment fluid with a composition which varies throughout a cleaning and microbial decontamination cycle. A chamber ( ) receives items to be cleaned and decontaminated. A pump ( ) pumps the treatment fluid from the sequential delivery assembly along a fluid flow line ( ) to nozzles ( ) disposed within the chamber. The nozzles spray the treatment fluid over the items to be cleaned and decontaminated. The delivery assembly includes a well ( ) for receiving a three compartment cup ( ). The cup contains a first compartment ( ) which includes a cleaning material ( ), such as a detergent. A second compartment ( ) contains pre-treatment materials ( ), such as buffers and corrosion inhibitors, which prepare the system for receiving a microbial decontaminant ( ), such as a concentrated solution of peracetic acid, contained in the third compartment ( ). The sequential delivery assembly includes a cup cutter assembly which sequentially cuts base portions ( ) of the three compartments to release the treatment materials into the fluid flow line. The system allows items to be cleaned and then microbially decontaminated in a single process, avoiding the need to handle potentially hazardous instruments between cleaning and decontamination steps and ensures thorough cleaning and decontamination of the instruments with measured doses of the treatment materials.