EP0332310A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sterilant concentrate injection system
Assignee: Steris Corp
•
Filing: 1989-02-17
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-02-17
Abstract
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 (FIGURES 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward T. Schneider
- 👤 Raymond C. Kralovic
- 👤 Norman L. Siegel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L2/00; A61L2/24; A01; A01N; A01N25/00; A01N25/34; A61L2/16; A61L2/18; A61L2/20; B; B65; B65D; B65D77/00; B65D77/22; B65D77/225; B65D81/00; B65D81/32; B65D81/3216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
An ampule characterized by: a vent passage defining a vent aperture at one end thereof; an exterior wall surrounding the vent aperture and defining an interior volume, the exterior wall being sealed to the vent passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
An ampule characterized by: a vent passage defining a vent aperture at one end thereof; an exterior wall surrounding the vent aperture and defining an interior volume, the exterior wall being sealed to the vent passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ampule as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by gas permeable, fluid blocking membrane mounted across the vent aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The ampule as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vent aperture is disposed generally in a volumetric center of the interior volume and further including a fluid reagent partially filling the interior volume, the fluid reagent having an upper surface which remains below the vent aperture regardless of the orientation of the ampule, whereby gases are vented from the interior volume while the liquid reagent is retained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The ampule as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vent passage is linear and of relatively small diameter to act as a guide for a hollow tube passing along the vent passage and through the vent aperture for withdrawing liquid from the ampule, whereby any liquid retained in the ampule after the hollow tube is withdrawn is inhibited by the position of the vent aperture from being discharged from the ampule.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ampule as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ampule is partially filled with peracetic acid and wherein the ampule is disposed in an outer cup having a vent aperture therein, the outer cup further including a powdered reagent including at least one of a buffer, a detergent, and an anti-corrosive agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
A microbial decontaminating system comprising: a source of water; a container for holding an item to be microbially decontaminated; a tubing system for providing a fluid flow path for received water from the water source to the container; a reservoir for receiving powdered reagents including at least one of a buffer, a detergent, and anti-corrosive, and for receiving a vented ampule, the ampule comprising: a vent passage defining a vent aperture at one end thereof; an exterior wall surrounding the vent aperture and defining an interior volume which is less than half filled with an antimicrobial solution, the exterior wall being sealed to the vent passage; the reservoir being connected with the tubing system such that the received water dissolves the powdered reagent; and, an antimicrobial solution discharging means for selectively discharging the antimicrobial solution from the ampule into the water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
A microbial decontaminating system comprising: a source of water; a container for holding an item to be microbially decontaminated; a tubing system for providing a fluid flow path for received water from the water source to the container; a reservoir for receiving powdered reagents including at least one of a buffer, a detergent, and anti-corrosive, and for receiving a vented ampule, the ampule comprising: a vent passage defining a vent aperture at one end thereof; an exterior wall surrounding the vent aperture and defining an interior volume which is less than half filled with an antimicrobial solution, the exterior wall being sealed to the vent passage; the reservoir being connected with the tubing system such that the received water dissolves the powdered reagent; and, an antimicrobial solution discharging means for selectively discharging the antimicrobial solution from the ampule into the water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as set forth in claim 6 further including a gas permeable, fluid blocking membrane mounted across the vent aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the vent aperture is disposed generally in a geometric center of the interior volume such that an upper surface of the antimicrobial solution remains below the vent aperture regardless of the orientation of the ampule, whereby gases are vented from the interior volume while the antimicrobial solution is retained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the antimicrobial solution includes peracetic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the tubing system includes a valve for preventing the inflow of additional water after the tubing system and container are filled with water and a pump connected with the tubing system for recirculating antimicrobial solution containing water through the tubing system and the container such that the container and the tubing system are both microbially decontaminated; and, further including a means for supplying a sterile rinse liquid into the tubing system for selectively rinsing antimicrobial solution and powdered reagent residue from the microbially decontaminated item such that microbially decontaminating the tubing system assures that the sterile rinse fluid passes only over microbially decontaminated surfaces as it flows to the container, whereby contamination of the microbially decontaminated item with bacteria from the tubing system is prevented.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.