Two compartment cup for powdered sterilant reagent components

Claim 2

A frangible, two compartment package for holding powdered reagents which interact in water to form an anti-microbial solution, the package comprising: an outer first cup portion having a first peripheral wall which has an opening at a first outer end and is closed by a first base portion at a first base end; an inner, second cup portion having a second peripheral wall, a flange means integrally connected at a second outer end of the second peripheral wall and a second base portion integrally connected to a second base end of the second peripheral wall, the first and second cup portions being configured such that the second cup portion flange means abuts and is sealed to the first cup portion first outer end and the first and second base portions are contiguous, the first and second peripheral walls being configured such that a first annular, powdered reagent receiving chamber is defined therebetween, the second cup portion defining a second chamber therein; a closure means which is selectively sealed to the second cup portion flange means closing the second chamber.

Claim 3

The package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second cup portion peripheral wall has a longitudinally extending recess portion which mates with an aperture defined through the second cup portion flange means, whereby a filling tube is selectively receivable through the second cup flange aperture and along the recessed portion between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls for filling the annular chamber, the closure means being sealed to the flange means surrounding the aperture, whereby the first and second chambers are concurrently sealable.

Claim 4

The package as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second cup portion base portions has a dome arched toward the other; with the second cup portion flange means affixed to the first cup portion first end, the base portions abutting with sufficient force that the dome is flexed, such that a resiliency of the dome spring biases the first and second base portions into firm, frictional contact.

Claim 5

The package as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first peripheral wall is circularly cylindrical and is integrally connected with a flange means at the first outer end, the first and second cup portion flange means being coextensive and sealed together.

Claim 6

The package as set forth in claim 4 further including means for affixing the first and second base portions together.

Claim 7

The package as set forth in claim 4 wherein the second cup portion peripheral wall is substantially conical extending from the first cup portion peripheral flange means to a central portion of the first cup portion base portion for increasing the compressive strength thereof, whereby resistance to deformation on impact with a cutting tool is improved.

Claim 8

The package as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the annular chamber and the second chamber holds an acid precursor and the other chamber holds a persalt.

Claim 9

The package as set forth in claim 7 wherein the acid precursor includes acetylsalicylic acid and the persalt includes sodium perborate.

Claim 10

The package as set forth in claim 8 wherein the closure means is a thin sheet of permeable material.

Claim 11

The package as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second cup portion base portions includes a dome arched toward the other; the second cup portion flange means being affixed to the first cup portion first end, the first and second base portions abutting with sufficient force that the dome is flexed, such that a resiliency of the dome spring biases the first and second cup portion base portions into firm, frictional contact.

Claim 12

The package as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the first peripheral wall is circularly cylindrical; and, the second cup portion peripheral wall is substantially conical extending from the first cup portion peripheral wall first end to a central portion of the first base portion or increasing the compressive strength thereof, whereby resistance to deformation on impact with a cutting tool is improved.

Claim 13

The package as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first and second cup portions are constructed of light weight plastic material.

Claim 14

The cup as set forth in claim 12 further including means for affixing the first and second base portions together.

Claim 15

The cup as set forth in claim 12 wherein the closure means is a thin sheet of permeable material.

Claim 16

A frangible, two compartment cup comprising: a first cup portion having a second peripheral wall which has an opening at a first end and is closed by a first base wall at a second end; a second cup portion having a second peripheral wall having a longitudinally extending recess, a flange integrally connected at a first, open end of the second peripheral wall, and a second base wall integrally connected to a second end of the second peripheral wall, the flange defining an aperture in communication with the longitudinally extending recess the first and second cup portions being configured such that the second cup portion flange abuts and is sealed to the first cup portion open end and such that an annular chamber is defined between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls, whereby a filling tube is selectively receivable through the flange aperture and along the recess between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls for filling the annular chamber; at least one of the first and second cup portion base walls having a dome, the base walls abutting with sufficient force that the dome is flexed, such that a resiliency of the dome spring biases the first and second base walls into firm frictional contact; a closure means which is selectively sealed to the second cup portion annular flange, whereby the second cup portion and the annular chamber are concurrently sealable.

Claim 17

A frangible, two compartment cup comprising: a first cup portion having a second peripheral wall which has an opening at a first end and is closed by a first base wall at a second end; a second cup portion having a second peripheral wall having a longitudinally extending recess, a flange integrally connected at a first, open end of the second peripheral wall, and a second base wall integrally connected to a second end of the second peripheral wall, the flange defining an aperture in communication with the longitudinally extending recess the first and second cup portions being configured such that the second cup portion flange abuts and is sealed to the first cup portion open end and such that an annular chamber is defined between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls, whereby a filling tube is selectively receivable through the flange aperture and along the recess between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls for filling the annular chamber; at least one of the first and second cup portion base walls having a dome, the base walls abutting with sufficient force that the dome is flexed, such that a resiliency of the dome spring biases the first and second base walls into firm frictional contact; a closure means which is selectively sealed to the second cup portion annular flange, whereby the second cup portion and the annular chamber are concurrently sealable.

Claim 18

A decontamination system comprising: a powdered reagent cup receiving wall; a means for defining a first fluid flow path between a water receiving inlet and the reagent cup receiving well to bring water from the inlet to the well to mix with powdered reagents and form a decontaminant solution; a means for defining a second fluid flow path for the decontaminant solution from the reagent cup receiving well to a decontamination region for receiving items to be decontaminated; a means for defining a third fluid flow path from the decontamination region of a drain outlet for selectively draining spent decontamination solution and rinse water; a fluid circulating means for selectively circulating fluid through the first, second, and third fluid flow paths and among the inlet, the decontamination region, and the reagent cup receiving well; a cutting blade means disposed adjacent and extending into the cup receiving well for cutting into at least two chambers of an at least two chamber powdered decontamination reagent holding cup; the two chamber decontamination reagent holding cup including: a first cup portion having a first peripheral wall which has an opening at a first end and is closed by a first base wall at a second end; a second cup portion having a second peripheral wall having a longitudinally extending recess, a flange integrally connected at a first, open end of the second peripheral wall, and a second base wall integrally connected to a second end of the second peripheral wall, the flange defining an aperture in communication with the longitudinally extending recess, the first and second cup portion being configured such that the second cup portion flange abuts and is sealed to the first cup portion open end and such that an annular chamber is defined between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls, whereby a filling tube is selectively receivable through the flange aperture and along the recess between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls for filling the annular chamber; at least one of the first and second cup portion base walls having a dome, the base walls abutting with sufficient force that the dome is flexed, such that a resiliency of the dome spring biases the first and second base walls into firm frictional contact; a closure means which is selectively sealed to the second cup portion annular flange, whereby the second cup portion and the annular chamber are concurrently sealable.

Claim 19

A decontamination system comprising: a powdered reagent cup receiving wall; a means for defining a first fluid flow path between a water receiving inlet and the reagent cup receiving well to bring water from the inlet to the well to mix with powdered reagents and form a decontaminant solution; a means for defining a second fluid flow path for the decontaminant solution from the reagent cup receiving well to a decontamination region for receiving items to be decontaminated; a means for defining a third fluid flow path from the decontamination region of a drain outlet for selectively draining spent decontamination solution and rinse water; a fluid circulating means for selectively circulating fluid through the first, second, and third fluid flow paths and among the inlet, the decontamination region, and the reagent cup receiving well; a cutting blade means disposed adjacent and extending into the cup receiving well for cutting into at least two chambers of an at least two chamber powdered decontamination reagent holding cup; the two chamber decontamination reagent holding cup including: a first cup portion having a first peripheral wall which has an opening at a first end and is closed by a first base wall at a second end; a second cup portion having a second peripheral wall having a longitudinally extending recess, a flange integrally connected at a first, open end of the second peripheral wall, and a second base wall integrally connected to a second end of the second peripheral wall, the flange defining an aperture in communication with the longitudinally extending recess, the first and second cup portion being configured such that the second cup portion flange abuts and is sealed to the first cup portion open end and such that an annular chamber is defined between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls, whereby a filling tube is selectively receivable through the flange aperture and along the recess between the first and second cup portion peripheral walls for filling the annular chamber; at least one of the first and second cup portion base walls having a dome, the base walls abutting with sufficient force that the dome is flexed, such that a resiliency of the dome spring biases the first and second base walls into firm frictional contact; a closure means which is selectively sealed to the second cup portion annular flange, whereby the second cup portion and the annular chamber are concurrently sealable.

Claim 20

The package as set forth in claim 16 wherein one of the annular chamber and the second cup portion holds an acid precursor and the other holds a persalt.

Claim 21

The package as set forth in claim 17 wherein the acid precursor includes acetylsalicylic acid and the persalt includes sodium perborate.

Claim 24

The method as set forth in claim 19 further including: conveying the sealed cups and the contained powdered reagents to a site at which decontamination is to be performed; concurrently piercing the first and second base walls of the first and second cups; mixing the first and second powdered reagents with water to form a decontamination solution; immersing items to be decontaminated in the decontamination solution.

Claim 25

The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the powdered reagents in one of the second cup and the annular chamber include an acid precursor and the powdered reagents in the other include a persalt.

Claim 26

The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the acid precursor includes acetylsalicylic acid and the persalt includes sodium perborate.