Back to results
US 2002/0058296 A1Published application
Contained indicators for determining sterilization
OwnerMichael J. Miller, Judy K. Hendricksinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
OwnerMichael J. Miller, Judy K. Hendricksinventors
Estimating the term…
This invention is directed to sterilization indicator systems for determining the effectiveness of sterilization processes. Test indicator devices comprise a container that is open on one end and has liquid impermeable and substantially gas non-absorptive walls which surround the biological or chemical material to be used as the indicator system, the opening contains a barrier that allows fluid such as gas to flow from the outside, through the plug and into the interior chamber containing the indicator system providing the detection. The entire indicator is further contained within a sealed pouch that is liquid impermeable and gas permeable under the conditions of a gas over steam sterilization system. The flexible pouch allows the test indicator to properly function while protecting the indicator from the environment while maintaining reliability of the test results. Although such sterilization indicators can be used in a wide variety of procedures, the indicators of the invention are particularly useful in evaluating the effectiveness of air overpressure sterilization.
A test indicator device for determining the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure comprising:
A method for determining the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure comprised of:
A method for monitoring or determining the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure for contact lenses in blister packs which method employs a test indicator comprising a container having liquid impermeable and substantially non-absorptive walls and at least one opening communicating with an interior chamber, the chamber containing biological material used as an indicator of the destruction of living microorganisms by the sterilization procedure and a fluid-transmissive barrier positioned in the opening such that movement of fluid between the environment surrounding the test indicator and the interior chamber occurs through the fluid-transmissive barrier, and placing the test indicator inside a sealed pouch that is liquid impermeable and gas permeable under the conditions of gas over steam sterilization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.