Method and apparatus for sterilizing intraluminal and percutaneous access sites
OwnerRussell Redmond, Claude Vidalinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for sterilizing access sites such as attachment points for various therapeutic and diagnostic medical devices. More particularly, the invention concerns a sterilization apparatus which includes a substantially UV-C transparent closure cap for closing the access site and a compact, easy to use irradiating apparatus for controllably irradiating the closure cap with UV-C radiation.
Claims25
An apparatus for sterilizing an access site comprising a closure cap for closing the access site and irradiating means for controllably irradiating closure cap with UV-C radiation.
An apparatus for sterilizing an access site comprising a closure cap for closing the access site, said closure cap having a UV-C transparent portion and irradiating means for controllably irradiating said closure cap with UV-C radiation, said irradiation means comprising:
- (a) a housing including an internal chamber and a substantially UV-C transparent portion;
- (b) a source of UV radiation disposed within said housing for emitting UV-C radiation in a direction towards substantially uv-C transparent portion;
- and
- (c) switching means carried by said housing for controllably energizing said source of UV radiation.
An apparatus for sterilizing a catheter puncture site comprising:
- (a) a protective barrier for covering the catheter puncture site, said barrier being constructed from a material that is opaque to UV-C light and transparent to visible light;
- and
- (b) radiation means for irradiating the protective barrier with UV-C radiation at a location proximate the catheter puncture site.
A method for sterilizing a catheter puncture site using a protective barrier for covering the catheter puncture site, said barrier being constructed from a material that is opaque to UV-C light and radiation means for irradiating the protective barrier with UV-C radiation, said method comprising the steps of covering the catheter puncture site with the protective barrier and, using the radiation means, irradiating the protective barrier with UV-C radiation at a location proximate the catheter puncture site.
A method for sterilizing an access site using a closure cap for closing the access site, said closure cap having a UV-C transparent portion and irradiating means for controllably irradiating said closure cap with UV-C radiation, said method comprising the steps of exposing the closure cap to the irradiating means and then controllably irradiating the closure cap with UV-C radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.