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US 2018/0000976 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for sterilizing endoscope
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsKeyvan Nowruzi, Navid Omidbakhsh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of sterilizing an article such as a flexible endoscope is performed in a sterilization chamber. A vacuum is applied in the sterilization chamber while the article is contained in the sterilization chamber. A sterilant is then introduced into the sterilization chamber. The pressure within the sterilization chamber is incrementally increased to provide a step-wise transition from a high vacuum state to atmospheric pressure. The article is thereby sterilized.
Claims20
A method of sterilizing an article, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving the article in a sterilization chamber;
- (b) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a first pressure, wherein the first pressure is less than atmospheric pressure;
- (c) introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber;
- (d) maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time;
- (e) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is less than atmospheric pressure;
- (f) maintaining the second pressure in the sterilization chamber for a second period of time;
- (g) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to a third pressure;
- and
- (h) maintaining the third pressure in the sterilization chamber for a third period of time.
6 more elements
A method of sterilizing an article, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving the article in a sterilization chamber;
- (b) applying a vacuum to the sterilization chamber to reduce the pressure within the sterilization chamber below atmospheric pressure;
- (c) introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber;
- (d) venting the sterilization chamber to incrementally increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber, without reaching atmospheric pressure;
- (e) maintaining the incrementally increased pressure in the sterilization chamber for a period of time;
- (f) repeating steps (d) through (e) at least once;
- (g) venting the sterilization chamber to increase the pressure within the sterilization chamber to atmospheric pressure.
4 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a sterilization chamber, wherein the sterilization chamber is configured to receive a medical device;
- (b) a vacuum source in fluid communication with the sterilization chamber;
- (c) a sterilant applying module in fluid communication with the sterilization chamber;
- (d) a venting valve in fluid communication with the sterilization chamber, wherein the venting valve is further in fluid communication with atmosphere such that the venting valve is operable to selectively open and close a vent path between the sterilization chamber and atmosphere;
- and
- (e) a control module in communication with the vacuum source, wherein the control module is further in communication with the sterilant applying module, wherein the control module is further in communication with the venting valve, wherein the control module contains a control logic configured to execute a sterilizing algorithm such that the control logic is configured to:
- (i) activate the vacuum source to apply a vacuum to the sterilization chamber,
- (ii) activate the sterilant applying module to apply sterilant to the sterilization chamber, and
- (iii) selectively activate the venting valve to provide a step-wise incremental increase in pressure within sterilization chamber toward atmospheric pressure.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.