US 5,095,925 A · Aseptic cleaning apparatus

Abstract

This invention discloses a fluid sterile system for use in the medical and dental industries for the removal and cleaning of gross tissue forms from biological articles and a method of preparing the biological articles for transplant and corrective surgeries and in the electronic and aerospace industries, the present invention discloses a portable, fluid cleaning system that clean articles such as fixtures, aerospace electronic and other equipment, microelectronic chips and electronic printed circuit boards for reducing the contamination level of such articles measured in parts per million (ppm). The aseptic system includes an enclosed high pressure sterile jet cleaning apparatus member for use in a first stage cleaning of particulates from an article used in a particular industry and a sterile ultrasonic bath apparatus member for use in a second stage cleaning of particulates from the same article.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An aseptic system apparatus for use in medical, microelectronic and aerospace industries, said aseptic system apparatus comprising:

(a) a high pressure sterile jet cleaning apparatus member for use in a first stage cleaning of particulates from an article used in said industries;
and
(b) a sterile ultrasonic bath apparatus member for use in a second stage cleaning of particulates from said article used in said industries, said sterile ultrasonic bath apparatus member comprising:
(i) at least one ultrasonic cleaning tank for submersion and ultrasonically cleaning said article,
(ii) a first liquid contained in said tank for use during an initial sterile preparation of said ultrasonic bath apparatus member, and
(iii) a second liquid contained in said tank after said initial sterile preparation for use during said second stage cleaning, said second stage cleaning being ultrasonic cleaning.

3 more elements

An aseptic system apparatus for use in medical, microelectronic and aerospace industries, said aseptic system apparatus comprising:

(a) a high pressure sterile jet cleaning apparatus member for use in a first stage cleaning of particulates from an article used in said industries;
and
(b) a sterile ultrasonic bath apparatus member for use in a second stage cleaning of particulates from said article used in said industries, said sterile ultrasonic bath apparatus member comprises,
(i) at least one ultrasonic cleaning tank for submersing and ultrasonically cleaning said article,
(ii) a first liquid contained in said tank for use during an initial sterile preparation of said ultrasonic bath apparatus member,
(iii) a second liquid contained in said tank after said initial sterile preparation for use during said second stage cleaning, said second stage cleaning being ultrasonic cleaning,
(iv) a transducer means for generating ultrasonic energy within said second liquid for facilitating said ultrasonic cleaning, said transducer means having an operating frequency that enables excition of said second liquid to cavitation without significantly eroding said article being cleaned,
(v) a heat exchanger means for maintaining said second liquid and said article at a specified working temperature range by removing thermal energy in said second liquid, said heat exchanger means being hydraulically coupled to said at least one ultrasonic cleaning tank, and
(vi) a variable flow rate peristaltic pump, said pump being hydraulically coupled to said heat exchanger means and to said at least one ultrasonic cleaning tank to form a closed hydraulic loop system, said pump being provided with a control circuit for cycling said bath fluid at a variable flow rate to maintain said second liquid within said specified working temperature range.

6 more elements

An aseptic system apparatus for use in medical, microelectronic and aerospace industries, said aseptic system apparatus comprising:

(a) a high pressure sterile jet cleaning apparatus member for use in a first stage cleaning of particulates from an article used in said industries, said high pressure sterile jet cleaning apparatus member comprising,
(i) a fluid source means,
(ii) a sterile fluid path means for circulating a first fluid during an initial sterile preparation of said jet cleaning apparatus member and for delivering a second fluid from said fluid source means to said article being cleaned, said fluid source means being mechanically coupled to said sterile fluid path means,
(iii) an enclosure means for providing a sterile environment for cleaning said article, said enclosure means being mechanically coupled to said fluid path means,
(iv) a fluid jet means for jet cleaning said article, said fluid jet means being mechanically coupled to a terminating end of said fluid path means within said enclosure means, and
(v) a wall and floor liner means, said liner means being fitted within said enclosure means and being used for filtering particulates, for scrubbing said article being cleaned and for damping said second fluid being propelled against side walls of said enclosure means, said damping controlling visibility into said enclosure means;
and
(b) a sterile ultrasonic bath apparatus member for use in a second stage cleaning of particulates from said article used in said industries, said sterile ultrasonic bath apparatus member comprises,
(i) at least one ultrasonic cleaning tank for submersing and ultrasonically cleaning said article,
(ii) a first liquid contained in said tank for use during an initial sterile preparation of said ultrasonic bath apparatus member,
(iii) a second liquid contained in said tank after said initial sterile preparation for use during said second stage cleaning, said second stage cleaning being ultrasonic cleaning,
(iv) a transducer means for generating ultrasonic energy within said second liquid for facilitating said ultrasonic cleaning, said transducer means having an operating frequency that enables excition of said second liquid to cavitation without significantly eroding said article being cleaned,
(v) a heat exchanger means for maintaining said second liquid and said article at a specified working temperature range by removing thermal energy in said second liquid, said heat exchanger means being hydraulically coupled to said at least one ultrasonic cleaning tank, and
(vi) a variable flow rate peristaltic pump, said pump being hydraulically coupled to said heat exchanger means and to said at least one ultrasonic cleaning tank to form a closed hydraulic loop system, said pump being provided with a control circuit for cycling said bath fluid at a variable flow rate to maintain said second liquid within said specified working temperature range.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aseptic cleaning apparatus

Life of this patent

Aseptic cleaning apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17