Self contained biological indicator

A self-contained biological indicator system for indicating the effectiveness of a decontamination fluid, the self-contained indicator system comprising:

• a biological indicator storage assembly having a microorganism storage chamber for holding live challenge microorganisms;
• a media housing for holding a growth media supporting the growth of any live challenge microorganisms introduced into the growth media by the biological indicator storage assembly;
• a cap having a cavity therein for holding the biological indicator storage assembly and for selectively receiving the media housing, the cap including a plurality of fins, each fin including a plurality of detents, the plurality of detents including a rim engaging detent for engaging a rim on the biological indicator storage assembly, a flange engaging detent for engaging a flange on the media housing, and a combination receiving detent for engaging both the rim and the flange when the rim and flange are brought into contact;
• and,
• a microporous membrane covering the microorganism storage chamber in the biological indicator storage assembly, the membrane having pores which are sufficiently small that the challenge microorganisms are trapped in the microorganisms storage chamber of the biological indicator storage assembly while being sufficiently large that microbial decontamination fluid passes through.

A self-contained biological indicator system for indicating the effectiveness of a decontamination fluid, the self-contained indicator system comprising:

• a media housing for holding a growth media supporting the growth of any live challenge microorganisms introduced into the growth media, the media housing including an opening covered by a frangible seal;
• a dart having a first end and a second end, the first end having a cutting edge for severing the frangible seal, the dart having two opposite surfaces which converge to form the cutting edge of the dart, the dart further having an aperture extending between the two opposite surfaces, challenge microorganisms being received in the aperture, a micro porous membrane being connected with the two opposite surfaces covering the aperture at opposite ends for receiving the challenge microorganisms, the micro porous membrane having pores which are sufficiently small that the challenge microorganisms are trapped in the aperture while being sufficiently large that the microbial decontamination fluid passes through;
• and,
• a cap having a cavity therein for holding the dart and for selectively receiving the media housing.

A self-contained biological indicator system for indicating the effectiveness of a decontamination fluid, the self-contained biological indicator system comprising:

• a vial for holding a growth medium for supporting the growth of any inoculate microorganisms introduced into the growth medium;
• a chamber for trapping a plurality of challenge microorganisms, the chamber being permeable to a decontamination fluid such that the fluid comes into contact with the microorganisms;
• a cap defining a cavity therein said cap having a guide mechanism including a first set of detents for lodging the chamber, a second set of detents for lodging the vial and a third set of detents for receiving the chamber and the vial from the first and second sets of detents, said third set of detents being arranged such that the vial, when received in the third set of detents, is opened and can receive the chamber and its contents;
• a dart supported by the cap having an upper disc with a sealing flange therearound and a cutting blade extending downward from the upper disc, the cutting blade defining the challenge microorganism storage chamber therein for holding challenge microorganisms;
• and
• said guide mechanism for selectively connecting the cap to the vial such that the dart is movable between a first position with the challenge microorganism storage chamber suspended in the cap cavity and a second position with the dart upper disk and sealing flange sealing the vial and the challenge microorganisms immersed in the growth medium.

A self-contained biological indicator system for indicating the effectiveness of a decontamination fluid, the self-contained biological indicator system comprising:

• a medium housing for holding a growth medium for supporting the growth of any inoculate microorganisms introduced into the growth medium;
• a cap defining a cavity therein;
• a dart supported by the cap and having a challenge microorganisms storage chamber which holds challenge microorganisms;
• and,
• a guide mechanism for selectively connecting the cap to the medium housing such that the dart is movable between a first position with the challenge microorganism storage chamber suspended in the cap cavity and a second position with the dart sealing the medium housing, and the challenge microorganisms immersed in the growth medium, the guide mechanism including a plurality of fins attached in the interior of the cap, each fin having a plurality of detents thereon, the plurality of detents including a rib engaging detent for engaging a rib on the dart when the dart is in the first position, a flange engaging detent for engaging a flange on the medium housing, and a combination detent for engaging both the rib and the flange when the dart is in the second position.

A self-contained biological indicator comprising:

• a tube for carrying an incoming flow of microbial decontamination fluid;
• a cap defining an interior cavity for receiving the incoming microbial decontamination fluid, the cap being connected with the tube, the cap defining a fluid outlet that permits the microbial decontamination fluid to flow through and out of the cavity;
• a flow restrictor for controlling the rate at which the microbial decontamination fluid flows through the cavity;
• challenge microorganisms disposed in the cavity such that the microbial decontamination fluid flows over the challenge microorganisms;
• a reservoir of culture medium separated from the challenge microorganisms by a frangible seal;
• a microporous membrane enclosing the challenge microorganisms to prevent the challenge microorganisms from being entrained in and carried away by the microbial decontamination fluid flow while permitting the microbial decontamination fluid and the culture medium to permeate the membrane and the challenge microorganisms;
• a cutting mechanism for selectively breaking the frangible seal;
• and,
• a guide mechanism for moving the challenge microorganisms into the media housing to immerse the challenge microorganisms in the culture medium.