Sterilization apparatus utilizing catholyte and anolyte solutions produced by electrolysis of water

An apparatus for cleaning, microbially decontaminating, and drying a medical device, said apparatus comprising:

• an article receiving area for receiving a microbially contaminated medical device;
• a lid closable over the article receiving area in a microbe blocking relationship;
• a liquid inlet to the article receiving area and a liquid outlet from the article receiving area;
• a water electrolysis apparatus including:
• a water inlet in fluid communication with a water supply,
• an anode chamber in fluid communication with the water inlet and having an outlet such that a first flow of water passes therethrough from the water inlet to the anode chamber outlet,
• a cathode chamber in fluid communication with the water inlet and having an outlet such that a second flow of water passes therethrough from the water inlet to the cathode chamber outlet,
• a membrane separating the anode chamber and the cathode chamber and preventing fluid communication between the anode and cathode chamber, said membrane allowing electron carrying species transfer between the anode and cathode chambers,
• an anode positioned in the anode chamber to contact the first flow of water and a cathode positioned in the cathode chamber to contact the second flow of water, and,
• a source of electric potential connected between the anode and cathode to expose the first and second flows to an electric field such that an oxidation reaction occurs in the anode chamber resulting in the production of an anolyte solution at the anode chamber outlet, and such that a reduction reaction occurs in the cathode chamber resulting in the production of a catholyte solution at the cathode chamber outlet;
• a valve assembly connected in fluid communication between the outlet of the anode chamber and the liquid inlet to the article receiving area and between the outlet of the cathode chamber and the liquid inlet to the article receiving area to selectively and separately circulate each of anolyte and catholyte to the article receiving area for contacting the medical device;
• a recirculation pump connected in fluid communication between the liquid outlet of the article receiving area and the liquid inlet to the article receiving area to recirculate one of the anolyte and catholyte through the article receiving area for a select duration;
• a reagent dispensing system fluidically connected between the article receiving area and the recirculation pump for dispensing a pH buffer into at least one of the recirculating catholyte and anolyte;
• a submicron water filter in fluid communication with the water supply for filtering bacteria from water flowing into said apparatus to provide a sterile rinse liquid to said article receiving area for rinsing residual anolyte from said medical device in said article receiving area;
• and,
• a water treatment apparatus positioned in fluid communication between the electrolysis apparatus and the water supply means for selectively dispensing at least a descaling agent into the received water before the water enters the electrolysis apparatus to form a cleaning solution for removing deposits and precipitates from said electrolysis apparatus as needed.

A method of cleaning and microbially decontaminating a medical device, said method comprising:

• placing a microbially contaminated medical device in a device receiving area;
• closing a lid over the device receiving area to enclose the device receiving area in a microbe-blocking condition;
• supplying first and second separate streams of water separated by an electrically conducting agent permeable membrane in a water electrolysis cell;
• applying an electric field across the first and second streams such that the first stream undergoes an oxidation reaction and such that the second stream undergoes a reduction reaction;
• while diverting liquid of the first stream away from the device receiving area, flowing the liquid of the second stream to the device receiving area and over the exterior surfaces and through internal channels of the device in the device receiving area for a select duration to remove biological debris from the device;
• draining the liquid from the second stream from the device receiving area;
• while diverting liquid from the second stream away from the device receiving area, flowing liquid of the first stream to the device receiving area and over exterior surfaces and through internal channels of the device in the device receiving area for a select duration to microbially decontaminate the exterior surfaces and internal channels of the device;
• draining the liquid of the first stream from the device receiving area;
• receiving rinse water from a source;
• passing the rinse water through a microbe-removal filter to remove microbes from the rinse water and provide a sterile rinse liquid;
• flowing the sterile rinse liquid over the exterior surfaces and through internal channels of the device in the article receiving area to rinse residual liquid from the first stream from the device;
• training the sterile rinse liquid from the device receiving area;
• and,
• receiving air into the device receiving area through a microbe-removal filter so that sterile drying air flows over the exterior surfaces and through internal channels of the device in the device receiving area and dries the device.

A method of microbially decontaminating a medical device, said method comprising:

• a) supplying first and second separate streams of water separated by an electrically conducting agent permeable membrane;
• b) applying an electric field to the first and second streams such that the first stream undergoes an oxidation reaction to form an acidic anolyte solution and such that the second stream undergoes a reduction reaction to form an alkaline catholyte solution;
• c) circulating liquid from the second stream over the medical device for a select duration to clean biological debris from the medical device;
• d) dispensing a pH buffer into the liquid of the first stream to substantially neutralize the liquid from the first stream so that corrosion of the medical device, itself, is inhibited and, thereafter, circulating liquid from the first stream over the medical device for a select duration to microbially decontaminate the medical device.