Liquid cleaning and sterilization system

An automated system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device, the automated system comprising:

• a cabinet which defines an interior chamber for receiving the device;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying a washing fluid and a microbial decontaminant fluid over an external surface of the device;
• a well which receives a package, the package including:
• a measured dose of a concentrated cleaning agent which forms the washing fluid on mixing with water, and
• a measured dose of a concentrated microbial decontaminant which forms the microbial decontaminant fluid on mixing with water, the concentrated microbial decontaminant being held separately in the package from the concentrated washing agent;
• a system for sequentially releasing first the concentrated cleaning agent and subsequently after distributing the first cleaning agent throughout the system, releasing the concentrated microbial decontaminant into the well;
• a water inlet, fluidly connected with the well, which supplies dilution water for mixing with the concentrated cleaning agent and concentrated microbial decontaminant;
• a fluid distribution system fluidly connecting the water inlet and well with the nozzles;
• a pump connected with the fluid distribution system for pumping the washing fluid and microbial decontaminant fluid to the nozzles;
• and
• a control system which controls the operation of the release system and delivery of the washing fluid and microbial decontaminant fluid to the nozzles such that the device is sequentially washed with the washing fluid and microbially decontaminated with the microbial decontaminant fluid.

An automated system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device, the automated system comprising:

• a cabinet which defines an interior chamber for receiving the device;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying a washing fluid and a microbial decontaminant fluid over an external surface of the device;
• a sump at a base of the chamber which receives sprayed washing and decontaminant fluids which have dripped off the device;
• a well which is integral with the sump, the well receiving a package, the package including:
• a measured dose of a concentrated cleaning agent which forms a washing fluid on mixing with water, and
• a measured dose of a concentrated microbial decontaminant which forms a microbial decontaminant fluid on mixing with water, the concentrated microbial decontaminant being held separately in the package from the concentrated washing agent;
• a system for sequentially releasing the concentrated cleaning agent, stopping the releasing of material from the package, and, at a later time after removal of the concentrated cleaning agent from the well, releasing concentrated microbial decontaminant from the package into the well;
• a water inlet, fluidly connected with the well, which supplies dilution water for mixing with the concentrated cleaning agent and concentrated microbial decontaminant;
• a fluid distribution system fluidly connecting the well with the nozzles;
• a pump connected with the fluid distribution system for pumping the washing fluid and microbial decontaminant fluid to the nozzles;
• and
• a control system which controls the delivery of the washing fluid and microbial decontaminant fluid to the nozzles such that the device is sequentially washed with the washing fluid and microbially decontaminated with the microbial decontaminant fluid.

An automated system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device, the automated system comprising:

• spray nozzles, disposed within a chamber, for spraying a washing fluid and a microbial decontaminant fluid over an external surface of the device;
• a well which receives a package, the package including:
• a first compartment holding a measured dose of a concentrated cleaning agent which forms a washing fluid on mixing with water,
• a second compartment holding a measured dose of a concentrated microbial decontaminant which forms a microbial decontaminant fluid on mixing with water, and
• a third compartment holding a measured dose of a concentrated pretreatment agent which forms a pretreatment fluid on mixing with water, the pretreatment agent including at least one of a buffering agent, a corrosion inhibitor, and a surfactant, for forming the pretreatment solution, the concentrated pretreatment agent being held separately in the package from the concentrated cleaning agent and the concentrated microbial decontaminant;
• an opening member which sequentially opens the first compartment to release the concentrated cleaning agent, the third compartment, to release the pretreatment agent, and the second compartment to release the concentrated microbial decontaminant;
• a fluid distribution system fluidly connecting the well with the nozzles;
• a control system which controls the delivery of the washing fluid, microbial decontaminant fluid, the control system controlling the operation of the opening member such that the concentrated pretreatment agent is released from the package into the well prior to release of the concentrated microbial decontaminant.

An automated system for cleaning and microbially decontaminating a device, the automated system comprising:

• a cabinet which defines an interior chamber for receiving the device;
• spray nozzles, disposed within the chamber, for spraying a microbial decontaminant fluid over an external surface of the device;
• a source of rinse water;
• a source of the microbial decontaminant fluid;
• a fluid distribution system fluidly connecting the sources of rinse water and microbial decontaminant fluid with the nozzles;
• a control system which controls the delivery of the microbial decontaminant fluid and rinse water to the nozzles;
• a door which selectively seals an access opening to the chamber, the control system preventing opening of the door while the nozzles spray the decontaminant fluid over the device;
• and
• a locking and latching mechanism, the locking and latching mechanism including:
• a latching mechanism which selectively moves from a latching position, in which the latching mechanism holds the door in a sealing relationship across the access opening, to an unlatched position, in which the latching mechanism allows opening of the door;
• a locking mechanism, which selectively allows unlatching of the latching mechanism in an unlocked position and locks the latching mechanism in a locked position, preventing opening of the door, the control system controlling movement of the locking mechanism between the unlocked and locked positions.