Cleaning and disinfection of surgical and medical instruments and appliances
AssigneeChemische Fabrik Dr. Weigert GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsPetra Tiarks, Jurgen Staffeldt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to the use of a cleaning agent that contains surfactants and has a pH value of at least 11 when diluted in an aqueous solution and ready for use. Said cleaning agent is used to destabilize prions during mechanical and manual cleaning and/or disinfection of medical and/or surgical instruments and appliances. It has been recognized that this combination enables a reliable destabilization of prions during the mechanical reconditioning of surgical instruments.
Claims18
A method of routine cleaning of and prion destabilization on reusable medical and/or surgical instruments and apparatuses after use and prior to reuse, comprising:
- a) providing:
- i) a surface of a reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus contaminated with a prion;
- and
- ii) a composition comprising surfactants and KOH, wherein said composition has a pH of at least 11.5 when diluted in an aqueous solution in ready-to-use form, for destabilizing prions in the routine mechanical or manual cleaning and/or disinfection of said reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus prior to reuse;
- and
- b) treating said surface of said reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus with said composition, wherein the time of action of the cleaning composition is 5 to 30 min, wherein said treatment causes the destabilization of prions on said surface of said reusable medical or surgical instrument or apparatus, and wherein said treating has less corrosive effect on the material of said surface than treatment of the material of said surface with NaOH at a concentration of 1 N or greater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.