Patent Grant
7563616
This invention relates to evaluating bacterial-lethality effectiveness of a saturated-steam sterilizing cycle by integrating components of a test-indicator so as to be capable of prompt-response spectroscopic chemometric evaluation of bacterial-lethality, while also being capable of providing for subsequent spore-culturing and biological evaluation of bacterial-lethality; and, more particularly, is concerned with methods and structures which directly correlate those evaluations of bacterial-lethality by carrying out and completing both said evaluations while materials, including liquid-contents and spores remain in a single integral-structure sterility indicator, free of an opportunity for ambient-contamination during such evaluations.
One object is selecting a formulation for a solution of carbohydrates which reacts chemically responsively to temperature and time at that temperature exposure, during a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle, so as to form a reaction-product capable of spectroscopic-quantitative chemometric measurement using visible-light spectra.
A related object is selectively formulating an aqueous solution of organic materials capable of providing a spectroscopic quantitative chemometric evaluation of temperature and time at that temperature, of a selected saturated-steam cycle, which evaluation is available promptly upon cool-down following exposure to a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle.
A further related object is providing a multiple-component integral test-indicator which is capable of providing a prompt-response spectroscopic evaluation of bacterial-lethality and, additionally, capable of biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality for validating the spectroscopic evaluation of bacterial-lethality.
Another object is providing a method of assembly of an integral-structure for positioning mechanical components with selected physical characteristics, chemically-responsive constituents, and bacterial-spores in a single sterility indicator so as to enable correlating spectroscopic chemometric and biological bacterial-lethality evaluations of a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle, while such components, spores, and constituents remain in the single sterility indicator for those dual evaluations of bacterial-lethality.
An attendant object is to provide methods and equipment enabling short-interval turn-around times while facilitating accurately carrying out spectroscopic-chemometric evaluations of multiple exposed test indicators.
An additional object is to provide manually-operable structure, for fracturing a sealed glass ampoule within an integral-structure test indicator for releasing liquid-contents after carrying-out a selected saturated-steam cycle, for initiating spectroscopic chemometric quantitative analyses of temperature and time at that temperature exposure for prompt-response evaluation of bacterial-lethality; and, for subsequently correlating biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality due to exposure to the selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle.
Other objects and contributions will be described in relation to embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 5A′ is a side-elevation view of the entrance-opening at the open-end of
FIG. 5A″ is a side-elevation view of the
Prior existing “tell-tale” type of test devices for thermal sterilizing cycles indicate when a preselected temperature has been reached in a sterilizer chamber. Those test devices have been used for thermal sterilizing cycles since early in the first half of the twentieth century; and, rely on a material which melts, or otherwise changes physically upon reaching a designated temperature; when such a test material reached a certain temperature, the change in appearance would be readily apparent later to a thermal-sterilizer operator.
Saturated-steam cycles utilize moist-heat at a selected temperature for facilitating spore-lethality. However, spore lethality when utilizing a saturated-steam sterilizing cycle is dependent on attaining the selected cycle temperature, and on maintaining that temperature for time requirements; which are established by standards approved by the American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) for a selected-temperature cycle. For example, when an elevated saturated-steam temperature of 250° F. (121° C.) is selected, the time at that temperature for that selected cycle is twelve to fifteen minutes.
That temperature must be maintained with exposure of the sterilizer load, for prescribed time-interval, in order to assure “killing” of the most difficult-to-kill bacterial spores to be encountered in a dry-goods sterilizer load. Such a dry-goods load could include, after removal of common types of soil of surgical instruments, surgical garments, clothe, and the like, used in hospitals or other health-providing institutions. Other types of dry-goods loads could include pharmaceutical items or equipment, as commercially distributed after carrying out a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle during industrial sterilization.
The dependent temperature and time at that temperature relationship, and the requirements for saturated-steam sterilizing-cycles have been analyzed for developing concepts for improved testing methods, associated test structures, testing apparatus, and systems for coordinating testing and correlating results. In particular systems combining means for biological-validation of an earlier determined temperature, and time at that temperature, effect of a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle; and, for accurately determining, by spectroscopic quantitative chemometric measurements, the bacterial-lethality as obtained, promptly after exposure to a selected saturated-steam cycle.
Bacterial-lethality involves “destruction” of spores; that is: not only “killing” of spores but, also, rendering spores incapable of reproducing. Biological testing for bacterial-lethality of a saturated-steam cycle had been maintained as a requirement for health-care providing institutions by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Biological-testing of bacterial-lethality has previously required substantial specific handling; in particular, subsequent to exposure in preparing for and maintaining spore-culturing conditions for exposed spores during culturing periods extending from two to about seven days.
Previous practice had required that bacterial spores be embedded in conveniently-sized cut-out paper; each such paper was then sealed in a glassine envelope; and, multiple sealed envelopes were distributed within a sterilizer load, prior to start of a cycle. Then, following exposure and culturing for two to seven days, biological-evaluation of spore lethality took place; that has remained a requirement for hospitals, and other health-service institutions, before permitting goods from a sterilizer-load to be returned, for normal usage, after completion of a saturated-steam sterilizing cycle.
Those procedures involve rigid and demanding control steps for each of the following: (i) preparation of the spore-bearing paper, and of each glassine envelope used for biological-testing, (ii) special storage handling of those glassine packets, (iii) sterile handling of those packets in preparation for placement in and after a sterilizing cycle, and, (iv) special handling steps and procedures to avoid any ambient contamination in preparing for and in the culturing of the spores of those packets, after sterilizer-cycle exposure. Such extended time-consuming procedures and demanding handling requirements continue to be maintained for biological-testing of the effectiveness of a saturated-steam sterilizing cycle for above-named goods used in hospitals, and like health-care institutions.
Present concepts diminish the opportunity, and potential sources, for unintentional ambient-contamination, while providing for a biological evaluation of bacterial-lethality. Structural and assembly concepts for the test indicator of the invention provide for and carry-out control-procedures during assembly of the multiple components of the dual-test indicator which scientifically eliminate the above-described sequentially-repeated sterile handling steps procedures, subsequent to exposure. Resulting in facilitating and implementing the accuracy of biological-evaluations bacterial-lethality; and, supplement the functions of a single test indicator, by providing dual-evaluations of bacterial-lethality in accordance with the invention.
A possible contribution of an accurate prompt-response evaluation of bacterial-lethality, can be a forewarning that difficult, or questionable, sterilizing conditions existed at a particular location in a sterilizer chamber; or, a forewarning that an institute's standard cycle could use some modification. The spectroscopic evaluation of a cycle's temperature and the time at that temperature are available, following completing a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle, upon cool-down sufficient to permit load handling. A controlled-temperature has been found to be important in order to obtain a prompt and accurate spectroscopic-chemometric-evaluation of bacterial-lethality. That evaluation can be carried-out prior to initiating any of the time-consuming spore-nurturing procedures and, thus, provides an early notice of possible difficulties or desired results which are to be verified by a biological-evaluation.
An aqueous-solution of carbohydrates has been devised, and selectively-formulated, for use both in said prompt-response spectroscopic-evaluation of bacterial-lethality and in the later biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality. The selectively formulated solution contributes the ability to carry-out both such evaluations while components, spores, and constituents remain in a single integral-structure dual-test indicator protected against ambient-contamination.
Assembly concepts involve placement of said multiple components, spores, and materials in an integral-structure; with provisions made for later timely controlled-release of the selectively-formulated aqueous solution of chemical constituents, after cycle exposure. In the procedures taught herein, sealing of that chemically-formulated solution, releasing for spectroscopic-evaluation, and, for later spore-cultured biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality are physically-correlated by use of the same liquid-contents as sealed within the integral-structure of the test indicator. Both a prompt spectroscopic-bacterial-lethality evaluation and a subsequent biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality are carried out while contents are protected within a single sterility indicator structure; relying on assembly concepts of said single structure functioning so as to correlate both those evaluations. Present assembly concepts also contribute a relationship, during exposure to the sterilizing cycle, in which the enclosed spores and the specially-formulated solution are not in contact with each other during exposure experienced in carrying-out the selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle.
Carbohydrate constituents are specially-formulated to be responsive to saturated-steam cycle temperature exposure and to the selected time at that temperature, as experienced where the test indicator is located within a sterilizer load during the cycle. Those constituents are formulated to provide a reaction-product for accurately measuring bacterial-lethality, of selected enclosed spores, by utilizing spectroscopic-chemometric quantitative measurement of that reaction-product, if any; such that the solution provides for a prompt-response evaluation of bacterial-lethality of a designated number of selected spores within the indicator; and, those spores are selected to be those most resistant to lethality. Also, both the solution, as formulated, and the solution containing reaction-product, if any after partial or complete intended exposure during the cycle, are both capable of spectroscopic evaluation; and, also, capable of nurturing live spores, if any, for biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality. The selected spores and the solution, as formulated or the reaction-product solution, remain protected within the same test-indicator structured for both such evaluations of bacterial-lethality.
By providing for both the chemical solution as formulated, and for the solution with reaction-product, if any, after exposure to the saturated-steam cycle, to be capable of culturing spore growth implements directly correlating the spectroscopic evaluation of bacterial-lethality and the subsequent biological-evaluation of bacterial lethality for validating the spectroscopic evaluation. That is, spectroscopic measurement of bacterial-lethality is carried-out promptly after exposure to the selected-temperature and time at that temperature, as experienced where the dual-test indicator is located in the sterilizing chamber; and, provides early forewarning of any discrepancy, or a validation of both the chemometric evaluation of spore lethality by the biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality; and both are carried-out and completed, while components, spores, and constituents are protected within the same test indicator; thus, both directly correlating evaluations free of risk of ambient contamination.
In the pre-assembly view of
Cup-shaped filter 17, is fitted within closure cap 14 so as to establish contact between the cup-shaped filter 17 end-wall and the interior surface of the closed end wall of closure cap 14; providing covering for the apertures defined in the closure cap end wall. That positioning and relationship can be better visualized from the assembled view of
Access of saturated-steam into the elongated unitary container 18 is provided through the apertures defined in the otherwise solid end-wall surface of closure cap 14; and, also egress of air is provided by said apertures. The limited number of apertures are distributed, as shown in the top-plan view of cap 14 of
An elongated unitary thin-glass sealed ampoule 20, as best seen in
Polymeric material for elongated unitary container 18 is selected to meet strict transmittance requirements; that is, to be “distortion-free” in transmitting visible light within a designated narrow-beam wavelength 405 nm, 420 nm, and 430 nm. The polymer for container 18 must also be capable of withstanding sterilization temperatures and air-evacuation conditions of a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle; while continuing to provide for desired predisposition of components, impact-resistance, mechanical strength, and sufficient flexibility for carrying out post-exposure steps of the invention.
During molding of a specified polymeric material for unitary container 18 internally-located longitudinally-elongated protrusions, which are bead-like in cross-sectional configuration, are positioned along an extended-length of the interior generally-tubular configuration portion of elongated-container 18. Radially-inwardly-protruding longitudinally-extending internal ribs 22, 23, and 24 are shown in
Retainer-sieve 26 presents a U-shape, as seen in the cross-sectional of view
An elongated semi-rigid substrate 28 (
Four rectilinear side walls and a rectilinear end wall, each preferably of uniform square dimension, define the unitary cubic-shaped closed-end chamber 30 of unitary container 18. The dimensions and configuration selected for chamber 30 establish a diagonal dimension 31 (
Referring to
Liquid-media 21 is formulated to enable participation in dual-evaluations of spore-lethality. After a selected saturated-steam cycle, glass ampoule 20 is fractured, at compound-curvature end 27, releasing liquid-contents of ampoule 20 within the tubular portion of container 18. Those liquid contents, which are released after exposure experienced during the cycle, occupy test-chamber 30 and cover spore-ladened substrate 28, located as shown in
Organic chemical constituents of liquid-media 21 are selectively-formulated to provide for spectroscopic measurements of bacterial-lethality; and, also such that the chemical-reaction-product of those constituents, after exposure to an intended saturated-steam sterilizing cycle will also support culturing of live spores (if any). Production of that reaction-product is quantitatively responsive to the cycle temperature, and time at that temperature, experienced by ampoule 20 as assembled in test-indicator 19 (
The organic chemical constituents of liquid-media 21 are preferably selected: (i) to be soluble in an aqueous solution, (ii) to chemically respond, without a catalyst, in a manner cumulatively dependent on both temperature and time-at-that-temperature, (iii), responsive to exposure to a saturated-steam sterilizing cycle; and, further (iv) such liquid contents with reaction-product are capable of promoting live spore growth. Such constituents are selected and held in a manner so as to correlate dual bacterial-lethality evaluations resulting from the above-described active-steam exposure, experienced during a selected saturated-steam cycle. Thus, the aqueous solution of organic constituents, as formulated, and the liquid-content reaction product, if any, solution of such an exposure are capable of both spectroscopic evaluation and biological-evaluation of the temperature and time at that temperature, response to the exposure as experienced during a selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle; and, both the selected formulation and the reaction-product, if any, liquid contents of ampoule 20 enable dual evaluations of bacterial-lethality.
Unitary container 18 of assembled multiple-component test-indicator 19 remains as closed by cap 14. After post-exposure, release of liquid-contents, by fracturing the compound-curvature end 27 of ampoule 20, as later described; in preparation for both such spectroscopic evaluation and biological evaluations of bacterial-lethality. The earlier spectroscopic-evaluation of spore lethality is directly correlated with the later biological-evaluation of spore lethality which relies on culturing live spores, if any. It is significant that multiple-component test-indicator structure 19 as assembled, utilizes unitary container 18 to expose spores in the same manner as spores, in a sterilizer load, are exposed; that is, free of contact with a nurturing solution for cultivating the spores.
Geo bacillus stearothermophilus spores, selected as the most resistant organisms known for testing bacterial-lethality, are used in the assembled test-indicator structure 19 (
The above described cubic-shaped chamber 30 becomes, after release of exposed liquid-contents of ampoule 20, the spectroscopic test-chamber at the unitary closed end of container 18. The dimensional relationships provided within container 18 substantially eliminate any liquid surface tension difficulties by enabling those liquid-contents, as released from ampoule 20, to move readily through the spacing, between the vertically-oriented passageways, of a selected end-on configuration 29 (
Unitary container 18 holds ampoule 20 containing exposed liquid-contents, the spores on substrate 28 are also held within unitary container 18; and, both are raised to a temperature as established, and as held, at a selected location for a test-indicator 19 within the saturated-steam sterilizer load. Air is removed, at least in part, from the sterilizing chamber and from the goods to be sterilized, by the action of evacuating air from the sterilizing chamber. That air removal is also facilitated by the introduction of saturated steam into an upper part of the sterilizing chamber. In an assembled test indicator as shown in
Referring to spectroscopic-analyzing equipment, as schematically-presented in
Spectroscopic quantitative chemometric analysis is carried-out utilizing visible light spectra, preferably carried-out with a dominant wavelength selected from the group consisting of 405 nm, of 420 nm, and 430 nm. Absorption of the selected wavelength, by the reaction product, if any, is measured at the selected visible-light wavelength. Carbohydrates as formulated include glucose and a relatively high concentration of soytone, provide amino acids reacting with glucose to produce glucosamine; which is formed responsive to the temperature and time at that temperature. Other constituents are also included to bathe nurturing spore growth; glucosamine is produced in response to the exposure to a selected saturated-steam cycle; both with and without reaction produce the liquid-contents of ampoule 20, after exposure, are capable of supporting growth of live spores, if any.
Further, an organic pH indicator Bromcresol Purple is included in the formulated aqueous solution of organic materials sealed in ampoule 20. Bromcresol Purple is for biological-testing of spore growth; (i) it does not diminish the ability of released contents of ampoule 20 to provide prompt-response spectroscopic-chemometric measurement of bacterial-lethality, and (ii) does not diminish the capability of that solution to culture live spore growth for biological-evaluation of spore lethality, regardless of the exposure experienced by the solution of sealed ampoule 20 as held within container 18.
Bromcresol Purple pH indicator is responsible for presence or the absence of a color change to yellow, during culturing of the exposed spores (38) by the liquid-contents released from ampoule. That biological-evaluation of bacterial-lethality validates an earlier spectroscopic evaluation. Utilizing Bromcresol Purple pH indicator detects spore growth resulting from nourishment of live bacteria, if any; due to the change in pH resulting from spore growth; and, the accompanying change of color, if live spores are present, is available directly by ordinary visual observation. That is, saturated-steam exposure if selected and executed in accordance with present standards destroys the 100,000 spores on substrate 28, making it impossible to nurture spore growth. If otherwise, the solution changes color to yellow because of a change in pH, responsive to spore growth during nurturing of any live spores, by the released liquid-contents of ampoule 20; which invalidates the cycle executed.
A direct correlation of spectroscopic-quantitative-chemometric evaluation of liquid-contents, as released from ampoule 20 and, the biological-evaluation by subsequent provision of spore nurturing conditions, are both provided utilizing enclosed contents of the same dual-test indicator of the invention; where that indicator is located in a load. That direct correlation based on contents enclosed within a single unitary container 18, qualifies designation of the assembled indicator 19 of
Subsequent to completion of an intended saturated-steam cycle, the sterilizer load is cooled down to a temperature which is approximately that selected for consistent spectroscopic chemometric measurement purposes. An exposed test-indicator is held at approximately one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, within a conforming-configuration chamber 33 of controlled-temperature metal block 34 for prompt-response spectroscopic analysis of bacterial-lethality. Provisions are made for short-interval turn-around times for multiple test indicators. Spectroscopic measurements are carried out at a temperature of thirty-seven degrees Centigrade, plus or minus one degree Centigrade. A test indicator is inserted into chamber 33 such that the cubic-shaped test-chamber 30 extends from the otherwise conforming-configuration of chamber 33. Spectroscopic-chemometric quantitative measurements are carried out using a selected narrow-width band of visible light; of a dominant wavelength selected from the group consisting of 405 nm, 420 nm, or 430 nm.
In
After determination of the reference-reading, the test indicator 19 is removed from chamber 34, for release of the liquid-contents of ampoule 20 by use of a manually-operated fracturing structure of the invention, as described below in relation to
Manually-operable structure 50 (
The entrance-opening elevational view of FIG. 5A′ is longitudinally-opposite to closed-end joinder 53, and shows an entrance opening leading into the interior of hand-operable structure 50, extending longitudinally between elongated arms 51, 52, as seen in
In
The held-open entrance-end of structure 50, as seen in FIG. 5A″ prior to insertion of a test-indicator, shows cross-bar 61, extending between side bars 59, 60 on elongated arm 52, at their longitudinally-recessed location internally of the fracturing structure. At that longitudinal location, cross bar 61 is aligned longitudinally for fracturing compound-curvature distal-end 27 of ampoule 20. Cross bar 62 extends between the side bars 59 and 60 of elongated arm 52 at the entrance-opening into the elongated opening. Cross bar 62 can be seen in FIGS. 5A′ and 5A″; and, is located for establishing an orientation for the elongated unitary container 18 near the entrance opening of hand-operable structure 50, so as to facilitate the described cross-bar 62 function at its recessed location; that is: to facilitate fracture of the distal-compound-curvature end 27 of ampoule 20 where located within the unitary container 18 of the inserted dual-test sterility indicator 19.
As shown in
Before said fracturing operations, test sterility indicator 19, after sterilizer-chamber exposure, is first delivered for a “reference-reading” of cubic sidewalls 31, 32 of test chamber 30 as described in relation to
A touch-style keypad, as described in relation to later external views of spectroscopic analyzing equipment is used to enter test set-up information and operating parameters into microprocessor 40, as shown in
Steps in carrying out the measurements of the invention are described in relation to the box-diagram flow-chart of
At Station 67 of
At Station 68 of
Test-chamber 30 presents a rectilinear cubic-shape, presenting two pairs of confronting parallel rectilinear side walls, interconnected by a distal end wall of the same configuration; as earlier described. At Station 71, absorption of the selected wavelength visible-light during passage through the liquid held in test-chamber 30, is measured by photoelectric-diode sensor 36 (
At Station 72, the spectroscopically measured total absorption of the selected visible-light wavelength is adjusted, by taking into account the earlier reference-reading absorption by the same opposed-parallel side walls of empty chamber 30, as determined at Station 66; that reference-reading is carried-out separately for each test-chamber of a unitary container 18 of an individual dual-test indicator 19, as used in a sterilizer load. A “prompt-response” spectroscopic evaluation of the bacterial-lethality, is then available at Station 73 of
Bromcresol Purple is the preferred pH indicator for use in formulating the liquid-media 21 of the invention for ampoule 20. Bromcresol Purple does not effect the spectroscopic, nor the biological, evaluations of bacterial-lethality; and, Bromcresol Purple specifically enables, and provides for, biological verification of an earlier spectroscopically-measured evaluation, which is carried out at Station 74 of
Such biological-evaluation using the Bromcresol Purple pH indicator correlates directly with the prompt-response spectroscopic-evaluation of bacterial-lethality. That direct correlation is available because each testing is carried-out, in the same manner, utilizing contents within the same test-indicator, free of opportunity for ambient contamination. Combining a prompt-response evaluation of bacterial lethality and a biological-correlation of sterilizing effectiveness, using contents of a single multiple-component test-indicator 19, enables classification of that dual-test sterility indicator as a “biological-test-indicator” for saturated-steam sterilizing cycle effectiveness.
At display 76, of
In
That reference-reading is based solely on the specific opposed-pair of rectilinear walls of the specific test-indicator, as positioned while test-chamber 30 is free of any liquid-contents from ampoule 20. It should be noted that a reference-reading could vary slightly from test indicator to test indicator; or, could vary by positioning a single test-indicator differently for transmission through a differing pair of test-chamber walls for the reference-reading the one later spectroscopic evaluation. The reference-reading is therefore repeated for each test indicator 19 to be evaluated, first, as inserted; then, that same orientation, of the same pair of reference-reading side walls, is carried out for purposes of accuracy of the later spectroscopic quantitative measurement of total visible-light absorption by exposed liquid contents, as released from ampoule 20, into test-chamber 30.
In
The resulting compensated spectroscopic absorption of the selected visible-light wavelength by liquid-contents, as exposed in sealed ampoule 20 during the sterilizing cycles; and, released, provides a prompt-response bacterial-lethality evaluation. The carbohydrates are formulated, in accordance with the invention, to be responsive to the selected cycle temperature and the time at that temperature, in accordance with presently accepted standards; and as experienced by contents of ampoule 20 as exposed, where located in the sterilizer chamber. That responsive temperature and time at that temperature measurement is based on the exposure of the liquid-contents before release from ampoule 20;. That prompt-response independent of any brief contact with substrate 28 before such qualitative chemometric measurement of glucosamine reaction-product, if any; and, is independent of use of the earlier described pH indicator Bromcresol Purple which is present for later culturing and biological evaluation of bacterial-lethality.
Spectroscopic chemometric quantitative-analysis of that exposure; and, therefore of bacterial-lethality, is available promptly upon completion of the above enumerated steps, after carrying-out the selective cycling; and, that spectroscopic evaluation, does not disturb later spore-culturing and biological-evaluation. It is significant that the organic constituents as formulated for ampoule 20, and the spores on substrate 28 are both exposed separately during the cycle; and, that bacteria of the load are exposed in the same manner; that is, free of any contact with a culturing material. Whether or not exposed, or only partially exposed, where located in the sterilizer chamber, the liquid-contents of ampoule 20, as released, are capable of culturing live spore growth, if any, and providing a subsequent biological evaluation of bacterial-lethality, or degree of absence thereof. And, both evaluations utilize the same contents, free of possible ambient contamination; that is, the biological evaluation of those contents will also indicate if full-intended exposure was experienced; and, whether partial or no exposure was experienced; if either of the latter occur, that will require recycling with a suitably-selected saturated-steam sterilizing cycle.
“CYCLE TYPE: GRAVITY” refers to the saturated-steam flow which is introduced at an upper level into the sterilizer chamber, with lower removal of air and condensate from the chamber relying, at least in-part, on the force of gravity. The “Lot” number and Exposure time are provided in response to information supplied the analyzer before start of spectroscopic analyzing operations. The total time of a cycle starts with closure of the sterilizer door, such that that “timing” includes air evacuation time; however, the time at temperature, for a selected cycle, commences only when such air evacuation has been completed, as discussed in further detail earlier; and, later herein.
Print record 82 of
Certain of the additional information for the open space below the “Test-Result” of record 82, can be supplied by microprocessor control or by digital entry at the digital-display panel; and should be entered before starting analyzer operations. Specifically, that additional information identifies: the Sterilizer identification number; the number of the “Run” on that Sterilizer; the “LOAD” identification number or other designation; and, the name of the operator carrying out the sterilizing cycle.
The graphical data gathered for
Referring to
The “shaded” squares, at three differing times, for each cycle forming another group designated by reference number 94, represent measurements made by interrupting each sterilizer cycle at each of three-designated cycle-time intervals. That is, an interrupted cycle reading was taken at slightly in excess of eight and a half minutes; a reading was taken of another interrupted cycle at a time of about ten minutes, and reading of another interrupted cycle was taken at eleven minutes. Each of these yielded an evaluation, by both spectroscopic evaluation and by biological culturing evaluations, that the same level of partial lethality of the spores has been accomplished, at each such measurement interval of the cycle.
The solidly-blackened group of squares of
Spectroscopic and biological evaluations, indicated by the graph of
Specific materials and dimensions for apparatus, indicator structure, method of assembly steps, and sequence of use and analyzing operational steps have been set forth in detail so as to enable a person skilled in the art, to which the disclosure pertains, to make and use invention. However, it should be recognized that, in the light of above written description, a person skilled in that art, could minimally and selectively modify certain disclosed specifics of the above disclosure, in attempting to avoid patent infringement, while continuing to rely on, and continuing to the above-disclosed principles of the invention. Therefore, for purposes of determining the extent of valid patent coverage for the disclosed subject matter, reference should be made to the appended claims, which should be construed by taking into consideration the above-detailed disclosure methods, apparatus, products, and principles of operation of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/508,087 filed Oct. 2, 2003.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20050074833 A1 | Apr 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60508087 | Oct 2003 | US |
