HYDROGEN PEROXIDE FOAM TREATMENT

Abstract

A method of treating an instrument after contamination of one of its surfaces includes the steps of placing the instrument into a container, covering the surface with a foam, maintaining the foam on the surface to keep the surface moist, after the foam has reduced in volume, reconstituting the foam. The foam keeps the instrument moist so that a subsequent cleaning will not be made more difficult by the contamination drying onto the surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an enhanced system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a foam dispenser for use in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an alternative foam dispenser for use in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view in cross-section of a container for use in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view in cross-section of an alternative container for use in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view in cross-section of a further alternative container for use in the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view in cross-section of a multi-component foam dispenser for use in the system of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A method of treating an instrument after contamination of a surface thereof, the method comprising the steps of: placing the instrument into a container;covering the surface with a foam;maintaining the foam on the surface to keep the surface moist; andafter the foam has reduced in volume, reconstituting the foam.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of reconstituting the foam comprising agitating the foam to increase its volume.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of reconstituting the foam comprises moving air through the foam to increase its volume.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the container has a semi-permeable filter in contact with the foam on one side and outside air on the other, the filter blocking foam and liquid and allowing passage of air and further the comprising the step of passing the air for reconstituting the foam into the foam through the filter.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the air is drawn through the filter by drawing a vacuum on the container.

6. A method according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of detecting depth of foam in the container and when it falls below a predetermined level then performing the step of reconstituting the foam.

7. A method according to claim 6 performed automatically and employing a level sensor.

8. A method according to claim 1 and wherein the step of reconstituting the foam occurs after a predetermined time.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the step of reconstituting the foam is performed automatically after the predetermined time.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the foam comprises a cleaning agent.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the foam comprises a germicide.

12. A container for treating a medical instrument having a contaminated surface, the container being sized to accommodate the medical instrument having therein a foam for contacting the contaminated surface, the container further comprising means for reconstituting the foam after it has diminished in volume.

13. A container according to claim 12 and further comprising a timer for engaging the means for reconstituting the foam after a pre-determined time.

14. A container according to claim 12 and further comprising a foam level sensor and a controller, the controller being programmed to engage the means for reconstituting the foam when the foam level falls below a predetermined level.

15. A container according to claim 12 wherein the means for reconstituting the foam comprises an agitator.

16. A container according to claim 12 wherein the means for reconstituting the foam comprises means for bubbling air through the foam.

17. A container according to claim 12 and further comprising instructions for applying the foam to the medical instrument.