Sterilizing system and automatic control therefor

• US 4,067,691 A
• Filed: 04/16/1976
• Issued: 01/10/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mercy Hospital and Medical Center
• Original Assignee: Mercy Hospital and Medical Center
• Inventors: McGady, Donald L., Wilczynski, Joseph E., Hooper, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Serwin, R.E.
• Application Number:
  US05/677,842
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 21/56, 21/2, 21/80, 21/81, 21/96, 21/103
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation

Abstract

A sterilizing system for sterilizing large quantities of articles used in a hospital environment incorporates sterilizing apparatus interconnected between a contaminated area and a clean area, with a double partition separating a neutral zone, in which the sterilizing apparatus is located, from the contaminated area and from the clean area. The sterilizing apparatus incorporates a vessel adapted to be heated and pressurized, and electrically operated controls spaced above the vessel for controlling the operation of the apparatus during a sterilizing process, such controls being accessible for maintenance and repair activities within the neutral zone. An automatic controller for the sterilizing system includes sensing devices for monitoring the progress of the sterilization process on a step by step basis, and furnishing signals to the various electrically operated controls to initiate each step of the sterilizing process when the preceding step is completed. In response to the occurrence of a malfunction in the sterilizing system, the controller prevents further operation of the system and signals an alarm condition. A printer associated with the computer prints out a record of the time at which each step is performed so that proper operation of the apparatus can be verified.

Apparatus is provided for insuring that a quality assurance cycle is conducted periodically and such cycle must be successfully completed before the equipment can be returned to automatic service. Following any maintenance procedures, an equipment test cycle must be successfully performed, followed by a quality assurance cycle, before automatic operation can resume.

Claims

1. In a sterilizing system having sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing articles, said sterilizing apparatus having an inlet door opening into a contaminated area, an outlet door opening into a clean area, and means for opening and closing said doors one at a time;

a neutral zone adjacent said sterilizing apparatus defined by a first wall aligned with said inlet door for separating a contaminated area from said neutral zone and a second wall aligned with said outlet door for separating a clean area from said neutral zone, and including means for supporting controls for said sterilizing apparatus within said neutral zone.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a platform disposed in said neutral zone above said sterilizing apparatus, for supporting a maintenance man thereon, and means for mounting controls for said apparatus within said neutral zone above said platform.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including means for mounting said controls on one of said walls within said neutral zone.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, including means for connecting said controls with said sterilizing apparatus.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a controller disposed in a neutral area, means for isolating said neutral area from said contaminated area and from said clean area, and means for connecting said controller with said controls, whereby operating signals from said controller operate said controls.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said sterilizing apparatus has a plurality of sensing devices associated therewith, and means for connecting said sensing devices with said controller, whereby said controller operates said controls in response to detection of predetermined signals from said sensing devices.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, including a printer, and means for connecting said printer to said controller, whereby said printer prints a printed record of operating signals developed by said controller for operating said controls.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, including timing means, and means for connecting said timing means with said controller for causing said printer to print the times of occurrence of said operating signals.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said controller includes timing means, means for setting said timing means for a predetermined time interval, and means for halting operation of said controller in response to the non-occurrence of an operating signal within said interval.

10. In a washer-sterilizer system having at least one sterilizing machine with a sterilizing chamber, means for introducing articles through an entry door into said chamber in unsterilized condition from a supply area, means for withdrawing articles through an exit door from said chamber in sterilized condition into a sterilized area separate from said supply area, a plurality of controls for said machine for regulating the temperature and pressure within said chamber during a sterilizing process, and for preventing operation of said entry and exit doors during said process, a plurality of sensing devices for sensing the temperature and pressure within said chamber during said sterilizing process, timing means for producing signals indicative of the occurrence of predetermined time intervals, and an automatic controller connected to said control devices, to sensing devices and to said timing means for causing said sterilizing machine to carry out a predetermined sequence of steps, including inhibiting operation of said doors after said articles have been introduced into said chamber through said entry door, controlling a sequence of elevated temperatures and elevated pressures including at least one step in which a predetermined temperature is maintained within said chamber for a predetermined time interval, and discontinuing the prevention of operation of said exit door subsequent to said chamber returning to atmospheric pressure on completion of said program, wherein said automatic controller includes means for initiating each step of said sequence in response to a completion signal from said sensing devices indicating that the preceding step in said sequence has been completed, and inhibiting means responsive to non-receipt of a completion signal for inhibiting occurrence of further steps of said sequence.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, including timer means for producing a signal indicating the time of day, and printer means connected to said timer means and to said automatic controller for automatically printing a record of the time of occurrence of each step of said sequence.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said automatic controller includes means for causing said printer to print a record of the time at which said inhibiting means inhibits further steps of said sequence.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10, including disabling means responsive to said inhibiting means for disabling said automatic controller from automatically controlling further sequences subsequent to operation of said inhibiting means.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, including means responsive to said disabling means for permitting manual operation of said sterilizing machine following operation of said inhibiting means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, including means responsive to manual operation of said sterilizing machine following operation of said inhibiting means for disabling said inhibiting means and allowing further automatic operation of said sterilizing machine by said automatic controller.

16. Apparatus according to claim 10 including printer means connected to said automatic controller and to said inhibiting means for automatically printing a record in response to the condition of said automatic controller at the time of operation of said inhibiting means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said automatic controller includes a plurality of control units for performing individual ones of said sequence of steps, said printer means being operative in response to operation of said inhibiting means for printing an identification of the control unit having control of said washer-sterilizer system at the time of operation of said inhibiting means.

18. A method of controlling operation of a hospital sterilizing machine for sterilizing articles, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of sensing devices for sensing temperature, pressure and operating conditions within the machine, providing a plurality of controls for altering conditions of temperature and pressure within the interior of the machine, providing an automatic controller for operating said controls in step-by-step fashion in response to predetermined signals from said sensing devices, detecting the absence of one of said signals, indicative of a fault condition, and halting operation of said controls in response to said detection.

19. The method according to claim 18, including the steps of providing a printer for said controller, and causing said printer to make a printed record of predetermined operations of said controller.

20. In apparatus for controlling the operation of a hospital sterilizing machine for sterilizing articles introduced into said machine from an unsterile area, said machine being adapted to discharge sterilized articles into a clean area separated from said unsterile area, control means normally operative for controlling said machine in an automatic mode, interrupting means connected to said control means for interrupting the automatic operation of said control means on the occurrence of predetermined conditions, and switch means connected to said control means for restoring said control means to its normal automatic operation, said switch means being operative in response to completion of a cycle of operation subsequent to said interruption.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said switch means comprises key switch means, whereby said key switch means is normally locked and its operation is restricted to persons having access to a key for said key switch means.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, including means for rendering said switch means ineffective until said sterilizing apparatus has been cycled through a quality assurance cycle.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20, including a maintenance switch, means for interrupting the operation of said control means in response to the operation of said maintenance switch, and means for rendering said switch means ineffective following operation of said maintenance switch until said sterilizing apparatus has been cycled through a quality assurance cycle.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, including means for rendering said switch means ineffective following operation of said maintenance switch until said sterilizing apparatus has been cycled first through an equipment test cycle and then said quality assurance cycle.