Sterilization apparatus and related process
First Claim
1. Apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments comprising:
- a container body having exterior walls and substantially vertical interior partitions defining a plurality of chambers, including a first chamber having an instrument soaking area and an instrument scrubbing area, and at least one instrument rinsing chamber, wherein a first substantially vertical partition extends between said soaking and scrubbing areas, said first substantially vertical partition provided with a plurality of apertures for permitting cleaning and disinfecting solution to pass freely therebetween, and wherein instrument scrubbing means are provided in said scrubbing area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments such as laryngoscope blades are provided. The apparatus includes a container body having exterior walls and interior partitions defining a plurality of chambers defining a soaking area, a scrubbing area, and a pair of rinsing chambers. The container, preferably constructed of plastic, is also formed with integrally hinged covers for the respective chambers. Flexible brush means are provided within the scrubbing chamber. A pair of injection ports are provided in the soaking area of one chamber for receiving a pair of syringes for injecting buffer and activating components of a cleaning and disinfecting solution into the soaking area. A partition extending between the soaking area and the scrubbing area of the one chamber permits the solution to pass freely therebetween. An additional cover is provided to shield the syringes. In a preferred process, a medical instrument is cleaned by the steps of at least partially filling said soaking, scrubbing and rinsing areas with water; injecting the cleaning and disinfecting solution into the soaking area; scrubbing the instrument in said scrubbing area; inserting the instrument into the soaking area for a prescribed period of time; removing said instrument from the soaking area and thereafter inserting it into a first rinsing area; and removing the instrument from the first rinsing area and inserting it in a second rinsing area.
69 Citations
33 Claims
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1. Apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments comprising:
a container body having exterior walls and substantially vertical interior partitions defining a plurality of chambers, including a first chamber having an instrument soaking area and an instrument scrubbing area, and at least one instrument rinsing chamber, wherein a first substantially vertical partition extends between said soaking and scrubbing areas, said first substantially vertical partition provided with a plurality of apertures for permitting cleaning and disinfecting solution to pass freely therebetween, and wherein instrument scrubbing means are provided in said scrubbing area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 24)
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6. Apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments comprising:
a container body having exterior walls and interior substantially vertical partitions defining a plurality of open-top chambers, said plurality of chambers including a first chamber comprising a soaking area and a scrubbing area separated by a substantially vertical internal partition having a plurality of apertures therein, and at least one rinsing chamber isolated from said first chamber and adapted to hold a rinsing fluid, said soaking area including port means for facilitating introduction of medical instrument cleaning and disinfecting solution into said soaking area of said first chamber, wherein said solution is permitted to pass into said scrubbing area from said soaking area through said internal partition, and wherein each of said plurality of chambers has a lid movable between an open position permitting insertion and removal of a medical instrument and a closed position preventing spillage of the cleaning and disinfecting solution and the rinsing fluid. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 22, 25, 33)
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11. Apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments according to claim g and further including a syringe having a barrel portion and a needle portion, said barrel portion provided with exterior screw threads for engaging said interior screw threads of said cylindrical projection.
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15. Apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting laryngoscope blades comprising:
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a container body having exterior walls and substantially vertical interior partitions defining a plurality of chambers each adapted to receive a laryngoscope blade, a first chamber comprising a soaking area and a scrubbing area, said scrubbing area provided with scrubbing means;
a second chamber for a first rinsing stage and a third chamber for a second rinsing stage, said second and third chambers being isolated from said first chamber;
one of said interior partitions extending between said soaking area and said scrubbing area in said first chamber having a plurality of apertures therein for permitting cleaning and disinfecting solution to pass freely between said areas;injection plug means provided in an exterior wall of said container body for facilitating introduction of cleaning and disinfecting solution into one of said soaking and scrubbing areas of said first chamber; injection port means surrounding said plug means; at least one injection syringe removably secured within said injection port means; and cover means for each of said first, second and third chambers, and for said injection port means including said at least one injection syringe. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26)
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27. A method of cleaning and disinfecting a laryngoscope blade comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a container body having a soaking area, scrubbing area, and at least one rinsing area isolated from said soaking and scrubbing areas, said container body further having injection port means for introducing a cleaning disinfecting solution into one of said soaking and scrubbing areas; (b) at least partially filling said soaking, scrubbing and rinsing areas with water; (c) injecting said cleaning and disinfecting solution into one of said soaking and scrubbing areas; (d) scrubbing said instrument in said scrubbing area; (e) inserting said laryngoscope blade into said soaking area for a prescribed period of time; (f) removing said laryngoscope blade from said soaking area and thereafter inserting said laryngoscope blade into said at least one rinsing area; and (g) removing said laryngoscope blade from said rinsing area and thereafter drying said laryngoscope blade. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification