Vessel useful for monitoring plasma sterilizing processes
First Claim
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1. A vessel, useful for evaluating the performance of an indicator under sterilization conditions, comprising:
- a chamber defining a volume, the volume adapted to receive a biological and/or chemical indicator, the chamber of sufficient construction uniformly to distribute a cycle of a sterilizing species in the volume within a predetermined time;
a plasma generator adapted to generate a plasma upstream of the chamber and in communication with the chamber, the plasma containing a plurality of atomic and/or molecular species;
pumping means for continuously flowing plasma through the chamber during a plasma sterilizing cycle while maintaining a reduced pressure in the chamber; and
a monitor operatively associated with the vessel and capable of determining a concentration of selected species in the plasma when a plasma sterilizing cycle constituted entirely or in part by the plasma is flowing through the volume.
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Abstract
A system for testing sterilization processes is provided by a vessel having a chamber, a plasma generator adapted to generate a plasma upstream of the chamber, a monitor associated with the chamber, and a biological or chemical indicator disposable within the chamber. The plasma generator generates upstream plasma that contains a plurality of atomic and/or molecular species, and the monitor is capable of determining a concentration of selected species in the plasma when flowing through the chamber.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vessel, useful for evaluating the performance of an indicator under sterilization conditions, comprising:
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a chamber defining a volume, the volume adapted to receive a biological and/or chemical indicator, the chamber of sufficient construction uniformly to distribute a cycle of a sterilizing species in the volume within a predetermined time; a plasma generator adapted to generate a plasma upstream of the chamber and in communication with the chamber, the plasma containing a plurality of atomic and/or molecular species; pumping means for continuously flowing plasma through the chamber during a plasma sterilizing cycle while maintaining a reduced pressure in the chamber; and a monitor operatively associated with the vessel and capable of determining a concentration of selected species in the plasma when a plasma sterilizing cycle constituted entirely or in part by the plasma is flowing through the volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for testing sterilization processes, comprising:
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a chamber defining a volume, the chamber of sufficient construction uniformly to distribute a cycle of a sterilizing species in the volume within a predetermined time; a plasma generator adapted to generate a plasma upstream of the chamber and in communication with the chamber, the plasma containing a plurality of atomic and/or molecular species; a monitor operatively associated with the vessel and capable of determining a concentration of selected species in the plasma when a sterilizing cycle constituted entirely or in part by the plasma is flowing through the volume; and a biological and/or chemical indicator adapted to be disposed within the chamber volume. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A BIER vessel, useful for evaluating the performance of an indicator under sterilization conditions including use of a plasma, comprising:
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a chamber defining a volume; a plasma generator adapted to generate a plasma upstream of the chamber and being in communication with the chamber, the plasma including an oxygen species and a hydrogen species; distribution means for uniformly distributing plasma entering the chamber within the volume within a predetermined time; pumping means for continuously flowing plasma through the chamber during a plasma sterilizing cycle while maintaining a reduced pressure in the chamber; and means for monitoring the plasma within the chamber or the plasma generator, the monitoring means including an emission spectrometer and a mass spectrometer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A BIER vessel, comprising:
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a chamber defining an evacuatable volume in which an indicator can be disposed; a plasma generator in communication and upstream with respect to the chamber, the plasma generator capable of generating a plasma from at least one gaseous species upstream of the chamber; at least one baffle, the at least one baffle being interposed between the plasma generator and an indicator when disposed in the chamber volume, the at least one baffle being of a construction sufficient to distribute plasma entering the chamber within the volume adjacent to the indicator; and
,a mass spectrometer operably associated with the vessel to determine a concentration of a selected species in the plasma when the volume is evacuated and the plasma is flowed into the volume. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification