Container monitoring system
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring a sterilization process comprising:
- a container having an interior space to receive articles to be sterilized wherein said container comprises at least one gas permeable material on an outer wall of said container so as to allow a sterilant gas to diffuse from said interior space through said gas permeable material;
a sterilant source adapted to provide said sterilant gas in said interior space; and
at least one indicator wherein said indicator is positioned adjacent said at least one gas permeable material so that said indicator is in fluid communication with said interior space through said gas permeable material to receive said sterilant gas that diffuses through said gas permeable material, and wherein said gas permeable material prevents the penetration of microorganisms therethrough so that said at least one indicator can be removed from said container without disturbing sterility of the articles within the container.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sterilization system using a sterilization process monitoring device which is capable of indicating the efficacy of the sterilization process in an enclosed sterilization container while still maintaining the sealed state of the sterilization container. The process monitoring device comprises at least one biological indicator and/or at least one chemical indicator. Upon completion of the sterilization cycle, the process monitoring device can be advantageously removed from the system to determine chemical and/or biological efficacy of the sterilization process. The removal of the biological and/or chemical indicators does not disturb the sterilized state of the articles inside the sterilization container.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a sterilization process comprising:
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a container having an interior space to receive articles to be sterilized wherein said container comprises at least one gas permeable material on an outer wall of said container so as to allow a sterilant gas to diffuse from said interior space through said gas permeable material; a sterilant source adapted to provide said sterilant gas in said interior space; and at least one indicator wherein said indicator is positioned adjacent said at least one gas permeable material so that said indicator is in fluid communication with said interior space through said gas permeable material to receive said sterilant gas that diffuses through said gas permeable material, and wherein said gas permeable material prevents the penetration of microorganisms therethrough so that said at least one indicator can be removed from said container without disturbing sterility of the articles within the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of monitoring a sterilization process comprising:
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providing a container having an interior space to receive articles to be sterilized, wherein said container comprises at least one gas permeable material on an outer wall of said container in fluid communication with said interior space so as to allow a sterilant gas to diffuse through said gas permeable material; providing a sterilant source adapted to provide said sterilant gas inside of said container; and positioning at least one indicator exterior of said interior space in fluid communication therewith through said gas permeable material of said container so that said indicator receives said sterilant gas that diffuses through said gas permeable material from said interior space, and wherein said gas permeable material prevents the penetration of microorganisms therethrough so that said at least one indicator can be removed from said container without disturbing sterility of the articles within the container. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification