Autoclave cycle monitor for autoclaved instruments
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring a number of cycles of autoclaving to which an instrument is subjected, comprising:
- a) a ferromagnetic magnetizable material member having a prescribed magnetic flux density, the magnetizable material attachable to an instrument;
b) an electrical conductor winding around the magnetizable material member and connected to a source of electric power to re-magnetize the magnetizable material when the flux density of the magnetizable material has been reduced in an autoclave cycle;
c) sensor means operatively associated with the magnetizable material member for measuring the magnetic flux density of the magnetizable material member;
d) computer means for receiving signals from the sensor means when the magnetic flux density of the magnetizable material member has been reduced;
e) the computer means including memory means for storing data received from the sensor means indicative of said number of cycles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic autoclave cycle passively records the number of thermal cycles to which an instrument has been subjected in a steam autoclave. When a sterilization cycle has been completed, and the instrument is next energized in use, a microprocessor is employed to read the sensor and record the occurrence of a sterilization cycle. Information as to the cumulative number of cycles through which the instrument has been subjected is stored in a non-volatile memory. This data is suitably displayed on a display panel. The sensor employed uses either the Curie temperature or a temperature near but below the Curie temperature of a ferromagnetic material by first magnetizing the material and then, later, checking its flux density to determine whether a thermal cycle has occurred. In a first embodiment, a Hall effect sensor is used to directly measure the magnetic field strength of the magnetizable material. In a second embodiment, a sensor winding is used to sense the magnetic field strength of the magnetizable material. The sensor winding is interconnected with an amplifier so that changes in flux can be sensed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring a number of cycles of autoclaving to which an instrument is subjected, comprising:
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a) a ferromagnetic magnetizable material member having a prescribed magnetic flux density, the magnetizable material attachable to an instrument; b) an electrical conductor winding around the magnetizable material member and connected to a source of electric power to re-magnetize the magnetizable material when the flux density of the magnetizable material has been reduced in an autoclave cycle; c) sensor means operatively associated with the magnetizable material member for measuring the magnetic flux density of the magnetizable material member; d) computer means for receiving signals from the sensor means when the magnetic flux density of the magnetizable material member has been reduced; e) the computer means including memory means for storing data received from the sensor means indicative of said number of cycles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for monitoring a number of cycles of autoclaving to which an instrument is subjected, comprising:
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a) a ferromagnetic magnetizable material member having a prescribed magnetic flux density, a low Curie temperature and attachable to the instrument; b) an electrical conductor winding around the magnetizable material member and connected to a source of electric power to re-magnetize the magnetizable material when the flux density of the magnetizable material has been reduced in an autoclave cycle; c) sensor means operatively associated with the magnetizable material member for measuring the magnetic flux density of the magnetizable material member; d) computer means for receiving signals from said sensor means when the magnetic flux density of the magnetizable material member has been reduced; e) the computer means including memory means comprising an EEPROM for storing data received from the sensor means indicative of said number of cycles. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification