Sterilisation apparatus

• US 8,431,076 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tristel PLC
• Original Assignee: Tristel PLC
• Inventors: Fraundorfer, Mark Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nagpaul, Jyoti
• Application Number:
  US12/376,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 422/1, 422/28, 422/50, 422500-501, 134/43, 134 58- 59, 134/25.1
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/182 Rigid packaging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sterilization and disinfection apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a sterilization and disinfection apparatus for surgical equipment.

Thus preferred embodiments may have a number of advantages over the prior art which can include:

• • reduced risk of spillage of the sterilization fluid outside the sterilization apparatus;
  • reduced risk of contamination of the equipment after sterilization through inadvertent contact with the equipment by the user;
  • economy of use of the sterilization fluid;
  • improved convenience of transport and storage of sterilized equipment in the sterilization apparatus;
  • automatic override procedure to reduce the risk of overexposure of the equipment to the sterilization fluid if the correct sterilization cycle is not followed;
  • automatic control of contact time of the equipment with the sterilization fluid to avoid over processing and resultant damage; and
  • data logging to provide traceability of the previous sterilization cycles used.

Claims

1. A sterilisation apparatus for the sterilisation of medical equipment which includes:

a sterilisation compartment formed from at least one wall and base;

a spill compartment formed from at least one wall and base;

a drain outlet and associated valve adapted so as to drain the sterilisation fluid from the sterilisation compartment and/or the spill compartment;

a drain control device releasably engaged with the drain outlet and is configured to operate the opening and closing of the drain outlet to control exposure time of the equipment to the sterilisation fluid; and

a display device;

wherein the at least one wall of the sterilisation compartment is/are contained within the at least one wall of the spill compartment;

wherein the drain control device includes a timer to time exposure of the medical equipment to the sterilisation fluid;

wherein the drain control device includes a liquid level sensor so that the display device may indicate to a user when a preferred amount of sterilisation fluid has been added to the sterilisation apparatus.

2. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spill compartment is separated from the sterilisation compartment by a wall lower in height than that of the at least one wall of the sterilisation compartment.

3. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sterilisation apparatus has profiling on the inside surface of the sterilisation apparatus via a contact means to contact and retain the equipment to hold the equipment substantially above the sterilisation apparatus to maximise the exposure of the equipment with the sterilisation fluid.

4. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the contact means has a raised profile to provide a contact surface for the equipment in the sterilisation apparatus.

5. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain control device operates the opening and closing of the drain outlet via a clamp, clasp, catch, fastener or valve.

6. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the drain control device operates the opening and closing of the drain outlet via a valve.

7. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain control device includes a control device along with an optional display device.

8. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain control device follows an automatic override procedure wherein the sterilisation fluid is drained from the sterilisation compartment if the correct sequence of events of the sterilisation cycle is not followed.

9. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drain control device logs the parameters of the previous sterilisation cycles.

10. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sterilisation apparatus has a lid which engages with the sterilisation apparatus via a lid engagement means.

11. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the lower surface of the sterilisation apparatus is profiled so a portion of the lower surface may contact the sterilisation fluid when the sterilisation apparatus is filled and the lid engaged.

12. A method for timed sterilisation of medical equipment, using the sterilisation apparatus of claim 10,

said sterilisation apparatus for the sterilisation of equipment including:

a sterilisation compartment formed from at least one wall and base; and

a spill compartment formed from at least one wall and base;

said method for timed sterilisation of equipment including the steps;

(a) removing the lid of the sterilisation apparatus;

(b) placing the equipment in the sterilisation compartment;

(c) adding sterilisation fluid to the equipment in the sterilisation compartment;

(d) operating the control device to select the desired sterilisation time; and

(e) removing the equipment from the sterilisation compartment following sterilisation for use.

13. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the sterilisation apparatus has an exit for a cable of medical equipment to be sterilised.

14. A sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sterilisation apparatus has an associated container which releasably attaches to the sterilisation compartment so that its upper edges are lower than or flush with the upper edge of the sterilisation compartment.

15. A kit assembly of the sterilisation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sterilisation apparatus is sold together with a jug for preparation of the chlorine dioxide solution before use.