Method of delivering liquid sterilant to a sterilizer
First Claim
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1. A method for delivering a liquid sterilant to a sterilizer, comprising:
- inserting a cassette into a sterilizer, the cassette comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell contains liquid sterilant;
moving the cassette laterally to position the cassette adjacent to an extraction assembly, the extraction assembly comprising a first needle having a first lumen, wherein a cell of the cassette is positioned adjacent to the first needle;
piercing a cell of the cassette with the first needle having the first lumen;
flowing a gas into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen; and
flowing the liquid sterilant from the lumen to a vaporizer in the sterilizer.
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Abstract
A method of delivering a liquid sterilant to a sterilizer involves piercing a cell of a cassette with a first needle having a first lumen, flowing a gas into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen. The liquid sterilant travels from the lumen to a vaporizer in the sterilizer.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for delivering a liquid sterilant to a sterilizer, comprising:
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inserting a cassette into a sterilizer, the cassette comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell contains liquid sterilant; moving the cassette laterally to position the cassette adjacent to an extraction assembly, the extraction assembly comprising a first needle having a first lumen, wherein a cell of the cassette is positioned adjacent to the first needle; piercing a cell of the cassette with the first needle having the first lumen; flowing a gas into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen; and flowing the liquid sterilant from the lumen to a vaporizer in the sterilizer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for delivering a liquid sterilant to a sterilizer comprising:
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inserting a cassette into a sterilizer, the cassette comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell contains liquid sterilant; moving the cassette laterally to position the cassette adjacent to an extraction assembly, the extraction assembly comprising a needle comprising a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein a cell of the cassette is positioned adjacent to the needle; piercing a cell of the cassette with the needle so that the first lumen and the second lumen open in the cell; flowing a gas through the second lumen into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen; and flowing the liquid sterilant from the first lumen to a vaporizer in the sterilizer.
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20. A method for delivering a liquid sterilant to a sterilizer comprising:
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inserting a cassette into a sterilizer, the cassette comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell contains liquid sterilant; moving the cassette laterally to position the cassette adjacent to an extraction assembly, the extraction assembly comprising a first needle having a first lumen and a second needle having a second lumen, wherein a cell of the cassette is positioned adjacent to both the first needle and the second needle; piercing a cell of the cassette with both the first needle and the second needle so that the first lumen and the second lumen open in the cell; flowing a gas through the second lumen into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen; and flowing the liquid sterilant from the first lumen to a vaporizer in the sterilizer.
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Specification