Abstract: A device and method for testing for the presence of liquid in a cannula of a medical instrument is described. The device includes a flexible guide member having a first end, a second end and a length extending from the first end to the second end, an elongated member arranged within the flexible guide member, and an absorbent material attached to one of the elongated member. The flexible guide member is inserted into the cannula, the flexible guide member is manipulated to cause the absorbent material to move through the cannula. The absorbent material is analyzed for the presence of liquid.

Abstract: Knuckle joint assembly for a medical device support system. The knuckle joint assembly includes a cartridge assembly that includes a cartridge housing and a rotary bearing. The cartridge housing includes a bore having a central axis and a bearing mount in the bore. The rotary bearing is press fitted in the bearing mount and configured to receive axially therethrough a spindle to rotatably support the spindle about the central axis. The knuckle joint assembly includes a retaining clip and a retaining pin. The retaining clip is selectively movable to disengage and engage a groove in a spindle to respectively support or release the spindle along a central axis. The retaining pin is movable between a first position to allow movement of the retaining clip between positions but prevent removal of the retaining clip, and a second position to block movement of the retaining clip from the engaged position.

Abstract: A medical device support system including a shaft, an extension arm, and a hub mounted to the shaft for pivotable movement of the extension arm about a rotation axis of the shaft. The hub includes a cavity including first and second contact faces, and at least one floating stop movably disposed in the cavity. The hub is pivotably mounted for a range of at least 360-degrees rotation about the rotation axis. The at least 360-degrees rotation range is based on a compound of a first rotation range and a second rotation range. The first rotation range is defined by a first movable amount of the at least one floating stop between first and second stop surfaces fixed relative to the shaft. The second rotation range is defined by a second movable amount of the at least one floating stop between the first and second contact faces of the hub.

Abstract: A surgical lighting system and a method of rotating a camera of a surgical lighting system includes a light head housing including a plurality of light emitting elements arranged to emit light downward to a region of interest, a handle mounted to and protruding downward from the light head housing, the handle including a handle housing having a sufficient size to be gripped by the human hand, and a camera assembly mounted within the handle housing and including a camera having a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of the region of interest. The camera assembly is mounted within the handle housing for rotation greater than 360 degrees about a rotation axis from a first stop to a second stop and vice versa. The first stop limits clockwise rotation of the camera and the second stop limits counterclockwise rotation of the camera.

Abstract: A liquid sporulation method is described. A first liquid culture is prepared by adding bacterial cells to a sporulation broth, wherein an optical density (OD600) of the first liquid culture is in a range of 0.001 to 0.01. The first liquid culture is incubated and an optical density (OD600) thereof is increased to be in a range of 0.2 to 2.0. Second liquid culture is prepared by adding the incubated first liquid culture to a predetermined amount of additional sporulation broth, wherein an optical density (OD600) of the second liquid culture is in the range of 0.001 to 0.1, and a ratio of a volume of the second liquid culture to a volume of the first liquid culture is in a range of 10:1 to 150:1. The second liquid culture is incubated so an optical density (OD600) thereof is increased to be in a range of 1.0 to 4.0.

Abstract: A sterilization process test device for verifying the efficacy of a sterilization process includes a tubular body defining a chamber for containing at least one sterilization indicator and a cap to sealingly close the tubular body. The tubular body includes at least one hole, which is covered by a gas and steam permeable cover. The only flow path into the chamber is provided through the steam and gas permeable cover and the at least one hole, which when combined are configured to control and restrict a flow of steam or a gaseous sterilization medium from an external environment.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light transmissive substrate extending along a length and including a light emission portion including opposed first and second major surfaces spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction, an inner edge surface extending between the first and second major surfaces in the thickness direction, and an outer edge surface opposed the inner edge surface and extending in the thickness direction. An extension portion extends from the light emission portion proximate the second major surface in the thickness direction. A light source is attached to the extension portion. A light head includes a housing, a primary light source attached to the housing, and the lighting assembly as an auxiliary lighting assembly. The housing includes a channel in which the auxiliary lighting assembly is retained.

Abstract: A light head for a medical device support system. The light head includes a housing base, an annular shape first lens, a housing cover, and a motion transfer member. The housing cover includes a cavity within which the annular shape first lens is rotatable about a rotation axis. The housing cover includes a second lens. The annular shape first lens and the second lens are in a light emitting path of the plurality of light emitting elements. The motion transfer member is configured to movably interact with a boss of the annular shape first lens to rotate the annular shape first lens about the rotation axis and within the cavity. A periphery of the annular shape first lens includes guide members configured to position the boss of the annular shape first lens to movably interact with the motion transfer member.

Abstract: A device and method for testing for the presence of liquid in a cannula of a medical instrument is described. The device includes a flexible guide member having a first end, a second end and a length extending from the first end to the second end, an elongated member arranged within the flexible guide member, and an absorbent material attached to one of the elongated member. The flexible guide member is inserted into the cannula, the flexible guide member is manipulated to cause the absorbent material to move through the cannula. The absorbent material is analyzed for the presence of liquid.

Abstract: A device and method for operating a lighting system varies a characteristic of visible light emitted by a first lighthead according to a predefined profile, and fixes a characteristic of visible light emitted by a second lighthead. A light sensor configured to view a focal area of the second lighthead detects a characteristic of visible light on a target surface over a period of time, and the characteristic of the light detected by the light sensor over the period of time is compared to the characteristic of light defined in the predetermined profile. A mode of operation of the first and second lighthead is determined based on the comparison.

Abstract: A load balancing arm for a medical device support system. The load balancing arm includes a proximal hub, an adjustable bearing element, a support arm, a spring and a link. A distal end of the support arm is configured to support a medical device load and a proximal end is pivotably mounted to a main bearing element for pivotable movement about a main pivot axis. The spring extends within a cavity of the support arm and is mounted to exert a biasing force between the main pivot axis and a distal end of the spring. The link has a proximal end pivotably mounted to the adjustable bearing element for pivotable movement about an adjustable pivot axis, and a distal end pivotably mounted to the distal end of the spring such that the biasing force exerted by the spring is transmitted through the link to the adjustable bearing element.

Abstract: A medical device suspension system includes a spindle extending along a longitudinal axis and a cable management cover surrounding the spindle. A gap is formed between the cable management cover and the spindle. A hub is rotatably mounted to the spindle and includes a housing. A top hub cover is disposed along the longitudinal axis between the hub and the cable management cover and defines an end of the gap, the top hub cover including a passage in fluid communication with an internal volume of the housing. The top hub cover is rotatable with respect to the spindle about the longitudinal axis. A cable is provided within the gap, the cable entering the gap at a fixed location about the longitudinal axis and passing into the housing through the passage. Rotation of the top hub cover about the longitudinal axis causes the passage to rotate about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A device and method for operating a lighting system varies a characteristic of visible light emitted by a first lighthead according to a predefined profile, and fixes a characteristic of visible light emitted by a second lighthead. A light sensor configured to view a focal area of the second lighthead detects a characteristic of visible light on a target surface over a period of time, and the characteristic of the light detected by the light sensor over the period of time is compared to the characteristic of light defined in the predetermined profile. A mode of operation of the first and second lighthead is determined based on the comparison.

Abstract: A liquid sporulation method is described. A liquid culture is prepared by adding bacterial cells to a sporulation broth. The liquid culture is incubated. Spores are harvested from the incubated liquid culture by separating the spores from a culture supernatant. In some embodiments, the harvested spores are suspended in an aqueous medium to form a spore suspension. At least a portion of the culture supernatant is combined with the spore suspension.

Abstract: A sterilization challenge device for verifying the efficacy of a gas sterilization process includes an outer container, an inner container, a chemical indicator, and a cap. The outer container includes an open end, a closed end, a chamber configured to contain the inner container containing the chemical indicator, and at least one hole arranged proximate the open end. The cap is configured to engage with the outer container to close the open end, and the at least one hole is configured to provide a flow path for the gaseous sterilant into the chamber.

Abstract: A light system monitors an area of interest for exposure to radiant energy provided by an operating room light head. At least one operating parameter of the light head is obtained, and based on the at least one operating parameter it is determined if the area of interest has been or will be exposed to radiant energy exceeding a prescribed threshold over a prescribed time period. Based on the determination, the system at least one of automatically adjusts an operating setting of the at least one light head or generates a warning of possible overexposure to radiant energy in the area of interest.

Abstract: Knuckle joint assembly for a medical device support system. The knuckle joint assembly includes a cartridge assembly that includes a cartridge housing and a rotary bearing. The cartridge housing includes a bore having a central axis and a bearing mount in the bore. The rotary bearing is press fitted in the bearing mount and configured to receive axially therethrough a spindle to rotatably support the spindle about the central axis. The knuckle joint assembly includes a retaining clip and a retaining pin. The retaining clip is selectively movable to disengage and engage a groove in a spindle to respectively support or release the spindle along a central axis. The retaining pin is movable between a first position to allow movement of the retaining clip between positions but prevent removal of the retaining clip, and a second position to block movement of the retaining clip from the engaged position.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing material includes receiving the material in a sterilizing chamber, vaporizing sterilant supplied to vaporizer from a sterilant source, exposing the material to the vaporized sterilant by conducting a sterilization cycle in the sterilizing chamber, heating ambient filtered air supplied to the vaporizer from an ambient filtered air source, and removing residuals of the vaporized sterilant absorbed or adsorbed by the material during the sterilization cycle by conducting an aeration cycle in the sterilizing chamber. The removing of the residuals includes conducting a plurality of aeration pulses to provide the sterilizing chamber with an aeration atmosphere comprising the heated filtered air to vaporize the absorbed or adsorbed residuals, and conducting a plurality of aeration vacuum pulses to evacuate the aeration atmosphere and vaporized residuals from the sterilizing chamber.

Abstract: A sterilizable pouch includes at least one sheet, wherein outer peripheral edges of the at least one sheet are sealed together to define a pouch having an interior space for receiving an article therein. A first releasable seam spans between a first peripheral edge of the at least one sheet to a second, opposite, peripheral edge of the at least one sheet, the first releasable seam dividing the at least one sheet into a first sheet part and a second sheet part. A second releasable seam and a third releasable seam each substantially span from a third peripheral edge of the at least one sheet to a fourth, opposite, peripheral edge of the at least one sheet and along the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge, respectively.

Abstract: A system for identification of abnormalities related to illumination of a target and automatic compensation therefor includes a lighthead and a controller. The lighthead is configured to illuminate the target. The lighthead includes a plurality of lighting modules configured to emit light therefrom. Each of the lighting modules includes a distance sensor configured to measure a distance from the lighting module to a surface toward which the lighting module is pointed. The controller is configured to identify one or more abnormalities of the measured distances, determine a true distance from the lighthead to the target based on the measured distances, predict an amount of illumination based on the true distance that would be supplied to the target without the identified abnormalities, and compensate for the identified abnormalities by respectively adjusting an amount of light emitted from the lighting modules to illuminate the target according to the predicted amount of illumination.