Abstract: An aseptic processing workstation can include a processing chamber and an airflow circuit passing through the chamber. The circuit can include an air supply fan, an air return fan and a restriction element. The chamber is located in the circuit between the air supply fan and the air return fan. The restriction element is located in the circuit on the other side of the air supply fan and the air return fan to the chamber. The workstation can include an air inlet fluidly connected at a first connection point to the circuit via inlet valve means. The first connection point is located between the restriction element and the air supply fan. The workstation can include an air outlet fluidly connected at a second connection point to the circuit via outlet valve means.

Abstract: This invention relates to an aseptic processing workstation comprising a processing chamber and an airflow circuit passing through the chamber. The circuit comprises an air supply fan, an air return fan and a restriction element. The chamber is located in the circuit between the air supply fan and the air return fan. The restriction element is located in the circuit on the other side of the air supply fan and the air return fan to the chamber. The workstation further comprises an air inlet fluidly connected at a first connection point to the circuit via inlet valve means. The first connection point is located between the restriction element and the air supply fan. The workstation further comprises an air outlet fluidly connected at a second connection point to the circuit via outlet valve means. The workstation further comprises control means for independently controlling the speed of the air supply fan and the air return fan.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus (10) for decontaminating an enclosure that includes a passage having an inlet (18) to receive a carrier gas from the enclosure, an outlet (31) to discharge the carrier gas to the enclosure, a fan (21) for causing a low of carrier gas through the passage from the inlet to the outlet, and a vapour generator (19) where a decontaminant vapour is introduced into the flow of carrier gas to be discharged with the flow at the outlet to decontaminate the enclosed space. A further fan (33) delivers a separate flow of gas from the enclosure bypassing the passageway in which the decontaminant vapour is introduced to be delivered into the enclosure from outlet vents (32) adjacent the vapour outlets (31) to assist in dispersing the carrier gas containing decontaminant vapour throughout the enclosure.

Abstract: A wound treatment apparatus includes a tray (10) having a region adapted to receive a patient's body part (e.g. a leg) for treatment, a spray head (22, 23) for applying a spray of a gas containing liquid onto the body part and a covered well (13) in the tray having inlets (18) for surplus liquid and gas from the spray. Outlets are provided in communication with the well for gas and liquid respectively for connection to a suction to draw surplus liquid and gas from the well, and a unitary coupling (20) provides a plurality of fluid connections including a liquid supply for the spray head and liquid and gas withdrawal from said well outlets.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in surface disinfection apparatus and in particular to apparatus which may be used to disinfect wounds using high concentration aqueous ozone. The Apparatus comprises application means for applying the fluid to the surface to be treated, fluid delivery means for delivering the fluid to said application means and catchment means for collecting the fluid after it has been applied to the surface. Fluid return means are provided for removing the fluid from the catchment means and means for creating a vacuum in the fluid return means. The apparatus further comprises a releasable coupling having two engagable parts and comprising a plurality of channels, at least one of which channels is connected to the fluid delivery means when the parts are engaged and at least another of which channels is connected to the fluid return means when the parts are engaged.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in surface disinfection apparatus and methods and in particular to apparatus and methods which may be used to disinfect wounds using high concentration aqueous ozone. The method comprises the steps of flushing an ion exchange means with fluid from a fluid supply and directing the flushing fluid to waste; de-ionising fluid from the fluid supply by passing it through the ion exchange means and directing the process fluid to storage means; and purging the ion exchange means with gas to remove residual process fluid after the de-ionisation process has been completed.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in the method of controlling bio-decontamination cycles used for the bio-decontamination of enclosed spaces, such as pharmaceutical clean rooms, isolators and hospital wards. The bio-decontamination cycle comprises a number of phases including at least one gassing phase, during which sterilant vapour is generated and circulated within the enclosed space. The method is characterised by the steps of continuously measuring the modified relative humidity of the air in the enclosed space, the modified relative humidity being the ratio of water and sterilant vapour: capacity of water and sterilant vapour in the air, and using the measured modified relative humidity to control the steps of the process.

Abstract: A method of rendering harmless chemical and/or biological warfare agents on a surface, comprising: (i) exposing the agents to an atmosphere comprising peroxide vapour, and causing the peroxide vapour to condense on the surface having the chemical and/or biological agents thereon; (ii) after step (i) exposing the agents to an atmosphere comprising further peroxide vapour, and causing the further peroxide vapour to condense on the surface having the chemical and/or biological agents thereon; and (iv) optionally repeating step (ii).

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for use with a sterilant vapour generator used for sterilising an enclosure, said apparatus providing means for enhancing the distribution of the sterilant vapour in the enclosure during a gassing phase of the sterilisation process and for removing the sterilant vapour from the air in the enclosure during a subsequent aeration phase. The apparatus can optionally be configured to provide humidification, if required. The invention therefore comprises means for the distribution of sterilant vapour in the enclosure during a gassing phase of the sterilisation process and means for removing the sterilant from the air in the enclosure during an aeration phase.

Abstract: A wound treatment apparatus includes a tray (10) having a region adapted to receive a patient's body part (e.g. a leg) for treatment, a spray head (22, 23) for applying a spray of a gas containing liquid onto the body part and a covered well (13) in the tray having inlets (18) for surplus liquid and gas from the spray. Outlets are provided in communication with the well for gas and liquid respectively for connection to a suction to draw surplus liquid and gas from the well, and a unitary coupling (20) provides a plurality of fluid connections including a liquid supply for the spray head and liquid and gas withdrawal from said well outlets.

Abstract: An apparatus for disinfecting surfaces and in particular human and animal wounds, includes a contractor for accumulating concentrated ozonated water and systems to deliver ozonated water from the reservoir to a nozzle having one or more jets for delivering a spray of ozonated water on to the surface to be treated. The nozzle has an encircling shroud and systems are provided for withdrawing ozonated gas liberated at the nozzle from around the nozzle. A collection tray is provided which is located under the surface/wound to be treated to receive ozonated water flowing from the treatment region and where any residual ozone is broken down.

Abstract: This invention relates to temporary closures for a room vent and is particularly although not exclusively applicable to temporary closures for room vents to enable a room to be sterilised by circulating sterilant vapour without allowing vapour to enter the vent or gas to enter the room from the vent during the sterilising operation. The temporary closure comprises a hood to extend over the vent having a peripheral seal for engaging a surface around the vent and a telescopically extendable strut on which the hood is mounted to engage a fixed surface disposed opposite the vent to hold the hood in place over the vent.

Abstract: A method of detecting bacterial kill using a vaporized sterilant includes the steps of generating a sterilant/water vapour and supplying the vapour to a sealed space to be sterilized. The supply of sterilant/water vapour is continued to raise the concentration of the sterilant in the sealed space, and the concentration of the sterilant in the vapour is monitored to determine when the rate of change of the concentration falls to a predetermined minimal level indicating that condensation has occurred resulting in kill of any bacteria present in the space. Supply of sterilant/water vapour to the space is then terminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing a sealable enclosure includes a circuit for flow of a sterilizing gas or gasses. The circuit is connected to the enclosure to be sterilized to form a closed circuit and pumps to circulate gas through the circuit and enclosure. The circuit has parallel branches one of which contains apparatus to deactivate a sterilant to be added to the carrier gas flowing through the circuit and apparatus to dehumidify the gas. The other branch contains apparatus to heat the gas and apparatus to supply a sterilant vapor or vapors to the gas. Control apparatus determines which of the parallel branches the gas flows through. The control apparatus maintains flow through one branch passage until the relative humidity falls below a predetermined level. The flow through that branch is then terminated and flow through the other branch initiated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a portable apparatus for decontaminating an enclosed room or other space which includes a passageway having an air inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. A pump causes a flow of air through the passageway from the inlet to the outlet. A heater heats the air flowing through the passageway to a predetermined temperature, a flash evaporator being in communication with the passageway. Liquid decontaminant is pumped from a supply of decontaminant to the evaporator to be evaporated and for the evaporant to be delivered to the air flow in the passage to flow in the air flow from the outlet to the rooms to be decontaminated. A universally rotating nozzle is provided at the outlet to distribute the decontaminant containing air throughout the enclosure.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus (10) for decontaminating an enclosure that includes a passage having an inlet (18) to receive a carrier gas from the enclosure, an outlet (31) to discharge the carrier gas to the enclosure, a fan (21) for causing a low of carrier gas through the passage from the inlet to the outlet, and a vapour generator (19) where a decontaminant vapour is introduced into the flow of carrier gas to be discharged with the flow at the outlet to decontaminate the enclosed space. A further fan (33) delivers a separate flow of gas from the enclosure bypassing the passageway in which the decontaminant vapour is introduced to be delivered into the enclosure from outlet vents (32) adjacent the vapour outlets (31) to assist in dispersing the carrier gas containing decontaminant vapour throughout the enclosure.

Abstract: An enclosure (23) for carrying out operations under sterile conditions having apparatus for sterilsing the enclosure and its content includes a gas generator (17,18) having a fan (18) for producing a stream of air and an evaporator (17) for evaporating hydrogen peroxide solution to be carried by the airstream throughout the enclosure to condense on surfaces in the enclosure to sertilise the surfaces. A pump (13) is provided to draw gas from the enclosure at a location remote from the gas generator to ensure that the sterile vapour reaches the most remote part of the enclosure from the generator and also to maintain the pressure in the generator below atmospheric pressure around the generator so that any leak path in the enclosure results in leakage from the atmosphere into the enclosure and not release of sterilant vapour to atmosphere outside the enclosure.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for decontaminating an enclosed room or other space includes a passageway having an air inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. A pump causes a flow of air through the passageway from the inlet to the outlet. A heater heats the air flowing through the passageway to a predetermined temperature, a evaporator being in communication with the passageway. Liquid decontaminant is pumped from a supply of decontaminant to the evaporator to be evaporated and for the evaporant to be delivered to the air flow in the passage to flow in the air flow from the outlet to the rooms to be decontaminated. A universally rotating nozzle is provided at the outlet to distribute the decontaminant containing air throughout the enclosure.

Abstract: An enclosure (23) for carrying out operations under sterile conditions having apparatus for sterilsing the enclosure and its content includes a gas generator (17,18) having a fan (18) for producing a stream of air and an evaporator (17) for evaporating hydrogen peroxide solution to be carried by the airstream throughout the enclosure to condense on surfaces in the enclosure to sertilise the surfaces. A pump (13) is provided to draw gas from the enclosure at a location remote from the gas generator to ensure that the sterile vapour reaches the most remote part of the enclosure from the generator and also to maintain the pressure in the generator below atmospheric pressure around the generator so that any leak path in the enclosure results in leakage from the atmosphere into the enclosure and not release of sterilant vapour to atmosphere outside the enclosure.