Abstract: A portable disinfectant transfer system for transferring a toxic and/or noxious fluid between a container and a reprocessor reservoir includes a container for containing the fluid, a pump having a conduit for drawing the fluid from the reservoir and expelling the fluid through an opening of the conduit into the container and an opening in the container for receiving a neutralizing chemical into the container simultaneously with the expelling of the fluid from the reservoir into the container to provide a simultaneously introduced neutralizing chemical. The opening of the conduit is positioned to produce a swirling motion of the fluid within the container to mix the simultaneously introduced neutralizing chemical with the fluid while the fluid is expelled into the container. A further pump having a further conduit is provided for drawing the fluid out of the container.

Abstract: A system for reprocessing contaminated medical instruments includes at least one reprocessing unit, the reprocessing unit being adapted to perform the reprocessing of at least one of a predetermined type of contaminated medical instrument. The system also includes an electronic controller including a user input device, an electronic processor, associated memory, and an operating system capable of being run on the processor. The controller is operably coupled to the reprocessing unit to enable control of the operation of the reprocessing unit. A control program for the controller for disposition in the memory is provided. The control program establishes at least one protocol of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of the medical instrument in the reprocessing unit. A monitor provides a visual display of various operating conditions of the system.

Abstract: A disinfectant transfer system, which is essentially vapor tight, for transferring toxic and/or noxious fluid from a container to a reservoir without releasing fumes including: a transfer cap for securing onto a mouth of a container containing toxic and/or noxious fluid, the transfer cap having a first opening for letting a gas in through a valve, the transfer cap further having a second opening for allowing toxic and/or noxious fluid to be forced out of the container when the toxic and/or noxious fluid is displaced by the gas entering through the first opening, the gas forces the toxic and/or noxious fluid within the container to enter and flow through a first conduit, which is connected to the bottom of the second opening and leads to the bottom of the container, and to continue to flow through a second conduit which is connected to the top of the second opening and leads to a reservoir into which the toxic and/or noxious fluid can enter.

Abstract: A reprocessing unit for the reprocessing of a device having internal passageways by applying a fluid at a plurality of pressures to the internal passageways of the device to permit reuse of the device in a clean environment, the reprocessing unit including a pressure differentiation device for receiving a fluid having a single input pressure, the pressure differentiation device having first and second pressure control fittings for providing first and second differing pressure outputs in accordance with the single input pressure. Also included are tubing for transmitting the fluid at the first and second differing pressures from the pressure differentiation device to the internal passageways whereby the internal passageways are reprocessed with the transmitted fluid at the first and second differing pressures and the internal passageways are reprocessed at differing pressures in accordance with the single input pressure.

Abstract: A method for the reprocessing of a device having internal passageways by applying a fluid at a plurality of pressures to the internal passageways of the device to permit reuse of the device in a clean environment includes applying a fluid having a single input pressure to a pressure differentiation device having first and second pressure control fittings for providing first and second differing pressure outputs in accordance with the single input pressure and transmitting the fluid at the first and second differing pressures from the pressure differentiation device to the internal passageways. The internal passageways are reprocessed with the transmitted fluid at the first and second differing pressures, whereby the internal passageways are reprocessed at differing pressures in accordance with the single input pressure.

Abstract: A method for the reprocessing of a device having internal passageways by applying a fluid at a plurality of pressures to the internal passageways of the device to permit reuse of the device in a clean environment includes applying a fluid having a single input pressure to a pressure differentiation device having first and second pressure control fittings for providing first and second differing pressure outputs in accordance with the single input pressure and transmitting the fluid at the first and second differing pressures from the pressure differentiation device to the internal passageways. The internal passageways are reprocessed with the transmitted fluid at the first and second differing pressures, whereby the internal passageways are reprocessed at differing pressures in accordance with the single input pressure.

Abstract: A method for the reprocessing of a device having internal passageways by applying a fluid at a plurality of pressures to the internal passageways of the device to permit reuse of the device in a clean environment includes applying a fluid having a single input pressure to a pressure differentiation device having first and second pressure control fittings for providing first and second differing pressure outputs in accordance with the single input pressure and transmitting the fluid at the first and second differing pressures from the pressure differentiation device to the internal passageways. The internal passageways are reprocessed with the transmitted fluid at the first and second differing pressures, whereby the internal passageways are reprocessed at differing pressures in accordance with the single input pressure.

Abstract: A method determines an efficacy of a decontamination procedure. The method includes providing a test object and a control object. The test object is contaminated with a first known amount of inoculum comprising microorganisms. The control object is contaminated with a second known amount of the inoculum. The first known amount of inoculum and the second known amount of inoculum are substantially the same. The decontamination procedure is performed on the contaminated test object but not on the contaminated control object. The microorganisms from the decontaminated test object and the contaminated control object are recovered. A number of microorganisms recovered from the decontaminated test object is compared with a number of microorganisms recovered from the contaminated control object.

Abstract: An integrated system for reprocessing contaminated medical instruments, e.g., scopes, surgical instruments, scope accessories, etc. The system includes plural, e.g., four, instrument processing units and a remotely located common controller for effecting the simultaneous control of each processing unit. Each processing unit includes various components, e.g., pumps, solenoids, valves, sensors etc., and a processing chamber. Each chamber is adapted for receiving a medical instrument carrier to which plural medical instrument in need of processing are connected. The controller includes a microprocessor, an associated memory storing a control program, a keyboard, a video display, and a printer. The control program establishes respective protocols of processing steps for effecting the reprocessing of the medical instruments in each of the reprocessing units by the microprocessor controlling the operation of the various components of the processing units via an electrical interface.