Abstract: Apparatus for sterilizing objects with a gaseous ethylene oxide held in a sealed ampule of the type including a breakable section, includes a cartridge for holding the sealed ampule in a substantially immovable manner, the cartridge including a first chamber for containing the ampule, a second chamber for holding an absorbent cotton material to hold the liquid sterilant upon breaking open of the ampule, the first and second chambers being in communication with each other, a transverse bore extending into the first chamber and outlet openings in the second chamber; a push-button slidably movable in the transverse bore for breaking open the ampule upon depression of the push-button in the transverse bore, wherein, upon breaking open the ampule, the gaseous sterilant escapes from the ampule through the outlet openings into sterilizing contact with the objects; a releasable guard for preventing slidable movement of the push-button in the transverse bore to prevent breaking of the ampule; and a liner bag for holdi

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sterilizing articles includes a sealed first enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film and a sealed container releasably containing a gaseous sterilant under pressure, the container being enclosed within the first enclosure. An openable second enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film is also provided and the first enclosure and the articles to be sterilized are disposed in the second enclosure. The sterilant which is characterized by toxicity and flammability when released from its container diffuses from the first enclosure into the second enclosure at a rate capable of establishing sterilization conditions in the second enclosure during a sterilization cycle to thereby effect sterilization of the articles in the second enclosure. A third enclosure is also provided in which the second enclosure containing the articles to be sterilized is disposed.

Abstract: A sterilizing system includes a sealed container releasably containing a gaseous sterilant under pressure and a first enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable material. The container and the articles to be sterilized are disposed in and sealed within the first enclosure, the container while in the sealed first enclosure being manipulatable to release gaseous sterilant into the sealed first enclosure. A second enclosure in which the first enclosure is disposed is constructed such that the sterilant released into the first enclosure from the container diffuses through the gas-permeable material of the first enclosure into the second enclosure at a rate capable of establishing sterilizing conditions in the first enclosure during a sterilizing cycle to thereby effect sterilization of the articles in the first enclosure.

Abstract: A method for maintaining hydration of the contents of water-impermeable packages containing items to be sterilized includes placing a moisture-releasing humidifying device into the package with the items to be sterilized, hermetically sealing the package, and releasing moisture from the moisture-releasing humidifying device into the package before the package is exposed to the gaseous sterilant. The moisture-releasing humidifying device includes an absorbent material and a cover about the absorbent material. The cover is made at least partially of a hydrophobic and vapor-permeable material such that moisture absorbed by the absorbent material passes through the vapor-permeable material to effect humidification within the package.

Abstract: Apparatus for sterilizing articles includes a sealed first enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film and a sealed container releasably containing a gaseous sterilant under pressure, the container being enclosed within the first enclosure. An openable second enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film is also provided and the first enclosure and the articles to be sterilized are disposed in the second enclosure. The sterilant which is characterized by toxicity and flammability when released from its container diffuses from the first enclosure into the second enclosure at a rate capable of establishing sterilization conditions in the second enclosure during a sterilization cycle to thereby effect sterilization of the articles in the second enclosure. A third enclosure is also provided in which the second enclosure containing the articles to be sterilized is disposed.

Abstract: A method for maintaining hydration of the contents of water-impermeable packages containing items to be sterilized includes placing a moisture-releasing humidifying device into the package with the items to be sterilized, hermetically sealing the package, and releasing moisture from the moisture-releasing humidifying device into the package before the package is exposed to the gaseous sterilant. The moisture-releasing humidifying device includes an absorbent material and a cover about the absorbent material. The cover is made at least partially of a hydrophobic and vapor-permeable material such that moisture absorbed by the absorbent material passes through the vapor-permeable material to effect humidification within the package.

Abstract: An aspirating device for removing fluids from a body site includes a container for collecting aspirated fluids, a suction device in communication with the container for applying a negative pressure to the container, a tube connected to the container and adapted to communicate with a body site for transferring fluids from the body site to the container in response to negative pressure in the container, and a valve for controlling the negative pressure in the container, the container having a diaphragmatic wall operable to actuate the valve.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sterilizing articles includes a sealed first enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film and a sealed container releasably containing a gaseous sterilant under pressure, the container being enclosed within the first enclosure. An openable second enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film is also provided and the first enclosure and the articles to be sterilized are disposed in the second enclosure. The sterilant which is characterized by toxicity and flammability when released from its container diffuses from the first enclosure into the second enclosure at a rate capable of establishing sterilization conditions in the second enclosure during a sterilization cycle to thereby effect sterilization of the articles in the second enclosure. A third enclosure is also provided in which the second enclosure containing the articles to be sterilized is disposed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for testing the sufficiency of sterilization includes a test tube having a distal end in which a bacterial spore element is disposed. A sealed glass ampule containing a sterile liquid culture medium is disposed in the test tube and a plunger having a fenestration closed with a hydrophobic filter is fitted slidingly in the open end of the test tube. In use, the apparatus is exposed to sterilization, and thereafter the plunger is pushed down into the test tube to engage the ampule to slide the latter into engagement with an ampule-engaging means to thereby fracture or break the ampule so that the contents of the ampule are released into the test tube to contact the spore element, whereby the apparatus is then subjected to incubation, the sufficiency of the sterilization being thereby determined.

Abstract: In measuring the dose of sterilant delivered to an enclosed space, a mixture of a salt of a strong acid and a weak base and an acid-alkali indicator dye is disposed within a container element impermeable to the sterilant. The container has an opening, and the sterilant passes through the opening into the container where it reacts with successive moieties of the mixture to effect a color change relative to the unreacted mixture. The reaction progressively advances away from the opening as the dose of the sterilant increases, whereby the extent of the advancing color change indicates the integration of time, temperature and sterilant concentration delivered to the enclosed space.

Abstract: In controlling a volatile substance, for example in controlling the release of ethylene oxide for use in a sterilization apparatus, the volatile substance is contained under pressure in a confined system and the latter is immersed in a fluid. The fluid is capable of absorbing the volatile substance such that if any of the volatile substance leaks from the confined systems into the immersion fluid, physicochemical changes will occur in the immersion fluid. These physicochemical changes may be sensed by various detecting devices which thereby serve to detect leaks of volatile substance from the confined system. The immersion fluid may be used as a heat transfer medium in heat exchange relationship with the confined system and desired associated control elements such as a pressure regulator to thereby prevent undesirable condensation of the volatile substance.

Abstract: In controlling a volatile substance, for example in controlling the release of ethylene oxide for use in a sterilization apparatus, the volatile substance is contained under pressure in a confined system and the latter is immersed in a fluid. The fluid is capable of absorbing the volatile substance such that if any of the volatile substance leaks from the confined systems into the immersion fluid, physicochemical changes will occur in the immersion fluid. These physicochemical changes may be sensed by various detecting devices which thereby serve to detect leaks of volatile substance from the confined system. The immersion fluid may be used as a heat transfer medium in heat exchange relationship with the confined system and desired associated control elements such as a pressure regulator to thereby prevent undesirable condensation of the volatile substance.