Abstract: A maze-based switch generally having three functional blocks is disclosed. The first functional block handles communications by accepting an entered maze pattern from an external system controller and outputting the entered maze pattern (and optionally its directional complement) to the second functional block. The second functional block stores the maze pattern (and optionally its directional complement) to a permanent storage element and outputs the stored, entered maze pattern and its directional complement to a series of transistors in the third functional block. The third functional block is an electronic maze in which a correct maze pattern and its directional complement must be received by the transistors for the transistors to pass electrical power through the electronic maze to a connected element. The third functional block may alternatively be implemented with optical elements, optoelectronic elements, microelectromechanical elements, or elements formed by other microsystem technologies.

Abstract: An electronic device display may have pixels formed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies, organic light-emitting diodes, or other pixel structures. The pixels may be formed on a display panel substrate. A display panel may extend continuously across the display or multiple display panels may be tiled in two dimensions to cover a larger display area. Interconnect substrates may have outwardly facing contacts that are electrically shorted to corresponding inwardly facing contacts such as inwardly facing metal pillars associated with the display panels. The interconnect substrates may be supported by glass layers. Integrated circuits may be embedded in the display panels and/or in the interconnect substrates. A display may have an active area with pixels that includes non-spline pixels in a non-spline display portion located above a straight edge of the display and spline pixel in a spline display portion located above a curved edge of the display.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing an article includes placing the article into a chamber containing an inner atmosphere and exhausting the inner atmosphere to lower pressure in the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is present in the chamber during at least a portion of the step of exhausting the inner atmosphere. Exhaustion of the inner atmosphere is terminated and additional hydrogen peroxide is admitted into the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor contacts the article for a sufficient period to effect sterilization of the article.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical instrument, includes the steps of placing the instrument in a cleaning chamber; placing a soil standard in the cleaning chamber; cleaning the instrument and the soil standard with a cleaning solution; and detecting whether soil remains on said soil standard. The soil standard includes two substantially parallel substrates separated with two substantially equal thickness spacers, wherein a gap is formed between the two substrates with soil in the gap.

Abstract: A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device includes a cleaning chamber for receiving and cleaning the instrument with a cleaning liquid, a receiving well within the cleaning chamber, a removable soil standard receivable within the receiving well whereby to be exposed to the cleaning process within the cleaning chamber; and a soil detector coupled to the cleaning chamber and adapted to provide an indication of the amount of the soil on the soil standard while the soil standard is received within the receiving well.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing medical devices and similar instruments in diffusion-restricted containers is provided. The sterilization method includes placing a liquid solution containing vaporizable germicide such as hydrogen peroxide into the diffusion-restricted container and vaporizing the germicide. The containers can be attachable and detachable to a sterilization system, and used as a vacuum chamber. An attachable/detachable container containing an article to be sterilized can be nested with a second container, and the article and inside and outside of the inner container are sterilized. The sterile article inside the nested containers can be transported and the sterile inner container with the sterilized article can removed from the outer container and placed in a sterile environment without contaminating the sterile environment. The sterile article can then be removed from the sterile container and utilized.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing a device, includes the following steps: placing the article into a chamber containing an inner atmosphere; placing a solution comprising hydrogen peroxide and water into fluid communication with the chamber, the solution having a ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water; vaporizing the solution in the inner atmosphere to form water vapor and hydrogen peroxide vapor; selectively drawing water vapor from the chamber to increase a ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water in the chamber; and contacting the article with the hydrogen peroxide vapor.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing the interior of a diffusion restricted area by introducing a sterilant in a chamber, condensing the vapor, reducing the pressure in the chamber to revaporize the condensed vapor, and maintaining the device in the chamber until the device is sterilized. The sterilant has a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of water and is preferably hydrogen peroxide. The pressure in the chamber while maintaining the device in the chamber may be held constant, varied, or increased. Plasma may additionally be introduced into the chamber to improve the rate of sterilization.

Abstract: A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing medical devices and similar instruments in diffusion-restricted containers is provided. The sterilization method includes placing a liquid solution containing vaporizable germicide such as hydrogen peroxide into the diffusion-restricted container and vaporizing the germicide. The containers can be attachable and detachable to a sterilization system, and used as a vacuum chamber. An attachable/detachable container containing an article to be sterilized can be nested with a second container, and the article and inside and outside of the inner container are sterilized. The sterile article inside the nested containers can be transported and the sterile inner container with the sterilized article can removed from the outer container and placed in a sterile environment without contaminating the sterile environment. The sterile article can then be removed from the sterile container and utilized.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device includes a cleaning chamber for receiving and cleaning the instrument with a cleaning liquid, a receiving well within the cleaning chamber, a removable soil standard receivable within the receiving well whereby to be exposed to the cleaning process within the cleaning chamber; and a soil detector coupled to the cleaning chamber and adapted to provide an indication of the amount of the soil on the soil standard while the soil standard is received within the receiving well.

Abstract: A method for determining and sterilizing a load in a sterilization chamber. A small amount of sterilant is introduced into the sterilization chamber and the concentration of sterilant is measured. The load of equipment to be sterilized is determined from the concentration of sterilant, and more sterilant is added, if necessary, based on the load. The process is repeated, if necessary, until the load is sterilized. The sterilant is preferably hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is preferably determined by a spectrophotometric method in the infrared or ultraviolet regions. By monitoring the sterilant concentration and adding more as needed, the equipment in the chamber can be sterilized efficiently without exposing it to high concentrations of sterilant which could damage the equipment or leave too much residual on the equipment.

Abstract: Various forms of apparatus and methods for pretreating and sterilizing a lumen with a peroxide solution prior to sterilization of the interior of the lumen by exposing the lumen to reduced pressure and, optionally, plasma in a sterilization chamber. The pretreatment is preferably done before placing the lumen in the sterilization chamber. The method also includes exposure of the exterior of the lumen to peroxide vapor to sterilize the exterior of the lumen. Pretreatment of the interior of the lumen with liquid peroxide greatly improves the efficiency of sterilization of the interior. Exposure of the lumen to plasma reduces the time required for sterilization.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device. The apparatus comprises a soil detector. The soil detector is capable of detecting inorganic and/or organic soil on a medical device or in a liquid utilized in a cleaning or cleaning monitoring process or on a soil-covered standard which can serve as a surrogate indicator of cleanliness for the medical device. The method of the invention for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device comprises the step of measuring the soil removed from a medical device with the apparatus of the invention comprising a soil detector. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of determining when the device is sufficiently cleaned so that it can be sterilized.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a soiled medical device. The method involves cleaning the soiled device with a cleaning liquid in a cleaning chamber, exposing a detector to the cleaning liquid to measure the amount of soil removed, determining whether a sufficient amount of the soil has been removed from the soiled device so that the soiled device can be sterilized, and sterilizing the soiled device. One method of determining the amount of soil is by detecting the signal generated from the reaction between a chemical and the soil. Another method is to provide a soiled standard and measure the amount of soil removed from the soiled standard to determine whether enough soil has been removed from the soiled standard so that the soiled device can be sterilized. Another method involves measuring the amount of soil removed from the soiled device with at least two detectors.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing the interior of a diffusion restricted area by introducing a sterilant in a chamber, condensing the vapor, reducing the pressure in the chamber to revaporize the condensed vapor, and maintaining the device in the chamber until the device is sterilized. The sterilant has a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of water and is preferably hydrogen peroxide. The pressure in the chamber while maintaining the device in the chamber may be held constant, varied, or increased. Plasma may additionally be introduced into the chamber to improve the rate of sterilization.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device. The apparatus comprises a soil detector. The soil detector is capable of detecting inorganic and/or organic soil on a medical device or in a liquid utilized in a cleaning or cleaning monitoring process or on a soil-covered standard which can serve as a surrogate indicator of cleanliness for the medical device. The method of the invention for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device comprises the step of measuring the soil removed from a medical device with the apparatus of the invention comprising a soil detector. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of determining when the device is sufficiently cleaned so that it can be sterilized.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device. The apparatus comprises a soil detector. The soil detector is capable of detecting inorganic and/or organic soil on a medical device or in a liquid utilized in a cleaning or cleaning monitoring process or on a soil-covered standard which can serve as a surrogate indicator of cleanliness for the medical device. The method of the invention for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device comprises the step of measuring the soil removed from a medical device with the apparatus of the invention comprising a soil detector. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of determining when the device is sufficiently cleaned so that it can be sterilized.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a soiled medical device. The method involves cleaning the soiled device with a cleaning liquid in a cleaning chamber, exposing a detector to the cleaning liquid to measure the amount of soil removed, determining whether a sufficient amount of the soil has been removed from the soiled device so that the soiled device can be sterilized, and sterilizing the soiled device. One method of determining the amount of soil is by detecting the signal generated from the reaction between a chemical and the soil. Another method is to provide a soiled standard and measure the amount of soil removed from the soiled standard to determine whether enough soil has been removed from the soiled standard so that the soiled device can be sterilized. Another method involves measuring the amount of soil removed from the soiled device with at least two detectors.