Abstract: A device and method provide an aerosol germicide to a device having a lumen within a container. The container is divided into at least two compartments by an interface across which extends the lumen device, with one end of the lumen in one compartment and another end of the lumen in another compartment. A pressure differential can be used to flow the germicide through the lumen.

Abstract: A method for cleaning and sterilizing a medical device comprises the steps of: placing the device into a container; cleaning the device in the container with a cleaning solution; rinsing the device in the container with a rinse solution; and vaporizing a liquid substance in the container to create a sterilant vapor and contacting the device with the vapor to effect sterilization of the device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sterilizing a lumen device. A lumen and a container having an interface on a wall of the container are enclosed in a chamber. The lumen is placed across the interface so that one end of the lumen is in the container and the other end is in the chamber. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two ends of the lumen, so that the germicide flows through the lumen. The lumen may alternatively be placed across an interface which separates the chamber into two areas. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two areas of the chamber, causing the germicide to flow through the lumen.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sterilizing a lumen device. A lumen and a container having an interface on a wall of the container are enclosed in a chamber. The lumen is placed across the interface so that one end of the lumen is in the container and the other end is in the chamber. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two ends of the lumen, so that the germicide flows through the lumen. The lumen may alternatively be placed across an interface which separates the chamber into two areas. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two areas of the chamber, causing the germicide to flow through the lumen.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sterilizing a lumen device. A lumen and a container having an interface on a wall of the container are enclosed in a chamber. The lumen is placed across the interface so that one end of the lumen is in the container and the other end is in the chamber. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two ends of the lumen, so that the germicide flows through the lumen. The lumen may alternatively be placed across an interface which separates the chamber into two areas. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two areas of the chamber, causing the germicide to flow through the lumen.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sterilizing a lumen device. A lumen and a container having an interface on a wall of the container are enclosed in a chamber. The lumen is placed across the interface so that one end of the lumen is in the container and the other end is in the chamber. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two ends of the lumen, so that the germicide flows through the lumen. The lumen may alternatively be placed across an interface which separates the chamber into two areas. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two areas of the chamber, causing the germicide to flow through the lumen.

Abstract: A method for cleaning and sterilizing a medical device comprises the steps of: placing the device into a container; cleaning the device in the container with a cleaning solution; rinsing the device in the container with a rinse solution; and vaporizing a liquid substance in the container to create a sterilant vapor and contacting the device with the vapor to effect sterilization of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting a device has a chamber, a source of sterilant or disinfectant and ports for admitting and exhausting the sterilant or disinfectant but lacks a source of sterile rinse. A related method similarly lacks the step of rinsing with a sterile solvent yet leaves the device essentially free of the sterilant or disinfectant. Preferably the sterilant or disinfectant is removed from the device by vaporizing it and drawing it out of the chamber.

Abstract: A device and method provide an aerosol germicide to a device having a lumen within a container. The container is divided into at least two compartments by an interface across which extends the lumen device, with one end of the lumen in one compartment and another end of the lumen in another compartment. A pressure differential can be used to flow the germicide through the lumen.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing a medical device includes placing the device in a multi-chambered compartment having at least a first and a second chamber and an removable interface between the two chambers, where there is no opening on the interface. The interface is adjusted so that a device too big to fit into the first or second chamber can be sterilized in a bigger chamber formed by the first and second chamber. A sterilant is introduced into the chamber to sterilize the medical device. Plasma may be optionally be introduced to enhance the sterilization.

Abstract: A system and a method for sterilizing a lumen device involve a container in a chamber and a source of germicide. The container has an interface separating the container into two compartments and a communication port which provides fluid communication between the container and the chamber. The lumen device extends across the interface, and the two compartments are in fluid communication with each other through the lumen device. The lumen device is sterilized when the germicide flows from compartment to compartment through the lumen device.

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 sterilized article is within the interior of a diffusion-restricted container. The container substantially prevents entry of microorganisms into the interior thereof. The container has at least one entry/exit port which permits entry/exit of gas and/or vapor into/out of the interior, but prevents entry of microorganisms into the interior.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sterilizing a lumen device. A lumen and a container having an interface on a wall of the container are enclosed in a chamber. The lumen is placed across the interface so that one end of the lumen is in the container and the other end is in the chamber. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two ends of the lumen, so that the germicide flows through the lumen. The lumen may alternatively be placed across an interface which separates the chamber into two areas. Germicide is introduced into the chamber, and a pressure difference is created between the two areas of the chamber, causing the germicide to flow through the lumen.

Abstract: A system and a method for sterilizing a lumen device involve a container in a chamber and a source of germicide. The container has an interface separating the container into two compartments and a communication port which provides fluid communication between the container and the chamber. The lumen device extends across the interface, and the two compartments are in fluid communication with each other through the lumen device. The lumen device is sterilized when the germicide flows from compartment to compartment through the lumen device.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing or disinfecting a device has a chamber, a source of sterilant or disinfectant and ports for admitting and exhausting the sterilant or disinfectant but lacks a source of sterile rinse. A related method similarly lacks the step of rinsing with a sterile solvent yet leaves the device essentially free of the sterilant or disinfectant. Preferably the sterilant or disinfectant is removed from the device by vaporizing it and drawing it out of the chamber.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of hydrogen peroxide vapor or gas in a sterilization chamber. The hydrogen peroxide is measured spectrophotometrically in the ultraviolet region between 200 and 400 nm. Because water vapor does not absorb in the ultraviolet region, it does not interfere with the determination of the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide vapor. Although organic compounds have absorbances in the ultraviolet region, the organic compounds are removed by evacuating the sterilization chamber to low levels before doing the hydrogen peroxide determination. The ultraviolet light source is either a low pressure mercury vapor lamp with an emission at 254 nm or a deuterium lamp with an optical filter selective of 206 nm light. A movable gas cell can be used to measure the hydrogen peroxide concentration at various areas in the sterilization chamber.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing the interior and the exterior of a lumen device in a multi-chambered compartment with an interface with an adjustable opening in the interface. The lumen is placed partly in the first chamber and partly in the second chamber across the interface, sterilant is introduced into the multi-chambered compartment, and a flow is created between the two chambers through the lumen. The adjustable interface may be equipped with expandable material, compressible material, or inflatable material. Hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid are suitable sterilants.

Abstract: A method for cleaning and sterilizing a medical device comprises the steps of: a) placing the device into a container, b) cleaning the device with a cleaning solution, c) rinsing the device with rinse solution, d) treating the device with a liquid sterilant, e) vaporizing the liquid sterilant in the container thereby simultaneously sterilizing and drying the device, and providing a sterile, dry product without further rinsing. The method further comprises retaining a predetermined amount of the liquid sterilant in the container prior to step e). Step e) can be conducted under a diffusion restricted environment, or by reducing pressure to a first predetermined pressure followed by further reducing the first pressure to a predetermined second pressure, or at controlled pump down rate.

Abstract: A sterilization system using a sterilization process monitoring device which is capable of indicating the efficacy of the sterilization process in an enclosed sterilization container while still maintaining the sealed state of the sterilization container. The process monitoring device comprises at least one biological indicator and/or at least one chemical indicator. Upon completion of the sterilization cycle, the process monitoring device can be advantageously removed from the system to determine chemical and/or biological efficacy of the sterilization process. The removal of the biological and/or chemical indicators does not disturb the sterilized state of the articles inside the sterilization container.