Patent ID: 6025189
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: A61L,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for reading a plurality of biological sterilization indicators (BIs) to determine the efficacy of a plurality of sterilization cycles, each BI capable of exhibiting fluorescence to indicate a non-lethal sterilization cycle, the apparatus comprising:plurality of biological sterilization indicator holders each configured to receive one of the biological sterilization indicators;carriage controllably movable relative to the plurality of biological sterilization indicator holders to positions proximate each of the biological sterilization indicator holders;radiation emitter mounted on the carriage and positioned to impinge radiation on a biological sterilization indicator received in a selected biological sterilization indicator holder when the carriage is in the position proximate the selected biological sterilization indicator holder;fluorescence sensor mounted on the carriage and positioned to sense fluorescence exhibited by the biological stcrinization indicator in the selected biological sterilization indicator holder in response to the radiation impinged thereon and to provide a fluorescence signal indicative of the sensed fluorescence; andcontroller coupled to the fluorescence sensor to receive the fluorescence signal and to provide an output signal indicative of the fluorescence sensed, the controller being configured to control the position of the carriage to intermittently position the carriage proximate each of he biological sterilization indicator holders then holding a biological sterilization indicator and to receive the fluorescence signal indicative of the fluorescence sensed from the biological sterilization indicator corresponding to the biological sterilization indicator holder proximate which the carriage is then positioned;said controller having a means for determining the adequacy of a sterlization cycle based on the fluorescence signal from the fluorescence sensor.