Patent ID: 6318151
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
A method of monitoring levels of sterilant within a sterilization apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:providing a self-contained sterilant monitoring assembly including:a sterilant sensor configured to provide an output signal corresponding to detected levels of the sterilant,a data collection circuit operatively coupled to said sterilant sensor to receive the output signal from said sterilant sensor as collected data, anda power source to provide electrical power to said sterilant sensor and said data collection circuit, wherein the sterilant sensor, the data collection circuit and the power source are self-contained on a portable structure; andpositioning said sterilant monitoring assembly proximate said sterilization apparatus to collect data representative of sterilant levels thereat; andtransferring the collected data from the data collection circuit to a processor to identify the sterilant levels detected by the sterilant sensor, wherein said sterilization apparatus sterilizes articles moved along a conveyor path, said positioning step including moving said sterilant monitoring assembly along said conveyor path.