Patent ID: 7871565
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: A61B,A61L

Abstract:
1. In an apparatus for deactivating medical instruments and devices having a circulation system for circulating a fluid through a decontamination chamber for holding medical instruments and devices, a method of generating a microbial deactivation fluid and exposing said devices to said microbial deactivation fluid for an instrument exposure period of time comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first compartment and a second compartment in said circulation system; (b) providing a chemical reagent in said first compartment and a builder composition in said second compartment; (c) causing a fluid to flow through said second compartment to begin dissolving said builder composition to create an alkaline fluid that is conveyed through said decontamination chamber; (d) circulating said alkaline fluid through said second compartment and said decontamination chamber until said alkaline fluid has reached a predetermined pH level, then causing said alkaline fluid to flow through said first compartment to begin dissolving said chemical reagent to generate a microbial deactivation fluid; (e) continuing steps (c) and (d) to continue the generation of said microbial deactivation fluid; and (f) maintaining the concentration of said microbial deactivation fluid flowing through said decontamination chamber at a predetermined concentration for an instrument exposure period of time by continuously flowing said fluid at a first flow rate through said first compartment and at a second flow rate through said second compartment during said instrument exposure period of time such that the ratio of said first flow rate to said second flow rate results in optimal generation of said microbial deactivation fluid during said instrument exposure period of time.