Abstract:
The body portion (A) of a small portable sterilizer has a face panel (46) against which a door (B) is selectively closed. The face panel defines an access opening for a sterilization chamber (10) which receives a cassette (C), an access opening for an anti-microbial concentrate chamber (20) which receives a powdered or other sterilant concentrate, and an outlet opening (50) from a microbe filter which filters microbes from incoming rinse water. The face plate and the door define fluid flow channels (48, 52) therebetween for selectively directing sterilant solutions and rinse solutions among the anti-microbial concentrate chamber, the sterilization chamber, and the microbial filter. The cassette is configured to assure that it is inserted into the sterilization chamber with a unique orientation such that its fluid inlet apertures (114) and outlet apertures (124) are at preselected locations. The door includes generally U-shaped projections (116) which abut an outer surface of the cassette in the sterilization chamber partially surrounding the fluid inlet apertures. The U-shaped projections assure that the cassette is seated in the sterilization chamber and provide a well which directs the circulating fluids into the cassette inlet apertures. A pair of gaskets (56, 86) surround the active portion of the face panel. A vacuum pump (90) selectively draws a vacuum in an annular region (88) between the gaskets, which vacuum locks the door against the face plate in a sealed, closed position. To assure a fluid tight seal, the gaskets are O-rings which are pressed by the vacuum into V-shaped grooves (82, 84).

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/349,304 filed May 9, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,343 which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/140,388, filed Jan. 4, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,706 which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 06/826,730, filed Jul. 6, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,222. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/342,189, filed Apr. 24, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,575 which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/229,917, filed Aug. 8, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,008 which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/165,189, filed Mar. 17, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,623 and also a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/140,388, filed Jan. 4, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,706, which are also continuations-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 06/826,730, filed Jul. 6, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,222. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to the decontamination art. It finds particular application in conjunction with sterilizing medical equipment and will be described with particular reference thereto. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is also applicable to disinfecting systems as well as to microbially decontaminating a wide range of items, including medical and dental instruments, laboratory equipment, industrial equipment, and the like. 
     Disinfection connotes the absence of pathogenic life forms. Sterilization connotes the absence of all life forms, pathogenic or not. Often, sterilization is measured against the elimination of bacterial endospores which are the living organisms most resistant to conventional sterilants. Microbial decontamination is used herein as the term generic to both sterilization and disinfection. 
     Many hospitals and larger facilities have a central sterilizing area. Medical equipment to be sterilized is forwarded to the sterilizing area where it is processed by trained technicians and returned to the individual medical units. One problem with a central sterilizing area is that the turnaround time on sterilization is relatively long, often on the order of days. This long turnaround time increases the need for duplicate sets of medical equipment, sufficient numbers of sets that a sterilized set is available for each patient during the turnaround time. Another drawback of the central sterilization area resides in the complexity of transporting and sorting equipment, the storage areas required, and the space required for a central sterilization facility. Like medical instruments tend to be interchanged such that physicians who send well cared for equipment for sterilization often receive mistreated equipment in return. A result and perhaps greater problem is that equipment is not always sent to a central sterilization facility before it is reused. 
     Commonly, medical equipment is sterilized in a steam autoclave. Autoclaves kill like forms with a combination of high temperature and pressure. Steam autoclaves have several drawbacks. The high temperature pressure vessel tends to be relatively bulky and heavy. The high temperature and pressure tends to dry or curtail the useful life of endoscopes, rubber and plastic device, lenses and other portions of devices made of polymeric materials, and the like. Further, the sterilizing cycle is relatively long from the start of the cycle until the instruments are cool enough to use. 
     More sensitive medical equipment is often sterilized with an ethylene oxide gas system which is thermally less severe than steam. However, the ethylene oxide has several drawbacks. First, the instruments must be exposed to the ethylene oxide for a relatively long time, on the order of 31/2 hours. Thereafter, an 8-12 hour degassing period is normally required for removing absorbed ethylene oxide from plastic and other ethylene oxide absorptive materials. The pressure and depressurization cycles of ethylene oxide sterilization may damage lens and other delicate instruments. Second, the ethylene oxide is relatively expensive. Third, ethylene oxide is sufficiently toxic and volatile that extensive precautions and training are commonly taken to assure operator safety. Usually, a trained operator and a dedicated facility are required. 
     Liquid sterilization systems are often used for heat-sensitive and other delicate instruments. Commonly, a technician mixes a liquid sterilant composition and manually immerses the items until he deems them sterilized. The high degree of manual labor introduces numerous uncontrolled and unreported variables into the sterilization process. Manual timing of the immersion raises assurance problems that the item was immersed for a sufficient duration. Further, sterilants tend to weaken, i.e. have a limited shelf life. Variations in the duration between when the technician mixed the sterilant and actually used it also raises problems with sterilization assurance and reproduceability of the microbial decontamination. 
     Another problem with the prior art liquid system resides in the corrosive nature of the strong oxidants that are commonly used as liquid sterilants. Normally, the sterilized items are rinsed to remove chemical residues. This rinsing also adds a variable that reduces the assurance the item has been disinfected or sterilized. Once rinsed, the item is susceptible to reinfection by airborne microbes. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved sterilization apparatus and method are provided which overcome the above-referenced problems and others. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a distributant sterilization system is provided. A relatively small, compact sterilization unit is provided for one or a small number of medical service provider areas, such as examination rooms. 
     In accordance with a more specific aspect of the present invention, a microbial decontamination system is provided. A body portion has a face panel which defines an access opening to a microbial decontamination chamber, an access opening to an anti-microbial concentrate receiving chamber, and a rinse fluid outlet opening in direct fluid communication with a filter means for removing at least pathogenic organisms from incoming rinse fluid. A door closes over and seals to at least a portion of the face panel surrounding the microbial decontamination chamber access opening, the anti-microbial concentrate chamber access opening and the rinse fluid outlet opening. A means defines fluid flow paths between the face panel and an interior surface of the door. The flow paths provide fluid communication among the microbial decontamination chamber access opening, the anti-microbial concentrate chamber access opening and the rinse fluid outlet opening. A fluid circulating means selectively circulates fluid through the anti-microbial concentrate chamber to form an anti-microbial solution. The anti-microbial solution flows through the fluid flow paths to the microbial decontamination chamber and through the microbial decontamination chamber. The circulating means selectively supplies the fluid through the filter means to create a microbially decontaminated rinse fluid that flows out of the rinse fluid outlet opening, through the flow paths to the microbial decontamination chamber to rinse the anti-microbial solution from items in the microbial decontamination chamber. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, two gaskets are provided between the face panel and the interior surface of the door. The two gaskets surround the microbial decontamination chamber access opening, the anti-microbial concentrate chamber access opening, and the rinse fluid outlet opening, and interconnecting flow paths. The two gaskets define a generally annular region therebetween. A vacuum means selectively draws a vacuum in the annular region to force the door and face panel into a tight fluid sealing relationship. 
     In accordance with another more limited aspect of the present invention, a cassette for receiving items to be microbially decontaminated is received in the microbial decontamination chamber. The cassette includes upper and lower portions which mate in a fluid tight sealed relationship. The upper and lower portions are openable to provide access to the interior for inserting items to microbially decontaminated or for withdrawing microbially decontaminated items for use. Fluid inlet apertures are defined in an uppermost portion of the cassette when inserted in the microbial decontamination chamber for enabling the cassette to receive and be filled with anti-microbial solution and the rinse fluids. At least one fluid outlet apeture is defined in a lowermost portion of the cassette when inserted in the microbial decontamination chamber to enable the interior of the cassette to be drained of the anti-microbial solution and the rinse fluids. A means is provided for preventing airborne microbial contaminants from passing through the fluid inlet and outlet apertures. A means is provided for controlling the orientation with which the cassette is received in the microbial decontamination chamber such that the fluid inlet apertures are at the uppermost portion of the cassette and the fluid outlet apertures are at the lowermost portion of the cassette. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that it assures sterilization or disinfection of medical and other items with liquid sterilants. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it is relatively compact and easy to use. Medical personnel, such as doctors, dentists, and nurses, can sterilize their own instruments on site without a specialized technician. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it makes sterilized equipment readily available. Not only is equipment sterilized quickly on site, it is held in an organized microbial contamination-free inventory ready for use. 
     Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may take form in various parts and arrangements of parts, or in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microbial decontamination system in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the system of FIG. 1 with the front door shown in phantom and with a cartridge of items to be sterilized; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view through section 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view through section 4--4 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the plumbing system of the system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating details of an O-ring sealing arrangment between the door and gaskets of the system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a view in partial section illustrating details of an O-ring sealing arrangement between the check valves and face panel of the system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the cassette of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of a top portion of the cassette of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the top portion of the cassette of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the cassette of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 12 is a front view of the cassette of FIG. 11; and, 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the cassette of FIG. 11. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a sterilizing apparatus A is configured to sit on a countertop or other convenient work surface. Preferably, the sterilizing apparatus is dimensioned such that it fits on a standard 60 cm (24 inch) deep countertop without interfering with overhead cupboards. A front door B is manually openable to provide access for inserting a cartridge C and a sterilant, preferably in the form of a cup or ampule D, into the system. 
     With continuing reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and further reference to FIG. 5, items to be sterilized are loaded in the cartridge C which is slidably received in a cartridge receiving chamber 10. The chamber 10 is open at the front to receive a free flow of sterilant through the front. A drain or outlet port 12 at the end enables sterilant to circulate continuously over and through the cartridge. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, an anti-microbial composition is loaded into an anti-microbial mixing chamber 20. A premeasured dose of the anti-microbial agent, in the illustrated embodiment, is held in a cup 22 which is pierced by a cutter 24 as it is inserted into the mixing chamber 20. The anti-microbial cup is again open at the front to allow free fluid flow therefrom. An inlet port 26 receives water or other fluids with which the anti-microbial agent is diluted or dissolved. An anti-microbial mixing chamber drain port 28 provides an outlet for the water sterilant mixture to assist in recirculation. 
     Various anti-microbial agents may utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the anti-microbial agent is a mixture of powders which reacts when wet to form a sterilant, such as a strong oxidant, corrosion inhibitors, and a wetting agent. More specifically to the preferred embodiment, the dry ingredients include a water-soluble acid precursor and a water-soluble persalt which, when dissolved in water, form a peracetic acid solution with an anti-microbially effective concentration of peracetic acid. The dry ingredients further include a buffer, e.g. a borate, for bringing the pH to a neutral level to inhibit steel corrosion. The dry ingredients include other corrosion inhibitors, such as a molybdate for inhibiting aluminum and steel corrosion, a triazole for inhibiting copper and brass corrosion, and the like. Powdered wetting and sequestering agents may also be included. In the preferred embodiment, the acid precursor is acetylsalicylic acid and the persalt is sodium perborate. The total volume of dry ingredients is such that the resultant water solution has a concentration of peracetic acid of at least 0.2% W/V--a biocidally effective concentration. 
     Other oxidizing or anti-microbial agents can also be generated in situ, such a chlorine dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, and mixtures thereof. For example, the powdered ingredients may include a mixture of potassium chromates, sodium chloride, and phosphates. As another example, hydrogen peroxide can be generated from a mixture of sodium borate and phosphates. Chlorine dioxide can be generated from a mixture of sodium chlorate and lithium chlorite. Sodium chloride can be added to peracetic acid to produce hyperchlorous acid. 
     Other copper and brass corrosion inhibitors are also contemplated, such as benzotriazoles, tolytriazoles, mercaptobenzathiozol, azoles, benzoates, and other five-membered ring compounds. Other anti-corrosives include chromates, dichromates, tungstates, vanidates, borates, and combinations thereof. A suitable sequestering agent for sequestering any precipitated calcium and magnesium salts is sodium hexametaphosphate. 
     Of course, liquid sterilants, such as liquid hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and the like may also be utilized. If liquids are utilized, it is preferred that the liquid be held in a cup or vial from which the liquid may be aspirated by water flowing through the sterilant cup. The cup or vial may also be punctured or fractured on insertion to permit a free-flowing communication between the water and the liquid sterilant. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 5 and continuing reference to FIGS. 1-4, a water inlet 30 is connected by flexible hose with a sink or other source of water. A pressure regulator 32 regulates the pressure to a preselected pressure. An inlet valve 34 is selectively actuated to channel fill water to a heater tank 36. The heater tank maintains the water therein, preferably about 5 liters, at a preselected elevated temperature. As cold water enters the heater tank, it forces hot water in front of it through a check valve 38. The check valve 38 separates a sterile side of the system and a non-sterile portion of the system adjacent the heater tank. 
     A circulation pump 40 circulates the hot water through a control valve 42 to the anti-microbial mixing chamber 20. The water mixes and interacts with the sterilant composition to form a liquid sterilant that flows out the open front end of the mixing chamber 20. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 2, water flowing out of the front of the mixing chamber flows through channels 44 defined between a face plate 46 and the door B. The face plate 46 is a molded structure which defines the mixing chamber 20, the cassette chamber 10, the flow paths 44, and other elements of the system. A channel 48 extends between the mixing chamber and a water sterilizing filter 50. The face plate also defines a passage 52 extending from the sterilizing filter 50 to the cassette receiving reservoir 10. Gaskets 54 on the door assist in defining and sealing the flow paths 48 and 52 and permit fluid feedback to increase mixing turbulence around the mixing chamber 20. A peripheral gasket 56 between the door and the face plate defines the periphery of fluid flow paths defined between the face and the door. 
     The circulation pump 40 pumps hot water from the heater tank 36 through the mixing chamber 20 displacing all air from the sterilization chamber 10 and substantially all air between the face plate 46 and the door B and replacing the air with the sterilant or anti-microbial solution. At the highest point, an overflow valve 58 permits excess sterilant solution to be discharged to a drain 60. The cassette receiving chamber outlet port 12 is also connected through a supplemental heater 62 with the circulation pump 40 such that the sterilant solution is actively drawn through the sterilization chamber 10, heated, and recirculated. 
     The circulation pump continues to recirculate the sterilant solution through the cassette receiving chamber 10 and the various plumbing paths until the inside of the cassette and all items re sterilized, the outside of the cassette is sterilized, the exterior surface of the face panel inside the gaskets, the interior surface of the door inside the gaskets, all accessible surfaces of the sterile water filter 50, the interior surfaces of all tubing, fittings, and valve surfaces through which fluid is circulated, and the circulation pump are sterilized or disinfected. Once all these surfaces are microbially decontaminated, the anti-microbial solution is drained through the drain outlet 60 into the drain of a sink or other liquid waste disposal system. Because strong oxidants, such as peracetic acid, breakdown relatively quickly to water, salt, and oxygen, there is no pollution or polluting contaminants that require special disposal. The drain outlet 60 is connected by check valves 64 and controlled valves 66 and 68 with various drain points of the system. To assure substantially complete drainage, the control valve 66 is opened and control valve 42 is closed such that the circulation pump withdraws the anti-microbial solution from the system and pumps it through controlled drain valve 66 to the drain outlet 60. The plumbing is preferably physically positioned for complete drainage through outlet valve 66 by gravity. 
     A microbially decontaminated, preferably sterile, air filter 70 is connected between exterior air and a check valve 72. The filter is a porous membrane whose apertures are sufficiently small that microbes are not permitted to pass. In this manner, sterile air is allowed to fill the volume left as the anti-microbial solution is drained. A float type air vent 74 permits air to be vented to the drain 60 but seals if its chamber fills with liquid to prevent liquid to flow therethrough back into the sterilization chamber 10. 
     After the sterilant is drained, the drain control valve 66 is returned to its closed state and the recirculation control valve 42 is returned to its open state. Water inlet valve 34 also channels incoming water to an inlet port 76 of the now sterilized, microbe removing water filter 50. The water filter 50 is again a porous membrane whose apertures are sufficiently small that water is passed but microbes, particularly all pathogenic microbes, are restrained. The surfaces of the membrane toward the open end have all been sterilized by the liquid sterilant as have most underlying portions. As the incoming water passes through the membrane, sterile rinse water passes through the front outlet end of the sterile water filter and flows through channel 52 toward the front opening of the cassette chamber 10. When rinse water is introduced such that sterile rinse water fills the entire volume between the face and the door insert, the circulation pump circulates the fluid to assure that sterilant residue is removed from all interior surfaces. Once at least the items in the cassette C have been fully rinsed, the controlled valves 42 and 66 change states such that the rinse solution is pumped out of the system and replaced with sterile air. It will be noted that all surfaces with which the sterile rinse comes in contact including the plumbing and valve surfaces engaged during circulation were previously sterilized or microbially decontaminated during the sterilization or microbial decontamination portion of the cycle. 
     With the particular reference to FIG. 6 and continuing reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a fluid tight seal between the lid and the body portion is maintained by a pneumatic pressure system 80. A pair of 90° V-shaped grooves or seats 82, 84 are defined in one or both of the face portion 46 and the lid B. O-ring seals 56, 86 are mounted partially in the V-shaped grooves and partially extending outward therefrom. The V-shaped grooves and O-rings define two closed loop paths around the fluid circulation portion and define a path 88 therebetween. A vacuum pump 90 is connected by appropriate tubing with vacuum ports 92 in the area between the two seals. The vacuum pump maintains a preselected negative pressure which causes the lid and body portions to squeeze the O-ring into the seats with a fluid tight seal. A vacuum release valve 94 is selectively actuated to release the vacuum to allow the lid to be opened. Optionally, a water sensor 96 is mounted along the vacuum tubing to sense a failure of the sealing arrangment which results in anti-microbial or rinse fluid being sucked past the inner gasket 56 into the vacuum path 88. An electronics module 98 includes a microprocessor which is programmed to operate the valves, pumps, and other elements in the sequence described above. Preferably, the electronics include a clock and date module, temperature sensors, a key pad, and a printer for printing a record of the time, date, operator, and system operating parameters. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 7, a similar arrangement is used to seal check valves 58 and 72 to the face 46. The face 46 defines a V-shaped groove 100 with a 90° angle surrounding the check valve. The check valve has a flange 102 over and closely adjacent to the face overhanging the groove 100. An O-ring 104 is received in the V-shaped groove abutting the underside of the flange 102. A threaded nut or flange member 106 engages threads on the exterior of the check valve to urge the check valve flange to press the O-ring into the groove in a fluid tight seal. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2, and 8-13, the cassettes C each include a top portion 110 which matingly connects with a bottom portion 112. The bottom portion may include a tray or rack (not shown) which has appropriate catches, compartments, guides, and the like for holding the instruments or items to be sterilized in a neat and organized pattern. For example, the tray may be configured to hold and organize a set of dental examination instruments in an appropriate arrangement to facilitate dental use. The exact design of the tray, of course, will vary with the requirements of each end user. 
     The top 110 of the cassette includes ports 114 at an uppermost portion to receive anti-microbial and rinse solutions and permit the escape of any air which might be trapped in the cassette. The ports 114 are disposed to be in alignment with flow paths 52. The lid has U-shaped gasket portions 116 which engage the periphery of the cassette around the lower portion of ports 114 to direct the liquids from flow paths 52 into the cassette. The cassette receiving chamber is canted to horizontal such that the ports 114 are at the highest point of the cassette. Baffles 118 present a tortuous path between the ports 114 and the interior of the cassette. By and large, biological contaminants will not follow a tortuous path to gain access into an otherwise sealed enclosure. A tortuous path has been found reliable in preserving sterility of the enclosed items. 
     The cassette bottom 112 includes channels 120 which receive or interact with guide ridges 122 in the sterilization chamber 10 to assure right-way-up receipt. Optionally, other means might be provided for assuring that the cassette C is inserted with the cartridge bottom down and the cartridge top up. The cassette bottom also includes apertures 124 in a lowermost portion of a rear wall. The low placement of the apertures assures complete drainage of sterilant and rinse solutions from the cassette. Baffles 126 present a tortuous path to prevent biological contamination of items in the cassette after sterilization or disinfecting. 
     The cassette bottom portion includes projections 130 from a rear vertical wall which are received in slots 132 in the top portion rear wall to assure that the top and bottom portions remain interconnected. The lower portion also includes a U-shaped bale 134 on a forward wall through which a tab 136 depending from the upper portion forward wall is slidably received. The tab and bale, particularly aperture 138 in the tab for receiving a sealing element. More specifically, once the sterilization process is completed, a frangible seal is placed through the tab aperture and the bale and sealed such that it must be broken in order to open the container. Preferably, the seal is encoded with an identification number that identifies the sterilization cycle. This number may be utilized to cross-reference a more detailed listing of sterilization parameters, such as the date of sterilization, the operator, a serial number of the sterilant concentrate, water temperature, sterilization time, and other parameters which verify the sterilization. Alternately, the seal may carry a larger portion or all of such sterilization assurance information. 
     The top portion has a peripheral flange 140 with a slight outward bevel which tightly and frictionally engages the outer peripheral vertical surface of the bottom portion to provide a tight friction seal therebetween. 
     Preferably, the top portion 110 has projections or ribs 142 that are positioned at the same distances apart and from the edges as the channels 120 on the bottom portion such that if the cartridge is inverted, the cassette channels and ribs would be reversed. The sterilization chamber 10 tapers to be wider at the front and narrower at the back. The cassette is of approximately the same height as the sterilization chamber at the rear. The upward rids 142 on the top portion terminate before the rear of the cassette or are tapered toward the rear to provide minimal clearance. If the cassette is inverted and inserted upside down, the interaction of the ribs 142 and guide ridges 122 lift the wall of the chamber 10 before it is fully inserted. In this manner, insertion of the cassette in the sterilization chamber 10 upside down is prevented. Of course, other means may be provided for preventing the cartridge from being inserted upside down. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.