MULTI-COMPARTMENT PLASTIC WOVEN MESH DRY CHEMISTRY CONTAINER

Abstract: A multi-compartment package (C) separately contains powdered reagents which interact with water to form an antimicrobial solution. An outer, first cup portion (50) receives a first powdered reagent and has a peripheral wall (52) which has an opening at a first end (56) and at a second end (60). A closure, such as a detachable base (58), is secured to and closes the second end of the outer first cup portion. The closure is impermeable to the first reagent. An inner, second cup portion (70) receives a second reagent. The inner cup portion has a region (73) which is formed from a material, such as a thermally molded, spun-bonded polypropylene web, which is impermeable to the powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. The second cup portion peripheral wall abuts and is connected to the first end of the outer first cup portion.

Description: MU TI-COMPARTMENT PLASTIC WOVEN MESH DRY CHEMISTRY CONTAINER Background of the invention The present invention relates to the decontamination arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with sterilizing or disinfecting medical instruments and equipment and will be described with particular reference thereto. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is also applicable to a wide variety of technologies in which at least two components or reagents are kept separate until time of use and then combined through dissolution in a common solvent. Decontamination connotes the removal of hazardous or unwanted materials, such as bacteria, mold spores, other pathogenic life forms, radioactive dust, and the like. Disinfection connotes the absence of pathogenic life forms. Sterilization connotes the absence of all life forms, whether pathogenic or not. Heretofore, medical equipment and instruments have often been sterilized in a steam autoclave. Autoclaves kill life forms with a combination of high temperature and pressure. However, steam autoclaves have several drawbacks. The high temperature pressure vessels tend to be bulky and heavy. The high temperature and pressure tends to curtail the useful life of endoscopes, rubber and plastic devices, lenses, and portions of devices made of polymeric materials and the like. Moreover, a typical autoclave sterilizing and cool down cycle is sufficiently long that multiple sets of the medical instruments are commonly required. Instruments which cannot withstand the pressure or temperature of the oven autoclave are often sterilized with ethylene oxide gas, particularly in larger medical facilities or hospitals. However, the ethylene oxide sterilization technique also has several drawbacks. First, the ethylene oxide sterilization cycle tends to be even longer than the steam autoclave cycle. Another drawback is that ethylene oxide sterilization is sufficiently sophisticated that trained technicians are commonly required, making it unsuitable for physician and dental offices and for other smaller medical facilities. Moreover, some medical equipment can not be sterilized with ethylene oxide gas. Liquid disinfection systems have also been utilized for equipment which could not withstand the high temperatures of steam sterilization. Commonly, a technician mixes a liquid disinfectant composition and manually immerses the items to be decontaminated. The high degree of manual labor introduces numerous uncontrolled and unreported variables into the process. There are quality assurance problems with the weakening of the disinfectant chemicals due to aging on the shelf, and technician errors in the mixing of sterilants, control of immersion times, rinsing of residue, exposure to the ambient atmosphere after the rinsing step, and the like. U.S. Patent No. 5,662,866 to Siegel, et al. discloses a two-compartment cup for powdered sterilant reagent components. An outer cup holds a first reagent while an inner cup, disposed within the outer cup, holds a second reagent. Peripheral walls of inner and outer cups are affixed together at their open ends at flanges. A permeable sheet is affixed to the inner cup portion flange for ventedly sealing both cups. The outer cup is closed at its base by a first detachable base and the inner cup similarly closed by a second detachable base. In use, the two bases are opened to allow mixing of the two reagents. The two-compartment cup ensures sterilization with a reproducible, pre-measured dose of reagents, while also facilitating handling and shipping of the reagents. The present invention provides for a new and improved two compartment cup or packaging assembly which does not require a second removable base and which is ideal for storing powdered reagents which are retained separately until time of use and are released in solution when a solvent is passed through both compartments . Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a multi-compartment package for holding powdered reagents which interact with water to form an anti-microbial solution is provided. The package includes an outer, first cup portion having a peripheral wall which has an opening at a first end and at a second end and an inner, second cup portion having a second peripheral wall. The first and second cup portions are configured such that the second cup portion peripheral wall abuts and is connected to the outer first cup portion adjacent the first end of the first peripheral wall. The first and second peripheral walls are configured such that a first reagent receiving chamber is defined in the first cup portion for receiving a first powdered reagent and a second reagent receiving chamber is defined in the second cup portion for receiving a second powdered reagent. A closure is secured to and closes the second end of the outer first cup portion. The closure is impermeable to the first reagent. The package is characterized by the second cup portion peripheral wall including a region which is formed from a material which is impermeable to the powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method includes metering a preselected volume of a first powdered reagent into a first cup portion having a peripheral wall which has a first opening at a first end and a second opening closed by a closure at a second end. The closure is impermeable to the first powdered reagent. The method further includes metering a preselected volume of a second powdered reagent into a second cup portion having an opening at a first end, the first and second cup portions being configured such that when the second cup portion is inserted into the first cup portion, the second cup portion first end abuts the first cup portion first end. The method further includes connecting the second cup portion first end to the first cup portion first end and sealing a top cover to the second cup portion first end. The method is characterized by the second cup portion having at least a region formed from a material which is impermeable to the first and second powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a decontamination system is provided. The a powdered reagent cup receiving well and a first fluid flow path defined between a water receiving inlet and the reagent cup receiving well to bring water from the inlet to the well to mix with powdered reagents and form a decontaminant solution. The system further includes a second fluid flow path defined for the decontaminant solution from the reagent cup receiving well to a decontamination region for receiving items to be decontaminated and a fluid circulator for selectively circulating fluid through the first and second fluid flow paths and among the inlet, the decontamination region, and the reagent cup receiving well. A multi-chamber powdered decontamination reagent holding cup is inserted into the well. The cup includes an outer, first cup portion having a peripheral wall which has an opening at a first end and at a second end, and an inner, second cup portion. The first and second cup portions are configured such that the second cup portion abuts and is connected to the first end of the outer first cup portion. The first and second cup portions are configured such that a first powdered reagent receiving chamber is defined in the first cup portion for receiving a first powdered reagent and a second powdered reagent receiving chamber is defined in the second cup portion for receiving a second powdered reagent A closure is secured to and closes the second end of the outer first cup portion. The closure is impermeable to the first powdered reagent. The system is characterized by the second cup portion having a region which is formed from a material which is impermeable to the powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. One advantage of the present invention is that it facilitates materials handling. Another advantage of the present invention is that it simplifies filling and sealing of two reagents in separate compartments . Another advantage of the present invention is that it promotes thorough mixing of the reagents and complete dissolution of the reagents. Another advantage of the present invention is that undissolved particles of reagent remain trapped within the cup. 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 of the preferred embodiments. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and 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. FIGURE 1 is an exterior view of a decontamination unit; FIGURE 2 is a plumbing diagram of the decontamination unit of FIGURE 1 including a detailed, cross-sectional view of a reagent cup receiving well and a two-compartment reagent cup; FIGURE 3 is an expanded view of a two compartment cup in accordance with the present invention; and, FIGURE 4 is a side sectional view of the two compartment cup; FIGURE 5 is an alternate embodiment of the cup of FIGURE 3; and FIGURE 6 is another alternate embodiment of the cup of FIGURE 3. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to FIGURE 1 and 2, a microbial decontamination apparatus A is configured to sit on a counter top or other convenient work surface. A door or lid 10 is manually openable to provide access to a tray 12 which defines a receiving region 14 for receiving items to be microbially decontaminated. In the illustrated embodiment, the tray 12 is configured to receive endoscopes or other long, coilable items. Other trays with item receiving regions of different configurations for receiving the items themselves or item holding containers are also contemplated. A well 16 receives a unit dose of reagents for forming a sterilant, disinfectant, or other microbial decontaminating solution. With particular reference to FIGURE 2 , a reagent containing package C is inserted into the well 16. Once the items are loaded into the tray and the reagent carrying package C is inserted into the well 16, the lid 10 is closed and latched. Optionally, a fill valve 20 passes water through a microbe removing filter 22 in flow paths of a fluid circulating system. The microbe removing filter 22 provides a source of sterile water by passing water and blocking the passage of all particles the size of microbes and larger. The incoming water which has been sterilized by the filter 22 passes through a spray or distribution nozzle 24 and fills the item receiving region 14 in the tray 12. As additional water is received, it flows into the well 16 dissolving powdered, crystalline, or other non-liquid reagents in the cup C, forming an anti-microbial solution. Filling is continued until all air is forced through an air system 26 and an entire interior volume is filled with the sterile water. After the fill valve 20 is closed, a pump 28 circulates the fluid through a heater 30, the item receiving region 14 of the tray 12, and the well 16. The pump also forces the anti-microbial solution through the filter 22 to a check valve 32 sterilizing the filter. Further, the pump forces the anti-microbial solution through another microbe filter 34 in the air system 26 to a check valve 36. After the anti-microbial solution has been brought up to temperature and circulated for a selected duration, a drain valve 38 is opened, allowing the solution to drain. Air is drawn through the microbe filter 34 such that sterile air replaces the fluid within the system. Thereafter, the drain valve is closed and the fill valve 20 opened again to fill the system with a sterile rinse fluid. It will be noted, that because the pump 28 circulated the anti-microbial solution over all surfaces of the flow paths including all surfaces leading from the sterile rinse source 22, the rinse cannot bring microbial contaminants into the item receiving region 14. A lower opener projection or member 40 is disposed at the bottom of the well for engaging a lower surface of the package C as it is inserted into the well. With reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, the sterilant cup or package C includes a first or outer cup 50. The outer cup is constructed of a light weight, rigid polymeric material. The outer cup 50 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 52 that has a flange 54 at a first, open end 56 thereof. A closure which is impermeable to a reagent disposed in the outer cup, such as a detachable base wall 58, closes a second, opposite end 60 of the peripheral wall 52. The detachable base wall 58 is secured to the second end by being snapped in and held by a lip and groove, friction engagement, a breakable seal, or the like. When force or pressure is applied to the detachable base wall from beneath the outer cup 50 by the lower opener member 40, the detachable base wall 58 detaches. An enlarged flange 62 or the like retains the base wall in the interior of the outer cup by making the diameter of the base wall larger than the opening at the second end. A second or inner cup portion 70 is received in the first cup portion 50. The second cup portion has a generally thermally molded, hemispherical peripheral wall 72 that has an integrally molded flange 74. Alternatively, the second cup peripheral wall is cone or cylindrically shaped as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The second cup portion is sealed at a first or top end by a top cover 94. The peripheral wall 72 of the second cup portion 70 and top cover 94 are preferably formed from a material that is impermeable to the dry reagent contained within the first and second cup portions, yet is permeable to water and to dissolved reagents. Alternatively the peripheral wall 72 includes a region 73 that is formed from a material which is impermeable to powdered reagents but which is permeable to water and to dissolved reagents. A similar region is optionally included in the top cover (not shown) . Any particles of reagent in the second cup portion 70 that are not dissolved are therefore trapped within the second cup portion. Dissolved reagents pass through the material and are transported to the items to be sterilized. The choice of material depends on the particle size of the reagents. For reagents having a particle size of about 50 microns, a non-woven polypropylene web or felt keeps the dry reagents from penetrating the material, while allowing the water and dissolved reagents to pass freely through the second cup portion and top cover. When the material is a polypropylene web, the top cover is readily sealed to the second cup portion by ultrasonically welding or other heat sealing the flange of the second cup portion to the top cover. The material for the second cup portion and top cover is preferably free of additives, such as binders or surfactants, that could be dissolved in the water and contaminate the items to be decontaminated. The material is also preferably lint free, so that small particles of the material do not come away from the second cup and become trapped within items to be decontaminated. Further, the material preferably has a fairly high tensile strength and does not disintegrate when it is subjected to a fairly high pressure of water. The material is also preferably unreactive toward the reagents and other additives used in the decontamination unit. An extruded spun-bonded polypropylene web having an absolute pore size of under 50 microns, and preferably around 10 microns, is a preferred material because it is virtually lint-free. It also has a high tensile strength, even when under a moderately high water pressure. The material is preferably molded to the shape of the inner cup portion 70 from a single sheet of the polypropylene web. Alternatively, the flange 74 is formed from a separate material which is then welded to the remainder of the upper cup portion. The porous nature of the inner cup portion and top cover 94 allows gases formed from the reagents during transit to out gas from the cup c. Optionally, the material also acts as a filter for filtering particles, such as microorganisms and dirt, from the anti-microbial solution passing through the cup. The detachable base wall 58 has a domed central region. The domed central region is surrounded by a vertical wall that frictionally engages the peripheral wall of the cup. As force is applied to the domed central region, it flexes. The flexing urges the attached vertical wall away from the peripheral wall of the cup producing the frictional engagement and facilitating its release. Optionally, a plurality of legs 86 or other spaced projections are provided on the base wall. With continuing reference to FIGURES 3 and 4 , the first and second cup portions are configured such that the flanges 54, 74 abut and are sealed together. Appropriate sealing means for the flanges include heat welding, adhesive bonding, solvent welding, ultrasonic welding, or the like. When the inner cup portion and top cover are constructed of a spun-bonded polypropylene and the outer cup portion is also formed from polypropylene, the top cover, inner cup portion, and outer cup portions are preferably ultrasonically or heat welded together at the same time, thereby forming a seal which extends from the top cover and through the flange on the inner cup portion to the flange on the outer cup portion. Preferably, the inner cup peripheral wall 72 is about half the height of the outer cup peripheral wall 52 such that a first reagent chamber 88 is defined therebetween. More specifically to the illustrated embodiment, the chamber 88 has a predetermined volume ratio relative to a volume of the inner cup 70. Although various second cup peripheral wall designs may be utilized to achieve the selected relative volume ratio between the chamber 88 and the second cup volume, a hemispherical wall surface is conveniently manufactured. In the preferred embodiment, the inner and outer cups each contain one of an acid precursor and a persalt. More specifically to the preferred embodiment, the acid precursor is acetylsalicylic acid and the persalt is sodium or other perborates. The two compounds dissolve as water flows through the cup. The dissolved compounds come into contact and react to form sodium perborate, peracetic acid, and salicylic acid. The volume of powdered ingredients is selected relative to the volume of water such that a 0.2% weight/volume concentration of peracetic acid is achieved in the resultant decontamination solution. The sodium perborate solution functions as an inorganic corrosion inhibitor and the salicylic acid is an organic corrosion inhibitor. Preferably, additional corrosion inhibitors, buffers, and a wetting agent are added to these powders. Preferred copper and brass corrosion inhibitors include azoles, benzoates, other five-membered ring compounds, benzotriazoles, tolytriazoles, mercaptobenzothiazole, and the like. Other anti-corrosive buffering compounds include phosphates, molybdates, chromates, dichromates, tungstates, vanadates, other borates, and combinations thereof. These compounds are effective for inhibiting steel and aluminum corrosion. For hard water, in which calcium and magnesium salts may tend to precipitate, a sequestering agent such as sodium hexametaphosphate is also included. Other dry formulations can be utilized to generate chlorine gas, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid, and other strong oxidants which have a biocidal effect. To assemble the cup C, the base 58 is first installed in the outer cup portion 50. The first reagent is then disposed within the outer cup portion. The inner cup portion 70 is then placed within the outer cup portion with the flange 74 of the inner cup portion resting on the flange 54 of the outer cup portion. The second reagent is disposed within the inner cup portion and the top cover 94 disposed so that it rests on the flange of the inner cup portion. The top cover, inner cup portion and outer cup portion are then sealed together at the flanges of the inner and outer cup portions. Thus, the first reagent is sealed within the outer cup, while the second reagent is sealed within the inner cup.

Claims: Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be: 1. A multi-compartment package (C) for holding powdered reagents which interact with water to form an anti-microbial solution, the package including: a) an outer, first cup portion (50) having a peripheral wall (52) which has an opening at a first end (56) and at a second end (60) ; and, b) an inner, second cup portion (70) having a second peripheral wall (72) , the first and second cup portions being configured such that the second cup portion peripheral wall abuts and is connected to the outer first cup portion adjacent the first end of the first peripheral wall, the first and second peripheral walls being configured such that a first reagent receiving chamber is defined in the first cup portion for receiving a first powdered reagent and a second reagent receiving chamber is defined in the second cup portion for receiving a second powdered reagent, a closure (58) secured to and closing the second end of the outer first cup portion, the closure being impermeable to the first reagent, the package characterized by: the second cup portion peripheral wall including a region (73) which is formed from a material which is impermeable to the powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. 2. The package of claim 1, further characterized by: the closure being detachable from the second end of the outer first cup portion by applying a force to the closure. 3. The package of either of claims 1 and 2, further characterized by: the second cup portion including a first flange (74) ; and, the first end of the outer first cup portion including a second flange (54), the first flange being sealed to the second flange. 4. The package of any one of preceding claims 1-3, further characterized by: the material being a thermally molded, spun-bonded polypropylene web having an absolute pore size of under 50 microns. 5. The package of any one of preceding claims 1-4, further characterized by: the second cup portion peripheral wall defining a hemiovoid. 6. The package of claim 3, further characterized by: the second cup portion including a top cover (94) which is sealed around an outer edge to the first flange. 7. The package of claim 6, further characterized by: the top cover including a semi-porous region which is formed from a cover material which is impermeable to the second reagent received in the second cup portion but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. 8. The package of either of claims 6 and 7 , further characterized by: the top cover, second reagent receiving chamber, and second cup portion region forming a fluid flow path for ensuring that fluids entering the package contact the second reagent. 9. The package of any one of preceding claims 1-8, further characterized by: the first reagent including acetylsalicylic acid and the second reagent including sodium perborate. 10. A method comprising: metering a preselected volume of a first powdered reagent into a first cup portion (50) having a peripheral wall (52) which has a first opening at a first end (56) and a second opening closed by a closure (58) at a second end (60) , the closure being impermeable to the first powdered reagent; metering a preselected volume of a second powdered reagent into a second cup portion (70) having an opening at a first end (74) , the first and second cup portions being configured such that when the second cup portion is inserted into the first cup portion, the second cup portion first end abuts the first cup portion first end; connecting the second cup portion first end to the first cup portion first end; and sealing a top cover (94) to the second cup portion first end, the method characterized by: the second cup portion having at least a region (73) formed from a material which is impermeable to the first and second powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents. 11. The method of claim 10, further characterized by: the steps of connecting the second cup portion first end to the first cup portion first end and sealing the top cover to the second cup portion first end being carried out concurrently. 12. The method of either of preceding claims 10 and 11, further characterized by: the closure comprising a detachable base wall and wherein the method further includes: applying a force to the detachable base wall to detach the base wall from the first cup portion peripheral wall. 13. The method of any one of preceding claims 10-12, further characterized by: transporting the sealed cups and the contained powdered reagent to a site (12) at which decontamination is to be performed; mixing the first and second powdered reagents with water to form a decontamination solution; and. immersing items to be decontaminated in the decontamination solution. 14. A decontamination system (A) comprising: a powdered reagent cup receiving well (16) , a first fluid flow path defined between a water receiving inlet (20) and the reagent cup receiving well to bring water from the inlet to the well to mix with powdered reagents and form a decontaminant solution, a second fluid flow path being defined for the decontaminant solution from the reagent cup receiving well to a decontamination region (14) for receiving items to be decontaminated, a fluid circulator (28) for selectively circulating fluid through the first and second fluid flow paths and among the inlet, the decontamination region, and the reagent cup receiving well, and a multi-chamber powdered decontamination reagent holding cup (C) for insertion into the well, the cup including a) an outer, first cup portion (50) having a peripheral wall (52) which has an opening at a first end (56) and at a second end (60) , and b) an inner, second cup portion (70) , the first and second cup portions being configured such that the second cup portion abuts and is connected to the first end of the outer first cup portion, the first and second cup portions being configured such that a first powdered reagent receiving chamber is defined in the first cup portion for receiving a first powdered reagent and a second powdered reagent receiving chamber is defined in the second cup portion for receiving a second powdered reagent, a closure (58) secured to and closing the second end of the outer first cup portion, the closure being impermeable to the first powdered reagent, the system characterized by: the second cup portion having a region (73) which is formed from a material which is impermeable to the powdered reagents but is permeable to water and to solutions containing dissolved reagents.

Inventors: CHRISTOPHER TODD A, FRICKER CHRISTOPHER M, JUSEC MICHAEL F, MINEROVIC DAVID E, SCHINDLY BRIAN E, THOMAS KAREN, CHRISTOPHER, TODD, A., FRICKER, CHRISTOPHER, M., JUSEC, MICHAEL, F., MINEROVIC, DAVID, E., SCHINDLY, BRIAN, E., THOMAS, KAREN
Applicants: STERIS CORP, STERIS CORPORATION
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61L2
IPC codes: A61L2, B65D81, C02F1