Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for in-basin neutralization of a treatment solution.

The medical field employs various devices for medical procedures. One such device is an endoscope that examines the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. A critical aspect of all medical procedures and devices is the prevention of cross-contamination and the spread of disease. In this regard, treatment solutions such as, for example, cleaning solutions, disinfectant solutions, and/or sterilant solutions are used on medical devices and facility surfaces. These solutions, by their nature, include relatively harsh constituents in order to effectively clean, disinfect, and/or sterilize devices and/or surfaces. Disposing of the treatment solution after use can be inconvenient for an operator and/or expose the operator to the treatment solution.

Improvement in the health and safety conditions of the environment, operators, and patients are an important focus of the medical field. In this regard, efforts have been made to limit exposure of operators and hospital personnel to treatment solutions.

<CIT> discloses an automated method for neutralizing a treatment solution in an endoscope reprocessor by transferring the treatment solution to a separate neutralization tank.

The present invention relates to a method according to claim <NUM>.

The description also discloses a system for in-basin neutralization, which does not form part of the claimed invention. The system comprises a reservoir and a basin in fluid communication with the reservoir. The reservoir comprises a disinfectant solution. The basin is suitable to receive disinfectant solution from the reservoir. The basin has a first solution capacity and the reservoir has a second solution capacity larger than the first solution capacity. The basin comprises a neutralizing solution suitable to neutralize the disinfectant solution in the reservoir. A mole ratio of active group in the neutralizer to active group in the disinfectant solution is greater than <NUM>:<NUM>.

The features and advantages of the examples, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the examples will be better understood by reference to the following description of examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate certain examples, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the examples in any manner.

Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these aspects are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are nonlimiting exemplary aspects and that the scope of the various examples of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary aspect may be combined with the features of other aspects. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Any references herein to "various examples," "some examples," "one example," "an example", similar references to "aspects," or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in various examples," "in some examples," "in one example", "in an example", similar references to "aspects," or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one example may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features, structures, or characteristics of one or more other examples without limitation. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present examples.

In this specification, unless otherwise indicated, all numerical parameters are to be understood as being prefaced and modified in all instances by the term "about", in which the numerical parameters possess the inherent variability characteristic of the underlying measurement techniques used to determine the numerical value of the parameter. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter described herein should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Also, any numerical range recited herein includes all sub-ranges subsumed within the recited range. For example, a range of "<NUM> to <NUM>" includes all sub-ranges between (and including) the recited minimum value of <NUM> and the recited maximum value of <NUM>, that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than <NUM> and a maximum value equal to or less than <NUM>. Any maximum numerical limitation recited in this specification is intended to include all lower numerical limitations subsumed therein and any minimum numerical limitation recited in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limitations subsumed therein. Accordingly, Applicant reserves the right to amend this specification, including the claims, to expressly recite any sub-range subsumed within the ranges expressly recited.

The grammatical articles "a", "an", and "the", as used herein, are intended to include "at least one" or "one or more", unless otherwise indicated, even if "at least one" or "one or more" is expressly used in certain instances. Thus, the articles are used herein to refer to one or more than one (i.e., to "at least one") of the grammatical objects of the article. Further, the use of a singular noun includes the plural, and the use of a plural noun includes the singular, unless the context of the usage requires otherwise.

As used herein "active group" is meant to mean the chemical that is participating in the neutralization reaction.

As used herein when referring to the presence of a particular constituent "substantially free" is meant to mean at least <NUM>% free of that constituent, and in some examples at least <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, and <NUM>% free, in other examples at least <NUM>% free, in other examples at least <NUM>% free, in other examples at least <NUM>% free, in some examples at least <NUM>% free, and in other examples at least <NUM>% free of that constituent.

A treatment solution process may be at least one of a cleaning solution, a disinfectant solution, and a sterilant solution. A treatment process may be at least one of a cleaning process, a disinfection process, and a sterilization process. A cleaning process may be a process which reduces and/or eliminates a dirt, a dust, a particle, and the like utilizing a cleaning solution. A disinfection process may be a type of a cleaning process which reduces and/or eliminates bacteria and/or other forms of living organisms utilizing a disinfectant solution. A sterilization process may be a type of disinfection process that reduces and/or eliminates bacteria and/or other forms of living organisms that results in a sterilized object being substantially free from bacteria and/or other forms of living organisms utilizing a sterilant.

In multi-use treatment systems, a larger quantity of treatment solution can be kept in a reservoir than required for a treatment process cycle to account for any loses of treatment solution during the treatment process cycle. Typically, disposing of the treatment solution from multi-use treatment systems can require removing all the treatment solution from the multi-use treatment system and placing the treatment solution in a secondary container outside of the multi-use treatment systems. The treatment solution can be neutralized in the secondary container by adding neutralizer to the secondary container. Thereafter, the neutralized solution can be disposed of by, for example, emptying the neutralized solution in a waste drain. This process can be time consuming and expose an operator of the multi-use treatment system to the relatively harsh effects of the treatment solution. Thus, a method and a system are provided for in-basin neutralization that can limit operator exposure to the treatment solution, decrease the time spent neutralizing treatment solution, and/or create an automated procedure for neutralization of the treatment solution.

According to the present invention, neutralizer is added to the basin in excess of an amount of neutralizer suitable to neutralize a treatment solution in a reservoir in fluid communication with the basin. A first portion of the treatment solution is added to the basin. The neutralizer is contacted with the first portion of the treatment solution to form a secondary solution in the basin and the first portion of the treatment solution is neutralized with the neutralizer. A first portion of the secondary solution is removed from the basin wherein a second portion of the secondary solution remains in the basin. A second portion of the treatment solution is added to the basin. The second portion of the treatment solution is contacted with the second portion of the secondary solution to form a tertiary solution in the basin, and the second portion of the treatment solution is neutralized with neutralizer in the second portion of the secondary solution.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a system <NUM> for in-basin neutralization of a treatment solution according to the present disclosure. As illustrated, the system <NUM> can comprise a chamber <NUM> including a basin <NUM> in fluid communication with a reservoir <NUM>. The chamber <NUM> may be suitable to receive a medical device (not shown), and can be suitable to perform a treatment process on the medical device. In various examples, the chamber <NUM> can comprise at least one of a heating element, a pump, a wash arm, a spray nozzle, a tube, and other devices known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In various examples, the chamber <NUM> can be at least one of a cleaning chamber, a disinfection chamber, and a sterilization chamber. In certain examples, the medical device can comprise an endoscope. In various examples, the system <NUM> can comprise an endoscope re-processor.

The reservoir <NUM> can be suitable to receive a treatment solution and can store the treatment solution until the treatment solution can be output into the basin <NUM>. The basin <NUM> can be in fluid communication with the reservoir <NUM> via a treatment line <NUM>. The treatment line <NUM> can be suitable to receive the treatment solution from the reservoir <NUM> and transport the treatment solution to the basin <NUM>. In various examples, the treatment line <NUM> can include at least one of a tube, a valve, and a pump. The treatment line <NUM> can control the amount of treatment solution provided to the basin <NUM>. For example, the treatment solution can be metered into the basin <NUM> by the treatment line <NUM> until a select amount of treatment solution has been provided to the basin <NUM>. The basin <NUM> can be suitable to receive treatment solution from the reservoir <NUM> via the treatment line <NUM>.

The treatment solution can comprise at least one of a cleaning solution, a disinfectant solution, and a sterilant solution. In certain examples, the treatment solution comprises a disinfectant solution including a disinfectant. The disinfectant can comprise at least one of an alcohol, an aldehyde, a quaternary ammonium compound, an oxidizer, and an antimicrobial metal solution. In certain examples, the disinfectant can comprise ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA). In various examples, the disinfectant solution can comprises AERO-OPA ™ available from Advanced Sterilization Products, A Division of Ethicon, Inc. , a Johnson & Johnson company located in Irvine, CA.

The basin <NUM> can have a basin solution capacity and the reservoir <NUM> can have a reservoir solution capacity. In various examples, the reservoir solution capacity can be larger than the basin solution capacity. For example, the reservoir solution capacity can be at least <NUM>% larger than the basin solution capacity such as, for example, at least <NUM>% larger than the basin solution capacity, at least <NUM>% larger than the basin solution capacity, at least <NUM>% larger than the basin solution capacity, or at least <NUM>% larger than the basin solution capacity. In certain examples, the reservoir solution capacity may be <NUM>% to <NUM>% larger than the basin solution capacity such as, for example, <NUM>% to <NUM>% larger and in other aspects is <NUM>% to <NUM>% larger than the basin solution capacity. In various examples, the reservoir has a solution capacity from <NUM> liter (L) to <NUM> such as, for example, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, or <NUM>.

If the treatment solution has a characteristic deemed improper for disposal into the environment (e.g., disposal down a drain, transport to a wastewater treatment facility, etc.) according to local law, the treatment solution may require special handling and/or require neutralization. For example, according to California Code <NUM> CCR § <NUM>, a waste may require special handling and/or require neutralization prior to disposal if "it has an acute aquatic <NUM>-hour LC50 less than <NUM> milligrams per liter when measured in soft water (total hardness <NUM> to <NUM> milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate) with fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) or golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) according to procedures described in Part <NUM> of the "<NPL> and "<NPL>. " In order to neutralize the treatment solution, a neutralizer can be added to the basin <NUM> such that special handling may not be required for the treatment solution and/or the treatment solution can be disposed of into the environment according to local law. In various examples, the neutralizer can increase the LC<NUM> of the treatment solution such that the treatment solution can have an LC<NUM> of greater than <NUM>/L.

The addition of the neutralizer to the basin <NUM> can be automated such as, for example, by pumping the neutralizer into the basin <NUM>, or by the manual addition of neutralizer to the basin <NUM>. The neutralizer can be a solution of neutralizer or solid concentrated neutralizer. The neutralizer can comprise at least one of an amino acid, ammonia, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium bisulfite. The amino acid can include at least one of alanine, proline, amino-caproic acid, phenylalanine, tryptophan, methionine, glycine, serine, cycteine, tyrosine, lysine, arginine, glutamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and histidine. In various examples, the amino acid can comprise glycine. In certain examples, the neutralizer can comprise a <NUM>% glycine by weight solution. In various examples, the neutralizer can comprise KemSafe ™ Solution Neutralizer Catalog # <NUM> available from Kem Medical Products Corp. , located in Farmingdale, NY.

The neutralizer can be added to the basin <NUM> in excess of an amount of neutralizer suitable to neutralize the treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM>. The amount of neutralizer suitable to neutralize the treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM> can be a mole ratio of active group in the neutralizer to active group in the treatment solution of at least <NUM>. For example, the neutralizer can be added to the basin <NUM> in a mole ratio of active group in the neutralizer to active group in the treatment solution of greater than <NUM>: <NUM> such as, for example, greater than <NUM>:<NUM>, greater than <NUM>:<NUM>, or greater than <NUM>:<NUM>. In certain examples, the neutralizer can be added to the basin in a mole ratio of active group in the neutralizer to active group in the treatment solution in a range of <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM> such as, for example, <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, or <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

Neutralization of the treatment solution can include forming an adduct between the treatment solution and the neutralizer. For example, when the treatment solution comprises an aldehyde (e.g., OPA) and the neutralizer comprises an amino acid (e.g., glycine), the reaction of the neutralizer with the treatment solution can proceed as shown in Scheme <NUM>.

As illustrated in Scheme <NUM>, an amine group of the amino acid can react with the aldehyde to form an adduct. The amine group can deactivate the aldehyde by forming the adduct which is more suitable for handling and/or disposal than the aldehyde alone. In certain examples, the adduct is an N-substituted adduct. In various examples, when using OPA and glycine, the formed adduct can be black in color which can indicate the solution has been neutralized.

Neutralization of the treatment solution can occur in at least two phases. For example, in a first phase, excess neutralizer can be added to the basin <NUM> and a first portion of the treatment solution can be added to the basin <NUM> from the reservoir <NUM> in the amounts and ratios provided herein. The first portion of the treatment solution can be less than the reservoir solution capacity. In various examples, the first portion of the treatment solution is from <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the reservoir solution capacity such as, for example, <NUM>% to <NUM>% or <NUM>% to <NUM>%. A second portion of the treatment solution can remain in the reservoir <NUM> after removal of the first portion of treatment solution from the reservoir <NUM>.

In the first phase, the neutralizer can be contacted with the first portion of the treatment solution in the basin <NUM> to form a secondary solution and the first portion of the treatment solution can be neutralized by the neutralizer. The contacting may include at least one of heating, agitating, and circulating. The secondary solution can comprise formed adduct and neutralizer suitable to neutralize the second portion of the treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM>. In various examples, the secondary solution can comprise at least one of treatment solution and water. In various examples, the secondary solution can be substantially free of treatment solution. In certain examples, the neutralizer is only added during the first phase.

A first portion of the secondary solution can be removed from the basin <NUM> via a drain line <NUM>. The drain line <NUM> can be suitable to receive the secondary solution from the basin <NUM> and can transport the secondary solution out of the basin <NUM>. A second portion of the secondary solution can remain in the basin <NUM> after the removal of the first portion of the secondary solution. The amount of the first portion of the secondary solution removed can be controlled so that the second portion of the secondary solution contains an amount of active neutralizer suitable to neutralize the remaining treatment solution in the reservoir. In various examples, the second portion of the secondary solution is from <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the basin solution capacity such as, for example, <NUM>% to <NUM>% or <NUM>% to <NUM>%.

In a second phase, the second portion of the treatment solution can be added to the basin <NUM> from the reservoir <NUM> and can be added to the second portion of the secondary solution in the basin <NUM>. In the second phase, the active neutralizer remaining in the secondary solution can be contacted with the second portion of the treatment solution in the basin to form a tertiary solution and the second portion of the treatment solution can be neutralized by the neutralizer. The contacting may include at least one of heating, agitating, and circulating. In various examples, the amount of tertiary solution can be equal to or less than the basin solution capacity. The tertiary solution can comprise formed adduct. In various examples, the tertiary solution can comprise at least one of neutralizer, treatment solution, and water. In various examples, the tertiary solution is substantially free of treatment solution. In certain examples, no additional neutralizer is added during the second phase.

The number of phases to neutralize the treatment solution should not be considered limiting. For example, the treatment solution in the reservoir can be neutralized in the basin <NUM> in two or more phases, such as at least three phases. In various examples, the second portion of the treatment solution is all of the remaining treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM> after removal of the first portion of treatment solution. In various examples, the second portion of the treatment solution is less than all of the remaining treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM>. In certain examples, no additional neutralizer is added after the first phase.

In certain examples, the treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM> can be neutralized in at least three phases. For example, in a third phase, a first portion of the tertiary solution can be removed from the basin <NUM> via the drain line <NUM>. A second portion of the tertiary solution can remain in the basin <NUM> after the removal of the first portion of the tertiary solution. The second portion of the tertiary solution contains an amount of active neutralizer suitable to neutralize the remaining treatment solution in the reservoir.

A third portion of the treatment solution can be added to the basin <NUM> from the reservoir <NUM> and can be added to the second portion of the tertiary solution in the basin <NUM>. The active neutralizer remaining in the second portion of the tertiary solution can be contacted with the third portion of the treatment solution in the basin <NUM> to form a quaternary solution and the third portion of the treatment solution can be neutralized by the neutralizer. The contacting may include at least one of heating, circulating, and agitating. In various examples, the amount of the quaternary solution can be equal to or less than the basin solution capacity. The quaternary solution can comprise formed adduct. In various examples, the quaternary solution can comprise at least one of neutralizer, treatment solution, and water. In various examples, the quaternary solution is substantially free of treatment solution. In certain examples, no additional neutralizer is added during the third phase.

Additional phases of neutralization may be added as needed to neutralize the treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM> such that the treatment solution can be more suitable for handling and/or disposal. The secondary, tertiary, and/or quaternary solutions, and/or additional solutions of the neutralization process that are removed from the basin can have an LC<NUM> greater than <NUM>/L such as, for example, greater than <NUM>/L, greater than <NUM>/L, greater than <NUM>/L, greater than <NUM>/L, or greater than <NUM>/L. In various examples, the secondary, tertiary, and/or quaternary solutions, and/or additional solutions of the neutralization process that are removed from the basin contain less than <NUM> % by weight of the secondary solution of active treatment solution (e.g., treatment solution containing an un-neutralized active group) such as, for example, less than <NUM> % by weight of the secondary solution, and, in certain examples, substantially <NUM> % by weight of the secondary solution.

The secondary, tertiary, and/or quaternary solutions, and/or additional solutions can be removed from the basin <NUM> via the drain line <NUM> and can be disposed of At least one of the reservoir <NUM> and the basin <NUM> can be rinsed with an aqueous solution after removing the tertiary solution. In various examples, the reservoir <NUM> and the basin <NUM> can each be rinsed with an aqueous solution multiple times, and in some exmples is rinsed at least two times, in other examples at least three times, and in other examples three times. The aqueous solution can comprise water.

In various examples, the first phase and second phase of processing can have a duration of <NUM> minute to <NUM> minutes such as, for example, <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes, and in other examples <NUM> to <NUM> minutes. In certain examples, the rinse stage can have a duration of <NUM> minute to <NUM> minutes, such as, for example, <NUM> minute to <NUM> minutes or <NUM> to <NUM> minutes. In various examples, the duration to neutralize the treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM> can be from <NUM> minutes to <NUM> hour such as, for example, <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes or <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes.

The amount of neutralizer that can be added in the first phase can be represented by Equation <NUM>. <MAT> wherein:.

<FIG> are schematic front views of a system <NUM> for in-basin neutralization in various stages of neutralization according to the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates the system <NUM> in a first stage of neutralization. The system <NUM> includes the chamber <NUM> which comprises the basin <NUM> in fluid communication with the reservoir <NUM> via treatment line <NUM> and a disposal system <NUM> via drain line <NUM>. The reservoir <NUM> can be filled with treatment solution <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a second stage of neutralization where a neutralizer <NUM> has been added to the basin <NUM> in excess of an amount of neutralizer <NUM> suitable to neutralize the treatment solution <NUM> in the reservoir <NUM>. A first portion of treatment solution <NUM> can be added to the basin <NUM> and the first portion of the treatment solution <NUM> can be contacted with the neutralizer <NUM> to form a secondary solution <NUM> as illustrated in a third stage of neutralization in <FIG>. In various examples, the neutralizer <NUM> reacts with the first portion of the treatment solution <NUM> to form an adduct between the first portion of the treatment solution <NUM> and the neutralizer <NUM>. In various examples, the first portion of the treatment solution <NUM> can be added to the basin <NUM> prior to adding the neutralizer <NUM> to the basin <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a fourth stage of neutralization where a first portion of the secondary solution <NUM> is removed from the basin <NUM> via the drain line <NUM> and provided to the disposal system <NUM> as a waste <NUM>. A second portion 318a of the secondary solution <NUM> remains in the basin <NUM>. The second portion 318a of the secondary solution <NUM> comprises an amount of neutralizer <NUM> suitable to neutralize the remaining treatment solution 314a in the reservoir <NUM>. In various examples, <FIG> can be a first phase of neutralization.

<FIG> illustrates a fifth stage of neutralization where a second portion of the treatment solution <NUM> can be added to the basin <NUM> and the second portion of the treatment solution <NUM> can be contacted with the second portion 318a of the secondary solution <NUM> to form a tertiary solution <NUM>. In various examples, the neutralizer <NUM> in the secondary solution <NUM> can react with the second portion of the treatment solution <NUM> to form an adduct between the second portion of the treatment solution <NUM> and the neutralizer <NUM> in the secondary solution <NUM>. In various examples, the second portion of the treatment solution <NUM> can comprise the remaining treatment solution 314a in the reservoir <NUM>. In other examples, the second portion of the treatment solution <NUM> can be less than the remaining treatment solution 314a in the reservoir <NUM>. The fourth stage in <FIG> and the fifth stage in <FIG> may be repeated as needed to neutralize the remaining treatment solution in the reservoir <NUM>. In various examples, <FIG> can be a second phase of neutralization.

In various examples, as illustrated in a sixth stage in <FIG>, the tertiary solution <NUM> has been removed from the basin <NUM> via drain line <NUM> and provided to the disposal system <NUM> as waste <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a seventh stage where the basin <NUM> can be filled with an aqueous solution 324a to rinse the basin <NUM> and remove residual neutralizer <NUM>, treatment solution <NUM>, secondary solution <NUM>, tertiary solution <NUM>, and/or additional solutions of the neutralization process that are removed from the basin <NUM>. In various examples, in the seventh stage, the reservoir <NUM> can be filled with an aqueous solution 324b. The aqueous solution 324a, 324b can be removed from the system <NUM> via drain line <NUM> and can be provided to the disposal system <NUM> as waste <NUM> as illustrated in an eighth stage in <FIG>. The seventh stage in <FIG> and the eighth stage in <FIG> can be repeated as needed to remove residual treatment solution <NUM> from the reservoir <NUM> and/or residual neutralizer <NUM>, treatment solution <NUM>, secondary solution <NUM>, tertiary solution <NUM>, and/or additional solutions of the neutralization process that are removed from the basin <NUM>.

According to the present disclosure, in-basin neutralization can limit cross-contamination in the reservoir since neutralizer may not have to be added to the reservoir. If neutralizer was added directly to the reservoir, residual neutralizer may be left after the neutralization process, which can degrade a subsequent treatment solution added to the reservoir. The degraded treatment solution may not be as effective or properly clean, disinfect, and/or sanitize in a treatment process.

In various examples, the method and system according to the present disclosure can neutralize the treatment solution in the reservoir with only a single addition of neutralizer to the basin. The single addition of neutralizer can improve the conditions of the solution for operator exposure and/or decrease the time spent neutralizing treatment solution.

A <NUM> capacity reservoir was prepared in fluid communication with a <NUM> basin of an endoscope re-processor. The reservoir was filled with <NUM> of AERO-OPA ™ available from Advanced Sterilization Products, a Division of Ethicon, Inc. , a Johnson & Johnson company, located in Irvine, CA (<NUM>% OPA by weight). The <NUM> of AERO-OPA ™ in the reservoir was neutralized in two phases. The duration of each phase was <NUM> minutes and the total neutralization time was <NUM> minutes.

In the first phase, the basin was filled with <NUM> of KemSafe ™ Solution Neutralizer Catalog # <NUM> available from Kem Medical Products Corp. , located in Farmingdale, NY (<NUM>% glycine by weight). <NUM> of the AERO-OPA ™ was provided to the basin from the reservoir. The <NUM> of AERO-OPA ™ was contacted with the <NUM> of neutralizer to form a secondary solution. <NUM> of the secondary solution was removed from the basin and <NUM> of the secondary solution remained in the basin.

In the second phase, the remaining <NUM> of AERO-OPA ™ was provided to the basin from the reservoir and contacted with the <NUM> of secondary solution remaining in the basin to form a tertiary solution. The tertiary solution was removed from the basin and the basin was rinsed with <NUM> of water.

The secondary and tertiary solution were combined and tested to determine the LC<NUM> of the combined solution. The test was performed according to the "<NPL> and "<NPL>" with fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). The concentrations of the combined solution used in the LC<NUM> testing were <NUM>/L, <NUM>/L, and <NUM>/L. The mean survival percentage of the fathead minnows over <NUM> hours at the <NUM>/L and <NUM>/L concentrations was <NUM> % and at the <NUM>/L concentration the mean survival percentage of the fathead minnows was <NUM>%. The LC<NUM> of the combined solution was determined to be greater than <NUM>/L. Accordingly, the AERO-OPA ™ was neutralized with only a single addition of neutralizer even though the basin would not hold the entire amount of AERO-OPA ™ present in the reservoir.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken limiting.

Claim 1:
A method for in-basin neutralization in an endoscope reprocessor comprising a basin in fluid communication with a reservoir, wherein the endoscope reprocessor is for receiving an endoscope and for performing a treatment process on the endoscope, and wherein
the basin has a first solution capacity and the reservoir has a second solution capacity larger than the first solution capacity, the method comprising:
adding neutralizer to the basin in excess of an amount of neutralizer suitable to neutralize a treatment solution in the reservoir;
adding a first portion of the treatment solution to the basin;
contacting, in the basin, the neutralizer with the first portion of the treatment solution to form a secondary solution and neutralizing the first portion of the treatment solution with the neutralizer;
removing a first portion of the secondary solution from the basin wherein a second portion of the secondary solution remains in the basin;
adding a second portion of the treatment solution to the basin; and
contacting, in the basin, the second portion of the treatment solution with the second portion of the secondary solution to form a tertiary solution and neutralizing the second portion of the treatment solution with neutralizer in the second portion of the secondary solution.