Patent ID: 6924139

Claim:
A self-contained biological indicator for evaluating the effectiveness of a sterilizer utilizing an anti-microbial gas or liquid fluid, said indicator comprising: a tubular casing having open ends and defining an interior chamber; a source of viable microorganisms disposed within said chamber; a frangible ampoule containing a culture medium capable of promoting growth of said microorganism and a detector means capable of reaction with the metabolites of said microorganism to produce a visual indication, said ampoule being disposed within said chamber and being operable by pressure applied to an external surface thereof to permit said microorganism and medium to come into contact with each other; a cap assembly mounted to each end of said tubular casing, said cap assembly including a telescoping element movable from a first position defining an opening communicating with said chamber and a second position forming a gas/fluid impermeable seal around said chamber, said telescoping element including surface means to engage and crush said ampoule as said telescoping member moves from said first position to said second position and wherein said cap assembly includes a first member mounted to said tubular casing and a second member movably mounted to said first member, wherein said second member is movable on said first member from said first position to said second position.