Patent ID: 8313699

Claim:
Sterilization testing apparatus comprising a housing including a testing chamber having a base portion, a supply line for supplying a sterilizing medium to the testing chamber, at least one indicator located in at least the testing chamber for indicating completion of sterilization, the housing being comprised of an assembly of first and second superimposed housing parts fabricated of metal, injection-moldable plastic, or both, the supply line being comprised of a channel located between a sidewall of the first housing part and at least one ridge positioned on the interior of the first housing part, the sidewall being located at an outer side of the first housing part, the channel providing a flowpath for a sterilizing medium defined by the sidewall and the at least one ridge, the channel covering substantially all of the surface area, including the length and width of the first housing part of the testing apparatus but for a surface portion of the first housing part comprising the testing chamber, an opening provided on the outside of the first housing part communicating with the channel for introducing a sterilizing medium to the housing from a sterilizing medium source located outside the housing, the channel communicating with the testing chamber at a channel end opposite the opening in the first housing part, whereby a sterilizing medium that enters the housing through the opening travels directly to the testing chamber via the channel, wherein the channel has a length that, relative to a cross-section thereof, is sufficiently great to impede complete deaeration of the supply line during sterilization.