Patent ID: 7459028

Claim:
A method for simultaneously cleaning and deactivating an inner surface of a lumen of a medical instrument, comprising the steps of: creating a directional flow of a carrier gas that includes a gas or vapor for effecting deactivation of biocontamination; generating particles of a material capable of sublimation at room temperature; regulating a metering device to entrain the particles in the carrier gas, wherein said metering device is regulated to change concentration of the particles entrained in the carrier gas according to at least one of the following parameters: (a) amount of soil adhered to the inner surface of the lumen, (b) type of soil adhered to the inner surface of the lumen, (c) length of the lumen, and (d) velocity of the carrier gas; directing said carrier gas and particles into a first end of the lumen of the medical instrument; and maintaining flow of said carrier gas and particles until at least a portion of soil adhered to the inner surface of the lumen is removed therefrom.