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Publication Number
US-11679174-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A cleaning indicator is disclosed for determining the effectiveness of a washing and disinfecting process related to the healthcare, medical device and pharmaceutical fields. The cleaning indicator includes a base, a soil coupon and a cover. The base has a recessed area for receiving the soil coupon and the cover is attached to the base by clip members. The cover has a transparent window for viewing the soil coupon which transparent window optionally may have a small hole therein. The base includes grip members for attaching the cleaning indicator to a tray in a washer-disinfector. The cleaning indicator is placed in the washer-disinfector for medical instruments or the like for determining the efficacy of the wash cycle of the washer-disinfector.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a cleaning indicator for a washer-disinfector. The cleaning indicator includes a base, a cover, and a soil coupon. The base has a recessed area adapted to receive the soil coupon and retain it with a bracket at each end, while the bottom portion includes grip members adapted to attach the cleaning indicator to a tray of the washer-disinfector.
The soil coupon comprises a substrate and a soil sample on the substrate, where the substrate is adapted to fit into the recessed area of the base. The cover includes a transparent window adapted to view the soil sample in the base. The cover is attached to the base with clips, and tabs extending downwardly hold the soil coupon in the base when the cover is attached.
The base and the cover are constructed and arranged to provide an opening at each side of the cleaning indicator to receive cleaning fluid of the washer-disinfector. The document describes use in healthcare and pharmaceutical settings for validating the washing and disinfecting process of medical instruments, including inspection of residual soil after a wash cycle and removal of the cover for further testing if residual soil remains.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Each independent claim defines a cleaning indicator for a washer-disinfector with a base holding a soil coupon and a cover with a transparent window, with additional structural features regarding tray attachment and, in one case, fluid-receiving side openings.
Washer-disinfector cleaning indicator base with recessed soil coupon retention and tray grip
A cleaning indicator for a washer-disinfector comprising a base having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having a recessed area adapted to receive the soil coupon and a bracket at each end for retaining the soil coupon, and the bottom portion having at least one grip member adapted to attach the cleaning indicator to a tray of the washer-disinfector.
Soil coupon substrate-in-recessed area with cover-transparent-window viewing and clip/tab retention
The soil coupon has a substrate adapted to fit into the recessed area of the base and a soil sample on the substrate, and the cover has a transparent window adapted to view the soil sample in the base, at least two clips adapted to attach the cover to the base, and at least two tabs extending downwardly to hold the soil coupon in the base when the cover is attached.
Substantially rectangular base and cover with side openings for cleaning fluid
A cleaning indicator where the base and cover are substantially rectangular in shape and constructed and arranged to provide an opening at each side of the cleaning indicator adapted to receive a cleaning fluid of the washer-disinfector, with the base having a recessed area and brackets at each end, and the bottom portion having at least one grip member at each end adapted to attach the cleaning indicator to a tray of the washer-disinfector.
Overall, the claim set covers a washer-disinfector cleaning indicator that retains a soil coupon in a recessed base portion and provides a cover with a transparent window for viewing the soil sample. One independent claim additionally defines substantially rectangular base and cover construction with side openings to receive washer-disinfector cleaning fluid.
Stated Advantages
Improves consistency of cleaning validation by providing a single-use indicator to reduce insertion/placement errors.
Allows viewing residual soil after a wash cycle through a transparent window.
Enables further testing by removing the cover when residual soil remains.
Documented Applications
Healthcare and pharmaceutical validation of the washing and disinfecting process of medical instruments using a washer-disinfector cleaning indicator.
Determining washer-disinfector effectiveness by running a full cycle and inspecting the soil coupon through the transparent window for whether a soil sample has been removed.
Further protein verification tests after removing the cover if residual soil remains.
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